<p>If you were planning to major in mathematics or a natural science (e.g. physics or chemistry), I’d recommend going to Cambridge, basically because a 4-year NatSci or Math degree from Cambridge would be comparable to a 4-year bachelor’s degree ** plus ** a master’s degree in those subjects in the US and would be viewed very favorable by most top U.S. PhD programs.</p>
<p>However, since you were accepted into the [Philosophy tripos](<a href=“Study at Cambridge | University of Cambridge”>Study at Cambridge | University of Cambridge) at Cambridge, I think the benefits of going to school in the UK as opposed to Yale or Princeton are doubtful. Note that I am not saying this because I think the Cambridge philosophy course is weak. Quite the contrary, Cambridge is probably one of the best schools in the world for the study of philosophy and the type of analytical thinking and reasoning skills you would develop in the Philosophy tripos would be an excellent preparation for many possible future careers, including further graduate studies or Law school. Having said that, I’m afraid, however, that most people in the US, including perhaps graduate school or Law school adcoms, would have a hard time understanding the relative value of a specialist undergraduate degree in arts/humanities as opposed to a broader US-styled “liberal arts education”.</p>
<p>In other words, even though a Cambridge philosophy course may actually be a better preparation for graduate school or Law school than a liberal arts degree, I’m afraid there would be a tendency in the US to see someone with a Cambridge philosophy BA as “narrow”, whereas a Y/P liberal arts major would be seen as more “well-rounded”.</p>