I just saw this posted by @violindad :
“I just received an email from a student who is in a similar situation: he was rejected at every US school he applied to except one He is truly outstanding (was accepted at Cambridge, had 800’s in all his SAT’s including his subject tests, had completed the toughest math major courses with an average of 100% at a good university while still in high school, had extensive and intensive extra curriculars etc, etc). I could not believe that he was rejected. You are in good company! I know that he will do very well wherever he chooses to attend school and I am sure that you can too. Don’t let this setback get you down.”
And it made me want to tell this to everyone considering college:
Oxbridge and other English unis (Scottish unis as well, mostly) aren’t looking to build a class or to holistically evaluate. They are looking for the highest potential scholars in a field (or fields) of study (after getting 5’s on relevant AP’s and taking a special subject test, you will have an interview with a professor in the field you will study where he/she will grill you on the subject which will determine whether you get in or not). That’s because when you’re there, you only study the subject (or subjects, in a few combined courses or Cambridge tripos) you entered for. Because of this, 3 years at Oxbridge is essentially the last 2 years in your major + a year at the master’s level in your major. But admission is also much more cut and dry. If you are brilliant in your field, you have a good shot, and you don’t have to put up with the baffling heartbreak that ORM’s often encounter when applying to Ivies/equivalents.
Plus, you get to study via the Oxbridge tutorial style, which has been lauded and copied by schools here like Williams.
Cost may be a concern (you will not get fin aid or scholarships) but English unis are usually only 3 years and each year costs less than full ticket price at an American private.