Anonymous
02/25/2025 15:14
Subject: Consensus world view of TOP 5/6 UK University Rankings (Prestige/Research)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Interesting Thread. We have a Junior that is adamant about going abroad.
Outside of Oxbridge/LSE or Imperial, how the next level of UK universities compare to US universities? I’m not asking about Job Prospects. Just a comparison of pedigrees in since this always the topic around DCUM.
What are the US universities that would group well with each of these?
UCL
Kings
Edinburgh
St Andrews
Based on QS rankings:
UCL - in between Caltech and Penn/Berkeley
Edinburgh - in between Yale and Columbia
Kings - in between Columbia and UCLA/NYU/Michigan
based on Times Higher Education:
UCL - around Cornell/Michigan/Columbia/UCLA
Edinburgh - around Duke/Nothwestern/NYU
Kings - around UCSD and ahead of Brown/UT etc
Based on US News:
UCL right by Columbia and Yale
Kinds and Edinburgh about tied and right by NYU
Based on # of Nobel Prize Winners according to Aron Frishberg website:
UCL - 24 (around Penn and Washington U)
Edinburgh - 20 (around NYU, UCSD and ahead of UCLA and Michigan
Kings - 11 (around Duke and USC)
St Andrews - 3 (around Missouri/Pitt and FLorida)
St Andrews doesnt do well in World Rankings as these are usually weighted towards research output and quality of research and not so much on undergraduate teaching.
But you can clearly see based on a variety of sources, the equivalent universities….
Had no idea UCL and Edinburgh had almost 50 Nobel Prize winners between them….
Apparently not many at DCUM understands this either….My son is in his last year of UCL’s integrated Computer Science MEng program. He has two offers to come back to the States to work for one of the FANG’s. It has been a great experience for him. Despite having a 1580 on the SAT, living in Southern Cal he didnt get in any of the UCs 4 years ago (white, privileged background). He picked UCL over USC and he has had the time of his life. The IXN program at UCL has been incredible. Would not have changed that for anything.
That’s amazing considering all the layoffs and hiring freezes. good for him
Anonymous
02/25/2025 15:11
Subject: Consensus world view of TOP 5/6 UK University Rankings (Prestige/Research)
Anonymous wrote:My Junior is seriously considering going abroad. We will be going to the UK in June to tour 6-7 schools (Glasgow, Edinburgh, St Andrews, Manchester, Durham, Exeter, Warwick and Bristol).
Just worried about the hate americans will be getting there given our gov actions in the international stage…
Nice list. I took my DS to see Durham, Warwick, Bristol and Leeds last year. He applied for Durham and Bristol (and some others he did not visit).
Anonymous
02/25/2025 15:03
Subject: Consensus world view of TOP 5/6 UK University Rankings (Prestige/Research)
Anonymous wrote:It is hard. Need lots of relevant AP’s at a 5.
My DS had 5 AP’s at a 5, including Calc BC and he did not get an offer. Yet, he had an offer to Oxford. He applied to Oxford, LSE and St Andrews. He had offers from Oxford and St Andrews and not LSE.
I think LSE only has an acceptance rate of about 9%. And don't forget British students can't even apply unless they are predicted to get the minimum grades required (not sure if same for international students).
Anonymous
02/25/2025 12:32
Subject: Consensus world view of TOP 5/6 UK University Rankings (Prestige/Research)
It is hard. Need lots of relevant AP’s at a 5.
My DS had 5 AP’s at a 5, including Calc BC and he did not get an offer. Yet, he had an offer to Oxford. He applied to Oxford, LSE and St Andrews. He had offers from Oxford and St Andrews and not LSE.
My DS had 5 AP’s at a 5, including Calc BC and he did not get an offer. Yet, he had an offer to Oxford. He applied to Oxford, LSE and St Andrews. He had offers from Oxford and St Andrews and not LSE.
Anonymous
02/24/2025 20:47
Subject: Consensus world view of TOP 5/6 UK University Rankings (Prestige/Research)
How hard is it to be accepted to LSE? My junior wants to study economics. He is a high stat kid. If he does not get into top10, he wants to go to LSE.
Anonymous
02/23/2025 15:23
Subject: Consensus world view of TOP 5/6 UK University Rankings (Prestige/Research)
Anonymous wrote:Is there GREEK life at these UK universities?
There are exclusive societies and what not at Oxford and Cambridge. Not technically Greek, but same idea.
Not sure if they welcome foreigners since it tends to be for the Eton and similar crowd.
Anonymous
02/23/2025 13:44
Subject: Consensus world view of TOP 5/6 UK University Rankings (Prestige/Research)
Is there GREEK life at these UK universities?
Anonymous
02/22/2025 17:55
Subject: Consensus world view of TOP 5/6 UK University Rankings (Prestige/Research)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Interesting Thread. We have a Junior that is adamant about going abroad.
Outside of Oxbridge/LSE or Imperial, how the next level of UK universities compare to US universities? I’m not asking about Job Prospects. Just a comparison of pedigrees in since this always the topic around DCUM.
What are the US universities that would group well with each of these?
UCL
Kings
Edinburgh
St Andrews
Based on QS rankings:
UCL - in between Caltech and Penn/Berkeley
Edinburgh - in between Yale and Columbia
Kings - in between Columbia and UCLA/NYU/Michigan
based on Times Higher Education:
UCL - around Cornell/Michigan/Columbia/UCLA
Edinburgh - around Duke/Nothwestern/NYU
Kings - around UCSD and ahead of Brown/UT etc
Based on US News:
UCL right by Columbia and Yale
Kinds and Edinburgh about tied and right by NYU
Based on # of Nobel Prize Winners according to Aron Frishberg website:
UCL - 24 (around Penn and Washington U)
Edinburgh - 20 (around NYU, UCSD and ahead of UCLA and Michigan
Kings - 11 (around Duke and USC)
St Andrews - 3 (around Missouri/Pitt and FLorida)
St Andrews doesnt do well in World Rankings as these are usually weighted towards research output and quality of research and not so much on undergraduate teaching.
But you can clearly see based on a variety of sources, the equivalent universities….
Had no idea UCL and Edinburgh had almost 50 Nobel Prize winners between them….
Apparently not many at DCUM understands this either….My son is in his last year of UCL’s integrated Computer Science MEng program. He has two offers to come back to the States to work for one of the FANG’s. It has been a great experience for him. Despite having a 1580 on the SAT, living in Southern Cal he didnt get in any of the UCs 4 years ago (white, privileged background). He picked UCL over USC and he has had the time of his life. The IXN program at UCL has been incredible. Would not have changed that for anything.
Anonymous
02/22/2025 16:46
Subject: Consensus world view of TOP 5/6 UK University Rankings (Prestige/Research)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, thanks for posting. Currently tossing up potential choices for DS if a conditional offer for economics from Edinburgh comes through (already has offer from Durham).
Similar spot here. Son has offers from Bristol and Exeter. Waiting on Edinburgh and St Andrews.
Is your son leaning Edinburgh if everything comes through?
My DD got unconditional offers at St. Andrews and Edinburgh in November, but has heard nothing from the LSE.
Anyone hear anything from there?
Any update from LSE? Is it LSE or bust for your kid?
No news yet from LSE. The internet tells us that offers usually go out mid March through April.
One of the considerations for the students that plan on graduate studies - one can go straight to PhD after 4 years at Edi, for example.
If LSE is a no, will your DD still select between St Andrews and Edinburgh or stay stateside?
Anonymous
02/22/2025 15:01
Subject: Consensus world view of TOP 5/6 UK University Rankings (Prestige/Research)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, thanks for posting. Currently tossing up potential choices for DS if a conditional offer for economics from Edinburgh comes through (already has offer from Durham).
Similar spot here. Son has offers from Bristol and Exeter. Waiting on Edinburgh and St Andrews.
Is your son leaning Edinburgh if everything comes through?
My DD got unconditional offers at St. Andrews and Edinburgh in November, but has heard nothing from the LSE.
Anyone hear anything from there?
Any update from LSE? Is it LSE or bust for your kid?
No news yet from LSE. The internet tells us that offers usually go out mid March through April.
If LSE is a no, will your DD still select between St Andrews and Edinburgh or stay stateside?
Anonymous
02/21/2025 21:36
Subject: Consensus world view of TOP 5/6 UK University Rankings (Prestige/Research)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, thanks for posting. Currently tossing up potential choices for DS if a conditional offer for economics from Edinburgh comes through (already has offer from Durham).
Similar spot here. Son has offers from Bristol and Exeter. Waiting on Edinburgh and St Andrews.
Is your son leaning Edinburgh if everything comes through?
My DD got unconditional offers at St. Andrews and Edinburgh in November, but has heard nothing from the LSE.
Anyone hear anything from there?
Any update from LSE? Is it LSE or bust for your kid?
No news yet from LSE. The internet tells us that offers usually go out mid March through April.
Anonymous
02/21/2025 18:42
Subject: Consensus world view of TOP 5/6 UK University Rankings (Prestige/Research)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, thanks for posting. Currently tossing up potential choices for DS if a conditional offer for economics from Edinburgh comes through (already has offer from Durham).
Similar spot here. Son has offers from Bristol and Exeter. Waiting on Edinburgh and St Andrews.
Is your son leaning Edinburgh if everything comes through?
My DD got unconditional offers at St. Andrews and Edinburgh in November, but has heard nothing from the LSE.
Anyone hear anything from there?
Any update from LSE? Is it LSE or bust for your kid?
Anonymous
02/20/2025 22:36
Subject: Consensus world view of TOP 5/6 UK University Rankings (Prestige/Research)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Interesting Thread. We have a Junior that is adamant about going abroad.
Outside of Oxbridge/LSE or Imperial, how the next level of UK universities compare to US universities? I’m not asking about Job Prospects. Just a comparison of pedigrees in since this always the topic around DCUM.
What are the US universities that would group well with each of these?
UCL
Kings
Edinburgh
St Andrews
Based on QS rankings:
UCL - in between Caltech and Penn/Berkeley
Edinburgh - in between Yale and Columbia
Kings - in between Columbia and UCLA/NYU/Michigan
based on Times Higher Education:
UCL - around Cornell/Michigan/Columbia/UCLA
Edinburgh - around Duke/Nothwestern/NYU
Kings - around UCSD and ahead of Brown/UT etc
Based on US News:
UCL right by Columbia and Yale
Kinds and Edinburgh about tied and right by NYU
Based on # of Nobel Prize Winners according to Aron Frishberg website:
UCL - 24 (around Penn and Washington U)
Edinburgh - 20 (around NYU, UCSD and ahead of UCLA and Michigan
Kings - 11 (around Duke and USC)
St Andrews - 3 (around Missouri/Pitt and FLorida)
St Andrews doesnt do well in World Rankings as these are usually weighted towards research output and quality of research and not so much on undergraduate teaching.
But you can clearly see based on a variety of sources, the equivalent universities….
Had no idea UCL and Edinburgh had almost 50 Nobel Prize winners between them….
Anonymous
02/20/2025 22:34
Subject: Consensus world view of TOP 5/6 UK University Rankings (Prestige/Research)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My Junior is seriously considering going abroad. We will be going to the UK in June to tour 6-7 schools (Glasgow, Edinburgh, St Andrews, Manchester, Durham, Exeter, Warwick and Bristol).
Just worried about the hate americans will be getting there given our gov actions in the international stage…
When I am abroad, I never bring up politics and I dodge political questions if someone asks. I just say I do not do politics. It works reasonably well for me. Try to avoid either attacking or defending US political positions.
Quite frankly the opposite has worked well for me in my latest trip last month. This nutty gov just make it so easy to criticize it. For those of us embarrassed about our own gov., there is not reason to dodge political questions…..95% chance most people you come across in the old continent will agree with you.
Anonymous
02/20/2025 19:35
Subject: Consensus world view of TOP 5/6 UK University Rankings (Prestige/Research)
Anonymous wrote:My Junior is seriously considering going abroad. We will be going to the UK in June to tour 6-7 schools (Glasgow, Edinburgh, St Andrews, Manchester, Durham, Exeter, Warwick and Bristol).
Just worried about the hate americans will be getting there given our gov actions in the international stage…
When I am abroad, I never bring up politics and I dodge political questions if someone asks. I just say I do not do politics. It works reasonably well for me. Try to avoid either attacking or defending US political positions.