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

[Anonymous]

That is fine. All of them understand that the HS curriculum is not uniform. Some do a better job than others understanding these differences. DS was accepted to Oxford with several APs at 5. His BC was in the JR year, but others were in his Freshman year. Didn’t even get a question on that. Oxford is not going to penalize your kid because he was smart enough to ace the AP Calc BC as a Freshman.

I can tell you for a fact that AP scores is not a differentiator at a uni like Oxford. Basically every single American applying to Oxford has 5’s on every AP class. Oxford Tests - Interviews - Personal Stmt in that order is what will differentiate your kid from another American kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is fine. All of them understand that the HS curriculum is not uniform. Some do a better job than others understanding these differences. DS was accepted to Oxford with several APs at 5. His BC was in the JR year, but others were in his Freshman year. Didn’t even get a question on that. Oxford is not going to penalize your kid because he was smart enough to ace the AP Calc BC as a Freshman.

I can tell you for a fact that AP scores is not a differentiator at a uni like Oxford. Basically every single American applying to Oxford has 5’s on every AP class. Oxford Tests - Interviews - Personal Stmt in that order is what will differentiate your kid from another American kid.

Did they require your DS to do a test like the TMUA or MAT?

[Anonymous]

Yes. The TSA test. Thinking Skills Assessment. I believe there are 2 sections and I think he only had to take section 1 for Econ. They publish the dates the tests are available in the website.

[Anonymous]

It’s really hard to gauge the flexibility in admissions at every single university. Edinburgh’s website states you need an IB score of 39 and grades of at least 6 (out of 7) in all three HLs to get into economics. In the end, they accepted DS with 36 (but with 6s in his 3 HLs). If he hadn’t gotten at least 6 in his HL econ and HL maths, I’m sure they would not have accepted him.

I suspect college counsellors aren’t across all of this. Most counsellors in DC privates only deal StA and maybe a couple of others. There is a funding crisis in many British universities right now so the approach and flexibility of some may have dramatically changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is fine. All of them understand that the HS curriculum is not uniform. Some do a better job than others understanding these differences. DS was accepted to Oxford with several APs at 5. His BC was in the JR year, but others were in his Freshman year. Didn’t even get a question on that. Oxford is not going to penalize your kid because he was smart enough to ace the AP Calc BC as a Freshman.

I can tell you for a fact that AP scores is not a differentiator at a uni like Oxford. Basically every single American applying to Oxford has 5’s on every AP class. Oxford Tests - Interviews - Personal Stmt in that order is what will differentiate your kid from another American kid.

Did they require your DS to do a test like the TMUA or MAT?

If you look at the Oxford website you'll see most courses require some form of entry exam, as the other poster mentioned for several courses, the TSA Thinking Skills Assessment is one of them. The website has links to previous practice tests and encourages applicants to practice before taking it, rather than taking it cold. They even have links to youtube videos with interviewers and sample interviews - which is extremely helpful and informative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For Econ, these are the brand new 2026 undergraduate rankings per UK’s Complete University Guide, which they seem to like more than the Guardian and The Times rankings:

for ECON:

1) University of Cambridge
2) London School of Economics and Poli...
3) University of Oxford
4) University of St Andrews
5) University of Warwick
6) Durham University
7) UCL (University College London)
8) University of Nottingham
9) University of Bath
10) University of Leeds
11) University of Exeter
12) University of Bristol
13) King's College London, University o...
14) The University of Edinburgh

For Management (as posted by a PP):

1) University of Oxford
2) University of St Andrews
3) University of Bath
4) University of Warwick
5) London School of Economics and Poli...
6) King's College
7) UCL (University College London)
8) The University of Edinburgh
9) University of Exeter
10) University of Bristol

Didn’t realize Bath was so highly ranked.

[Anonymous]

Even outside of Oxbridge, LSE/St Andrews, any of the unis in this list would be amazing opportunities for those that dont want to spend a fortune in American private unis.

[Anonymous]

UK has got the same employment challenges for international graduates.
https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/news/fewer-jobs-higher-hurdles-uk-unemployment-rise-hits-international-students/ar-AA1GqGYM?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1

[Anonymous]

The whole world does. But this doesn’t change where you decide to get your education. Cost benefit is just there vs the ridiculous expensive private and OOS full pay costs.

[Anonymous]

It is a self selective environment. Even between those who decide to apply to to UK/EU universties. Some are just doing it because a few UK school are in the common app, so why not. Then there are the ones who are serious about exploring university life outside the US. These kids are not like the avg kid applying to American schools.

It takes a different kid to want to not only leave home, but be in another continent for 3-4 years studying in a completely different environment. This is why a lot of those kids end up succeeding at whatever they are doing. On avg these kids are independent go getters. Maybe not the HYPSM types since most of these have no reason to go away.

You gotta appreciate the desire and independent thinking of an American kid wanting to leave the US to go to school in Europe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a self selective environment. Even between those who decide to apply to to UK/EU universties. Some are just doing it because a few UK school are in the common app, so why not. Then there are the ones who are serious about exploring university life outside the US. These kids are not like the avg kid applying to American schools.

It takes a different kid to want to not only leave home, but be in another continent for 3-4 years studying in a completely different environment. This is why a lot of those kids end up succeeding at whatever they are doing. On avg these kids are independent go getters. Maybe not the HYPSM types since most of these have no reason to go away.

You gotta appreciate the desire and independent thinking of an American kid wanting to leave the US to go to school in Europe.

Not really, if they have serious money it is not going to be any different from their ski trips to Austria and their safari's in Africa. Money has reach and for a lot of kids this will just be par for the course.

It's not like an inner city kid from Detroit is applying to Oxford ever. THAT would be something to admire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a self selective environment. Even between those who decide to apply to to UK/EU universties. Some are just doing it because a few UK school are in the common app, so why not. Then there are the ones who are serious about exploring university life outside the US. These kids are not like the avg kid applying to American schools.

It takes a different kid to want to not only leave home, but be in another continent for 3-4 years studying in a completely different environment. This is why a lot of those kids end up succeeding at whatever they are doing. On avg these kids are independent go getters. Maybe not the HYPSM types since most of these have no reason to go away.

You gotta appreciate the desire and independent thinking of an American kid wanting to leave the US to go to school in Europe.

Not really, if they have serious money it is not going to be any different from their ski trips to Austria and their safari's in Africa. Money has reach and for a lot of kids this will just be par for the course.

It's not like an inner city kid from Detroit is applying to Oxford ever. THAT would be something to admire.

There’s a huge difference between living in another country and a 1-2 week trip. The former requires much more independence, self-confidence, etc. It’s not something just any 18 year old can handle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a self selective environment. Even between those who decide to apply to to UK/EU universties. Some are just doing it because a few UK school are in the common app, so why not. Then there are the ones who are serious about exploring university life outside the US. These kids are not like the avg kid applying to American schools.

It takes a different kid to want to not only leave home, but be in another continent for 3-4 years studying in a completely different environment. This is why a lot of those kids end up succeeding at whatever they are doing. On avg these kids are independent go getters. Maybe not the HYPSM types since most of these have no reason to go away.

You gotta appreciate the desire and independent thinking of an American kid wanting to leave the US to go to school in Europe.

Not really, if they have serious money it is not going to be any different from their ski trips to Austria and their safari's in Africa. Money has reach and for a lot of kids this will just be par for the course.

It's not like an inner city kid from Detroit is applying to Oxford ever. THAT would be something to admire.

There’s a huge difference between living in another country and a 1-2 week trip. The former requires much more independence, self-confidence, etc. It’s not something just any 18 year old can handle.

This 100%. I have two kids that studied abroad. One transfered back to the states after 18 months. The other graduated form Bocconi.
They travelled all over the world growing up. It is a different universe, traveling for fun, vs living there full time to get a degree. One of my kids couldn’t handle it. He had good grades, but couldnt handle living in another continent…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a self selective environment. Even between those who decide to apply to to UK/EU universties. Some are just doing it because a few UK school are in the common app, so why not. Then there are the ones who are serious about exploring university life outside the US. These kids are not like the avg kid applying to American schools.

It takes a different kid to want to not only leave home, but be in another continent for 3-4 years studying in a completely different environment. This is why a lot of those kids end up succeeding at whatever they are doing. On avg these kids are independent go getters. Maybe not the HYPSM types since most of these have no reason to go away.

You gotta appreciate the desire and independent thinking of an American kid wanting to leave the US to go to school in Europe.

Not really, if they have serious money it is not going to be any different from their ski trips to Austria and their safari's in Africa. Money has reach and for a lot of kids this will just be par for the course.

It's not like an inner city kid from Detroit is applying to Oxford ever. THAT would be something to admire.

There’s a huge difference between living in another country and a 1-2 week trip. The former requires much more independence, self-confidence, etc. It’s not something just any 18 year old can handle.

Yeah but I don't think you get it, actual wealthy kids are spending 6 weeks in Tanzania or an entire summer in the Meditteranean, not going on cheap 2 week vacations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a self selective environment. Even between those who decide to apply to to UK/EU universties. Some are just doing it because a few UK school are in the common app, so why not. Then there are the ones who are serious about exploring university life outside the US. These kids are not like the avg kid applying to American schools.

It takes a different kid to want to not only leave home, but be in another continent for 3-4 years studying in a completely different environment. This is why a lot of those kids end up succeeding at whatever they are doing. On avg these kids are independent go getters. Maybe not the HYPSM types since most of these have no reason to go away.

You gotta appreciate the desire and independent thinking of an American kid wanting to leave the US to go to school in Europe.

Not really, if they have serious money it is not going to be any different from their ski trips to Austria and their safari's in Africa. Money has reach and for a lot of kids this will just be par for the course.

It's not like an inner city kid from Detroit is applying to Oxford ever. THAT would be something to admire.

There’s a huge difference between living in another country and a 1-2 week trip. The former requires much more independence, self-confidence, etc. It’s not something just any 18 year old can handle.

Yeah but I don't think you get it, actual wealthy kids are spending 6 weeks in Tanzania or an entire summer in the Meditteranean, not going on cheap 2 week vacations.

Oh please. Both of my kids went to school in the UK. One at St Andrews and one at Trinity. NONE of them had friends spending the whole summer in the Mediterranean or 6 week in Tanzania. You just seem bitter for some reason.