Tell me about St Andrews in Scotland
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Anonymous
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Hi My DC is OBSESSED with St Andrew's in Scotland, based on pictures online, the website and anecdotal info. He is a junior so we have a little time. Hopefully, maybe we can visit it things calm down with Covid.
Can you tell me the good, the bad, the ugly, the unexpected etc. THANKS! |
Anonymous
| You might want to consider the joint W&M/St. Andrew’s program. Check it out on the W&M website. |
Anonymous
| I wish I had more first hand knowledge to share. My daughter did a summer program there and loved it, but decided she wanted to be closer for college. I know of a couple of other kids who go there and love it. My impression (not sure if it's accurate or not) is that it trends more toward private school kids going than public school kids. |
Anonymous
| It is very beautiful, very cold, and very isolated. I think it would be a great place for a year abroad, or a 1-2-year Master's program, but a major commitment for the full four years. That said, visit this summer if you can and see what you think. The education is excellent and the Scottish system is a nice compromise between the English 3-year BA and the US system. They have been recruiting US students for at least 40 years, so it's a well-trod path back and forth. |
Anonymous
| My nephew is there and loves it. He seems to know lots of very wealthy classmates. |
Anonymous
| Lots of Americans - maybe 10% I know a few who have gone and loved it. |
Anonymous
My DD applied and got in but, ultimately, chose a different UK university. St Andrews is known for having a high percentage of US students (relative to other UK schools) and posh, private school UK students. It definitely has a Hogwarts vibe (ancient buildings and the students wear bright red robes). It is very beautiful but geographically isolated in a small town. As I understand it, international relations is a particularly popular major there. Because they have a relatively high U.S. student population, they're skilled at catering to U.S. students (and parents!). St Andrews was the only one of the five UK schools my DD was accepted to that bothered to send a congratulatory snail mail acceptance, complete with slick US-style marketing material. They are also more willing to offer unconditional acceptances than some other prominent UK schools. This is particularly nice because having to meet your offer is nerve-wracking, particularly when all of your other US friends already know where they're going by spring. If your son is seriously interested in submitting an application one good resource is The Student Room, which is like College Confidential for UK students. I've also included a link to St Andrew's The Tab online publication. The Tab is a chain of student-run publications (lots of UK unis have one so your DC can check out other schools to get a flavor). It's a bit snarky and irreverent but gives a general vibe. https://thetab.com/uk/stand/?cmpredirect |
Anonymous
| I'm always a little concerned when I see parents thinking of sending their children to universities abroad. It is a long-term commitment. The best universities in America offer arguably the best undergraduate education, and at least for job prospects (particularly in North America), a U.S. degree will get you farther. I know it's not popular to say these kinds of things (I feel like I need to say that I am not remotely near a MAGA head), but I feel like it warrants mention. |
Anonymous
Do you have stats to back that up? At. Andrew’s rivals good US universities. |
Anonymous
What gives you the impression that St. Andrews rivals "good US universities"? It would be lucky to be placed in the top 75 or so if it were plopped in the States. |
Anonymous
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I had a friend that went, and ended up transferring out after the first year because she under-estimated how much the short days during most of the school year would affect her. She just found it very dark and depressing. She transferred into a school in New England, which is still cold, but just found the longer days really helpful.
So maybe send them with one of those lights for SAD and a bottle of Vitamin D pills? I think this had just not at all occurred to my friend, and she was unprepared for the physical effects of changing latitude that way. |
Anonymous
The Guardian ranks it #2 in the UK, ahead of Cambridge: https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2020/sep/05/the-best-uk-universities-2021-league-table |
Anonymous
| Did my masters there in International Relations. Great program and close knit student body. It is a small town and the university community is even smaller so that works for some but not for others. Good number of Americans there and other international students— I left with good friends all over the world. As an American you can fit in anywhere (ie the class divide there between the British students is quite real, which was very different for me, but Americans can slot in anywhere). I enjoyed the more in depth study of material versus the more broad American system. Would definitely recommend visiting to get a feel given the small size of the town. |
Anonymous
To add on to my post above, social life is very different than US universities— ie dinner parties, bars, and charity balls versus house parties with kegs. One is not better than the other— just different. |
Anonymous
No one, and certainly not Brits, would rank St Andrews above Cambridge. |