Anonymous wrote:It’s all about money and I don’t blame colleges. They need it to keep the lights on. You’ll find seats reserved for international students in all the universities around the world, but St.A does have seemingly unreasonable reliance on $$$.

They all rely on $$$. Even Oxbridge. At Oxford, about 24% of the undergrads are international. Thye pay on avg 35k vs 9.3k for domestic. Simple math here….more than 50% of the REVENUE for Oxford undergrads come from international students……

It’s all about money and I don’t blame colleges. They need it to keep the lights on. You’ll find seats reserved for international students in all the universities around the world, but St.A does have seemingly unreasonable reliance on $$$.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is there and LOVES it. The high number of CT acceptances reflects the high number of boarding school kids.
Most of my son's friends are Americans (about 60%-ish) but his flat mate is European and so is his girlfriend (British -gulp!)
It is a fantastic place for an independent, adventurous kid. It is academically rigourous- hard to get into from the US but Ivy-level difficult from the UK and Scotland.

I’m sorry but St Andrews is absolutely not Ivy level difficult from the UK. I should know, I went there.

So did I. I dont know how long ago you were there. But over the last few years the UCAS tariff is the highest in the UK. So yes, it is a tough admit for RUK and for the Scottish even more difficult. It is much easier for Americans and international. So yes, from a pure comparison point of view, it is one of the most difficult unis in the UK to get admitted to if your are RUK or Scottish.

Yes, that’s correct. I have three children. My eldest two applied to St Andrews, and my youngest is currently at Northwestern. We’re based in London, and all three attended boarding school.
My eldest achieved A*A*A and was accepted to St Andrews in 2016, although rejected by Oxford. 6 years later in 2022, my second applied with A*A*A* in the same subject, was rejected by St Andrews but offered a place at Oxford. My youngest didn’t perform quite as well on his A levels. He received AAA in his A-levels and chose instead to focus on American universities, preparing for the SAT and related applications. He is now in his second year at Northwestern.

It is frustrating for RUK applicants that international students appear to gain admission to St Andrews with relative ease, while our children are expected to achieve near perfect results. It’s important to remember that St Andrews is a small university, with a first-year intake of only around 2,000 students. Of those, approximately 900 places are allocated to international students, leaving around 1,100 for Scottish and RUK applicants combined. That split is roughly 50/50, meaning only about 550 places on average are available for RUK students. The competition is incredibly fierce. So the entry grades for the most popular courses are very high.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is there and LOVES it. The high number of CT acceptances reflects the high number of boarding school kids.
Most of my son's friends are Americans (about 60%-ish) but his flat mate is European and so is his girlfriend (British -gulp!)
It is a fantastic place for an independent, adventurous kid. It is academically rigourous- hard to get into from the US but Ivy-level difficult from the UK and Scotland.

I’m sorry but St Andrews is absolutely not Ivy level difficult from the UK. I should know, I went there.

So did I. I dont know how long ago you were there. But over the last few years the UCAS tariff is the highest in the UK. So yes, it is a tough admit for RUK and for the Scottish even more difficult. It is much easier for Americans and international. So yes, from a pure comparison point of view, it is one of the most difficult unis in the UK to get admitted to if your are RUK or Scottish.

Anonymous wrote:My kid is there and LOVES it. The high number of CT acceptances reflects the high number of boarding school kids.
Most of my son's friends are Americans (about 60%-ish) but his flat mate is European and so is his girlfriend (British -gulp!)
It is a fantastic place for an independent, adventurous kid. It is academically rigourous- hard to get into from the US but Ivy-level difficult from the UK and Scotland.

I’m sorry but St Andrews is absolutely not Ivy level difficult from the UK. I should know, I went there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know if it matters if you apply w common app or UCAS? Could easily do either

My suggestion is neither.
Common App just shows you are capable to clicking on another “send button”.
UCAS if you are applying to more unis than just St Andrews is ok.

But the preference would be the direct application. It shows you took the time to craft a specific application. Not only that, but I live the direct application allows for 100-200 words more in the essay that can be specifically tailored to St Andrews vs UCAS.

Just a tip (wink wink).

I would beg to disagree. UCAS is the preferred route.
The problem with common App + ucas being used at the same time, is that if you get an acceptance via the Common App it will alert UCAS and they will cancel your applications through them.

Direct Application is the BEST route. It gives your a the opportunity to really craft the personal stmt to St A and you get about 150 extra words vs UCAS line limit.

An extra 150 words on a page that allows for 4000 is moot.
Also why apply direct when you can scoop up some other applications for the costly sum of 30 pounds and expand your potential horizons

Oxford
Cambridge
Imperial
LSE

etc

Not when you are applying to a school that really cares about the Personal Stmt more than Oxbridge. Plus you can craft it specifically for StA and still use UCAS for another 4 unis. That is what we did.

The direct application is better (though more expensive) if your DC is planning to apply to different programs any other UK schools. UCAS doesn't allow you to tailor the personal statement. If a kid applys for international relations at St. Andrew and Politics & History at Oxford, it's better to have two separate statements, I think.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know if it matters if you apply w common app or UCAS? Could easily do either

My suggestion is neither.
Common App just shows you are capable to clicking on another “send button”.
UCAS if you are applying to more unis than just St Andrews is ok.

But the preference would be the direct application. It shows you took the time to craft a specific application. Not only that, but I live the direct application allows for 100-200 words more in the essay that can be specifically tailored to St Andrews vs UCAS.

Just a tip (wink wink).

I would beg to disagree. UCAS is the preferred route.
The problem with common App + ucas being used at the same time, is that if you get an acceptance via the Common App it will alert UCAS and they will cancel your applications through them.

Direct Application is the BEST route. It gives your a the opportunity to really craft the personal stmt to St A and you get about 150 extra words vs UCAS line limit.

An extra 150 words on a page that allows for 4000 is moot.
Also why apply direct when you can scoop up some other applications for the costly sum of 30 pounds and expand your potential horizons

Oxford
Cambridge
Imperial
LSE

etc

Not when you are applying to a school that really cares about the Personal Stmt more than Oxbridge. Plus you can craft it specifically for StA and still use UCAS for another 4 unis. That is what we did.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know if it matters if you apply w common app or UCAS? Could easily do either

My suggestion is neither.
Common App just shows you are capable to clicking on another “send button”.
UCAS if you are applying to more unis than just St Andrews is ok.

But the preference would be the direct application. It shows you took the time to craft a specific application. Not only that, but I live the direct application allows for 100-200 words more in the essay that can be specifically tailored to St Andrews vs UCAS.

Just a tip (wink wink).

I would beg to disagree. UCAS is the preferred route.
The problem with common App + ucas being used at the same time, is that if you get an acceptance via the Common App it will alert UCAS and they will cancel your applications through them.

DP. I’m not sure I understand this. Are you saying that if you get accepted at St A with the common app, your application to Oxford via UCAS will get automatically cancelled? I know this doesn’t sound right, but I just didn’t follow your remark. Can you post a link to this information?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know if it matters if you apply w common app or UCAS? Could easily do either

My suggestion is neither.
Common App just shows you are capable to clicking on another “send button”.
UCAS if you are applying to more unis than just St Andrews is ok.

But the preference would be the direct application. It shows you took the time to craft a specific application. Not only that, but I live the direct application allows for 100-200 words more in the essay that can be specifically tailored to St Andrews vs UCAS.

Just a tip (wink wink).

I would beg to disagree. UCAS is the preferred route.
The problem with common App + ucas being used at the same time, is that if you get an acceptance via the Common App it will alert UCAS and they will cancel your applications through them.

Direct Application is the BEST route. It gives your a the opportunity to really craft the personal stmt to St A and you get about 150 extra words vs UCAS line limit.

An extra 150 words on a page that allows for 4000 is moot.
Also why apply direct when you can scoop up some other applications for the costly sum of 30 pounds and expand your potential horizons

Oxford
Cambridge
Imperial
LSE

etc

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know if it matters if you apply w common app or UCAS? Could easily do either

My suggestion is neither.
Common App just shows you are capable to clicking on another “send button”.
UCAS if you are applying to more unis than just St Andrews is ok.

But the preference would be the direct application. It shows you took the time to craft a specific application. Not only that, but I live the direct application allows for 100-200 words more in the essay that can be specifically tailored to St Andrews vs UCAS.

Just a tip (wink wink).

I would beg to disagree. UCAS is the preferred route.
The problem with common App + ucas being used at the same time, is that if you get an acceptance via the Common App it will alert UCAS and they will cancel your applications through them.

Direct Application is the BEST route. It gives your a the opportunity to really craft the personal stmt to St A and you get about 150 extra words vs UCAS line limit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know if it matters if you apply w common app or UCAS? Could easily do either

My suggestion is neither.
Common App just shows you are capable to clicking on another “send button”.
UCAS if you are applying to more unis than just St Andrews is ok.

But the preference would be the direct application. It shows you took the time to craft a specific application. Not only that, but I live the direct application allows for 100-200 words more in the essay that can be specifically tailored to St Andrews vs UCAS.

Just a tip (wink wink).

I would beg to disagree. UCAS is the preferred route.
The problem with common App + ucas being used at the same time, is that if you get an acceptance via the Common App it will alert UCAS and they will cancel your applications through them.

PP here. Meant to say “I believe” and not "I live “

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know if it matters if you apply w common app or UCAS? Could easily do either

My suggestion is neither.
Common App just shows you are capable to clicking on another “send button”.
UCAS if you are applying to more unis than just St Andrews is ok.

But the preference would be the direct application. It shows you took the time to craft a specific application. Not only that, but I live the direct application allows for 100-200 words more in the essay that can be specifically tailored to St Andrews vs UCAS.

Just a tip (wink wink).

Anyone know if it matters if you apply w common app or UCAS? Could easily do either