<p>Hi, guys. I've been incredibly lucky to have been accepted to several amazing universities among which there's surely no way to go wrong. While I don't expect to make my decision based on any one thing commented here, I was hoping that some of you could provide me with new pros/cons that I have not considered yet. I'm oriented towards the humanities and social sciences, and am fascinated by the programs and styles of education at all three of these universities. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>While you’re waiting for those comments, I wonder if you could say a few words about the Cambridge (or Oxbridge) admissions criteria and process? How was it different from applying to US schools? My impression from the Oxford site is that their decision is based primarily on standardized test scores and an interview (along with a personal statement and an academic reference). Extracurriculars don’t seem to matter. What about grades or rank in class? Were you asked really off-the-wall questions in the interview?</p>
<p>It’s true that class grades or rank have absolutely no role in UK university admissions. They are subjective, unmoderated, and there is no way of comparing standards across different schools. That is why they want to see standardised, independently-assessed marks from APs, or A-levels in the case of British students.</p>
<p>For some subjects Oxford and Cambridge also require additional tests that they set themselves, these include the History Aptitude Test (HAT), the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT), and the Thinking Skills Assessment (for PPE). These are ways of differentiating between applicants who are probably all predicted AAA at A-level and are aimed at your capacity for critical thinking rather than your ability to absorb and regurgitate information. (You can find out which subjects require such tests, and examples of them, on the universities’ websites.)</p>
<p>The academic interview is also a way to separate out applicants who will almost all have the same level of qualifications on paper and is generally recognised as the ultimate decider.</p>
<p>Since you are interested in the humanities, the odds are good you will be considering graduate school. Therefore look at your likely expenses doing both. For example, I heard that Cambridge gives less aid for graduate school studies than top U.S. schools. If that is true, perhaps Cambridge (undergrad) and Princeton/Yale (Grad) may be better options and give you experiences at 2 out of 3 of your candidate schools. </p>
<p>If one school has a better financial package than the others choose that school if your parents will fund the savings for grad school. </p>
<p>More of a minor point, but if things aren’t what you expected at a school you CAN transfer to Yale. You can’t transfer to Cambridge or Princeton. </p>
<p>Hope that helps. Still, as you know, it comes down to fit more than anything else. So don’t get caught up too much on a long list of pros and cons.</p>
<p>Are you American or British?</p>
<p>chimere, are you an American?</p>
<p>If you are, you might find Cambridge very expensive, because Cambridge does not offer scholarship to international students, although the whole program at Cambridge would only last for 3 years.</p>
<p>Id opt with either Yale or Princeton. Probbaly Yale.</p>
<p>^ Why would you go for Yale/Princeton over Cambridge?</p>
<p>I have not studied at either Yale or Princeton but Cambridge is amazing. Plus the Cambridge town is beautiful, lovely, peaceful, vibrant and enchanting. You’ll have very easy access to some of the best faculty for each field offered in the university. Cambridge is a collegiate system, and every college is housed in a palace-like facility where you will live the whole time you’re studying in the university. There are tons of opportunities that the university offers to its graduates including those international students. Unemployment for Cambridge grads is the least problem they would ever have to face.</p>
<p>
Not entirely true…it depends on the college. While many colleges guarantee accommodation for three years, not all do. Many 2nd/3rd students live in halls that are not as glamorous and can be quite cramped. Even the main colleges are not always that attractive (e.g. Robinson).</p>
<p>@ tk21769: oldspc already mentioned a lot of the important stuff, but you should know that Oxbridge asks most applicants to sit for a test (usually when you go for interview) even if your course of choice doesn’t require a national exam like Law with the LNAT. Also, you’re right about extracurriculars; if they don’t relate to your course in some way (i.e. Public speaking and Law) they won’t really care about them. However, it’s always a good idea to mention your most significant (and educative) ECs in your Personal Statement. Also, while the UK system doesn’t seem to trust schools all that much, they are big on standardized tests, so you should send in everything you have, SATs included if your average for each section is over 700. Finally, the interview is perhaps one of the most important components of the application, but this should not frighten you – unlike your standardized test scores this is something that could differentiate you from the other applicants, and it’s also a factor over which you have a significant measure of control. In my experience, interviewers won’t ask you wacky questions. They will all relate to your course and/or Personal Statement somehow, so reading about your course of choice is the best way to prepare. Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions.</p>
<p>Anyways, I’m international so Cambridge is significantly more expensive for me than either Princeton or Yale (because of their financial aid programs). Additionally, while I believe that Oxbridge’s teaching methodology is simply unmatched, I think that a liberal arts education would probably be a better match for me at an undergraduate level. However, a graduate course at Cambridge does seem possible. It’ll be hard to say no now, though. Cambridge is truly a beautiful place.</p>
<p>So let’s say I have to pick between Yale and Princeton. Yale has Directed Studies and EP&E going for it; Princeton has Woody Woo and the Certificate Programs. There are of course tons of other things to consider, but those are probably the most academically relevant for me. I’d love to hear your thoughts on both schools. </p>
<p>Thank you very for your help. I realize that there’s truly no way to go wrong, but making the decision is still difficult.</p>
<p>BTW chimere, what subject were you accepted for at Cambridge? Obviously you are in a position to know now what the course requirements are, as well as the facilities and faculty available, compared to some putative future major at Princeton or Yale.</p>
<p>And why would you want to go somewhere with “Woody Woo”? Surely you want to go to university, not nursery!</p>
<p>LOL, I meant Woody Woo as in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affair. I was accepted for philosophy at Cambridge.</p>
<p>If you’re international and you have Y and P as your options, you should take Y.
I bet it has a better name recognition back in your home country. </p>
<p>chimere, take note that as an international student, you might not be able to work in the US after your graduation. I suggest that you look into that carefully before you eliminate Cambridge from your choices.</p>
<p>i think the OP meant they’d be international for Cambridge.</p>
<p>Chimere, I had to make exactly the same decision!! I chose to attend Yale. What school did you end up picking? Turning down Cambridge was excruciating for me too; the place is incredible.</p>
<p>Go to princeton!!!</p>
<p>This is clearly useless at this present time, but i would have to say that Cambridge is by far the best option, if I were in your shoes. Sure, Princeton and Yale are great and prestigious, but the chance to study in a foreign nation at a top-notch school is very hard to come by. Cambridge is also the most beautiful campus in the World ;)</p>
<p>Agreed on the most beautiful campus on the world thing, Hope2getrice, but all Yale, Princeton and Cambridge are top-notch schools in foreign nations for me. The reason I won’t be going to Cambridge is mainly because I don’t think I’m self-disciplined enough to make good use of all the time alloted towards independent work. And, as chimere pointed out, there’s also the lure of a liberal arts education. But I don’t think any one of these schools is clearly better than thr others, really; they’re just different. </p>
<p>I’m thinking of applying for a study abroad program to spend a semester in Cambridge though :)</p>
<p>The system of “teaching” at Oxford and Cambridge is so different from what Americans are used to that only the most independent and disciplined should consider going there as an undergrad. Also only students who are 100% certain what field they want to study. I’d recommend Princeton for undergrad, and go to the UK for grad school.</p>
<p>^Same as Schmaltz. I was going to apply to Oxford for PP&E, but it’s just too much of a commitment now. I think it would have been a terrific experience.</p>
<p>But honestly, Princeton undergrad and UK grad would be an amazing combination.</p>