<p>Anybody? Comments? Questions?</p>
<p>Does anyone realistically have to make this decision? Did you get accepted to both?</p>
<p>A very hard choice. Both are excelent schools. I guess in this case it really boils down to what subject you want to study and if you want to go to UNI in the USA or England.</p>
<p>oxford!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>Is this for undergrad or grad?</p>
<p>MYSELF, this choice is made all the time by people in Commonwealth countries. I would look long and hard at Oxford, and the quality and seriousness of its students compared to Chicago, before I would go to Oxford.</p>
<p>omg... as much as i love u chicago.. OXFORD!!! it's better than harvard in my eyes..</p>
<p>The UK universities have been bleeding talented faculty to the US for over 20 years. Again, look at the quality and seriousness of the students admitted to selective universities in the US versus Oxbridge.</p>
<p>OxBRIDGE?</p>
<p>I've never heard it called that before-</p>
<p>Oxbridge is a combination of Oxford and Cambridge.</p>
<p>Oxbridge refers to Oxford and Cambridge. I would say Oxford over U Chicago if you're certain on what major you want to pursue. Also it also depends on where you want to work after you graduate. Congrats on getting in two top universities.</p>
<p>Oxford could be amazing, but make sure you know exactly what you're heading into, with regards to the British system of education - how many subjects you can study, the way classes work, etc. Inform yourself about the drastic differences from the American model, before you make any long-term decisions!!</p>
<p>I concur... the US college experience is by far the most unique experience that I've come across (have friends attending Uni's all over the world and I am an international sudent), and I've found it to be the most complete. So, when making the decision, think things through really carefully, and I would agree with the major-selection factor mentioned previously: Knowing what you want to study could make a big difference. For example, if you said "Econ" or "Physics," I'd readily say that you would be making a big mistake in not coming to Chicago. On the other hand, there might be some fields which are particularly strong at Oxford (I won't mention any since I don't know the school that well) making it the better choice.</p>
<p>However, one note of caution: DO NOT, by any means, follow the train of thought that a previous poster did - the whole "it's better than Harvard" thing. The prestige of an institution is often times uncharacteristic of their college program, since most schools make their name with cutting-edge research done at the graduate level. Therefore, if you go by the name recognition aspect ur bound to disappoint yourself. Also, while undoubtedly all three of these schools are excellent, after having spent 11 weeks at Harvard, I can assure you that the difference in quality AND in prestige is so minute that more important factors ought to be considered, such as weather, student:faculty ratio (SUPER IMPORTANT), dorms, how you like the city its in etc..... These really ought to be the deciding factor if it is one of these three, since, in terms of academic quality, they are equally strong as a whole. What you need to find are the small differences which will make YOUR personal experience better in one or the other, not what someone else's (ill-informed) perceptions are.</p>
<p>Good thoughts, Felipecocco. Don't get carried away with the name. We looked at Oxbridge and US universities last year. Our impression was that UK schools are still struggling with the British class system, and the misallocation of resources amongst the different colleges within each university. Visit the schools ask what access you will have to the amenities ie. indoor pools, etc. The UK schools also have far less "days in school" than the US schools.</p>
<p>Faculty ratio is going to be a very misleading measure as an undergraduate unless you know the ratio of undergraduates to faculty who actually teach undergraduates. Having an apparently great ratio with august names is meaningless if they devote all their time to graduate students while the actual teaching of undergraduates is delegated to graduate assistants. So at Oxbridge the important thing to know is that the main vehicle of teaching is the 1:1 or 1:2 tutorial given by a "professor". That is more meaningful than a university-wide ratio.</p>
<p>Equally, if I understand elgordo's "days in school" comment correctly, it is important to realise that there are fewer formal hours of teaching because the emphasis at Oxbridge (certainly in the humanities and social sciences) is on lots of independent reading and study across a range of sources (no textbooks) to prepare yourself for your tutorial, rather than sitting in a lecture while the lecturer gives you his own reading second hand.</p>
<p>I'm afraid I don't recognise the point about the class system.</p>
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I'm afraid I don't recognise the point about the class system.
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<p>Neither do I and I have been here over 7 years! Are you sure you haven't been reading too many 18th century books (eg Brideshead revisited)? If anything I think the UK education system is more of a meritocracy because legacy means nothing (and admitting someone due to a legacy would essentially be illegal. Oxford rejected Tony Blair's eldest son)</p>
<p>On the faculty ratio point: You are absolutely right about the fact that one needs to use comparable measures, and if possible, measures that only reflect the college. I don't know about UK schools, but for American these facts can be gathered using USNWR's awful rankings... the facts are right, but the ranking methodology is awful, that is...</p>
<p>are you an international student?</p>
<p>I guess the Class system refers to the idea that only the sons of the wealthy used to get into Oxbridge. It is not like that any more. Even though there are more wealthy people in Cambridge and Oxford than poor ones but this is not only due to the Universities but social diferences all over society. Wealthier people can afford the best schools, private classes, they may already come from a background of third level, they may not have to work instead of going to university for survival and etc...) This of course also extends to the USA and many other countries university systems.</p>
<p>DUDE I AM FACING EXACTLY THE SAME DILLEMA!! What’s your choice then?</p>