Tell me about St Andrews in Scotland

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP Here thanks for all the replies. We did end up visiting and my kid REALLY REALLY loved it in person. We spoke with American kids there that are loving their experience. The tour was fantastic and the admissions office was welcoming.
I think the prestige factor arguments go both ways- some people will swear up and down it's the equivalent of Brown in terms of difficulty to get in...then other will say it's just for posh aristocrats. Whatever the truth is, it has the best US name recognition after Oxford and Cambridge if my kid comes back the US, that's a factor. Our kid is definitely applying...now he just has to get in...and it's getting harder and harder as the US university admissions craziness amplifies.

well their marketing definitely worked on the American tourists. It is NOT next tier from Oxford and Cambs. Not remotely. But if your kid loved it, hey, why not? Isn't that half the battle?

[Anonymous]

My younger cousin is at St. Andrews and loves it. She is bright, 1500+ sat, imperfect grades (all As and Bs) from a rigorous boarding school. She had such a miserable time in HS with bullying, means girls and the competitive atmosphere she only applies to schools out of the us. Drastic but she loves it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can you promise that? So every meaningful indicator that shows that St Andrews is, in fact, a top UK school is incorrect? And USNWR rankings they show WashU and Emory and Vanderbilt are T20 schools are bible truth but all other data is meaningless? Good to know. DCUM, you never disappoint.

We are trying to warn you, St. Andrews mom, that the prestige factor is not what you think but you don’t want to hear that.

I don't understand why you care so much. Why is it so important to bash a school that you, and presumably your kids, don't and won't attend? On what are you even basing your opinion? Have you actually ever had a real conversation with another person about St Andrews? I'm actually not interested in the "prestige" factor, but I do think that if all of the rankings (and we know that DCUM parents care so very much about rankings) indicate it's a great school, it probably is. And for the record, I know several UK kids who got into Durham, Edinburgh, UCL - and did not get into St Andrews.

[Anonymous]

Im the OP and I don't care about prestige, I said it had a higher name recognition in the US than arguably "better" schools in the UK. That matters if my kid wants to come home for grad school and to work here. And yes...the marketing "worked" they had a great tour and all the kids we talked to loved it and it's about 1/2 the price of some second tier US schools...so yes we hope he gets in.

[Anonymous]

Academics (I asked three US professors) know it by reputation, and it's very good. Comment was "easily on par with top 20 SLACs".

I also think that in the job search world, a kid who decides to go to another country gets a lift for being seen as willing to take a big step far away as part of their college journey.

My DC had its as a top 3 based on desired major. Got into two of the 3 but chose the other.

I have multiple family members in the UK, and two went to St Andrews (and a half dozen to Oxbridge). Their perception is that it is excellent, and only slightly behind Oxbridge.

[Anonymous]

My DC is finishing her first year at St. Andrews. She is extremely happy there, has made a lot of friends, and is overall having a great experience. I don't anticipate her having any trouble finding a job once she graduates, but U.S. grad school is certainly an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My younger cousin is at St. Andrews and loves it. She is bright, 1500+ sat, imperfect grades (all As and Bs) from a rigorous boarding school. She had such a miserable time in HS with bullying, means girls and the competitive atmosphere she only applies to schools out of the us. Drastic but she loves it.

That’s really interesting, because I’ve always thought of St A’s as a very status-conscious, sporty, heavy-drinking school with a high concentration of wealthy students who are more likely to have been bullies as sixth-formers rather than the bullied. It’s great to hear that students can find their place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP Here thanks for all the replies. We did end up visiting and my kid REALLY REALLY loved it in person. We spoke with American kids there that are loving their experience. The tour was fantastic and the admissions office was welcoming.
I think the prestige factor arguments go both ways- some people will swear up and down it's the equivalent of Brown in terms of difficulty to get in...then other will say it's just for posh aristocrats. Whatever the truth is, it has the best US name recognition after Oxford and Cambridge if my kid comes back the US, that's a factor. Our kid is definitely applying...now he just has to get in...and it's getting harder and harder as the US university admissions craziness amplifies.

Amazing! It's so magical in person and you can feel the student energy in the streets. hard not to fall in love with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm always a little concerned when I see parents thinking of sending their children to universities abroad. It is a long-term commitment. The best universities in America offer arguably the best undergraduate education, and at least for job prospects (particularly in North America), a U.S. degree will get you farther. I know it's not popular to say these kinds of things (I feel like I need to say that I am not remotely near a MAGA head), but I feel like it warrants mention.

Do you have stats to back that up? At. Andrew’s rivals good US universities.

What gives you the impression that St. Andrews rivals "good US universities"? It would be lucky to be placed in the top 75 or so if it were plopped in the States.

The Guardian ranks it #2 in the UK, ahead of Cambridge: https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2020/sep/05/the-best-uk-universities-2021-league-table

No one, and certainly not Brits, would rank St Andrews above Cambridge.

It’s subjective, like any ranking, but this one is done by Brits. And even if you think it’s 4th or 5th, the point is whether it “rivals ‘good US universities’ “ and the Brits seem to think it does.

I’m sorry - I am a Cambridge grad and St Andrews isn’t even close. I see folk talking up St Andrews - fact is, it is a very good Scottish university, a top 10 UK school, but in no way comparable to the Ivy League, or even the small Ivys. In my view, it is comparable to William and Mary or an Emory (great schools but not in the same league as Oxbridge or Ivy League).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm always a little concerned when I see parents thinking of sending their children to universities abroad. It is a long-term commitment. The best universities in America offer arguably the best undergraduate education, and at least for job prospects (particularly in North America), a U.S. degree will get you farther. I know it's not popular to say these kinds of things (I feel like I need to say that I am not remotely near a MAGA head), but I feel like it warrants mention.

Do you have stats to back that up? At. Andrew’s rivals good US universities.

What gives you the impression that St. Andrews rivals "good US universities"? It would be lucky to be placed in the top 75 or so if it were plopped in the States.

The Guardian ranks it #2 in the UK, ahead of Cambridge: https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2020/sep/05/the-best-uk-universities-2021-league-table

No one, and certainly not Brits, would rank St Andrews above Cambridge.

It’s subjective, like any ranking, but this one is done by Brits. And even if you think it’s 4th or 5th, the point is whether it “rivals ‘good US universities’ “ and the Brits seem to think it does.

I’m sorry - I am a Cambridge grad and St Andrews isn’t even close. I see folk talking up St Andrews - fact is, it is a very good Scottish university, a top 10 UK school, but in no way comparable to the Ivy League, or even the small Ivys. In my view, it is comparable to William and Mary or an Emory (great schools but not in the same league as Oxbridge or Ivy League).

+1 but it is not a top UK school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Im the OP and I don't care about prestige, I said it had a higher name recognition in the US than arguably "better" schools in the UK. That matters if my kid wants to come home for grad school and to work here. And yes...the marketing "worked" they had a great tour and all the kids we talked to loved it and it's about 1/2 the price of some second tier US schools...so yes we hope he gets in.

Ok, so you don’t want to hear the negative… we get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Academics (I asked three US professors) know it by reputation, and it's very good. Comment was "easily on par with top 20 SLACs".

I also think that in the job search world, a kid who decides to go to another country gets a lift for being seen as willing to take a big step far away as part of their college journey.

My DC had its as a top 3 based on desired major. Got into two of the 3 but chose the other.

I have multiple family members in the UK, and two went to St Andrews (and a half dozen to Oxbridge). Their perception is that it is excellent, and only slightly behind Oxbridge.

[b]


hahaha!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My younger cousin is at St. Andrews and loves it. She is bright, 1500+ sat, imperfect grades (all As and Bs) from a rigorous boarding school. She had such a miserable time in HS with bullying, means girls and the competitive atmosphere she only applies to schools out of the us. Drastic but she loves it.

That’s really interesting, because I’ve always thought of St A’s as a very status-conscious, sporty, heavy-drinking school with a high concentration of wealthy students who are more likely to have been bullies as sixth-formers rather than the bullied. It’s great to hear that students can find their place.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm always a little concerned when I see parents thinking of sending their children to universities abroad. It is a long-term commitment. The best universities in America offer arguably the best undergraduate education, and at least for job prospects (particularly in North America), a U.S. degree will get you farther. I know it's not popular to say these kinds of things (I feel like I need to say that I am not remotely near a MAGA head), but I feel like it warrants mention.

Do you have stats to back that up? At. Andrew’s rivals good US universities.

What gives you the impression that St. Andrews rivals "good US universities"? It would be lucky to be placed in the top 75 or so if it were plopped in the States.

The Guardian ranks it #2 in the UK, ahead of Cambridge: https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2020/sep/05/the-best-uk-universities-2021-league-table

No one, and certainly not Brits, would rank St Andrews above Cambridge.

It’s subjective, like any ranking, but this one is done by Brits. And even if you think it’s 4th or 5th, the point is whether it “rivals ‘good US universities’ “ and the Brits seem to think it does.

I’m sorry - I am a Cambridge grad and St Andrews isn’t even close. I see folk talking up St Andrews - fact is, it is a very good Scottish university, a top 10 UK school, but in no way comparable to the Ivy League, or even the small Ivys. In my view, it is comparable to William and Mary or an Emory (great schools but not in the same league as Oxbridge or Ivy League).

+1 but it is not a top UK school.

Not to 10 UK school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm always a little concerned when I see parents thinking of sending their children to universities abroad. It is a long-term commitment. The best universities in America offer arguably the best undergraduate education, and at least for job prospects (particularly in North America), a U.S. degree will get you farther. I know it's not popular to say these kinds of things (I feel like I need to say that I am not remotely near a MAGA head), but I feel like it warrants mention.

Do you have stats to back that up? At. Andrew’s rivals good US universities.

What gives you the impression that St. Andrews rivals "good US universities"? It would be lucky to be placed in the top 75 or so if it were plopped in the States.

The Guardian ranks it #2 in the UK, ahead of Cambridge: https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2020/sep/05/the-best-uk-universities-2021-league-table

No one, and certainly not Brits, would rank St Andrews above Cambridge.

It’s subjective, like any ranking, but this one is done by Brits. And even if you think it’s 4th or 5th, the point is whether it “rivals ‘good US universities’ “ and the Brits seem to think it does.

I’m sorry - I am a Cambridge grad and St Andrews isn’t even close. I see folk talking up St Andrews - fact is, it is a very good Scottish university, a top 10 UK school, but in no way comparable to the Ivy League, or even the small Ivys. In my view, it is comparable to William and Mary or an Emory (great schools but not in the same league as Oxbridge or Ivy League).

+1. St Andrews ranks 342 in USN&WR for best public universities. That’s not great