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I dared coz I have my choice to express myself
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Ah lol, that makes things much clearer :)
Doesn't help the OP, though, and I know at least as many people who chose the other way round :P</p>
<p>Ah, well, it does help indeed..I never pointed out the ''academic'' point of view for Comparison...I have only elaborated/stressed on only one point, and that is about ''Undergraduate experience''...''Academically'', May I suggest Oxford?..</p>
<p>Ok, I misunderstood you, then.
Well, I know what you're saying about undergraduate experience. Seems to be common to US in general. However, I would like to point out that the traditions at Oxford are very, very nice, too (college system). </p>
<p>Plus, you're allowed to drink, of course. I've heard that some tutors actually give you a glass of wine during intellectual discussions. How f***ing cool is that? :)</p>
<p>@OP: make your decision based on things like 3 vs 4 years, liberal arts or not, US vs UK, and the social scene and atmosphere.</p>
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posted by chaat i'm been at stanford two years now, i VERY MUCH regret not having gone to oxford instead
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<p>I am very interested in the reason why you regret going to Stanford over Oxford. Personally, if given a chance to choose between a US top school and a UK one, I would pick the US anytime. </p>
<p>But I live in the UK...so maybe the grass is greener on the other side...</p>
<p>Oxford all the way!! Sure, you'll get a great education at both, but Oxford is unique. It has history and traditions that Princeton will never be able to measure up to. Plus, Princeton copied Oxford's architectural style, and therefore looks slightly fake and out-of-place. Why not go for the original? </p>
<p>Hope to see you there next year!</p>
<p>the academics are really intense out here; at stanford everyones "happy" all the time 'cause we're all sunny and stuff, but really this "happy" just a superficial phenomenon, it kinda gets annoying after a bit..so the studies are really hard and people work like crazzzzzzzzzyyyy but everyone pretends to be not working and partying all the time and basically be "happy" (when they're reallly dying with all the pressure). there's also a lot of pressure to BE HAPPY (read: pretend all is good), maybe that's just the american way of life dunno. i miss the uk. a. lot. and the american education system is also very different, i feel like the GCSE's and all didn't prepare me well enough for so intense a workload so i guess i'm also struggling a bit cause of that.</p>
<p>chaat: do you mind me asking a bit about your background? where are you from? did you do alevel? what subjects? what are u studing at Stanford? How do you find the academics compared to A Levels?</p>
<p>Sorry for the grilling, i'm just interested. I havent met anyone with such a strong dislike of the US system before...</p>
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To the OP: both are great, but also substantially different. I'd say Oxford is academically superior (although Princeton is still great). Princeton gives you liberal arts education, though (if you like that). You cannot go wrong with either choice.
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<p>On the contrary, I believe Princeton actually gives you deeper/more specialized training in economics than Oxford, not least because Oxford doesn't offer a BA in economics properly, but rather either PPE or economics & management. I'd say the only undergraduate economics degree in the UK that is competitive with/roughly equivalent to a similar degree from a top 5 US university would be that from LSE or, perhaps, Cambridge. Maybe LadyLou can elaborate further on this topic.</p>
<p>I must say that I'm not familiar with the course at Oxford (nor at Princeton). My statement was a rather general one (and I still believe that academics are generally more rigorous and in depth at Oxbridge).
Might be that Princeton's economics program is better than Oxford's one, though. I really don't know.</p>
<p>Thanks bruno... i'll will elaborate, although I suspect this will be of more help to others looking at econ in the UK than in the OP.
Even with econ+management, I would say that you could get a greater depth of econ than a standard major in the US. I say this, becuase a major typically makes up a year's worth of credit, whilst for econ+management, if you desire 2/3 (possibly more)of your course could be economics, or if you chose, you could also focus on management. Of course, in the US, you could choose to study far beyond your major too, which is why it is a little difficult to say which is necessarily more thorough because they are so different academically.
The courses at LSE and Cambridge will be 'deeper' academically, but I don't know if this is specifically what the OP wants.
In terms of phd opportunities in economics in the US, a UK undergrad degree in econ would need to have the sufficient mathematical content expected for phd students in the US. From cambridge, for example, I know this is not a problem because the degree is pretty much a degree in applied mathematics, however other courses (not sure about econ+management) are not quite so mathematically rigorous and so may not provide as good preparation.</p>
<p>Most of my criticisms of the US system lie with the admissions, when it comes to choosing where you want to study, both with serve you very well. Prestige-wise, both are fantastic (oxford econ+management will open up a lot of doors in the city...) and I guess it ultimately comes down to where you actually want to study.</p>
<p>Career wise, I think US universities have an edge over Oxbridge, because the alumni network is better maintained.</p>
<p>you should really talk to some students at Princeton or some posters in the Princeton forum. You can easily call the school and ask for the number or e-mail of student reps. It seems like you're getting international perceptions of the two schools, which is good but I would recommend getting specifics from students. </p>
<p>Where do you want to eventually end up working? The Princeton alumni network is extremely strong in the states and if you're goal is say to become an investment banker in New York you will probably have a very easy time getting hired. Plus you'll make a lot of connections and life-long friendships that would be beneficial if you planned on staying the country.
As for the poster that said that Oxford had traditions that Princeton couldn't match up to, what does that even mean? Princeton has plenty of undergraduate traditions and some of the happiest students in the US. The community is very cohesive and there are no cliques. Everyone is pretty open and friendly. And the campus is gorgeous. Search Princeton dorm on the flickr photo site.
I think your main consideration should be the tutorial system in one area vs. the more discussion/lec liberal arts education. Princeton has an amazing faculty and tons of fascinating undergraduate seminars. So if you wanna major in econ but also take english classes from people like Toni Morrison there's no better place than Princeton.</p>
<p>It means that one was founded in the 12th century, while the other... in the 18th. ;b There is nothing Princeton can do about the other place's extended history. In fact, Princeton attempted to copy (and not very successfully, I must add) a lot of the elements of Oxford, like the tutorial system and the building style. I've been to Princeton, as well as to many other US schools, and there's no doubt that Princeton IS the prettiest university in the US. Why? It's modeled after Oxbridge. Can it compete? Not really.</p>
<p>I'm not arguing over which one is prettier. It's ridiculous to choose one school over the other b/c of the architecture. It's all a matter of personal taste anyway.</p>
<p>And how many years of traditions does one need? You keep mentioning these marvelous old traditions yet giving no specifics. Does Oxford have a 500 year old boating song that will absolutely change your life?</p>
<p>I think the OP is at a disadvantage b/c he can't visit the schools but its nothing that talking to multiple students from each school can't fix. Either way you have two dream choices.</p>
<p>Lol, no one's arguing that one should choose one school over the other bc. of the architecture. It's just an added bonus to an unparalleled undergrad education. :b And I have no specifics for you because I am not in Oxford yet - I'll hopefully get there in October. Just like the OP, I had to make a choice btwn. Ivy League and Oxbridge... and I couldn't be happier with my decision. Hopefully (s)he will be too.</p>
<p>If you apply as an international can you apply to both Ox and Cam? And how do admissions work? Is it a lot harder for Americans to be accepted? Do they conduct interviews for internationals?</p>
<p>And I'm not sure what to think of some of Oxford's ancient traditions. Like formal dress during finals- I wonder if they don't let you take them if you show up in casual wear. But yeah it would def. be amazing to attend a school with such a history.</p>
<p>oh and does anyone know which school the OP picked?</p>
<p>Alevel subjects: Economics, English Literature, English General, Art and Design and Chemistry (for chem just gave the As though)</p>
<p>nope, you can only apply to oxford or cam, unless you are an organ scholar (but it is unlikely that anyone here is!)
It is harder for american in a way, because you do 12 years of high school compared to our 13. therefore, they expect a very high standard of work and i think 4+ APs with very good grades.
You can ge interviewed in new york, i think, or you can come to the UK.</p>
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oh and does anyone know which school the OP picked?
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I asked him. He chose Oxford after inquiring the Princeton advisors who agreed that Oxford would be the best choice if he knew what he wanted to specialize in.</p>