Universities outside the US?

[Anonymous]

There seem to be several things in favor of applying outside the US. First, less competition from your classmates and other Americans. Second, the cost may be lower (even though they raise tuition for non-nationals, it still may be lower than a US private college.)

On another thread somebody mentioned the University of Toronto (Ontario) and McGill University (Quebec).

Does anybody else have any experience or suggestions for universities outside the US?

[Anonymous]

Forget Oxford and Cambridge. It's extremely difficult (much more difficult than HYP) to get in, as an American.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Forget Oxford and Cambridge. It's extremely difficult (much more difficult than HYP) to get in, as an American.

If that's true today, it's quite a change from -- egad! -- twenty years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There seem to be several things in favor of applying outside the US. First, less competition from your classmates and other Americans. Second, the cost may be lower (even though they raise tuition for non-nationals, it still may be lower than a US private college.)

On another thread somebody mentioned the University of Toronto (Ontario) and McGill University (Quebec).

Does anybody else have any experience or suggestions for universities outside the US?

UBC is the other strong Canadian university. I don't know anyone who would consider it stronger than, say, U-Washington, though. Honestly, unless it's for Oxford, Cambridge, or possibly McGill, why leave the U.S. to study in English? I don't know that there's another English-language university outside our borders that could crack our top-25.

[Anonymous]

NPR/Kojo Show had a good segment recently about the pros and cons of attending college abroad. Lots of info about Canadian schools. You can listen to it here:

http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2010-04-22/americans-getting-degrees-abroad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Forget Oxford and Cambridge. It's extremely difficult (much more difficult than HYP) to get in, as an American.

If that's true today, it's quite a change from -- egad! -- twenty years ago.

What is the supporting evidence for the view that Oxbridge is much harder to get into than HYP for Americans? Any numbers?

Also, even though Oxbridge has a relatively recent policy legacy preference, isn't it true that if the admissions office of the college to which your (legacy) child is applying knows that the applicant is YOUR child, your child has a de facto advantage?

[Anonymous]

I went to a "big 3" here and know several people who attended - and loved - St. Andrew's in Scotland. One advantage is that, IIRC, students there get the equivalent of a master's in four years.

[Anonymous]

We spoke to a very high-powered, expensive college consultant (something like $50,000 for a complete 9th-12th grade "package") who gave us the information about Oxbridge being substantially more difficult to get into than HYP. Apparently the English don't really care about reaching out to international students as much as HYP does. By the way, we did NOT fork over the $50,000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We spoke to a very high-powered, expensive college consultant (something like $50,000 for a complete 9th-12th grade "package") who gave us the information about Oxbridge being substantially more difficult to get into than HYP. Apparently the English don't really care about reaching out to international students as much as HYP does. By the way, we did NOT fork over the $50,000.

When did you talk to the consultant? Things may have changed since your conversation. With public funding cuts in the UK, colleges at Oxford and Cambridge are looking at increasing the number of full-paying foreign students if possible. The principal of my college at Oxford visited the US recently and talked with a group of us alums in DC about fund-raising measures, including admitting more foreign students.

[Anonymous]

We spoke to him about a year ago... if things have changed since then, great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We spoke to him about a year ago... if things have changed since then, great!

The UK-wide budget cuts for universities was announced in march 2010 and do into effect September 2010. There is great pressure to accept foreign stiudents at much higher tuition fees than domestic students, yet universities like Oxford and Cambridge have to be mindful of being public institutions with a mission to educate Britons.

[Anonymous]

I've heard it may be possible to get into Oxbridge after a year or two in a US university, then transferring. I know somebody who did this about 25 years ago. Does anybody know someone who has done this more recently?

[Anonymous]

http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2009/results

Here's a list of what QS considers the top 100 world universities. There are some other non-American English speaking universities in this list. Another thing to consider is that some universities in non-English speaking countries give a lot of their classes in English.

[Anonymous]

Interesting, it looks like British students are facing some of the same problems that US students are facing with tough competition at the top schools - and that some European universities are reaching out to them:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/7956493/University-Clearing-Students-the-world-wants-you.html

[Anonymous]

I spent 4 years completing my undergrad at McGill. The best four years of my life. The cost for my parents was very reasonable, and I got a great education in a wonderful city. Went on to med school, residency and fellowship at great institutions on the East Coast. I would look into McGill seriously. Am happy to answer any specific questions you might have.