Tell me about St Andrews in Scotland

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:you're the oxford dad, right? I can tell bcs you really love to lean into "everyone is laughing at you" thing. which is bizarre. shaming kids is not really a cool thing to be known for.

I have no idea who oxford dad is, but he sounds funny. It's just truthful. St. Andrews is a rich kid school that would fail without American money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it's hugely popular in nyc. very smart kids who don't have a fake passion project or aren't a recruited athlete.

it's not as easy to get into as some of you think

St. Andrews international students get laughed at for being dumb but rich enough to pay for it. It's okay to say that they cannot get into an actual top school, so they need an "international experience." If the kids were intelligent, they'd go to Oxbridge or LSE, or...a top American college.

I graduated from St Andrews within the last 10 years. Multiple of my classmates got into Ivy League colleges (Dartmouth, Cornell, Penn, etc.). Some of my British friends who were top boy (valedictorian) had their top choice as St Andrews over Oxbridge. It’s all a matter of preference..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it's hugely popular in nyc. very smart kids who don't have a fake passion project or aren't a recruited athlete.

it's not as easy to get into as some of you think

St. Andrews international students get laughed at for being dumb but rich enough to pay for it. It's okay to say that they cannot get into an actual top school, so they need an "international experience." If the kids were intelligent, they'd go to Oxbridge or LSE, or...a top American college.

I graduated from St Andrews within the last 10 years. Multiple of my classmates got into Ivy League colleges (Dartmouth, Cornell, Penn, etc.). Some of my British friends who were top boy (valedictorian) had their top choice as St Andrews over Oxbridge. It’s all a matter of preference..

I have no doubt that the British nationals are a bright bunch. It's the ones subsidizing their lights that aren't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it's hugely popular in nyc. very smart kids who don't have a fake passion project or aren't a recruited athlete.

it's not as easy to get into as some of you think

St. Andrews international students get laughed at for being dumb but rich enough to pay for it. It's okay to say that they cannot get into an actual top school, so they need an "international experience." If the kids were intelligent, they'd go to Oxbridge or LSE, or...a top American college.

I graduated from St Andrews within the last 10 years. Multiple of my classmates got into Ivy League colleges (Dartmouth, Cornell, Penn, etc.). Some of my British friends who were top boy (valedictorian) had their top choice as St Andrews over Oxbridge. It’s all a matter of preference..

I have no doubt that the British nationals are a bright bunch. It's the ones subsidizing their lights that aren't.

I was referencing my American friends as the ones who got into ivy leagues.. some of the international students are extremely brilliant

[Anonymous]

Lol who cares how rich the American students are or if it’s easier to get in as an American. It’s an internationally prestigious school with a great reputation.

[Anonymous]

Kind of… the reputation is quickly hanging- excellent prestigious school for UK students that is funded by wealthy Americans who would have otherwise gone to Bucknell.

[Anonymous]

I will never miss a chance to drop in here occasionally and warn other American families off this school because of the way our student was treated here. They sell the castles and kilts experience to lure the Americans in, but they have no money, and they are annoyed they need us there. The administration has no interest in the undergraduates. They call that “no hand holding”. Plucky American kids think “sure, I’m independent and mature, I can handle that”. Reality is it’s just hands-off bare minimum customer service- kind of like when the DMV sends you home for not having your five points of ID, even though you brought ten with you. They don’t care and won’t work with you. If you’re willing to risk that, cool. Otherwise just do a semester here, or maybe graduate school.

[Anonymous]

We just received another fundraising plea from them yesterday, even though our student was “terminated” by the University three years ago.

Our student had a crummy case of long covid which went undiagnosed during a semester. - They went for a mononucleosis test in town, other tests, nothing was showing up. Their grades really suffered that semester.

When they were home over break, they finally had the correct diagnosis, but they missed the deadline at school to report an illness that would excuse their grades.

Because of the international student visa, they would not be able to complete their degree within the Visa timeframe, unless extra time was granted by the University.

So- the dean in charge of our student’s case was not moved by this plight, “terminated” our student and sent them home, just as their health was improving.

Our student appealed, with more detailed letters from doctors, letters of support from professors within the department of their major, and the same Dean denied the appeal.

Our student appealed a second time, but unless there was “new” evidence to add to the appeal, the second set of administrators were not allowed to overturn the decision by the first dean.

So our student had to leave and enroll at local state U at home. Three years into their major. After their health was back on track and they were busy and involved with friends, clubs, academic life.

Unfortunately because of the difference between UK and USA- our by then 21 year old student had to start over with all the liberal arts requirements that they didn’t have to do at St Andrews. Psych 101, English 101, Math 101 etc etc etc. So instead of just finishing up a few classes in the major and moving on, our student is back at the beginning as a commuter student.

Meanwhile- the departmental head at St Andrews was encouraging our student to reapply. So- they did. With letters of support from professors and the student services office.

Somehow that same Dean got wind that our student was reapplying, miffed that his colleagues were trying to circumvent his authority,he marched over to admissions office and told them in no uncertain terms was our student’s application allowed to be reviewed.

That administrator also told his colleagues they should not have been in touch with our student and that he could “write them up” for that.

According to the St Andrews handbook- students ARE allowed to reapply who have had extenuating circumstances, but apparently our student’s long haul Covid, and “wasn’t compelling” (their words).

They just needed one extra semester.

Honestly it was a case of petty administrative jealousies and stupid power moves, with our student caught in the middle.

Iy was such a disappointing experience handled so unprofessionally. Our student had excellent grades until they were ill, and every administrator was in their own little bubble with “their hands tied, sorry, don’t take it personally.” Total government bureaucracy mentality at that school (they call that ‘no hand holding”).


It was a heartbreaking, expensive (starting over at new American U) headache with that school.

Every time we get a glossy plea from their development office it reminds me how poorly they dealt with this issue and how poorly the school is run.

Caveat emptor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just received another fundraising plea from them yesterday, even though our student was “terminated” by the University three years ago.

Our student had a crummy case of long covid which went undiagnosed during a semester. - They went for a mononucleosis test in town, other tests, nothing was showing up. Their grades really suffered that semester.

When they were home over break, they finally had the correct diagnosis, but they missed the deadline at school to report an illness that would excuse their grades.

Because of the international student visa, they would not be able to complete their degree within the Visa timeframe, unless extra time was granted by the University.

So- the dean in charge of our student’s case was not moved by this plight, “terminated” our student and sent them home, just as their health was improving.

Our student appealed, with more detailed letters from doctors, letters of support from professors within the department of their major, and the same Dean denied the appeal.

Our student appealed a second time, but unless there was “new” evidence to add to the appeal, the second set of administrators were not allowed to overturn the decision by the first dean.

So our student had to leave and enroll at local state U at home. Three years into their major. After their health was back on track and they were busy and involved with friends, clubs, academic life.

Unfortunately because of the difference between UK and USA- our by then 21 year old student had to start over with all the liberal arts requirements that they didn’t have to do at St Andrews. Psych 101, English 101, Math 101 etc etc etc. So instead of just finishing up a few classes in the major and moving on, our student is back at the beginning as a commuter student.

Meanwhile- the departmental head at St Andrews was encouraging our student to reapply. So- they did. With letters of support from professors and the student services office.

Somehow that same Dean got wind that our student was reapplying, miffed that his colleagues were trying to circumvent his authority,he marched over to admissions office and told them in no uncertain terms was our student’s application allowed to be reviewed.

That administrator also told his colleagues they should not have been in touch with our student and that he could “write them up” for that.

According to the St Andrews handbook- students ARE allowed to reapply who have had extenuating circumstances, but apparently our student’s long haul Covid, and “wasn’t compelling” (their words).

They just needed one extra semester.

Honestly it was a case of petty administrative jealousies and stupid power moves, with our student caught in the middle.

Iy was such a disappointing experience handled so unprofessionally. Our student had excellent grades until they were ill, and every administrator was in their own little bubble with “their hands tied, sorry, don’t take it personally.” Total government bureaucracy mentality at that school (they call that ‘no hand holding”).


It was a heartbreaking, expensive (starting over at new American U) headache with that school.

Every time we get a glossy plea from their development office it reminds me how poorly they dealt with this issue and how poorly the school is run.

Caveat emptor

I read this as you being a PITA. That's why they didn't want your kid back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it's hugely popular in nyc. very smart kids who don't have a fake passion project or aren't a recruited athlete.

it's not as easy to get into as some of you think

St. Andrews international students get laughed at for being dumb but rich enough to pay for it. It's okay to say that they cannot get into an actual top school, so they need an "international experience." If the kids were intelligent, they'd go to Oxbridge or LSE, or...a top American college.

I graduated from St Andrews within the last 10 years. Multiple of my classmates got into Ivy League colleges (Dartmouth, Cornell, Penn, etc.). Some of my British friends who were top boy (valedictorian) had their top choice as St Andrews over Oxbridge. It’s all a matter of preference..

I went to Oxbridge. Absolutely no way that a student accepted to Oxbridge would choose St Andrews. You are making things up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it's hugely popular in nyc. very smart kids who don't have a fake passion project or aren't a recruited athlete.

it's not as easy to get into as some of you think

St. Andrews international students get laughed at for being dumb but rich enough to pay for it. It's okay to say that they cannot get into an actual top school, so they need an "international experience." If the kids were intelligent, they'd go to Oxbridge or LSE, or...a top American college.

I graduated from St Andrews within the last 10 years. Multiple of my classmates got into Ivy League colleges (Dartmouth, Cornell, Penn, etc.). Some of my British friends who were top boy (valedictorian) had their top choice as St Andrews over Oxbridge. It’s all a matter of preference..

I went to Oxbridge. Absolutely no way that a student accepted to Oxbridge would choose St Andrews. You are making things up.

+1

[Anonymous]

Nobody at St Andrews would have any idea if I’m a “pain in the ass”, as you so nicely point out- they take zero interaction with parents in these types of cases and we didn’t push. They won’t talk to anyone in person, they won’t even talk to the student in person. They make these decisions with “ruthless efficiency” as this dean’s own bio says. Good luck with the college search!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The greatest value you will receive from St Andrews in my opinion is the graduate prospectus and international experience.

Graduate prospectus: St Andrews alumni place very well at reputable companies and graduate schools. The UK league table scores St Andrews at 90% for graduate prospectus, just shy of Cambridge and Oxford (93% and 92% respectively).

International experience: The St Andrews student body is significantly more international than US schools. The international experience is tremendously formative and something you won’t receive at a US school.

St Andrews definitely won’t provide the same hand holding and resources compared to a US school. It’s best suited for independent/proactive students who are outgoing and can handle the coursework.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nobody at St Andrews would have any idea if I’m a “pain in the ass”, as you so nicely point out- they take zero interaction with parents in these types of cases and we didn’t push. They won’t talk to anyone in person, they won’t even talk to the student in person. They make these decisions with “ruthless efficiency” as this dean’s own bio says. Good luck with the college search!

But according to your story above they obviously knew who you were and went to great strides to make sure your kid couldn't apply! Can't be both ways!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody at St Andrews would have any idea if I’m a “pain in the ass”, as you so nicely point out- they take zero interaction with parents in these types of cases and we didn’t push. They won’t talk to anyone in person, they won’t even talk to the student in person. They make these decisions with “ruthless efficiency” as this dean’s own bio says. Good luck with the college search!

But according to your story above they obviously knew who you were and went to great strides to make sure your kid couldn't apply! Can't be both ways!

+1. British schools do NOT want PITA American students or PITA American parents