What can you tell me about St. Andrew's?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child (junior) is suddenly interested, based on a senior they know who will be attending. Based on Naviance, they look competitive for it and I see that the school is on the common app. We almost certainly will NOT be able to visit. What can you tell me about the school from your personal experience? Thank you.

My friend's kid went to St. Andrews. It's highly regarded in the UK and got a bit of a boost when Prince William attended and met Kate there. My friend's DC said it was a good experience overall, but you have to maintain a sense of humor about the British class structure. St. Andrews attracts a lot of kids from independent British schools (think Eton and Cheltenham Ladies College), and there is a touch of snobbery. The same wealthy, privileged kids didn't see the irony of looking down on "rich Americans." She loved the damp and misty sea scenes, so she didn't mind the weather at all. She became very articulate while there, and her writing improved, so the school obviously did something right. She was able to travel extensively in Europe, which was a nice bonus. It was easy to hop over the Channel and visit Paris or Rome for a weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the relevance is that no college really supports kids with medical issues. My niece had a medical issue that was botched at a T5 school - but then again, what do we expect really? Schools are not hospitals. There are medical services outside the campus walls. Even my sister told my niece, do not bother with a health center for REAL ISSUES. That's for condoms and flu vaccines.

So while I'm sympathetic to issues at St Andrews, I dont think it's unique to that one school.

[b]And yet, their new mission statement says they are. They also require students to use their student services center if they are hoping to get a medical excuse from a class. Parents are out of the loop a thousand miles away. GPAs head south quickly of you only have two grades for the entire semester. The American University system is more flexible and progressive.

Colleges like St. Andrews can say anything they want. Mission statements are worthless. You have to dig deep to find out the truth. The PP above who said you can't transfer back easily is spot on because there is no concept of a core currciulum at british schools like there is in America. we take it for granted that your kid is usually going to get a "liberal arts education or at least have a required foundational set of classes. That is not true in the British system. It's assumed that you already have that (and generally British students do have that by the time they reach this level) so you are studying only the subject you've proposed to read on from that point forward.

Keep hearing this bolded canard, and it is simply untrue. The last 2 years of high school, college-bound Brits take 3 subjects; US high school kids take 10. Most Brits don’t even take a foreign language past what would be US tenth grade — let alone four years of science in high school. Brits specialize in college because they have already specialized in high school — not because they have already done a core, but precisely because they have never done one.

I thought British students did 13 years of high school, taking 10 subjects for their GCSEs in the third last year and then 3 or 4 A levels in the final two. Sounds like they do take a broad range of subjects and then specialise. Frankly, I think this system works great for kids who have strong interests or know what they want to do. They develop much deeper skills. Not so great for the all-rounder who isn’t sure though. But guess it’s a good thing American high schoolers take a foreign language past year 10 but I know very few Americans who can speak a foreign language well do not sure there’s a huge benefit. Similarly, what’s the benefit of doing four years of science if that’s not where your abilities or interests lie?

Both Brits and Americans do 13 years of school. The “range” of GSCE subjects is no different than Americans take in 10th grade. Probably both systems do not work: Americans are already broader before entering university and nonetheless continue getting even more breadth thereafter, while Brits are already narrower (as you put it, “deeper”) entering university, only to become even more narrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child (junior) is suddenly interested, based on a senior they know who will be attending. Based on Naviance, they look competitive for it and I see that the school is on the common app. We almost certainly will NOT be able to visit. What can you tell me about the school from your personal experience? Thank you.

My friend's kid went to St. Andrews. It's highly regarded in the UK and got a bit of a boost when Prince William attended and met Kate there. My friend's DC said it was a good experience overall, but you have to maintain a sense of humor about the British class structure. St. Andrews attracts a lot of kids from independent British schools (think Eton and Cheltenham Ladies College), and there is a touch of snobbery. The same wealthy, privileged kids didn't see the irony of looking down on "rich Americans." She loved the damp and misty sea scenes, so she didn't mind the weather at all. She became very articulate while there, and her writing improved, so the school obviously did something right. She was able to travel extensively in Europe, which was a nice bonus. It was easy to hop over the Channel and visit Paris or Rome for a weekend.

It is either highly regarded, or a marketing scheme, according to this board. Beautiful town, but bad housing options. Good academics, but unforgiving grading system. Nice kids from around the world, but half of them hate the Americans. Welcome to the discussion!

[Anonymous]

St Andrews is consistently top 3 in the UK for graduate prospectus and student satisfaction across multiple rankings. Bottom line: students are getting good outcomes and lauding their university experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St Andrews is consistently top 3 in the UK for graduate prospectus and student satisfaction across multiple rankings. Bottom line: students are getting good outcomes and lauding their university experience.

It was listed as such over a year ago in one British newspaper to generate revenue. That is all. ST Andrews is rated #384 by USNWR (which has been the gold standard for rankings since the early 1980s) for global presence. You tried claiming this in the other ongoing thread about St Andrews but anyone on college admissions is going to laugh at you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Andrews is consistently top 3 in the UK for graduate prospectus and student satisfaction across multiple rankings. Bottom line: students are getting good outcomes and lauding their university experience.

It was listed as such over a year ago in one British newspaper to generate revenue. That is all. ST Andrews is rated #384 by USNWR (which has been the gold standard for rankings since the early 1980s) for global presence. You tried claiming this in the other ongoing thread about St Andrews but anyone on college admissions is going to laugh at you

The only one deserving of laughter is a person who alleges a failed news magazine is the "gold standard" for anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Andrews is consistently top 3 in the UK for graduate prospectus and student satisfaction across multiple rankings. Bottom line: students are getting good outcomes and lauding their university experience.

It was listed as such over a year ago in one British newspaper to generate revenue. That is all. ST Andrews is rated #384 by USNWR (which has been the gold standard for rankings since the early 1980s) for global presence. You tried claiming this in the other ongoing thread about St Andrews but anyone on college admissions is going to laugh at you

On USNWR Dartmouth is ranked #320, Brown is ranked #153.. yet UC San Diego is ranked #21 and UNC is ranked #47...

The reason St Andrews is ranked highly on the UK rankings yet poorly on the global rankings is because global rankings place a larger emphasis on publications/graduate programs. St Andrews has very few postgraduates its main focus is undergraduate studies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Andrews is consistently top 3 in the UK for graduate prospectus and student satisfaction across multiple rankings. Bottom line: students are getting good outcomes and lauding their university experience.

It was listed as such over a year ago in one British newspaper to generate revenue. That is all. ST Andrews is rated #384 by USNWR (which has been the gold standard for rankings since the early 1980s) for global presence. You tried claiming this in the other ongoing thread about St Andrews but anyone on college admissions is going to laugh at you

The only one deserving of laughter is a person who alleges a failed news magazine is the "gold standard" for anything.

Ask any college counselor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Andrews is consistently top 3 in the UK for graduate prospectus and student satisfaction across multiple rankings. Bottom line: students are getting good outcomes and lauding their university experience.

It was listed as such over a year ago in one British newspaper to generate revenue. That is all. ST Andrews is rated #384 by USNWR (which has been the gold standard for rankings since the early 1980s) for global presence. You tried claiming this in the other ongoing thread about St Andrews but anyone on college admissions is going to laugh at you

On USNWR Dartmouth is ranked #320, Brown is ranked #153.. yet UC San Diego is ranked #21 and UNC is ranked #47...

The reason St Andrews is ranked highly on the UK rankings yet poorly on the global rankings is because global rankings place a larger emphasis on publications/graduate programs. St Andrews has very few postgraduates its main focus is undergraduate studies.

Or maybe the rankings services knows St. A has been bringing in American students since 1984 to keep it afloat. See wiki

[Anonymous]

My DC also attended a summer program which they loved. Met fun and interesting people - Americans/Scottish/English/international. The university, town and beaches are beautiful, but very small. Some of their summer friends did commit to going full time but my child did not see themselves spending 4 years there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Andrews is consistently top 3 in the UK for graduate prospectus and student satisfaction across multiple rankings. Bottom line: students are getting good outcomes and lauding their university experience.

It was listed as such over a year ago in one British newspaper to generate revenue. That is all. ST Andrews is rated #384 by USNWR (which has been the gold standard for rankings since the early 1980s) for global presence. You tried claiming this in the other ongoing thread about St Andrews but anyone on college admissions is going to laugh at you

On USNWR Dartmouth is ranked #320, Brown is ranked #153.. yet UC San Diego is ranked #21 and UNC is ranked #47...

The reason St Andrews is ranked highly on the UK rankings yet poorly on the global rankings is because global rankings place a larger emphasis on publications/graduate programs. St Andrews has very few postgraduates its main focus is undergraduate studies.

Or maybe the rankings services knows St. A has been bringing in American students since 1984 to keep it afloat. See wiki

How is that relevant? The irrational and illogical comments on this thread are diabolical

[Anonymous]

Solid school, very different educational system than US, only a couple of graded assignment per semester, GPA for first and second years don’t count, absolutely no hand holding.

[Anonymous]

StA has solid undergrad offerings in the sciences. Many go on to excellent graduate programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child (junior) is suddenly interested, based on a senior they know who will be attending. Based on Naviance, they look competitive for it and I see that the school is on the common app. We almost certainly will NOT be able to visit. What can you tell me about the school from your personal experience? Thank you.

My friend's kid went to St. Andrews. It's highly regarded in the UK and got a bit of a boost when Prince William attended and met Kate there. My friend's DC said it was a good experience overall, but you have to maintain a sense of humor about the British class structure. St. Andrews attracts a lot of kids from independent British schools (think Eton and Cheltenham Ladies College), and there is a touch of snobbery. The same wealthy, privileged kids didn't see the irony of looking down on "rich Americans." She loved the damp and misty sea scenes, so she didn't mind the weather at all. She became very articulate while there, and her writing improved, so the school obviously did something right. She was able to travel extensively in Europe, which was a nice bonus. It was easy to hop over the Channel and visit Paris or Rome for a weekend.

There is no irony in looking down on rich Americans from the height of posh British society, because its not based on being nouveau riche, it is based on background.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Andrews is consistently top 3 in the UK for graduate prospectus and student satisfaction across multiple rankings. Bottom line: students are getting good outcomes and lauding their university experience.

It was listed as such over a year ago in one British newspaper to generate revenue. That is all. ST Andrews is rated #384 by USNWR (which has been the gold standard for rankings since the early 1980s) for global presence. You tried claiming this in the other ongoing thread about St Andrews but anyone on college admissions is going to laugh at you

On USNWR Dartmouth is ranked #320, Brown is ranked #153.. yet UC San Diego is ranked #21 and UNC is ranked #47...

The reason St Andrews is ranked highly on the UK rankings yet poorly on the global rankings is because global rankings place a larger emphasis on publications/graduate programs. St Andrews has very few postgraduates its main focus is undergraduate studies.

Or maybe the rankings services knows St. A has been bringing in American students since 1984 to keep it afloat. See wiki

How is that relevant? The irrational and illogical comments on this thread are diabolical

"Diabolical?" Weird choice of word. Are you super defensive for some reason? People are just stating well-known facts. The facts are relevant because St. Andrews has been marketing heavily in the US for decades. It has a dozen full-time recruiters in America. It locks onto the full-freight American because Scots attend free - so bringing in Americans is the only way to keep the place afloat ... and the reason why the Brits attending look down on the American students.

If you are fine with that, then apply, but be aware that St A does not offer services that US Universities do. Read extensively before sending a student who is needy of services, has ADHD or something requiring counseling and meds, or other health issues. Send only very mature students who are self-starters