Rutgers vs. University of St. Andrews (Scotland)

College Search & Lists
1

I’m still waiting for March to come, but it’s pretty much all reach-ish schools, like ivies and Stern, so it’s totally possible I do not receive anymore offers

I’m currently holding just about a full ride to Rutgers Business, and I have an offer from St. Andrews for IR+Economics

I also have the option of attending Rutgers Pharm for less than 10k a year, but I have no interest in actually becoming a pharmacist

Money isn’t an issue for my family, I did not apply for financial aid anywhere, but if I can go to college for free, all the money that was set aside for tuition becomes mine for grad school/house etc.

I’m interested in management consulting, and possibly banking as well

if I really do not get in anywhere else, which one would be better?

Thanks :slight_smile:

2

How much would St. Andrews cost?

3

@newjerseygirl98 probably 35-40k with travel factored in

4

St. Andrews seems to have gotten more competitive. The minimum required SAT for US students is now 1950.

There’s not much information on St. Andrews, but the reviews are great. https://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/programs/university-of-st-andrews-st-andrews-direct-enrollment-exchange

I’m from New Jersey, so I know more about Rutgers. When you say Rutgers business, do you mean Rutger’s Newark or New Brunswick? The schools are pretty different.

5

Don’t know if this is at all helpful, but I have a relative who went to Rutgers but did their junior year at St. Andrews. Maybe you could do that :slight_smile:

6

@newjerseygirl98 new brunswick

is that one better or worse lhaha jw

and @lalalemma interesting suggestion, but i’d rather not go to St. A’s as a study abroad, cuz god forbid i realize i wish I went there instead haha

7

@teenagecrime New Brunswick is the better of the two business schools.

I would personally suggest going to Rutgers (although I may be a bit biased). You still will get a quality education no matter which school you choose. Rutgers Business School is becoming more and more competitive because people are beginning to realize how good of a program it actually is. Its program consistently places students into top firms on and off Wall Street. (Rutgers recently became a target hiring school for Barclays!)

That said, you will only be willing to work hard at a place you love. If you love St Andrews or love the adventure of going to school in Scotland, go there instead; at least you don’t have any financial barriers from stopping you. Who knows when you will get such an opportunity again? If you think you will end up spending the rest of your life wondering if you made the wrong choice by going to Rutgers, go to St Andrews instead!

But if you really do love both schools equally, I would say Rutgers makes more “sense” in terms of paying less tuition for an equally good education and ending up with a nice chunk of cash when you graduate.

Good luck with your decision!

(P.S. feel free to message me if you have any additional questions about the Rutgers Business School or Pharmacy School)

8

New Brunswick is better. Newark is more of a commuter school, and less selective.

I don’t think you can go wrong with either. It comes down to what you prefer to spend your money on, college, or a down payment on a home?

9

@NPK219 @newjerseygirl98

honestly, i don’t love rutgers at all. It’s too big, and like 60% of my graduating class goes there. I have no interest in being with everyone from high school again, but they tend to stick together…

Do you guys feel that going overseas will screw me for american wall street jobs?

10

Contact St. Andrews and ask about their record of job placement.

If you want to stay in the NY metro area, Rutgers might provide better opportunities. If the world is your oyster, then I’d go for St. Andrews.

Also had a friend who went to Rutgers and did junior year in Scotland.

Rutgers doesn’t feel as big as it looks on paper. The individual campuses are relatively compact and cohesive. Have you toured the NB campus?

11

@mamaedefamilia i have toured the campus as well as done multiple conferences there

I want to either stay in NY or go to london/hongkong

12

Did you only apply to these two colleges?
What about Baruch Honors? Fordham?

13

@MYOS1634 read my post, I have a bunch of ivies coming out soon, as well as Stern, Georgetown, and schools of that caliber.

However, from the Early Round, I had 4 offers, but it seems like St. Andrews and Rutgers are the least expensive.

Money is not an issue, but I feel that St. Andrews is a better school that the other 2 american schools i got into, and with the merit I received they would cost the same as St. Andrews

14

I meant, in terms of match/safeties since beside Rutgers & StA, it seems everything is a reach.
What other schools did you get into EA? There has to be a happy medium?
There’s a prestige factor with StA, for sure, as it’s pretty exclusive, but it’s also a small college in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere, and while you can easily travel I don’t think someone who likes NYC would like it there. Is there any way you can visit?

15

St Andrews has got much more popular and competitive over the past 10 years. Academically it is very strong. It is now #5 in the UK and has a very international population.

16

For what it’s worth, my D has an acquaintance who is at St. Andrews and she loves it but I can’t offer up any details.

17

@MYOS1634 there’s no reason for me to go to a school in the middle if it costs the same as St. Andrews, but I got NEU and Case Western. I will visit if I Do not get into any of the reachy schools

18

“Do you guys feel that going overseas will screw me for american wall street jobs?”

Not at all. St Andrews has the top rated IR programme in the UK. Also, it is a very well known school. Prince William went there so everybody has at least heard of it, and there is much more cross-fertilisation between Wall Street and the City of London these days so people have at least a positive view of the school (probably more than Rutgers!). You should be able to get some good summer internships in the City while you are over here.

19

I don’t think you’ll be “screwed”, either. St. Andrews is a great school. I knew about it for a while, even before I became a CC member.

I’m from New Jersey, and I don’t think Rutger’s is very well known out-of-state.

20

If it was me, I would choose St. Andrews, no question. Studying in Europe could open up interesting opportunities/possibilities you wouldn’t get otherwise, not to mention the experience itself of living in another country - broadens your understanding (especially useful if you want to do international relations). Plus if you end up going for banking, it could be a good step towards London or HK. You can always come back and do grad school in US.