Yes, they may be hoping US alumni will give money. But they’d need a lot of huge gifts to increase their endowment to the levels most mid ranked US colleges have, and I doubt this is that would be very likely to happen.
No one pays 30 thousand pounds to go to Oxford, unless they are from abroad. Oxford has the same fees as any other English university. Oxford is a partially funded from public funds, and there is absolutely no difference in fees. Due to Oxford’s endowment, however, there is far more generous financial help available than most UK universities can afford. It is not that unusual for a Scottish student to attend Oxford.
I am a dual citizen (UK/US) and have accurate information on how things are done in the UK. Some people on this forum, however, clearly do not understand the UK very well, and this might be a problem if you are planning to study there. However, if you do have the money for St Andrews, and don’t mind the relative isolation, I’m sure many people have a pretty good time.
All UK students pays 30k +… $9,250 x 3 years + special kit 30K+. A Scottish kid at a Scottish university essentially free.
On the Times Rankings, Edinburgh is a bit higher than St Andrews, although I agree that the teaching quality is probably similar. But it is not unusual to get into both and prefer Edinburgh.
9, 250 dollars over three years is not 30,000 pounds at the current exchange rates, I am pretty sure. But I thought it was implied that a UK student might be paying 30,000 over a year, which would not be true. Also, if you are below a certain family income level, Oxford will give grants, so it is not necessarily a better deal for a poorer Scottish student than to stay in Scotland. As far as I am aware, Scottish tuition is still free (it previously was in the UK too, including Oxford and Cambridge) but in most cases you do have to pay for accommodation and personal expenses.
My apologies I did mean pounds… and I can assure you that I am 100 % cognizant of how the UK/US system work having 2 degrees from the UK and a child in both the UK and US systems currently.
If you understand both systems, I still do not understand why you would think a Scottish student would 100 per cent prefer Scotland to Oxford, when if admitted to Oxford with a grant, by most standards they would be better off. And then add statements about Oxford that are unfounded, but may deter students educated in state schools from applying. But I don’t intend to make any more comments, because the objections are ridiculous.
If admitted to both for physics why not choose St Andrews? Especially if there is a desire to do some additional subjects?
You need to read my post again, your comprehension skills are lacking. Faced with Scottish uni for free or 30k for Oxbridge I said it will not be 100% acceptance to Oxbridge. Last time I checked maximum bursary from Oxford covers about 35% of tuition and the thresholds are pretty low, if household income is above 25k pa sterling you don’t qualify. Far from being unfounded it is matter of national debate that access to elite schools in the UK is suppressing social mobility. Oxbridge spend millions a year on outreach, and yet poorer kids from working class back grounds fail to apply, (and I can assure you it is nothing to do with what is said on these forums), many potential candidates believe they are likely to feel out of place and would rather apply somewhere where they are more likely yo fit in, even if their fears are unfounded it is the perception of many. If you still don’t understand…well…
Bursaries are for support apart for tuition. Tuition can by covered by a UK loan. There are scholarships that pay for both tuition and living support. Yes they have family income level requirements, but this would be true in the US too. Oxford does try to have a fair intake, but just saying it doesn’t on no evidence is not the behavior of a reasonable, educated person. But it is possible that someone just coming across this forum might think that what is said on it is based on something other than prejudice about Oxford, when in fact it isn’t.
A loan is not free…
“Oxford does try to have a fair intake, but just saying it doesn’t on no evidence is not the behavior of a reasonable, educated person.”
I am giving reasons why a suitable qualified candidate may choose somewhere other than Oxbridge.
Cost (in the case of Scottish kids), wrong program, social factors, Is that so difficult to understand. The fact is many many super bright kids are not at Oxbridge gasp !
I cannot imagine any brit turning down oxbridge for St Andrews either.
So I guess you cannot imagine someone turning down an Ivy League for the honors school at Michigan…
“If your are a product of the state schooling system and suitably qualified, Oxbridge might not be for you given their reputation”
From your other posts I think that you are saying the student might think that Oxbridge is not for them. The Oxbridge students that I know who come from underrepresented demographics (socio-economic and/or geographic) are enthusiastic about participating in outreach programs, to let other students from their former schools / areas know that there really is a place for them there.
I do know some British students who had the marks for Oxbridge, were encouraged to apply by their schools and chose not to b/c they knew enough to know how intense it is (from older siblings or older students in their school), and that is not what they wanted. That’s another self-selection factor.
And yes, @Sybylla, I agree: the IB requirements are so much stiffer than for A level or AP, which is esp hard given how rigorous the program is, and how well it prepares you (as @VickiSoCal daughter has discovered!)
@ eguapoo …For a UK home student, that is irrelevant. In the US I don’t have my kids apply to 60K a year schools as we are full pay. In the UK damn right I would not pick St Andrews over Oxbridge over 30K pounds. I wouldn’t pick St Andrews over my local US 4 yr honours school.
@ collegemom, I don’t think IB is stiffer than A levels. Just APs.
Not only I can imagine that, I personally know a couple of dd’s British friends who picked Edi over Cambridge and Oxford. It happens, and more often than you think.
Agree that IB work is stiffer than APs!
…but I was more thinking about the offer requirements from Oxbridge, which the students I know find to be tougher than the A levels requirements. Cambridge, for example, wants 40-42 points, with at least a 776 at HL in particular subjects. An A level student would only need to achieve three scores (A*AA), but to get to 40+ points an IB student needs to achieve at a high level in 6 or more. I know UK students who are choosing A levels over IB (there are schools where you can choose), b/c the IB offers are harder to achieve.
Edi over Cambridge <<<<<<
We are talking about St Andrews though.