<p>My daughter & I investigated this a few yrs. ago. Both the process & the standards are very different from US Colleges. I think I remember that posts #6 and #10 stated it correctly. (I didn't refresh page one of this thread, but that's my memory.) </p>
<p>What you have to remember is that even the more advanced, demanding, & competitive high schools in our country are differently structured than overseas. So the expectations of an incoming "Oxbridge" student would be quantitatively as high as HYPS, and often <em>higher</em>, qualitatively speaking. Mastery of subject matter, in breadth & in depth, is the emphasis. The interview counts big time, and is not a social opportunity but an academic investigation. The deadlines for North American applicants are sooner than even US colleges' ED deadlines. It is not really accurate to say they "don't care about e.c.'s." Yes, that's stated in the Oxford brochure, but they still ask for a list of your activiites on the UCAS app. The imp. difference between US & Brit.apps is that for Oxbridge anyway, your (one) recommender must sign off on the data you input on your app. With online an option now, I'm not sure how that's handled, but with paper ones a few yrs. ago, the recommender reviewed your scores, transcripts AND activities to verify that these are truthful & accurate. At that time, anyway, you did not send/submit your own paper app. Your recommender did. Perhaps they've done away with that requirement given the technology now. They were transitioning to online a few yrs. ago.</p>
<p>I definitely agree with the poster who stated that unless you're high-Ivy qualified, don't bother with the UCAS (common) Oxbridge app. The kinds of people who get accepted are the kinds who are cross-accepted to the most Elite US U's, or who are so exceptional in one particular academic area (a patented inventor or award-winning author) that there's an international factor there. And remember, you ARE an international for purposes of app. They don't know (generally) the reputation of your school. </p>
<p>Tuition's a "bargain," but Cost of Living is not. It all evens out -- not to mention adding in plane fare, storage of items for the many times you have to clear out your dorm at the end of terms, mid-year, etc.</p>
<p>OTOH, I always encourage the adventurous to apply to Canadian & European colleges that are in the match range if the applicant insists on limiting US choices to the reach range. I call Oxbridge a match for no one. It's less of a reach if you're already at least an EA admit for Yale or Stanford, but that's a moot point because (again) of the deadline conflicts. You won't know that until it's too late to add Oxford or Cambridge to your list.</p>