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The go-to British schools are usually considered to be Cambridge, Oxford, and St. Andrews. Those are the ones most commonly chosen by American students.
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<p>Besides the universities you mentioned above, I'd suggest looking at Imperial College London for engineering, science or medicine, and the London School of Economics for social and politicial sciences, economics, and law.</p>
<p>If you wish to apply to the University of Cambridge, keep in mind that, according to this site, out of 3,000 students admitted by the Cambridge colleges last year, only six were American ! The problem is not that American kids are not smart enough, but rather that an American High School education is not normally considered a sufficient qualification for enrollment in European universities. </p>
<p>In particular, if you want to study science or engineering at Cambridge, in addition to the usual high GPA and SAT scores, at least 3 math/science AP exams with scores of 5/5/5 will be required. Be also prepared to take additional written tests and answer technical questions when you show up for admission interviews with college tutors.</p>