<p>I wasn’t going to reply to your other posts, GeraldM, which I read with a mixture of amusement and exasperation - but seeing as your anti-UK rhetoric is becoming more widespread on CC I think someone needs to correct your (many) inaccuracies.</p>
<p>Your assertion that attending a British university other than Oxbridge is folly and will result in a tougher job market is inane and foolish. I’d ask you to share your source of information that led you to reach such a conclusion, but I think it’s painfully obvious to all that this is merely your own fanciful opinion. In actual fact many non-Oxbridge British universities enjoy formidable reputations abroad; these include Imperial, the LSE, UCL, Edinburgh, St Andrews and Durham. And students who’ve studied at these institutions will be well placed to find a good job anywhere in the world.</p>
<p>I must say I am astonished that an Oxford student (you do profess to be one, right?) can make such a wildly shot sighted remark on something they evidently know very little about.</p>
<p>Actually depends on the field. Even people from India get post-doc positions in the US. If you mean full track when you graduate, people with Harvard PhDs dont even get tenure after graduation and have to go through a series of post-docs</p>
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<p>Proof? Or just an assertion? In several countries most people cannot tell the difference between durham and something like swansea. UCL is not that popular either, most people know it by the name of London, but they dont knw its specific strengths.</p>
<p>I think GeraldM is talking about the US, and he is honestly correct. Anything less than Oxbridge and you are likely wasting your time. This might not be right, but thats the general view. Most people in continental europe have different views of british universities, and would focus on research rep the same way internationals for for the US. So decent schools like Durham, Bristol, St Andrews, Warwick e.t.c with average research power would not be that well known or respected in academia.</p>
<p>Also Professors in the US and everywhere tend to rate schools according to research rep, so schools like ETH Zurich are highly respected in academia.</p>
<p>I am about to apply to St Andrews but I am dreadfully nervous that I will not be offered a place… Anyone willing to read my stats and estimate if I fit the profile of most other American students who are accepted?</p>
<p>SAT I: 2050 combined (610 Math, 650 CR, 790 Writing)
SAT II: 680 U.S. History, 690 Literature, 570 French (dreadful, I know)
AP: 4 English Rhetoric, 4 U.S. Government, 3 U.S. History
GPA: 3.94 on a 4.0 scale
Currently taking AP World, AP Euro, AP English, and AP French</p>
<p>You’re definitely in range as I had similar stats. Just make sure you rock the personal statement and make it clear that you’re truly interested and knowledgable in whatever you want to major in. Also, I wouldn’t bother sending the French score since that is a bit low. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks! Do you have any tips for the personal statement? I want to major in art history, so I’m planning on sharing how my recent internship with a local artist has truly enlightened me to the world of art, but I want to make sure I incorporate enough of my enthusiasm for the university and not just the subject matter…</p>
<p>From what I understand, it’s primarily about conveying your interest in your major. In my case, I alluded to how Reagan’s precedents set in Iran still influence how the Middle East (I think I may have tied in North Korea as well) is approached today. Another thing I brought up was a letter I wrote to my state senator that addressed a Scandinavian-influenced health care reform system. Too bad I didn’t wait a week or two or I could’ve incorporated Wikileaks.</p>
<p>Anyway, my intended major being international relations, I just mentioned that studying as an international student just makes sense for obvious reasons. Plus, maybe hoping to work for an organization like NATO in the future, gaining international experience as early as possible can only alleviate the process of adjusting to a new lifestyle. I didn’t really mention St. Andrews too much specifically. I’m sure they realize if you’re applying directly that you do care, and by the way you sound, I’m sure that’ll be conveyed through the way you write.</p>
<p>Basically, just try to make it pretty unique. That internship story sounds like a great thing to put in and maybe something about how studying in the UK could give a first hand perspective on European art. I’m not much of the art expert or I would try and provide a better premise :).</p>
<p>You will definately get in. We met with the American Admissions counsellor and she told us that they look at SAT over around 1900 and GPA over 3.6 as almost automatic acceptance. It is a fantastic place. My daughter plans to go there for IR in 2012.</p>
<p>To Bruin17:
Thanks so much for such knowledgeable advice! I actually spent three days trying to muster up the courage to start writing my personal statement for fear of not writing something powerful enough to convince them to accept me, but I finally did it. I actually divided my essay fairly equally between why St Andrews and why Art History. I incorporated several examples of important artists and their innovations (i.e. Carravagio as the father of Renaissance painting), so I’m hoping that it conveys my passion for the subject enough…</p>
<p>To wcrcmom:
Thank you for that tip! I tried to contact the North American representative’s office, but they only sent me a pamphlet on St Andrews and William & Mary joint program. It’s definitely a relief to hear such encouraging words! Good luck to your daughter!</p>
<p>Absolutely absurd. I can think of dozens of colleagues of mine who are professors in the US who received their PhD from a UK uni that was not Oxford or Cambridge. </p>
<p>The nonsense that grows on this board some times is astounding.</p>
<p>Could someone tell me how long of a window you are given to accept/reject St. Andrews if you are accepted? I would love to apply but am unsure how this will work in respect to decision windows for the U.S. collages I am applying to… The international admissions officer I emailed told me they take 4 weeks reviewing your app, and that it is rolling admissions, but that I should apply early. So I’m not sure what to do! If anyone could help, I would really appreciate it :)</p>
<p>It’s May 31st for me to get back to them, so I’d assume it’s the same for all international applicants. In other words, the decision wouldn’t interfere with any of your U.S. offers that come in April for most people. Once all your offers are in, you’ll still have about a month to decide (most U.S. schools want the decision by May 1st so that would essentially be the deadline for letting St Andrews know as well).</p>
<p>hey everyone, I’m in the midst of applying to St Andrews for IR and German/Spanish. However, I can’t fill out the direct application PDF! Does anyone have any ideas?</p>
<p>This was mentioned A WHILE ago, but no one elaborated.
I would like to apply to St. Andrews put am a premed. I want to get a biology degree and then come back to the US for medical school. Someone mentioned earlier about how St. Andrews will be unable to fulfill requirements required by most medical schools, is this true?</p>
<p>St Andrew on its own will not fulfill medical school requuirements. Assuming you find a school- I doubt any exist- which would be ok with just a St Andrews qualification- you would need clinical experience, research experience, and lots of ECs to be competitive.</p>
<p>Honestly, you would need a postbac- be prepared for that.Seems St Andrew is very flexible though looking at their program. However, try and look for hospitals to volunteer in- if possible. </p>
<p>I think you would be Ok, though I personally think you might be required to retake some classes which is really stupid- so find out about this. I just havent heard of someone with a foreign degree getting into medical school</p>
<p>Well as far ECs go - in my high school there’s this program called HST where in the end you end up graduating as a Pharmacy Technician. So in the summers home from St. Andrews I would be able to work as a pharm tech and also volunteer. I could get involved in sports (I’m a state ranked tennis player in texas), clubs, etc. </p>
<p>And as far as I’ve been able to check, medical schools require I take chemistry, physics, biology, calculus, and english. Wouldn’t St. Andrews cover them in a biology degree? And also, on their site, they say that the last year of your degree you get to do a lot of research. </p>
<p>I don’t know - no one else seems to have ever had the idea of doing this, or has never tried. I’m just trying to figure out if it’s possible because it’s something I really want to do.</p>
<p>yeah, i forgot that you would be stuff over the summer. Actually you can fit in lots of stuff over the summer- volunteering at hospitals and stuff. I think it would be an excellent option for you to be honest, and worth it.</p>
<p>However from premed experience they tend to prefer people who have taken the premed classes in the US. Call med schools or email them and ask- alternatively you could take these classes over the summer.</p>
<p>I just dont know anyone with a foreign degree getting into a US med school. Med school is so competitive. I know kids with 3.7+ GPAs getting rejected in over 10 schools even a kid who had a 3.9+ and three years of research experience was going to end up at Tufts med, till he got a published paper that made one top ten med school accept him.</p>
<p>If your dream is to be a doctor ask around. Have you considered med school in the UK? I know a couple of people who did undergrad and then headed to a 4-year program in Ireland or UK. The issue though will be residency . . .your best bet would be to consider a postbac in your future</p>
<p>Yeah, doing medical school in the UK is really messy when you come back for residency. Though it does take less time. When you say get a postbac - like do that and go permanently into research and never become a doctor?</p>