American undergrad searching for the right UK university

<p>Thank you for looking at this post, my first one!</p>

<p>Some background information:
I live in Florida and would like my graduate school to be a UK university.
I am currently at a community college but soon transfering to a larger, state university for my BA in Criminology.</p>

<p>My dream/goal is too earn an MSc or MA in Criminology/Criminal Justice in the UK. Britain is preferred, but I'm open to the right opportunity. I visited Britain while in high school and do not recall a day since then that has not consisted of my wanting to go back.</p>

<p>I know the importance of SAT scores when applying as an undergrad. That mixed with some financial constraints is why I would like to go to the UK for my graduate degree. </p>

<p>I guess my question concerns my chances AND my search for the right university. The two obviously correlating.</p>

<p>The delusional part of me would attempt Oxbridge, the slightly rational side of me has shown a great interest in King's College. However, their website says this program "is not running from 2012 entry".</p>

<p>Is that British speak for "this program is getting thrown in the Thames?"</p>

<p>If anyone could recommend a certain school based on reputation (so I could do my own research without taking a website's word for it), or help deter/sway my opinion about King's, it would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!</p>

<p>Thank you for your time.</p>

<p>Hey I’m a year 13 student (if im correct its what you americans call senior year) in a uk high school. Over here I’d say the best uk universities bar Oxbridge are

  1. LSE,Imperial
  2. UCL,Durham
  3. Bristol,Warwick,Manchester and other red bricks
  4. Kings, Edinburgh, St Andrews
    Although there is little difference between the 3rd and 4th group. Kings is generally perceived as a good univeristy in the UK but regretfully won’t get any wows. Personally I would recommend the red bricks of UCL.</p>

<p>In turn may I ask you how well known Imperial and LSE are in the US. I actually want to work in the US and was wondering which is more well known (or are they both generally unheard of) if say Imperial is more well known then LSE will this be by a large margin?</p>

<p>Group 1: Cambridge, Oxford
Group 2: Imperial, LSE
Group 3: UCL, Warwick
Group 4: St Andrews, Durham, Bristol, Edinburgh
Group 5: Nottingham, Bath, York
Group 6: King’s College, Manchester, Exeter and the like</p>

<p>Nanopker,</p>

<p>LSE is definitely more well known than Imperial. It has actually been one of the schools I have considered aside from King’s. </p>

<p>I believe going to LSE would be a “wow factor” when considered for a job in the US. It’s unfortunate that you have to consider this when trying to study or work in another country but some professions won’t even accept degrees from other countries. So when you have one, it has to be from a recognizable and often reputable school.</p>

<p>Have to add another question, are any of these schools known for their Criminology program? Being a Criminology major I can tell you the rankings of the all my state’s Criminal Justice programs but when it comes to comparing King’s with LSE (based solely on the Criminology/Criminal Justice program).</p>

<p>I have no idea</p>

<p>221bLea: I’m looking around for a Uni in the UK in hoping it would be recognised in the US and I’m also planning to study criminology (in the long term hope of joining a federal agency or a police force in the US). </p>

<p>From what I’ve researched so far, universities are ranked in the UK according to the subjects taught (for example, Kingston University is recognized as a better institution for design compared to other red bricks like UCL or the like so…) and as for criminology, I know that King’s College war studies faculty is considered world class. But question is whether the US Government recognizes that. Other good universities for criminology are (in no order whatsoever):</p>

<ul>
<li>UCL - Jill Dando institute</li>
<li>Leicester University (***** uni from what I’ve heard but there’s a load of top law enforcement and military officials that did their postgraduate studies there in security/criminology) </li>
<li>Durham </li>
<li>St. Andrews (Scottish university) </li>
<li>LSE</li>
<li>Imperial</li>
<li>Southampton Solent</li>
<li>Warwick</li>
</ul>

<p>Remember though, whatever you do, do not go to South Bank University. LOL! </p>

<p>Hope this helps and if you do apply to king’s hope to see you there! </p>

<h2>G </h2>

<p>GuyF80, it sounds like we are in the same boat! I too would like to join a federal agency. </p>

<p>From what I’ve heard from my professors and researched myself, a degree from the UK is more like something “extra” that sets you apart. For example, I plan to join a local police agency and some of the more selective agencies only require (or prefer) a B.A or B.S. So by getting my M.A from a UK university I’m already qualified to be a police officer but it certainly adds to my experience and education.</p>

<p>Now if I were to apply with a B.A or B.S from a UK university, that might be problematic. </p>

<p>I’m aware some American employers do not recognize internationally earned degrees (a friend of mine has a few from Germany and can only manage as a barista at Starbucks), but because the US and UK (especially Scotland, i.e St Andrews) have such similar education systems and structure I believe they are more widely accepted.</p>

<p>I’m still holding a torch for King’s. If you come across anything else of note, please let me know!</p>