Consensus world view of TOP 5/6 UK University Rankings (Prestige/Research)

[Anonymous]

My son is considering Edinburgh/econ. Could you provide any info on your child's stats? Thx!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone apply to Edinburg early, say in October? Just curious how quickly you hear back from them. (DC is a junior and planning to apply next year).

My Dc applied to Edinburg in October and got an unconditional offer by Thanksgiving.

DC applied to Edinburgh near end January and received conditional offer last Friday. Econ.

[Anonymous]

This may just be me (attended Cambridge and LSE), but I would take Oxbridge over about half the Ivies on substance; there's also something to be said for having a slightly different educational background. (A good conservation started for the introverted...)

LSE = Berkeley is probably about right on academics, but I think LSE students probably have better scores coming in than Berkeley.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, great opportunity to get in one those schools for any kid here that would be a t20-t50 admit.

I agree. This is how we are looking at it at our household with our 3 kids (two Juniors and one Freshman). Following the OP’s list:

1. Oxford/Cambridge - If not accepted to any IVY or MIT/Stanford, then these two.
2. Imperial/LSE - Same as above, but add Berkeley and a few others.
3. UCL - If not accepted to any t20, then UCL.
4. Edinburgh/King’s/St Andrews - If best US acceptance is in between any t25-t50, we would pick Kings/Edinburgh
5. Warwick/Bristol/Exeter/Bath - If best US school is t-50 and up, that these would be prioritized.

Obviously this is just a general guidelines that we have discussed internally. We would clearly focus on each subject and fit. but the general idea stays. US schools are way too expensive to pass up these cheaper UK options.

My son started looking at UK schools (he is a JR) and we had no idea what to look for. This thread has been very helpful. After talking to his counselor who recommended someone else that focus on UK schools, this list is pretty much what he was told as it relates to relative values.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, great opportunity to get in one those schools for any kid here that would be a t20-t50 admit.

I agree. This is how we are looking at it at our household with our 3 kids (two Juniors and one Freshman). Following the OP’s list:

1. Oxford/Cambridge - If not accepted to any IVY or MIT/Stanford, then these two.
2. Imperial/LSE - Same as above, but add Berkeley and a few others.
3. UCL - If not accepted to any t20, then UCL.
4. Edinburgh/King’s/St Andrews - If best US acceptance is in between any t25-t50, we would pick Kings/Edinburgh
5. Warwick/Bristol/Exeter/Bath - If best US school is t-50 and up, that these would be prioritized.

Obviously this is just a general guidelines that we have discussed internally. We would clearly focus on each subject and fit. but the general idea stays. US schools are way too expensive to pass up these cheaper UK options.

My son started looking at UK schools (he is a JR) and we had no idea what to look for. This thread has been very helpful. After talking to his counselor who recommended someone else that focus on UK schools, this list is pretty much what he was told as it relates to relative values.

It’s really important to remember that you need to focus on the programme rather than just the university when looking at the UK. For example, if your child is interested in engineering, you should look at the ranking of engineering courses. If interested in history, they probably shouldn’t focus on LSE or Warwick. If interested in economics, you definitely wouldn’t rank Exeter and Bath alongside Warwick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is considering Edinburgh/econ. Could you provide any info on your child's stats? Thx!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone apply to Edinburg early, say in October? Just curious how quickly you hear back from them. (DC is a junior and planning to apply next year).

My Dc applied to Edinburg in October and got an unconditional offer by Thanksgiving.

DC applied to Edinburgh near end January and received conditional offer last Friday. Econ.

Their predicted score is 41 for the IB. I don’t think there’s any way they will get that. But the conditional offer is for 37 with a 5 in English. I’m very surprised by this. The website says 39 with 6s in all three higher level subjects. I think maths and econ were three required higher levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is considering Edinburgh/econ. Could you provide any info on your child's stats? Thx!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone apply to Edinburg early, say in October? Just curious how quickly you hear back from them. (DC is a junior and planning to apply next year).

My Dc applied to Edinburg in October and got an unconditional offer by Thanksgiving.

DC applied to Edinburgh near end January and received conditional offer last Friday. Econ.

DP: my kid got an unconditional offer with six APs (including Calc BC and Macro), all 5s, and a 1580 SAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, great opportunity to get in one those schools for any kid here that would be a t20-t50 admit.

I agree. This is how we are looking at it at our household with our 3 kids (two Juniors and one Freshman). Following the OP’s list:

1. Oxford/Cambridge - If not accepted to any IVY or MIT/Stanford, then these two.
2. Imperial/LSE - Same as above, but add Berkeley and a few others.
3. UCL - If not accepted to any t20, then UCL.
4. Edinburgh/King’s/St Andrews - If best US acceptance is in between any t25-t50, we would pick Kings/Edinburgh
5. Warwick/Bristol/Exeter/Bath - If best US school is t-50 and up, that these would be prioritized.

Obviously this is just a general guidelines that we have discussed internally. We would clearly focus on each subject and fit. but the general idea stays. US schools are way too expensive to pass up these cheaper UK options.

My son started looking at UK schools (he is a JR) and we had no idea what to look for. This thread has been very helpful. After talking to his counselor who recommended someone else that focus on UK schools, this list is pretty much what he was told as it relates to relative values.

It’s really important to remember that you need to focus on the programme rather than just the university when looking at the UK. For example, if your child is interested in engineering, you should look at the ranking of engineering courses. If interested in history, they probably shouldn’t focus on LSE or Warwick. If interested in economics, you definitely wouldn’t rank Exeter and Bath alongside Warwick.

Yes that is true to an extent. At the end of the day, it depends where you kid plans to have a professional career. If in the UK, then you are 100% correct. But if the plan is to go back to the US and even EU then the league tables are a little less relevant and the “pedigree” of the uni weights a little more. Please note I said a “little less” relevant. Clearly for an Econ major looking to work as an economist at an IB in NYC, they will know Warwick’s strength vs Bath….But in General and unfortunately, the perceived name recognition of the university will play a bigger role in the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone apply to Edinburg early, say in October? Just curious how quickly you hear back from them. (DC is a junior and planning to apply next year).

My Dc applied to Edinburg in October and got an unconditional offer by Thanksgiving.

DC applied to Edinburgh near end January and received conditional offer last Friday. Econ.

DS is still waiting on Edinburgh. But he just received an unconditional from St Andrews today (Mmgt).

Congrats to your son!! That is a very competitive programme! If he gets in Edinburgh would he pick Edinburgh instead?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone apply to Edinburg early, say in October? Just curious how quickly you hear back from them. (DC is a junior and planning to apply next year).

My Dc applied to Edinburg in October and got an unconditional offer by Thanksgiving.

DC applied to Edinburgh near end January and received conditional offer last Friday. Econ.

DS is still waiting on Edinburgh. But he just received an unconditional from St Andrews today (Mmgt).

Congrats to your son!! That is a very competitive programme! If he gets in Edinburgh would he pick Edinburgh instead?

Quite frankly I dont know. I think he is now leaning St Andrews.

[Anonymous]

It is March 20. It looks like most UK offers were sent. For the parents on this thread, if your kid will be attending a UK school in the Fall., can you share which one and which school he/she is forgoing in the US to do this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is March 20. It looks like most UK offers were sent. For the parents on this thread, if your kid will be attending a UK school in the Fall., can you share which one and which school he/she is forgoing in the US to do this?

DS is leaning St Andrews. Giving up USC, Tulane, Miami.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is March 20. It looks like most UK offers were sent. For the parents on this thread, if your kid will be attending a UK school in the Fall., can you share which one and which school he/she is forgoing in the US to do this?

DS is leaning St Andrews. Giving up USC, Tulane, Miami.

My kid is also going to St Andrews. But he is taking a gap year before attending in 2026. He also got in USC and Texas. We are in Texas and he was auto admit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is March 20. It looks like most UK offers were sent. For the parents on this thread, if your kid will be attending a UK school in the Fall., can you share which one and which school he/she is forgoing in the US to do this?

DS is leaning St Andrews. Giving up USC, Tulane, Miami.

My kid is also going to St Andrews. But he is taking a gap year before attending in 2026. He also got in USC and Texas. We are in Texas and he was auto admit.

That is surprising. Most Texas kids who get in do not give up their spot. What is he major?

[Anonymous]

My DC leaning is leaning US, will probably give up St. Andrews, Edinburgh, and LSE for a T5 LAC (also waiting on Ivy Day). Might have gone to Oxbridge over current US options, but was rejected after the interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC leaning is leaning US, will probably give up St. Andrews, Edinburgh, and LSE for a T5 LAC (also waiting on Ivy Day). Might have gone to Oxbridge over current US options, but was rejected after the interview.

What major is your DC giving up at STA, Edi and LSE?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is March 20. It looks like most UK offers were sent. For the parents on this thread, if your kid will be attending a UK school in the Fall., can you share which one and which school he/she is forgoing in the US to do this?

DS is leaning St Andrews. Giving up USC, Tulane, Miami.

My kid is also going to St Andrews. But he is taking a gap year before attending in 2026. He also got in USC and Texas. We are in Texas and he was auto admit.

That is surprising. Most Texas kids who get in do not give up their spot. What is he major?

He will double major (Double honors) in Business (Management) and IR. His US business choices were USC’s Marshall and McCombs in Texas. We are in Texas and he was an auto admit who also got in McCombs. But he doesnt want to stay in Texas. The thought of a mega school has turned him off. So it was really between USC’s Marshall and St Andrews. He liked the ability to have a double honors program of Management and IR which are two of their best ranked programs in the UK. After touring STA it just clicked with him in ways that USC didnt.