Did anyone's DC get accepted/rejected at a UK school this year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a student who is not likely to get admitted to Oxbridge/Durham/Imperial, what are some UK universities that are a good option for a family with about $40k to spend per year?

Bristol, Manchester, York, Nottingham are all well-regarded in the UK with international tuition running around 18,000-25,000 pounds (about $22,000-$28,000 with the current exchange rate) depending on whether or not DC wants a humanities or lab-based course.

Scottish unis are often worth a look at - they offer more flexibility in course of study than UK unis and are often more accustomed to dealing with US students. Edinburgh and St Andrews are the most highly regarded, but even they do not have incredibly high entry requirements (if I remember from when DD went to an Edi info session, it was a 27 on the ACT and two 4s on any two relevant APs as minimum qualifications). Glasgow and Aberdeen are also beautiful - they are ancient and the architecture can be very Harry Potter-esque! My DD was accepted into Edinburgh and St Andrews unconditionally and the reps from the unis were all very informative and helpful.

If DC wants to be in London, it might be worth looking at some of the member institutions of the University of London (sort of analogous to the UC system, except all the unis are in the same city), including SOAS, Royal Holloway, QMUL, and City. Be wary though - the cost of living in London is astronomically higher than in other parts of the UK and from our experience with a UoL uni, housing was uncomfortably unguaranteed (it was possible that she could be living miles away from her school). With that being said, London is a fabulous place to live and go to school and was highly attractive to DD.

Generally, we found that UK unis are very transparent with their entry requirements - a quick search of "x university international student qualifications" should do it! If not, be on the lookout for information sessions at locales such as the British School - we went to a few of these and found them to be incredibly helpful!

Thanks, this is very helpful. DD is very keen on London, but we have friends who have gone to Bristol, Leeds and Edinburgh. So, we are trying to expand her options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a Professor at a non-Oxbridge UK university. UK Schools/departments do their own admissions with only a little help from the University. The school/department/course sets a minimum bar for admissions (e.g., AAB for a good school). For UK students, there are a fixed number of slots and every good school can fill all the slots with AAA students.

They then have an essentially unlimited number of slots for students that meet the minimum bar. These students are cash cows for the school and the faculty on the admissions committee attempts to figure out how to justify that every full fee paying student meets the minimum bar.

They do not lower the bar to ABB because that would hurt them in the league tables and the money associated with being high in the league tables is more valuable than the money from fee paying students. They keep the bar at AAB instead of AAA because that allows them to admit more full paying student.

If your full fee paying student can get into one AAB school, they can get into any AAB school.

Your entire post is Horse Potatoes.

There is no such thing as a full paying student or a part paying student or a nonpaying student in uk colleges and universities. You have zero clue what you'er talking about. Stop spouting false information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also St Andrews, LSE...

What are acceptance stats for St
Andrews?
SAT, GPA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also St Andrews, LSE...

What are acceptance stats for St
Andrews?
SAT, GPA?

https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/entry/usa/

[Anonymous]

NP. For the parents whose kids applied to/were accepted at UK (or EU in the case of Ireland) universities do campus visits before applying or after acceptance? Is that a thing? Or are they applying based on website information, etc.?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. For the parents whose kids applied to/were accepted at UK (or EU in the case of Ireland) universities do campus visits before applying or after acceptance? Is that a thing? Or are they applying based on website information, etc.?

UK unis have open days periodically throughout the spring and summer and some have tours throughout the year. My DD's decision to apply to UK schools was last minute so we visited in December when she went for a mandatory interview at one of the schools to which she had applied. At this point, she had been accepted to some schools but hadn't yet heard from others (admissions are generally rolling - some offers are conditional).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. For the parents whose kids applied to/were accepted at UK (or EU in the case of Ireland) universities do campus visits before applying or after acceptance? Is that a thing? Or are they applying based on website information, etc.?

UK unis have open days periodically throughout the spring and summer and some have tours throughout the year. My DD's decision to apply to UK schools was last minute so we visited in December when she went for a mandatory interview at one of the schools to which she had applied. At this point, she had been accepted to some schools but hadn't yet heard from others (admissions are generally rolling - some offers are conditional).

Sounds like Oxford - they have mandatory interviews.

[Anonymous]

Dates for Open days are on the websites. You can also email international admission office and ask for a tour.

[Anonymous]

For those with kids in the UK now, how is the experience going? Are they happy they made the jump or have second thoughts about it?

(Our older DC is starting to prioritize target schools, and a big decision is US vs. Europe, where I'm from)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those with kids in the UK now, how is the experience going? Are they happy they made the jump or have second thoughts about it?

(Our older DC is starting to prioritize target schools, and a big decision is US vs. Europe, where I'm from)

Mine will graduate this year from Edinburgh. It was one of the best decisions. Loves it there.

[Anonymous]

congratulations on your child's achievement, PP. Does your kid fly into LHR then take the train all the way? Those minimum application requirements look good. I'm thinking that Edi might not be such a big savings from the English schools because of that fourth year, would you agree? tia


"Achieving the following grades will not guarantee you a place at Edinburgh, but will make you a competitive applicant. Please note, our Admissions Office will consider the other aspects of your application, such as the personal statement.

Examples of our minimum entry requirements in the standardised tests are:

ACT score of 27 plus two AP scores at 4+ or two SAT subject tests at 650+
SAT score of 1290+ (650+ in Evidence based reading and Writing and 620+ in Math) plus two AP scores at 4+ or two SAT subject tests at 650+
3 AP scores at 4+
3 SAT Subject Test scores of 650+
A combination of the AP and SAT, such as 1 AP score at 4+ and 2 SAT Subject Tests at 650+

Applicants should submit all of their test scores, and our Admission Offices will consider the highest scores submitted for each. Please note, the University of Edinburgh does not Superscore the ACT but will consider a Superscore for the new and old SAT. The optional essay sections are not required.

A combination of AP and SAT Subject tests are acceptable, provided they are in different subjects. For example, AP French and SAT Physics are acceptable as two scores, but AP French and SAT French are only considered once.

Please note AP scores are used for admissions purposes only, and no advanced credit is awarded as there is no core curriculum in Scotland. AP Research is not accepted as meeting one of the three required."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those with kids in the UK now, how is the experience going? Are they happy they made the jump or have second thoughts about it?

(Our older DC is starting to prioritize target schools, and a big decision is US vs. Europe, where I'm from)

Mine will graduate this year from Edinburgh. It was one of the best decisions. Loves it there.

Thanks.

Planning to stay in Europe or come back? How are job prospects?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:congratulations on your child's achievement, PP. Does your kid fly into LHR then take the train all the way? Those minimum application requirements look good. I'm thinking that Edi might not be such a big savings from the English schools because of that fourth year, would you agree? tia


"Achieving the following grades will not guarantee you a place at Edinburgh, but will make you a competitive applicant. Please note, our Admissions Office will consider the other aspects of your application, such as the personal statement.

Examples of our minimum entry requirements in the standardised tests are:

ACT score of 27 plus two AP scores at 4+ or two SAT subject tests at 650+
SAT score of 1290+ (650+ in Evidence based reading and Writing and 620+ in Math) plus two AP scores at 4+ or two SAT subject tests at 650+
3 AP scores at 4+
3 SAT Subject Test scores of 650+
A combination of the AP and SAT, such as 1 AP score at 4+ and 2 SAT Subject Tests at 650+

Applicants should submit all of their test scores, and our Admission Offices will consider the highest scores submitted for each. Please note, the University of Edinburgh does not Superscore the ACT but will consider a Superscore for the new and old SAT. The optional essay sections are not required.

A combination of AP and SAT Subject tests are acceptable, provided they are in different subjects. For example, AP French and SAT Physics are acceptable as two scores, but AP French and SAT French are only considered once.

Please note AP scores are used for admissions purposes only, and no advanced credit is awarded as there is no core curriculum in Scotland. AP Research is not accepted as meeting one of the three required."

Thank you. IAD-DUB-EDI on Aerolingus 30k avios roundtrip

Scottish unis give a bit of flexibility the first two years in terms of course selection. There are required and outside courses, so your student can explore interests outside of the chosen “major”. Be careful with min requirements, as studies are intense, esp stem. You want your student to be prepared very well. I would not send a kid to study CS without calc bc, for example.
Required courses have to be passed with a certain grade, some on the first try. In general, Edi does not want any student to be there longer than 4 years. So either you study and pass, or they will show you the door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those with kids in the UK now, how is the experience going? Are they happy they made the jump or have second thoughts about it?

(Our older DC is starting to prioritize target schools, and a big decision is US vs. Europe, where I'm from)

Mine will graduate this year from Edinburgh. It was one of the best decisions. Loves it there.

Thanks.

Planning to stay in Europe or come back? How are job prospects?

Not sure at this point. One thing that bugs me about Edi is weak career services for US-based students.
Starting next year, all graduates will be allowed to stay in the UK for 2 years after graduation (2020 enrollment).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those with kids in the UK now, how is the experience going? Are they happy they made the jump or have second thoughts about it?

(Our older DC is starting to prioritize target schools, and a big decision is US vs. Europe, where I'm from)

Mine will graduate this year from Edinburgh. It was one of the best decisions. Loves it there.

Thanks.

Planning to stay in Europe or come back? How are job prospects?

Not sure at this point. One thing that bugs me about Edi is weak career services for US-based students.
Starting next year, all graduates will be allowed to stay in the UK for 2 years after graduation (2020 enrollment).

You're hilarious. Its a Scottish university, what on earth do you expect?