Yale vs Oxford

[Anonymous]

I turned down an Ivy 25 years ago to go to Cambridge. The three years vs four was a deciding factor. Cambridge was spectacular and amazing and a privilege.

[Anonymous]

Unless your kid is specifically interested in studying abroad or has links to/experience with the UK, I would definitely go with Yale. 18 is young to go abroad to a country that may end up as a terrible fit; there are different pop culture references, different historical knowledge/background that's assumed, different everything... The undergrad experience (unlike the post-grad one, which is much more international) is very UK centric and even the international students there mostly went to UK-style schools doing O/A levels with some ex-pat Brits and many British teachers. An American with a typical American background is going to feel somewhat out of place and will end up having an atypical experience unless they get very lucky.

I did my undergrad at Yale and MPhil at Cambridge. The latter was an incredible experience, but absolutely not what I would have wanted at 18 fresh out of HS. Do Yale. Study abroad for a year or plan on post-grad work; the nice thing about going to Yale are there are a million different ways (including lots of Yale-only $$) to get your post-grad paid for abroad. I was a very good student at Yale but nothing unusual/notable and I got 3 different offers to may for my Cambridge studies (1 National, 1 Harvard/Yale available and 1 Yale only); the Yale only one went to the 3rd runner up because the first 3 of us all had other offers. There were probably 10-12 other my year Yale grads at Cambridge with me. Which is all to say... choose Yale and you can do both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Considering admission for a top student to Oxford is far easier (even for an American) than Yale, I can’t imagine wanting to be joined by Brits in your Oxford programme (who enjoy a 30-40% admit rate) and a bunch of internationals, not when you could go to Yale, where a top American student who is unhooked probably has a single-digit admit rate…

The UK admission rates are misleading. In most cases you need minimum A level grades to apply. For most majors, you need atleast 3 A* and an A in A-levels to even apply. In Yale, you will be surrounded by athletes, donor kids and other institutional priority admits who are not necessarily top students.

This is not true. At Yale you will be surrounded by top students. They may be athletes, donor kids and priorities, but that doesn't mean they are not also top students. The caliber of the student body at Yale is very high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Considering admission for a top student to Oxford is far easier (even for an American) than Yale, I can’t imagine wanting to be joined by Brits in your Oxford programme (who enjoy a 30-40% admit rate) and a bunch of internationals, not when you could go to Yale, where a top American student who is unhooked probably has a single-digit admit rate…

The UK admission rates are misleading. In most cases you need minimum A level grades to apply. For most majors, you need atleast 3 A* and an A in A-levels to even apply. In Yale, you will be surrounded by athletes, donor kids and other institutional priority admits who are not necessarily top students.

This is not true. At Yale you will be surrounded by top students. They may be athletes, donor kids and priorities, but that doesn't mean they are not also top students. The caliber of the student body at Yale is very high.

That’s not what they are saying. They are saying that Oxford is more of a meritocracy and only the best students from the UK apply after A-Levels whereas at Yale you DO have institutional priority students such as athletes, internationals, URM, first gen, national award winners, spectacular musicians, legacies, and other presidential priority students. That is undeniable

[Anonymous]

Oxford in the UK
MIT in the US

That’s how I see it.

And between these 2 , I see Oxford better as caliber and prestige.

[Anonymous]

Yale Undergrad, Oxford grad

Should have a good shot at Oxford grad coming from Yale.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely Yale. The British system of focusing on one subject doesn't compare to the diversity of classes you get in the American system. Plus Yale has countless resources and better connections for post-grad (unless staying in the UK). And if my kid wanted to do tutorials, I'd encourage them to go to Williams over Oxford/Cambridge.

[Anonymous]

If you somehow (impossibly) knew that you could get into a Yale graduate program, then maybe Oxford, but it’s much more believable that you could claw your way into an Oxford/Cambridge year from Yale undergrad, and then you would have your cake and eat it too.

[Anonymous]

Which Oxford College? Who is likely tutor? Ferguson I believe was educated there so your kid will be with good lineage (though he’s now at Stanford under sunny weather)

I went to University in UK as freshman decades ago and then an Ivy (not Yale). They were latch key years for youth so I was ready and enjoyed the freedom.

If child is ADHD- hyper focused on history and it’s Balliol College than go Oxford and consider staying there for masters and PhD.

If the child is ‘Yale’ all arounder bright neurotypical than go Yale but realize Oxford is international and New Haven is an armpit. (That admittedly is close to NYC but Oxford is closer to friggen London and 40 min closer)

Price must not be a factor but as they say in basketball 3 points more than 2 for university 3 less than 4!

Good luck with decision!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yale Undergrad, Oxford grad

Should have a good shot at Oxford grad coming from Yale.

+1. My kid did this from UVA and is in history now at Oxford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which Oxford College? Who is likely tutor? Ferguson I believe was educated there so your kid will be with good lineage (though he’s now at Stanford under sunny weather)

I went to University in UK as freshman decades ago and then an Ivy (not Yale). They were latch key years for youth so I was ready and enjoyed the freedom.

If child is ADHD- hyper focused on history and it’s Balliol College than go Oxford and consider staying there for masters and PhD.

If the child is ‘Yale’ all arounder bright neurotypical than go Yale but realize Oxford is international and New Haven is an armpit. (That admittedly is close to NYC but Oxford is closer to friggen London and 40 min closer)

Price must not be a factor but as they say in basketball 3 points more than 2 for university 3 less than 4!

Good luck with decision!

Pretty sure that the poster means Emory at Oxford.

[Anonymous]

Yale.

Wouldn't go to Oxford because they talk funny over there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Considering admission for a top student to Oxford is far easier (even for an American) than Yale, I can’t imagine wanting to be joined by Brits in your Oxford programme (who enjoy a 30-40% admit rate) and a bunch of internationals, not when you could go to Yale, where a top American student who is unhooked probably has a single-digit admit rate…

The UK admission rates are misleading. In most cases you need minimum A level grades to apply. For most majors, you need atleast 3 A* and an A in A-levels to even apply. In Yale, you will be surrounded by athletes, donor kids and other institutional priority admits who are not necessarily top students.

You did not understand the comment.
Top unhooked student at Yale admit rate still in high single digits (overall admit rate much lower).
Top unhooked Brit prospective history major at Oxbridge: admit rate 30-40%.
Self-selection is built in.
Huge difference.

[Anonymous]

Oh definitely Oxford. Cheaper, faster, better education and better opportunities- and actual free country! Ours won’t be for a while