<p>If you want a top school focused on undergraduate education you have to pick one of the Top20 LACs (Middlebury, Pomona, plus of course Amherst, Williams… all the Little Ivies/NESCAC etc)</p>
International student from the UK: can you tell me which Ivies/top US universities are suited to me?
<p>@MYOS1634 I want a sizeable university with a postgrad population, but I want professors to teach undergraduates at least most of the time. The LACs just didn’t seem to be what I wanted for the next four years of my life in terms of their atmospheres. </p>
<p>The focus of a research university is research - not undergraduate teaching. While upper-level undergraduates will have professors, freshmen and in some cases sophomores will have TAs. not for all courses, but for a lot of them. The professor lectures to a large lecture hall, then the TA breaks the class into smaller recitation sections. There’ll likely be some seminars (at least one your first year, for writing/interdisciplinary purpose) but whether at Yale or Harvard, the norm will be the above. At the upper level, you’ll have smaller classes and professors will teach the class. Top professors at top universities have a 1-2 teaching load or sometimes 1-1 or 1-0 (rare), meaning that they teach few classes.
Schools that fit this model:
<i want="" a="" sizeable="" university="" with="" postgrad="" population,="" but="" i="" professors="" to="" teach="" undergraduates="" at="" least="" most="" of="" the="" time.=""> may be Tufts, Brandeis, Dartmouth, Wesleyan?</i></p><i want="" a="" sizeable="" university="" with="" postgrad="" population,="" but="" i="" professors="" to="" teach="" undergraduates="" at="" least="" most="" of="" the="" time.="">
</i>
<p>Your requirements are overly fussy and particular and assuming too much of a monolithic student body. However those are not remarkable things or missing from most any East Coast university if you aren’t too extreme about it. It is unrealistic to scratch an American and not find some nationalistic assumptions, however. And I’m afraid you are taking what you hear too literally if you really have the nerve to say “Harvard was nice and I loved the suburb of Cambridge, but I don’t think I’ll apply because of their poor UG education.” That is a laughable thing to say and a long way from saying you want a college that focuses on undergrad education. The most focused undergrad Ivy league are Princeton, Brown and Dartmouth and Yale, imo. The basics of your list should all be there. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>It’s difficult to disagree that principally “the focus of a research university is research - not undergraduate teaching” (to quote @MYOS1634). However, both objectives can – and sometimes do – harmoniously coexist at a few elite National Research Universities. For example, the extensive use of TAs/post-docs is far more prominent at some of these first-tier institution than at others.</p></li>
<li><p>I tend to agree with @BrownParent 's comment re the OP’s expansive (“overly fussy”) criteria, although it’s certainly wise for him to investigate and seek his ideal requirement-set initially and to make reasonable compromises subsequently. Nevertheless, it’s quite unlikely that he’ll find a single university that perfectly meets all of his objectives.</p></li>
<li><p>I wonder if the @scotitshbritish 's credentials and finances permit him to be so exacting? Obviously, none of the EXTREMELY selective schools, which he favors, suffers from an inadequate number of applicants with distinguished, demonstrated performance and superb potential . . . and each of these outstanding NRUs will annually deny tens-of-thousands of undergraduate candidates who are virtually identical to the few thousand who matriculate. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>I second the suggestion of Tufts University in Medford, MA, just outside Boston. </p>
<p>Fits all your criteria and quite well. An accepting, down-to-earth, inquisitive, worldly, non-monolithic, whip smart but non-cutthroat student body. </p>
<p>A “prestigious” school located in what is considered one of the “hippest” enclaves in the world (Somerville/ Davis Square specifically), with one of the largest densities of young people. Cambridge and Boston only 2-3 stops away on the T. </p>
<p>5000-student population that’s not too small, not too big. As a mid-sized university, unique in that it emphasizes undergraduate education while supporting strong graduate programs. (According to my D, faculty are supportive, approachable, encouraging—along the lines of a smaller LAC) Noted programs in IR, humanities, arts, languages, along with science and engineering; an interdisciplinary focus abounds here. </p>
<p>Grads go on to top grad schools and successful careers. With a 16-17% acceptance rate last cycle, no easy feat to get in, but the school’s application (lauded for its out-of-the-box essay prompts) stresses a holistic presentation. </p>
<p>I suggest you delve into the Fiske Guide to Colleges for the best assessment of the sorts of US colleges and universities you’re looking for. The Guide rates Tufts among the highest in areas of academics and quality of life. </p>
<p><a href=“World’s most hipster cities: Top 5 – Metro US”>http://www.metro.us/lifestyle/world-s-most-hipster-cities-top-5/tmWnio---b3NOQ6ONE4RPg/</a></p>
<p><a href=“Smartest Colleges in America”>Smartest Colleges in America;
<p><a href=“http://www.lumosity.com/press/releases/lumosity-ranks-america-s-2013-smartest-colleges”>http://www.lumosity.com/press/releases/lumosity-ranks-america-s-2013-smartest-colleges</a></p>
<p>OP: What’s your current list of schools, so that we can suggest others, rather than repeat what you already have?
In addition, what criteria are “must have”/need, and which are “would be nice”/want?
Finally, have you run the Net Price Calculators? What’s your parents’ budget? Will you be applying for financial aid?</p>
<p>Georgetown and Stanford.</p>
<p>I don’t see how Yale is necessarily better than Harvard in terms of Undergraduate teaching, although I know Princeton has a stronger reputation in that regard. </p>
<p>What about LACs are you adverse to?</p>
<p>In terms of size, I would suggest one of the Claremont Colleges, which is a consortium would 5 undergraduate LACs. You get a large social size with very good small sized classes. </p>
<p>I second the recommendation for Canadian universities. Many of your requirements/wishes just don’t fit the U.S. culture. For example, if one of your criteria for being treated as an adult is being legally able to drink alcohol, you won’t be able to do that in the U.S. until you’re 21. </p>
<p>"Do McGill and Toronto use the common app, ACT, SAT subject tests and offer financial aid for UK applicants? " The common app is specific to US universities. The applications for Canadian universities are much simpler. UK applicants don’t require SATs or ACTs. Here’s the admissions info link for University of Toronto <a href=“http://www.adm.utoronto.ca/admissions/”>http://www.adm.utoronto.ca/admissions/</a> Universities don’t offer financial aid in Canada. </p>
<p>The Canadian universities aren’t exactly known for caring about the quality of their undergraduate teaching, from what I understand.</p>
<p>In any case, getting in to any one of the top American universities is quite difficult for anyone without some eye-popping item on their resume, so it does seem like this question may be a little premature.</p>
<p>
That!! Plus keep in mind that the acceptance rate for international applicants at many of these top US schools, even if they are need-blind, is roughly half the overall acceptance rate.</p>
<p>I hope that OP understands that, as long as s/he’s an exceptional student in Scotland (3-4 A-A* at ALevel+ national-level award in a field of choice), s/he has 1-5% odds of getting into a Top 25 university/LAC if s/he needs financial aid, and about 5-10% if s/he doesn’t. Half the overall acceptance rate at best. </p>
<p>@MYOS1634 That sounds reasonable. I suppose having professors teach basic classes isn’t a reasonable ask. As long as I had them in my third and fourth years then I would be happy.</p>
<p>@BrownParent I disagree, I don’t believe my requirements are fussy - I shall explain. There may be an extensive list of requirements, but these attributes aren’t very hard to fulfil, even though they are quite specific. I also think that it is only to my benefit to have such specific requirements as I know I’ll be happy at anywhere that meets them. My ask is not to have a monolithic student body; in fact, it is the very opposite - I want to go to somewhere that is cultured, diverse and relaxed! Princeton, Yale and Brown are all on my list! :)</p>
<p>@TopTier I’ll be applying for full financial aid to anywhere I attend, but I’d only really be happy to go to a top school since that’s the standard I’m of in the UK. If they reject me, then it will be unfortunate, but I would be happy to attend a prestigious institution in Britain. Indeed, my current academics alone gain me automatic acceptance into any Scottish university (Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrew’s) for any course (apart from medicine, dentistry and vet med, they require interviews) with no requirement to gain extra qualifications. In other words, I can use Scotland as my back up, or take a gap year if things don’t go to plan. </p>
<p>@MYOS1634 My current list is Yale, Princeton, Vassar, Brown and Columbia. If I don’t get into anywhere I am satisfied with, then I’ll take a gap year and apply for medicine in Scotland, or English Lit at Oxford or Cambridge.</p>
<p>I’ll be looking for the full ride. I live in a single parent household with an income of about £25,000 per year and my other parent is bankrupt. However, I have the support of the Fulbright Commission who are confident I can gain more than sufficient aid. </p>
<p>@Woandering As noted, I visited Colby and Trinity colleges. Without meaning to offend anyone (because my comments could be perceived this way), both felt like extensions of high school. I brought this up with a current student and expected to receive reassurance that this was not the case, but he responded “Yeah, that’s exactly how it is - it’s like boarding school!” He had attended boarding school and drew a close comparison. I just didn’t want an experience like that! </p>
<p>I have a couple of friends at the Claremont Colleges - they seem pretty nice, but I’ve been trying to keep this search to the East Coast because I have family there and it is logistically easier to get home. California would just take so long to reach (there are direct flights from Edinburgh to San Fran but I wouldn’t be able to afford them, I’d have to change to lower the cost which would have me end up being awake for 48 hours or something crazy like that!).</p>
<p>@qialah Is Georgetown really liberal dominated or relaxed about gay people? </p>
<p>@bouders Very good advice, actually. Montreal does look a very cultural city! </p>
<p>@gondalineNJ Tufts looks great and has actually been one I have looked into. It is definitely prestigious and has a fantastic rep, but at the moment I am concerned about the opportunities I would have with careers in the UK unless I go to a well-known, Ivy-league school. It’s a difficult situation.</p>
<p>@MYOS1634</p>
<p>Non-religious but not a place where religious people feel excluded - Moderate reference
Chilled out about gay people but not obsessed with “queer” events and “queer” societies - Must have
Prestigious and academically challenging - Must have
Mainly strong in humanities but reputable for sciences too - Strong preference
Somewhere where students are well cultured about the rest of the world, interested in foreign foods, films, art - Strong preference
Somewhere where students are not nationalistic - Strong preference
Somewhere where political beliefs of all variations can co-exist (but liberal ones prevail) - Moderate preference
A place where students are genuine, not cheesy or overly energetic, but pleasant and contented - Must have
A place where people are witty, humorous, perhaps sometimes discreetly sarcastic (not dramatically so) but still friendly - Strong preference
An open, accepting, welcoming place that has no cliques or pathetic attitudes - Must have
Somewhere where students are treated like full adults…one thing that would drive me insane is being treated like a child, or a “college kid.” - This is definitely one of the most important factors! - Must have</p>
<p>@MYOS1634 We follow the scottish education system with qualifications awarded from the Scottish Qualifications Authority so I will not be sitting any A-Levels, but I have received straight As in all of my Standard Grades and Highers. Only about 1% of pupils in Scotland receive straight As in all of their Highers (university entry qualifications). Plus I’m doing 4 Advanced Highers (2 Advanced Highers are equivalent to 3 A-Levels), and only 15% of pupils in Scotland even do 1 Advanced Higher, so without being boastful, I am quite academically secure. Still, as I said, I just wouldn’t go to the US if I didn’t get into a top institution so I’m not worrying about making back up choices. :)</p>
<p>I guess your wish list of requirements makes me think you wouldn’t be all that happy here if people aren’t just so. Have you spent any time here? I do wonder why you want to come here to study American’s aren’t generally sarcastic the way Brits are nor as quick and witty with a friendly insult. They are friendly. People at those schools are not going to go around waving American flags but like I said if you scratch the surface of an American you will find most will have a solid assumption of American superiority warranted or not. You will have to love us despite that. I’m afraid that you will be let down because you have some fantasy in your head. At least in Scotland you know what you are getting into.</p>
<p>.But if you are just putting your applications in at the top schools that you think will be a good fit then no harm. You have more time to think about it and investigate the colleges.</p>
<p>Also regarding college kids. Students at the schools you name are taken seriously, taken into professors research and run their own lives. But there is one thing to mention because it is a legal issue–the drinking age here is 21 which causes some awkwardness. So you won’t be able to go into a bar without fake id. Being caught with fake ID could cause you serious problem with the ;aw and possibly the college but I don’t know particularly about that. Students do have parties and drink and there is a somewhat blind eye to that but it is a technical disciplinary issue (or maybe that is just regarding drunkenness on campus), especially the dorms. It is a weird dichotomy. I don’t know all about it, but my daughter decided to stay in ‘substance free dorm’ first year just to not be around heavy partying. She regretted it and it wasn’t necessary, though. And I do know that she attended parties during her time in college and drank among friends. From Jr year she did stay off campus just a block away and very much in the thick of things. But in her own private residence. Just something to think about.</p>
<p>Also I don’t know how much you are aware yet, but different colleges have different graduation requirements and this can mean a lot about what the college teaching philosophy and values and how it is run, and it will affect your experience. Brown and Columbia are the polar opposites. Columbia has extensive common core requirements that everyone takes together. Look it up. Brown has an open curriculum so there are pretty much no requirements except for your major. You devise your own program, you are allowed to be as diverse or lopsided as you like. It can be used well or ill but the implication is that everyone in class has chosen it. Both these approaches have positive and negative aspects and may appeal to you or not. So dig into the grad requirements.</p>
<p>BrownParent’s assessment of US colleges/ universities is spot on.</p>
<p>It seems, OP, that you’ve already narrowed yourself to Ivies and one LAC. Not sure what more you need to hear, as you’ve noted that, arguably, degrees from only a tiny number of schools will carry weight in the UK. (You might be surprised to find how the international profiles of any number of schools have risen, including Tufts’.)</p>
<p>It’s easy to learn the various cultural and academic differences among the Ivies, if this is what you want, but you should understand that if your criteria include a “relaxed” student body without “cliques or pathetic attitudes”, then you’re harboring unrealistic expectations. These schools are pressure cookers, as all top institutions are. These schools have cliques and students with pathetic attitudes, as most invariably do. And these schools welcome students whose enthusiasm and passion you might interpret as “cheesy”.</p>
<p>Btw, you’ll find students interested in foreign films, art, etc.–as well as robust LGBT communities–at probably a majority of top schools. I mean no offense, but your requirements seem somewhat picayune and vaguely snobbish. </p>
<p>@scottishbritish: To address your post #33, I am sure you’re well aware that many elite American National Research Universities are far less generous with need-based grants and with merit scholarships for international students than for US residents.</p>