<p>(reposted from "international" forum)
Hello.
I have applied to numerous schools, which I love, in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Although I have done extensive research, can anyone provide me with personal opinions/experiences for: University of St. Andrews, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, University of Aberdeen, Trinity College (Dublin), National University of Ireland, Galway and National University of Ireland, Cork? I am an American. Thank you very much!</p>
<p>Out of the universities you have applied to, Edinburgh or Trinity College Dublin are the best academically.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.the-studentroom.co.uk%5B/url%5D">www.the-studentroom.co.uk</a> (take out the -)</p>
<p>Thank you. I would also like some opinions other than academics, or opinions with more detail. Anyone???</p>
<p>St. Andrews is a party school, although perhaps not in the traditional sense; it is not necessarily wild, but there are a number of students out to have fun. It has the more bars per land space than any other uni in the UK, but big nights out you would have to go to Edinburgh. It is on the ocean, which you probably already know, so you can try things you wouldn't be able to at other schools, such as surfing, boarding, etc. The classes tend to be a bit smaller than other schools (such as U. Edinburgh) and it has a small, community-type feel to it. I have known US students who go there to enjoy it very much.</p>
<p>At Edinburgh there is a big feeling to the air. If you love the city life and the feel of being out and about and busy, you will like the atmosphere there.</p>
<p>Thanks so much Carpe Aeternum. I really like aspects of both those schools, and would be happy to go to either.</p>
<p>Three springs ago I was sent by my college to check out Glasgow, St. Andrews, and Edinburgh. Chuck discussions about rankings; these are three very different universities, so 'fit' is more important. Glasgow is surrounded by a very nice park, and on the outside border of downtown. It was an attractive university, but not nearly, nearly as attractive as St. Andrews. The campus has an urban feel. Compared to the other two, its students are Scott. Glasgow has more first generation college students than the other two. It is also more of a commuter university. I say the following as a 55 year old, but I think you will understand when I say that Glasgow undergrads seemed to be more 'punk'. In fact, the area around the University is a bit tough. I was hassled by a couple of street thugs. On the positive side, the university treated me well (I was representing my college in developing student and faculty exchange programs). The administrators, faculty, and students seemed more salt-of-the-earth; little 'intellectual' affectation, so common at US top-ranked schools.
What do I think of St. Andrews. Well, the first thing I did when I had free time was go to the admissions office to whether my son could get in. It was magical. Admittedly, I am biased. I am a long distance runner and running along the coast on the hard sandy beach with a golf course on one side and a beautiful gothic campus in front of me was absolute bliss. The town is quant and classy; it makes the town of Princeton look ho-hum. The University borders the sea and blends with the remains of gothic structures that are sinking into the sea. It is the archetypal university, even more so than Oxford and Cambridge. I was very impressed with the faculty. They have a unique residential program that some may view as corny, but I thought was great, similar to what the best US LACs do. But I am biased. I tend to dislike cities, whether it's NYC or London. Warning; it is remote.
Edinburgh? OK, I had great expectations, so I came away unimpressed. I suspect that it's great for graduate study, but less so for undergraduate study. But if you want to be around a lot of Americans, go here; its a major study abroad destination. The campus is so-so; I thought that it was unkept. They were the least cooperative and, by far, the most bureaucratic. It sits at the end of tourist-central, but some may like this feature. It is by far the most international of the three, and given that E is the capital, there are more opportunities to do internships.</p>
<p>Thank you so much briansteffy!! You have given me some more things to think about. Right now, St. Andrews and Glasgow are my top choices, but I have some qualms about both. I worry about getting bored in St. Andrews and I worry about the safety factor in Glasgow. Hmm...Edinburgh sounds disappointing from what you say. I think I will have to visit all to find out for myself.</p>
<p>One of the most interesting things that a St Angrews said to me was;' we do not have a drama department; students on their own volition stage palys' I asked, what do you do about live music; the response; ' we have rooms set aside for students to bring their instuments, we form groups and do gigs for the students. At Glasgow, students drive to campus, walk by themselves. At St. Andrews they all gather and move in groups. Scottish Univ. do not 'entertain' like US Univ. Students are given a budget-line and they fund clubs , etc. I think that it is a good system. But if you are a city kid expecting continuous stimulation, go to E. I teach at a rich-kids, preppy LAC. They love St Andrews. Yea, Prince Williams supposedly went to SA because he is not intellectually gifted, but I think that it is because St Andrews is where a 'little prince' would feel most comfortable. Alas, I've raised a little prince, so I would send him to SA. By the way SA told me that they were looking to bring in more American students ($$$$) because of the strange way that funds are distributed by the central govmt. I saw the list of US HSs that they vist/recruit - all pricey private HSs</p>
<p>That is very interesting. I really do like that about SA. I think I like the sound of that a lot. I do go to a very pricey, private highschool, but strangely, SA never visited my school; I did all the research on them myself. But, the fact that they (along with most foreign schools) are looking to bring in more Americans does work very much in my favor!!</p>
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One of the most interesting things that a St Angrews said to me was;' we do not have a drama department; students on their own volition stage palys' I asked, what do you do about live music; the response; ' we have rooms set aside for students to bring their instuments, we form groups and do gigs for the students.
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<p>All UK universities are like this. In the first week there is a "freshers fair" where you go along and sign up to many socities or, if there isn't a society for your particular interests, start your own. Each society gets some money from the university funds and then you do what you like with it. Some socieites are free (religious ones for example), and some require joining fees to increase their funds. This is nothing special about St Andrews. If anything Glasgow will be the best of your choices for socities and extra curriculars because it's the biggest I think.</p>
<p>cupcake: agree; all do this; I did not intend to isolate SA. The anacdote was from a SA student. Actually, Glasgow's club system was most interesting in that the University clubs were, in-essence local/city clubs, so there is a lot of interaction between town and gown. The student, self-management of entertainment and club sports is something that US colleges may want to benchmark. Perhaps US students would then whine less about what administrators offer by way of entertainment, sports, etc.</p>