I applied for the French and Philosophy program. Did anyone else?
@starshaped would you say that most students agree with these points or is what you’re feeling uncommon? (Or are they exaggerated at all? It seems pretty normal that an elite ivy league-like school would be “upper-class.”)I was recently accepted into St A and this is pretty concerning.
Hi, I’ve read through most of this feed and have gotten pretty nervous. I was accepted into St Andrews earlier this year and am currently trying to choose. You mentioned being “well acquainted with all its problems.” It seems like you think it’d be a poor decision to go there. Is this true?
@FredWeasley, all schools have problems/negatives, and no school is right for everybody. Think of reviews (restaurants, books, films, anything): what matters is how you respond to the given elements. Have you visited StAs? I would strongly recommend it. There are secondary things- such as how short the days are in winter- that can really throw people (there is an American student on CC looking to transfer back from the UK in part b/c she can’t cope with how short the days are). But will that matter to you? we can’t know
@collegemom3717 I don’t mean to be rude, but your comment is so very American. As a negative you mention how short the days are in winter. All of the UK is in a northern latitude! If you want sun, go to California. Some Americans do find these things difficult, but this only serves to make Britons more convinced that UK universities should dramatically scale back American admissions. Also, St Andrews is a university, not a school.
Lol, @Brexit99- parochialism comes in all kinds of forms. To answer your points:
- CC is a US site for US students and the UK forum on CC is for US students looking for information about the UK experience, so it is not surprising that comments will sound “American” to a non-National.
- Except for Alaska, no part of the US has days as short as those in Scotland. Again, as the purpose of the forum is to help students who are considering going abroad, it is a fair point to consider (and was only one part of a response).
- In the US, ‘school’ is colloquially used to refer to any level of education. If I were posting on a UK site I would say ‘university’ but as CC is a US site, the intended audience will understand the usage.
@collegemom3717 I appreciate that this site is primarily for US students but one thing you should do is impress upon them that in applying to a UK university, they are going to a FOREIGN country. In the UK, universities like Duke, Georgetown and especially some LACS like Claremont are virtually unknown. Even at the major research universities faculty will frown. So the comparisons are largely irrelevant.
The other reality is that UK universities are designed for UK students, just like American universities are designed for American ones. A lot of American students here complain that they are no longer allowed to stay on and work afterwards. That is true and students should focus on that, as on the fact that careers services here do not have much information on the US.
As for the length of the day, that may be a concern to Americans but when Brits read thing like this, it makes all Americans look frankly idiotic. It plays into a stereotype. If a student goes to St Andrews and leaves because of the weather, that is more likely an excuse. It’s a bit like Brits saying they don’t like going to the US because the weather is awful in much of the country: freezing all winter and baking all summer. I’ve heard that said and when you speak to these students, their real reason from returning to the UK is more cultural, social or academic.
@Brexit99, I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make. Britain is roughly the latitude of Labrador, ergo north of anywhere in the continental US, ergo Scotland, in the north of Britain, has shorter winter days than anywhere in the continental US. Why is pointing that fact out idiotic? Would you consider telling a Briton considering moving to Houston or New Orleans that the summers there are brutally humid and unlike anything they have ever experienced in Britain idiotic as well? Maybe it’s because the US has as much variation in climate as some continents, but Americans tend to regard giving information about the local weather and climate to be a friendly gesture from strangers.
BTW, has anyone ever told you that an inferiority complex never looks appealing, no matter who is exhibiting it?
@PurpleTitan Being insulting diminishes what you write. I also don’t understand what ‘inferiority complex’ you suggest Brexit99 is displaying. That he or she is British? I read college mom’s post and chuckled but decided not to reply for fear of receiving a snarky reply like yours. College mom’s post was wonderfully American. I admire Americans for the way they can focus on the trivial and yet endow this with great meaning. It is a skill. In any event, I THINK Brexit99 was simply trying to note that Americans have a reputation for being superficial and was worried that college mom’s post was reinforcing this stereotype.
@excanuck99, is this how you try to avoid people making snarky replies to your post? somehow, it doesn’t make me think that you were all that concerned about my reinforcing the stereotype of Americans being superficial.
The OP said ‘I’m seeing all this negative stuff about St As and am getting worried about whether or not to accept my offer’. I said ‘every place has it’s pros and cons / what matters is which ones are important to you’. I then recommended visiting if it was possible, and pointed out that there were secondary things that might- or might not!- matter to the OP, such as how short the days are in winter.
And based on that I’m getting slapped around by you and @Brexit99 about how superficial Americans are. Really?
@excanuck99, he goes on about how Duke, Georgetown, and American LACs are unknown in the UK, even though that would be of little interest to a non-Brit considering a UK uni. To me, that shows inferiority complex.
How could it be an inferiority complex? Please explain?
@PurpleTitan Compared to The Student Room, there is a real lock of civility of these boards. Why the snarky comments regarding @excanuck99? I think the point he was making is that it doesn’t make much sense to compare universities. Americans may think Duke or some LAC is very prestigious, but they are virtual unknowns to British students and employers. Vice versa too. I frankly am baffled by your ‘inferiority’ reference.
@Brexit99: You’re talking about lack of civility. That’s choice. Look in the mirror much?
In any case, I still don’t see how it matters to a non-Brit considering UK unis what Brits know of Duke or Amherst, while it certainly should matter to them what Brits and people in their country think of various UK unis. For most Americans, who likely knows of no UK unis besides Oxbridge; maaaaybe LSE and St. Andrews, providing a frame of reference is useful.
Imo Brexit was trying to say that students should not be daunted by the weather of the place where the university locates (in a little bit impulsive way), which is probably true. Nonetheless, Americans tend to consider every factor, such as location, weather, academics, diversity, etc., when it comes to choosing a university to attend, so it is pretty fair that collegemom reminded others of the day length in St. Andrews, which might disturb most Americans’ circadian rhythm. It’s merely a cultural difference. Maybe the British do not usually take factors other than academics into consideration (I’ve been active in many threads in the Student Room. At least this is what I’ve observed so far), but it is rude to say such a kind reminding is superficial. However, collegemon should not use “parochialism” to respond Brexit99, especially when you knew Brexit is from a different country. It is just a misunderstanding and you guys should calm down.
Anyway, this thread is supposed to provide information for other students and I have never seen such a huge argument in CC. Idk whether it’s ended or not, but next time please do not put so many negative things here.
hey new to CC here! I’m a UK student but wanted to know more about the reputation of st andrews is in the US as I’d like to work there in the future.
I have offers from St A’s, Kings College London and Bristol University.
I’m little torn because although St A’s is probably a little more prestigious than KCL, KCL is in london and might be more well known?
@Blelow88, IMO it’s a toss-up, and will depend on random variables such as individual experience or contacts, etc. For some Americans, StA’s is better known than KCL. Picking the university based on which college is likely to be seen as ‘better’ from the perspective of a US employer is a mug’s game, so pick the course that you think suits you best and shine it (and use your summers wisely).
@Blelow88, how do you plan to work in the US?
I am not quite sure why American people seem so fond of St Andrews university, but please keep in mind that A) it is extremely expensive - fees but most of all living costs. There are practically only students living there, so landlords completely exploit their necessity to rent a place. B) It is in the middle of nowhere, and tiny. Beautiful, but tiny. If you like museums operas and cinemas… dont go there. And Scottish weather is not mild. Just a couple of things to keep in mind. Edinburgh is equally reputable and at least its a city where lots of things are happening.
@cinniminni, very true.
Dartmouth and Williams are also in the middle of nowhere with not-mild weather. Dartmouth and Williams also don’t produce as much research as Boston University, which also is in a major city.
Likewise, Edinburgh is more highly regarded for research than St. Andrew’s and in a major city. However, St. Andrew’s (like Dartmouth and Williams) has a reputation for being more undergraduate-focused.