<p>Hi, I am an international student from Singapore (China citizen). Hope I didn't bore you with another "offer decision" thread but please please help me with this... </p>
<p>Attending a US university has always been my dream but when I received an offer from Oxford University (New College) last Dec, my stand started to waver.</p>
<p>Oxford:
- 28k GBP/yr (43k USD/yr)
- 3 years for bachelor degree, another 1 for master
- VERY reputable in China/ Singapore
- Tutorial system (I like)
- VERY focused studies, only math/ stats (I don't like)</p>
<p>NU MMSS
- 56k USD/yr
- 3 & 1 quarter for bachelor degree (alr counted my A level n AP), another x yr for master/phd
- Liberal Arts education (I luv)
- MMSS has a good reputation in job placement
- School spirit and numerous activities (I luv)
- It's a US SCHOOL (my American dream...)</p>
<p>I didn't apply FA for both schools, so the cost is going to be a major concern for me. As a matter of fact, my parents would choose Oxford over NU because the former is much more affordable and reputable. </p>
<p>I do wish to spend my university years in the US, but now I need some really good arguments to convince my parents that exhausting their entire live's savings to send me to NU is worthwhile. </p>
<p>Thank you in advance for any suggestions :)</p>
<p>P.S. I intend to end up in the financial sector when I graduate.
P.P.S. My parents insist that I must finish master before working. (Is it necessary?)</p>
<p>I think you should pick Oxford. Exhausting their entire live’s savings sound really risky cos you never know what the future will be. It’s better to allow some margins.</p>
<p>I would also advise you to choose Oxford, sorry But I mean, it’s quite a bit cheaper, and you still get a great, if not better, education at Oxford.</p>
<p>My question to you…which is more important to you? Attending college in the US? A:NU Expense of attendance? A:Oxford. Sometimes choices can really be about which experience do you want to have. A:?</p>
<p>@1234d
I got into math and stats at New College. Financial-wise, I’d say that my family is not so well off, my parents are working in China and I study in Singapore under a full scholarship from MOE.</p>
<p>I am not in the position to understand your exact financial standing or your interest in both programs. If you’re willing to do PhD studies I would recommend that you do your undergrad at Oxford and do a PhD program at a reputable US university. But if you’re very into liberal arts and all (like myself), you should take the Northwestern route.</p>
<p>Really, I’m not sure it is possible to compare US unis with Oxford (or other British unis)…my husband is British and I am American and there are many elements of difference beyond the “prestige” of a particular degree…over the years, in our discussions, I have found the educational schemes and experiences are totally different.</p>
<p>I think that you should choose Oxford, without a doubt. The tutorial system there is amazing, you’ll be out of college in one year less, it costs less, and its also obviously very prestigious. </p>
<p>Even though it may have been your dream to attend a US university, you can always go there to get a postgrad degree as some people have already suggested. But also, sometimes the things that we have dreamed about for years don’t actually end up living up to our expectations. If you choose Northwestern just because you’ve always wanted to go to a US university, there’s always the risk that you won’t make many friends because the people there aren’t your type, in which case you’d probably feel very disillusioned. And then you might end up regretting forever the fact that you didn’t go to Oxford.</p>
<p>Also, if you’re worried Oxford isn’t fun because they are very focused on studies, you should know that, contrary to the stereotype, it can actually be a pretty exciting place. Like most colleges, Oxford also has activities for students, like sport clubs, their annual Oxford vs. Cambridge boat race, etc. I have a friend who goes there and she’s in their a capella group and they’re actually coming to the US in a week or something to go on tour and compete. So yeah, there are things to do at Oxford too. Oh and both Oxford and Cambridge do have parties (besides the May ball)… And anyways, the drinking age in the UK is 18 so you can legally go out to clubs with your friends when you’re there even if you do get bored.</p>
But I mean, it’s quite a bit cheaper, and you still get a great, if not better, education at Oxford.</p>