<p>Since I'm not allowed to apply to both, I must choose one of these. I understand that both of them are excellent colleges but since I must make a choice, which should I pick and why?</p>
<p>As of recently, most Europeans consider Cambridge to be better.</p>
<p>Cambridge</a> beats Oxford in best university list - Telegraph</p>
<p>I would pick based on what subject you intend to major in. Since you apply to a specific major, you'll want to know how they compare in that subject.</p>
<p>^ True.</p>
<p>But in terms of prestige/view of the school, it's weird. Americans tend to think of Oxford, but elsewhere Cambridge is considered a better school (looking at polls, anecdotal stories, etc.).</p>
<p>It's hard to say "most Europeans"--Oxford and Cambridge are pretty evenly matched, I'd say.</p>
<p>^True. The most recent poll (similar to USNWR's PA) indicated that Cambridge was more highly regarded.</p>
<p>But still, they are close enough that it might change from year-to-year. Either one is great.</p>
<p>It's weird to say that Cambridge is more "highly regarded" than Oxford.</p>
<p>Perhaps we could liken it to colleges in the US.</p>
<p>Cambridge = Harvard, Oxford = Yale?
Cambridge = Yale, Oxford = Stanford?
Cambridge = Harvard, Oxford = Columbia?</p>
<p>some additional info - i want to study Mathematics.</p>
<p>i'd like to play chess for the varsity chess team.</p>
<p>Cambridge=Harvard and Oxford= Yale though it does depend on your major. I believe that when it comes to engineering, Cambridge is much better.</p>
<p>Hmmm...Yes, I suppose that would make sense. But again, Harvard goes from #1 to #2, and other top schools shift year-to-year. Whether Oxford or Cambridge is better is like debating whether Harvard or Princeton (or Yale or Stanford is better).</p>
<p>At this point in time, Princeton is #1. Next year, it may be Harvard. Or Yale. Or Stanford (though probably not, in my opinion). </p>
<p>So Cambridge might be Princeton while Oxford is Harvard. Next year, those might switch.</p>
<p>In terms of majors, Oxford is closer to humanities (Yale) while Cambridge is more math-sciency in some ways. I'm not sure about the math program in particular at Cambridge.</p>
<p>Cambridge >Oxford in mathematics</p>
<p>Just to give you a rough idea, according to the 2009 Times League Tables, Oxford beat Cambridge overall as the #1 university in the UK, even though, in the individual subject rankings, Cambridge was actually ahead of Oxford in most areas including for example: Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry, Economics, Biological Sciences, general Engineering, Medicine, History, Philosophy,and Law.</p>
<p>Overall, I am inclined to think Cambridge is better academically, but Oxford tends to be favo(u)red by the sons and daughters of the British social/political elite (most former British PMs for example are Oxford graduates, including Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair). Keep in mind however that several landmark figures in the history of science were Cambridge graduates or faculty, e.g. Newton, Maxwell, Darwin, Dirac, Rutherford, Keynes, Russell, etc.</p>
<p>Cambridge = Stanford, maybe Harvard
Oxford = maybe Harvard, but Yale seems more fitting to me (based on butchokoy's description of Oxford)</p>
<p>IMHO.</p>
<p>I would go with Cambridge, although it's kind of cool that Oxford is the oldest university in the English speaking world.</p>
<p>For math I would recommend Cambridge over Oxford as well.</p>
<p>
[quote]
That's not entirely true. The social elite favours Cambridge too. Cambridge has traditionally been an academic institution of choice of the Royal Family. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales; Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, to name a few, all went to Cambridge, and so are the sons and daughters of the Dukes, Duches, Sirs, Lords etc.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm aware of the Royal Family's (recent) ties to Cambridge (Prince Phillip BTW is Cambridge's current Chancellor). I guess however that I was referring to the political establishment, more so than the "social elite". For example, 25 British PMs attended Oxford (most notably, Gladstone, Attlee, Eden, Macmillan, Harold Wilson, Ted Heath, Thatcher, and Blair). Conversely, I cannot recall any Cambridge graduate who made to 10 Downing Street in recent times !</p>
<p>On the other, my assumption that Cambridge is better academically was also based on the fact that Cambridge boasts far more Nobel laureates than Oxford.</p>
<p>The general consensus, whether factually supported or not, is that Oxford and Cambridge are academically equal; however, Cambridge is strongest in science whereas Oxford is strongest in the humanities. If you want to study mathematics, then Cambridge will probably provide a better environment.</p>
<p>Most people in this country think Harvard is the best University on this side of the atlantic.</p>
<p>I was an undergraduate at Cambridge and am now a graduate at Oxford.</p>
<p>I really really WOULD NOT stress too much about the choice between them. They are far more similar than they are different. Obviously for some subjects they courses have a very different syllabus (or only offered at one and not the other), and for some they are very similar. If you think the course content is mostly the same, just choose the town you like the most. Cambridge is quieter and less formal (no gowns for exams for example). Oxford is a little bigger, and the town is a lot lot busier. Almost certainly you will "live in" in college owned accomodation for an entire undergraduate degree at Cambridge. At Oxford at most colleges you have to "live out" in privately owned houses for at least 1 year (not the first) if not 2. This can greatly increase your expenses as you will have to pay rent for 52 weeks, not 24. But some people prefer it as they can stay in Oxford out of term.</p>
<p>Cambridge maths has a reputation for being nightmareishly hard. But that doesn't mean that Oxford is less so. I might just know fewer maths students.</p>