Looking for Prestigous feel without the selectivity...

College Search & Lists
41

<p>Applying ED to certain schools (outside of top 5 but inside top 25) can really increase your chances and accept the majority of pretty qualified students early.</p>

42

<p>UCL is a good institution, but to say that its “way above LSE” is in my opinion a bit exaggerated. LSE beats UCL in teaching, reasearch (in the subjects taught), subject assessment, starting salaries, and alumni. Thats why LSE is a par rival with Oxbridge.</p>

43

<p>You mentioned “connections.” The best place to make connections depends so much on what you want to do and where you want to do it. If you want to be a successful real estate broker in Dallas, if you can’t play football for the Dallas Cowboys, you should play football or at least be in a popular frat at SMU. If you want to be a banker or broker in Ft. Worth, it’s hard to beat TCU.</p>

<p>I’ve been out of undergrad for 28 years, but I still lose business to other lawyers because the prospective client turned out to be the other lawyer’s fraternity brother at UT or SMU.</p>

44

<p>Rankings aren’t be be all and end all, I’m just always very surprised by the focus on LSE/Imperial in the US, given that these are seen as part of a group of highly selective and prestigious unis, genuinely as equals. Is this their respective sciences/engineering/economics/poli sci/business slant? These areas seem to hold a lot of weight in the US. This came from spending some time studying at a US university. I am not so surprised by the Oxbridge focus, however! These two ARE in a league of their own. </p>

<p>As I have mentioned, subjects are key here. You only study one, though equivalents of ‘double majors’ and ‘minors’ are becoming common. You only get the benefits of one subject, not the other departments, however strong. So selecting a university based on that is very common.</p>

45

<p>Oxford and Cambridge have endowments far below that of comparable American colleges, and they DO NOT offer undergraduate research. So for all intents and purposes, OP, if you want research, these might not be the places for you.</p>

<p>Having said that, if you want prestige and have REALLY good academics but weak ECs that kinda make it difficult for you to get into HYPMS, Oxbridge might be easier in a case like this for “prestige”.</p>

46

<p>I just read about Oxford for like 3 hours…now I feel like attending. But then again, who wouldn’t? What’s the typical cost for attendance for someone who actually lives in the UK?</p>

47

<p>^^^ Its so little, even I can pay =P</p>

<p>You get a bursary of 3000 pounds straight if you qualify for it, and that covers tuition fee. Just provide your living expenses and you are all done :)</p>

48

<p>Its the LSE’s persistent influence on politics and economics that makes it such an excellent university. Not even Oxford and Cambridge can beat the LSE in terms of the social sciences (they even admit it). On the other hand, LSE does not offer such a broad spectrum of courses and - due to its focus - cannot offer the same range of intellectual challenges that Oxford and Cambridge can.
You are correct: If you want to study English (e.g.), Durham may be an excellent place (or Oxford). But the general education of Durham - to just pick one - cannot reach that of LSE/Oxbridge. Many put Imperial in that same category, but I admit I dont know enough about Imperial. Thus I leave that up to you.</p>

49

<p>Tuition fees are standardised across all universities for UK residents. No privates, except one or two that have no rep. Tuition has ‘shot up’ to around £3000 per annum recently (was £1100) and many students’ local authorities pay this on their behalf. However, international fees tend to be through the roof compared to this. Phone ind. universities for costs. In certain cities expect expensive living costs, especially London. It is also harder to get univ accommodation in the second year, btw. Almost all UK residents get loans from the government to pay their way. I don’t know if this is possible for international students.
Jipperag, I still stand by my subject argument! Academically, you are truly ensconced within one department at UK unis. The main benefit of the wider university is a social one. UCL is just as highly respected, and I live in London.</p>

50

<p>I live in London as well…
Btw, international fees are around 12.000 to 14.000 pounds a year.</p>

51

<p>Ouch…
How “genius” do you have to be to attend? Their requirements are a SAT score of 1400 and at least a 5, 5, 4 on AP exams (I’m not entirely sure), which nowadays isn’t uncommon at all.</p>

52

<p>to which university are you refering, btw?</p>

53

<p>Cambridge (like i said before I’m not quite sure what the requirements were, but I believe I read this somewhere a long time ago)</p>

54

<p>do u have a link?</p>

55

<p>Best deal under the sun is Oxford College of Emory. 2 years of junior college, then guaranteed transfer to Emory.</p>

<p>ED: JHU, Northwestern, Duke are relatively easy ways to get into great schools. EA Chicago also.</p>

56

<p>What I meant by the Oxbridge feel is this</p>

<p><a href=“http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/KingsCollegeChapelWest.jpg[/url]”>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/KingsCollegeChapelWest.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Tom_Quad%2C_Christ_Church_2004-01-21.jpg[/url]”>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Tom_Quad%2C_Christ_Church_2004-01-21.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Ashmolean.jpg[/url]”>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Ashmolean.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>There is nothing quite like it…
I just want to be proud of myself,nothing thinking I could have mcuh done better…Especially when College Degrees are really common these days</p>

57

<p>[Pembroke</a> College : Overseas students : Applying from a North American High School](<a href=“http://www.pem.cam.ac.uk/admiss/ug/overseas/highschool/index.html]Pembroke”>http://www.pem.cam.ac.uk/admiss/ug/overseas/highschool/index.html)
Was given by poster #28</p>

58

<p>I think I understand what you mean, but only buildings dont contribute to a feeling at Oxbridge. If you mean that the university has a special vibe coming from it due to its long history, I agree. If you mean that at Oxbridge you will get a very intellectually challenging education, I agree as well. But you can get that at other places too.
If you want to be proud of yourself (and u should) and dont want to think you missed a chance, you will need to apply to the top schools… but those are the selective ones</p>

59

<p>for some reason, i now think of oxbridge as hogwartsy places</p>

60

<p>But unlike Hogwarts, they’re actually real!</p>