[retired_kretzsch]

Originally posted by Andy Jordan:
do NOT go Oxbridge, so cliched.

make your own way in life, reject the norm, go where you're happy (not where you think you'll be happy), another random platitude, etc., etc.

oxbridge cliched? how? and it's hardly the norm either. people I know who went there were all very happy.

basically, if you can, go to oxbridge. in simple terms, it will make the rest of your life so much easier.

[retired_kimmymarlo]

not exactly being serious there guv, I thought the 'another random platitude' gave it away.

in all honesty, make sure to stay a few nights at prospective schools. I wish I had, then I wouldn't have wasted a year of my life.

tbh, I've realized why my first year was so crap - my childhood was idyllic.

[retired_kevh16]

Originally posted by porksword:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Andy Jordan:
do NOT go Oxbridge, so cliched.

make your own way in life, reject the norm, go where you're happy (not where you think you'll be happy), another random platitude, etc., etc.

oxbridge cliched? how? and it's hardly the norm either. people I know who went there were all very happy.

basically, if you can, go to oxbridge. in simple terms, it will make the rest of your life so much easier. </BLOCKQUOTE>

I'd tell anyone capable of going to Oxbridge to go ahead and go for it.

Cons
- You'll work harder at Oxbridge than anywhere else in England
- There are more privately educated kids than anywhere else (50% at Oxford)
- There are some frankly stupid things which the uni/people do in the name of tradition/can't be bothered to change, don't get me started on exams and now the releasing of exam results
- There are a large number of stereotypical oxbridge twats

Pros
- You'll work harder at Oxbridge than anywhere else and if you're into that sort of thing will be academically challenged.
- Your degree will be respected in almost all subjects more than a degree from almost all other uni's
- For many jobs the mere mention of Oxbridge will be a foot in the door (some smaller investment banks only take on oxbridge graduates)
- Public school kids aren't all as bad as they would first appear
- The state school kids are generally all awesome people
- The collegiate system is immense, as you socialise with everyone from the college your friendship group won't just be limited to subject, corridor or sports teams. There is also a lot of inter year mingling as well. I doubt that at any other uni I will have ended up with such a diverse but close group of friends.
- The collegiate system also gives you endless opportunity for extra-curricular activities, no matter what level of almost any sport you play to you should be able to get on a college team. The standard for all major sports is ok, if you played seriously at school then you'll get on your college team. Most major sports also have a second team which any joker can rock up to. Our cricket 2nd XI last year had only 4 people who'd played cricket before on it. All minor sports generally play a tournament once a year which they will scrounge players from all over college for, as mixed lacrosse captain I formed the team the night before in the college bar.

I'd recommend Oxbridge to anyone. However I would definitly recommend Oxford over Cambridge and that isn't just my Oxford bias coming out. Both universities can be extremely insular places, this is fine most of the time but there have been points where I've just wanted out of the whole college life for a breather. At least Oxford has a city around it which has nothing to do with the uni whereas I get the feel Cambridge is just a university town. Both are beautiful cities but again, Oxford is the larger and has the better nightlife (still crap tbh).

If anyone wants anymore info just shout.

[Test 187]

Guess your results have been delayed then theis

[retired_kimmymarlo]

general question:

what is the acceptance rate for Oxbridge?

is it at Harvard/Yale/Stanford/Princeton levels (8-10%)? Penn/Dartmouth/Columbia (15ish%)?

[retired_ietus]

Originally posted by Brian of Nazareth:
<BLOCKQUOTE>aven't really thought about it yet, although Cardiff and Nottingham

Cardiff ifb, and has the added bonus of hardly any gun crime :thup:

I looked round both, preferred Cardiff by a mile, gave me more flexibility with my course, and the city is immense. </BLOCKQUOTE>

Yeah Cardiff looks pretty cool plus I would get to take advantage of reduced tuition fees, which would be helpful.

[retired_kevh16]

Originally posted by Rohan:
Guess your results have been delayed then theis

Yep, were supposed to be released today. Rang up the exam schools and they told me that they didn't know where they were but thought the examiners were still in a meeting over them so not to expect them until tomorrow at the earliest :thdn:

[retired_klew07]

Also wanted to ask how picking up an AS in your second year of college works out on your application.

As I mentioned in my previous post I'm pretty sure I messed up Computing, which I am dropping. If it is particularly bad I'll pick up another AS . I assume that predicted grades for A2 subjects, based on work during the first year and particularly AS exam results is the main determiner of whether a University makes an offer or not.

However, will a predicted grade be given for the new AS?

[retired_ietus]

Originally posted by Andy Jordan:
and iirc, if you want to go in the States, Vanderbilt is fabulous.

the only sticking point is the roughly 25,000 pounds a year you'd have to pony up.

Would I have to pay equally high fees (I live in Britain) if I wanted to go to any half decent college in America?

[Test 187]

Originally posted by Andy Jordan:
general question:

what is the acceptance rate for Oxbridge?

is it at Harvard/Yale/Stanford/Princeton levels (8-10%)? Penn/Dartmouth/Columbia (15ish%)?

When I applied (unsuccesfully in the end) to Cambridge, I think there were just over 3 appliactions per place available. Of course, this varies widely depending on the course one applies for.