Ok, so now we’re talking out of state UVA. It’s ridiculous to compare LSE with UVA, when they are not in the same league. It’s like comparing MIT with University of Essex as proof that US colleges are better. Compare LSE with HYPSM, Berkeley, Chicago and most students would pick the US colleges even with the cost difference. On DCUM I always assume anecdotal evidence of my kid did this and that as being a lie so don’t take it personally. |
Your kid? You said it was your son’s best friend. :lol: |
+1. It’s so weird how dug in some people are getting about this. If you care this much about costs then you care about costs, plain and simple, and you have options domestically too. Even OOS publics can save money in many cases for a full pay family. Part of this is that there are a lot of private school families here where going abroad is about saving face/bragging to the other private school parents when the T20 door closes, rather than the money itself (or, god forbid, the actual academic programming and opportunities). The cognitive dissonance kicks in when people mention going to a public school because, no, couldn’t possibly consider that idea, imagine telling Sara’s mom that’s what we’re doing, why would you suggest such a thing? |
+1. Correct - clearly not in same league for Econ or Finance - the academics or the connections and name. LSE > UVA. IMO as a former Intnl. IBer - current fed. |
First of all please stop with the argument from authority, “I’m in IB”, “I’m a fed”, “my kid chose LSE over UVA”, etc. I already told you my assumption is you’re making it up and it’s not helping your case. Now do LSE vs HYPSM, it’s roughly equal in my view, maybe a slight edge to the US colleges. But these comparisons are as useless as debating if Stanford is better than MIT. First you need to get in at rates that are below 5%, and other factors like institutional fit matter more. |
DP. I know. They've changed stories on where they and their kid went to university in Britain, too. One day, it's this university, the next day it's St. Andrews. Anything to win an argument. Severe mental issues here. |
100% agree. A lot of these UK universities posters are chasing prestige at deep discounts. The kid can’t make it to top 20 in US, and/or they don’t have money saved for college. Then they are checking the sales rack in search of a good deal, after all Cambridge, Oxford are on the same level as Top 20. But the chances of getting in after T20 rejection are inexistent. Next they go down the list to Leeds, Essex and Aberdeen, prestige is in short supply, but a least they clam to be savvy shoppers because they saved on cost. Never mind that costs are not exactly rock bottom and the savings are $10-20k a year at best. And that’s at the cost of being in another country, doing internships overseas if even allowed, building a network in another country etc. If the intent is to return to US after graduation, that’s not ideal, and in my view it’s not worth the savings. Its better to go to a solid state school, aim for Top 20 in grad school if that’s your thing. |
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I'd only send my kid abroad if they get into a very prestigious university that would open doors anywhere (LSE or the like), OR if they do not get into my flagship state school OR if they chose a major like engineering where the college brand won't matter as much in their search (within reason- Europe has some excellent engineering schools that I'd think most engineering managers would have heard of).
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There is absolutely nothing wrong with a kid and a parent that sends their kid to the UK if they dont get in to a Top 20 or so and end up at Durham, UCL, Kings, St Andrews instead….is that a problem? I dont think so. |
+1 Some kids are adventurous, and would be better served by being a pioneer at a 2nd tier UK school or an EU university than by going to their state flagship (along with half their high school friends). Vive la difference! |
And you can still aim for a T20 US grad school with a bachelor's degree from the UK or the EU. |
| One of my relatives turned down a T20 school that didn't give much financial aid and went to a Canadian university instead. Not everyone wants to spend 90K/year on college. |
Yes, but that’s different than claiming that you are choosing based on cost and then flipping out when someone suggests a flagship and claiming that no one would do that. |
I don think anybody here is choosing based on cost. None of the people I know that have kids at EU/UK schools made that decision based on cost. Sure, sometimes it was definite plus, but not the main reason. I think OP is simply questioning the value of a $250k degree….I dont think she claimed their decision was based solely on cost…. |
My kid is turning down USC, full pay for UCL or St Andrews…he needs to decide soon. |