I live in Europe and want to study for undergraduate in either the States (TUFTS) or in the UK.
I already got accepted from TUFTS and might apply to a few of the top UK universities like LSE, UCL, University of Bath, University of Bristol and St.Andrews. Personally I know that TUFTS is great and with the sport a really good fit for me. I still feel kind of drawn towards the UK.
What do you think? University reputation wise? Whats better if you thought about graduate prospects?
If you are talking purely reputation then LSE is the only one on that list with a reputation to match Tufts. They are all good schools though, just not quite as well known and prestigious (at least here in the US).
However, if you factor in the costs and you are paying full price then I’d say you are better off with any of the UK schools you listed. For instance, LSE is £9,000 per year while Tufts is over $49,000.
Lets say cost doesnt matter…what do you think looking at graduate school? Is it easier to get into a graduate school with the name TUFTS or LSE? I know it also matters a lot what I actually do in college.
You are viewing this through European eyes. In the US, prestige of the undergraduate school is of less importance than how you perform. There is of course some correlation but it isn’t prestige related and institutional bias is minimal.
In terms of overall experience, very few if any European schools can compete with US schools on the undergraduate level.
Money aside, I would go to Tufts. I think once you are here you will also see options for graduate school to be much more attractive as well.
If you don’t desire the full American experience then stay in Europe. College here transcends academics. Facilities, living arrangements, social opportunities and relationships with professors are all far better here.
Yes…true…unless you live in those countries. We are the only country generous enough to offer spots as well as scholarships and financial aid to students from other countries.
Given the outrageously expensive tuition at top American universities, one would certainly hope that financial aid assistance is available.
Tufts is not an acronym; there’s no need to capitalize it. To answer your question, any of those can get you into graduate school, and it’s really a matter of deciding where you fit, as that’s where you’ll perform the best. In terms of pure academic heft, I’d rank them as LSE and UCL > Bristol = Tufts ≥ St Andrews ≥ Bath. This is something of an apples to oranges comparison, however, as Tufts is noticeably stronger at the undergraduate than graduate level, and comparing academic strength in the UK really depends on what you want to study. There are no bad options here.
What is your subject of interest? If it’s international relations, St Andrews has a very strong program, right up there with UCL and LSE and behind Oxbridge as the best in the UK. Tufts obviously has a very strong program as well.
There are some pretty big differences between your schools that have nothing to do with academic quality. Tufts has a lot fewer undergrads and offers smaller courses and more flexibility than the British universities. It also has more distribution requirements, such as arts, math, and foreign language requirements. Maybe this appeals to you; maybe it doesn’t. Don’t underestimate the impact of setting either; studying in London and commuting to LSE/UCL is a VERY different experience from living in a quieter city like Bath (which is lovely) or a small town like St Andrews.
The British universities have the advantage of being noticeably cheaper (assuming you’re a UK/EU citizen), both in tuition and because the degree often takes one less year (St Andrews is 4 years like the US). Moreover, UK university loans – unlike American ones – only become due once you’re making above a set salary, currently £21K.
For math, Imperial might’ve been a better option than UCL.
Bristol is roughly on par with Tufts; for undergrad, I would prefer Tufts. I placed UCL above Tufts, yes, just as I would a number of research universities here in the US (Michigan, Wisconsin, Berkeley, UT Austin, Johns Hopkins, etc.). Keep in mind that I am only speaking of overall academic breadth and depth – not the quality of undergraduate education, which is much more difficult to measure or compare.
Many people consider Tufts a happy medium between research universities (lots of exciting research and classes but can be large and impersonal) and liberal arts colleges (which focus all their resources on undergraduates but can feel suffocatingly small after a couple of years). Along with its Boston location, this is arguably its biggest draw.
“How large are classes?
The average class size at Tufts is approximately 20 students. 70% of classes have 21 or fewer students and only 2% of the classes have over 100 students. Students in large classes usually meet twice a week for lecture and once a week in a small review session that provides a forum for questions and discussion.”