Would anyone take St Andrews over (w) Georgetown, (x) Amherst, (y) Williams, (z) Wash U?
What major and what is your cost at the US schools?
English or History and can afford US colleges so cost is not a consideration
If you like a historic seaside town sure. Two acquaintances of D1 transferred back to the US after year 1, one went UVA the other to Georgetown. One didn’t like the weather and the other didn’t like the marking system.
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Thanks. Helpful. Anyone else? “Historic seaside town” doesn’t seem like a sufficient reason to choose a college. What reasons are? I’d say (x) first and foremost, quality of the education and opportunities for personal development, (y) credential (what doors does it open to be on your resume) and (z) connections (friends you make, professional connections, alumni network). How does St A stack up on these measures against top (but not top Ivy) US colleges like Georgetown, Amherst, Wash U, Williams, etc.?
I would say with those ^ criteria, you would be better served at Georgetown or Williams. Have to say though that I have a soft spot for Scotland and St. Andrews is a pretty amazing place, although I wasn’t there in the winter!
UK system is as academic as you make it especially with History and English. You will receive a skeleton framework of lectures and tutorials and your supplemental reading will flesh out your education and determine how well you do. You will need to write well and be on top of your game. Your final degree classification will depend on your last 2 years of study but you will need to do well in your first two years to keep honors status in your degree. Final degree classifications and equivalent GPA’s are roughly 1 st class / 3.7 +, upper second 2:1 3.33/3.69, lower second 2:2 3.00/3.32, 3 rd class below 3.00. You will find your cohort as capable as the US colleges you mentioned. One real big bonus about being at St Andrews is the ability to travel anywhere in Europe and MENA relatively cheaply. Although somewhat well known in the USA the alumni networks of domestic colleges will clearly be better than St A"s, this can be offset to some degree by the internships you manage to obtain during the summers.
In response to the two posters who mentioned weather in St A, that also is not a factor for me. I’m sure the weathers at Williams or Amherst can be pretty cold/bleak too. Again factors are quality of education, credential and connections (social and professional).
I’m only going to speak to StA, here. But echo what elguapo1 posted. The course work and quality of education is top notch at St.A. I get the impression there is much less hand holding at UK university than at US colleges. The ability to read a lot and also write well is fundamental at St.A.
Reputation of St. A around the world is pretty strong. Socially it is a fun place to be especially if you are open to getting to know others from around the world. Since St. A (town) is rather small you tend to get to know a lot of people and the main social outlets are local pubs ad house dinners. The former head of University (now at Oxford) was pretty proud to say that no matter what you studied at St.A, when you finished in four years, you could throw a formal dinner at the drop of a hat.
My daughter went there and loved it. Pretty sure she cried the entire train ride to London when she left after graduation. It’s a special place.
My Brother-in-law did his PhD there and loved St. Andrews. But as stated above, it is not your US education system. I’d consider studying abroad there if that is a concern. I used to travel to Scotland regularly and the weather problem isn’t cold/snow. It’s cold and rain and wind. Scotland weather is worse than Williams. I lived in the UP of Michigan for 8 years and Scotland weather is worse. But, I’d never make an education decision based on weather and you’ll get acclimated to it pretty quick. But there will be days where you will scream “It’s May, why is it 5 deg © with horizontal rain all week?”
And why is the sun not up until nearly 9 am. 
That has been hard for my California girl.
My daughter is choosing St. Andrew’s (International Relations) over many wonderful schools (Tufts, Barnard, Reed, Carleton, USC, Columbia-Trinity Dual BA, Macalester, etc.) because she loves the beautiful location, the traditions, the small town with a cosmopolitan feel, the walkable campus, ease of travel to other European countries, the built in study abroad component, the IR program and the cost-we will be full pay no matter where she goes not counting a couple of small merit scholarships. Overall, for my daughter, St. A’s has turned out to be the best fit.
Sounds like a sun lamp might be a good investment to get her through the dark winter months!
I’d say that Williams and Amherst will bring something markedly different from St Andrews.
Some academic differences::
At St A, you’ll have about 8-10 hours of class a week, everything else will be reading/writing on your own (several books a week). Your courses are decided ahead of time for you (80%) and the last one will be up to you.
At Amherst the curriculum is open, you take whatever classes you want. At Williams you have a wide variety of choices within a set of guidelines (general education). You’ll have more class hours (16) in interactive format - seminars, Harkness table, etc. at both Williams and Amherst.
So it’s really a matter of what you prefer and what system would help you achieve our best.
@bwcafan My d is finishing her first year at St A in IR and SA. Has been an amazing experience. @MagisLudi to answer your question…Yes. Many people would choose St A over the schools that you mention. As other posters have said, the school is well recognized globally and although it may not have an alumni network as large as the others, they do have a good network. Travel can be great…as a first year, my d has traveled to Barcelona, Brussels and London as well as some outlying areas. After exams in a few weeks, she will travel throughout Germany. If you feel like you are a fit with the style of grading, teaching and especially independent learning, it is a good option. It’s not for everyone, but I wouldn’t worry about the quality of education.
All of these schools are good so there is no bad decision here, however SA has many advantages that local schools can’t offer.
- Everone would know SA and would like to talk about your european experience so it gives you a social currency which works with job interviewers as well if all else is equal.
- Its a historic school with great traditions and students from every part of this planet energized by a continuous supply of new semester abroad students so totally different experience than regular colleges.
2.Academics are solid though no spoon feeding.
- Its cheaper than your other choices if you are a full pay student.
- You'll have a great oppurtunity to travel and grow as a person, which is economical from there and priceless in life.
- If you were thinking of law or medicine or something like that, it would make sense to stay in US. For your majors of English and history, its a no brainer.
- Your dating pool would be exotic.
8.You’ll have a global mindset and gain a new percpective on things here in USA.
- It would open other job markets in addition to local US jobs, multinational companies prefer employees with multicultural experiences and their ability to bond with customers.
Daughter of an acquaintance did IR at St. Andrews – finished up about 2 years ago – and loved it. She’s working at the EU or something now. Pretty cool. If working or grad school in Europe is a goal, St. Andrews is a great choice.
Otherwise, I think Amherst or Williams would be really great options for English and History – but I’m pro LACs.
(My D. was accepted to St. A’s for Biology but decided it was not the best route for her given her particular interests.)
It comes down to what you are getting for your money. If LACs are free or below $25K, they are a equally good choice. If you are paying >75K sticker price, go to SA for way less,get good education, have an awesome built in travel/cultural experience, come back and use leftover money for grad school. If price falls in between, then see what works for your individual circumstances.
I would choose Amherst or Williams, over St. A, but I would choose St. A over Georgetown or Wash U.
Amherst and Williams have incredible resources and unsurpassed graduate school placement.