The Student Room Group

Americans applying to university in the UK

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Original post by Aeonstorm
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On the Oxford website there are many sample questions from previous years. You can also find a few on the rest of the Internet. However, don't prepare with those too much - the whole point of the interview is that you will be getting entirely new questions that will make you think critically, not rote recall a prepared answer.

I think you're on the right track with your PS, but your section with Zinn needs work. In it, you come across as a little patronizing and on the whole the paragraph is too critical. You want to analyse the work, but only to the extent that you can say how it "changed" you.

For example: In order to read outside my curriculum, I chose the book ____ by ____. In this book, Zinn describes ___. After reading the book, I realized ___/reassessed my views on ___/found that ___.



Original post by Aeonstorm
Hey, I'd just like to thank you for the advice you've given in this thread and in countless others, especially the TSA 2011 thread. You don't know how much you've helped me in figuring out how best to apply for PPE this year!

Oh, no problem! I am so happy I was of help! :smile: I'm blushing, haha.
Original post by thesmiter
Applying for History and Politics at Oxford, Government and History at LSE, and most likely straight history at St. Andrews.


Out of interest, if you're applying for LSE, why don't you apply for straight History at UCL? Arguably 'better' than St Andrews regardless of what they say on collegeconfidental
Original post by thesmiter
I guess my policy is: only the best. If I'm going to live halfway across the world, it had better be worth the money I'm putting into my studies. I mean, I live within commuting distance to UC Berkeley and my stats match with theirs, so any school I apply to must be worth going further away for. But if you do have any recommendations for History/Politics/International Relations or even Economics, please, don't hesitate to post.

I can definitely try reading a book on both history and politics. I'll ask our librarian if she can recommend anything, and if our school library doesn't have anything good, I'll try the public library. I am interested in socialism/Marxism, but I think growing up in a VERY liberal part of the country (can you say, Bay Area/gayest city in the nation?) has left me fairly open-minded, so I don't have the same mindset as most of the US. What would be interesting to look into is the origins of the reactions to the communist and socialist movements - something along the lines of 'Just HOW did Joseph McCarthy ever rise to power?' and maybe even tie that into the Cold War. I dunno.

That could make things more difficult. I would say pick one or two courses(if you pick a joint honours) and stick with it because it just makes it too hard to write a personal statement about. You might want to look into York, Exeter, Nottingham, Warwick, Edinburgh. All very good universities and do your exact course. Although some do a slight variation. Ie; modern history and politics. There are other universities but I'm not so sure about them, though not necessarily because of how good they are(Leeds, Manchester, etc). Kinda, they're very good but I don't know if they're known for these subjects.

That does sound like a great idea to look into. I obviously can't comment as an admissions tutor or a history/politics student but I would highly recommend it personally speaking. I have another idea but it's probably a bit cliched.

Original post by Tsunami2011
Out of interest, if you're applying for LSE, why don't you apply for straight History at UCL? Arguably 'better' than St Andrews regardless of what they say on collegeconfidental

Fair point. St Andrews has an inflated reputation in the US. It's good, but rarely top 5 and is only occasionally top 10 in subject tables. I'd say St Andrews is on similar level to some of the ones I suggested. But I haven't extensively researched History or Politics.
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by alexs2602

Fair point. St Andrews has an inflated reputation in the US. It's good, but rarely top 5 and is only occasionally top 10. I'd say St Andrews is on similar level to some of the ones I suggested. But I haven't extensively researched History or Politics.


I would agree completely. I think IR is where its worldwide recognition comes from. It probably is currently in the top 10, probably peers of Warwick, Durham and Bristol, so just slightly behind the top London colleges.

I think this sums up the delusion of some posters on collegeconfidental.

The fact is that St Andrews is formidable and is now turning its attention to its actual main rivals, Oxford and Cambridge
Original post by Tsunami2011
I would agree completely. I think IR is where its worldwide recognition comes from. It probably is currently in the top 10, probably peers of Warwick, Durham and Bristol, so just slightly behind the top London colleges.

I think this sums up the delusion of some posters on collegeconfidental.

Wow, seriously? Please, it can't even beat LSE/ICL/UCL most of the time. It's more on level with KCL. It's a top 20ish uni, obviously it'll vary according to subject. I never really considered it being a domestic student - far too north for me. And even if it was closer it didn't beat my firm at the time - Nottingham, which I now go to in terms of academics.

I want to bitch slap that poster.

Edit: Horrible grammar there.
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 4165
Original post by alexs2602
That could make things more difficult. I would say pick one or two courses(if you pick a joint honours) and stick with it because it just makes it too hard to write a personal statement about. You might want to look into York, Exeter, Nottingham, Warwick, Edinburgh. All very good universities and do your exact course. Although some do a slight variation. Ie; modern history and politics. There are other universities but I'm not so sure about them, though not necessarily because of how good they are(Leeds, Manchester, etc). Kinda, they're very good but I don't know if they're known for these subjects.


I agree. Because you have no possibility of modifying your personal statement at all, it is SO important to make it focused, and having varying subjects can make that hard. Admissions tutors can easily make assumptions about what you actually want to do based on how focused your statement is. The other thing to bear in mind is that most universities have pretty flexible courses, so you can still pick modules that interest you, even if they're outside of the precise title of your course.

I also agree about expanding outside of Oxbridge and London. You need to really look at the modules that they're offering you, and then if you get an interview and there's a particular topic that you like or stands out to you, you can wax lyrical about it and make yourself seem really keen!
hi... i just had one question. i got an unconditional offer from KCL but i dont think im going to take it, just because i want to do undergrad here in the more flexible american education system. im wondering - between Johns Hopkins and NYU, which degree would set me up better to either study postgrad/ get a job in the UK? just because that is my ultimate goal, to live and work in or around london. thanks!
Original post by rueplumet
hi... i just had one question. i got an unconditional offer from KCL but i dont think im going to take it, just because i want to do undergrad here in the more flexible american education system. im wondering - between Johns Hopkins and NYU, which degree would set me up better to either study postgrad/ get a job in the UK? just because that is my ultimate goal, to live and work in or around london. thanks!


Why do you consider the american education system more flexible? Surely a degree from a reputable, BRITISH uni will enable you to get a job or postgrad degree in BRITAIN? KCL is a great uni, right in London... Besides, uni in the UK is three years, so it will give you a head-start. Uni in the UK vs. college in the US has different grading systems, too, so it would be easier for you postgrad- and job-wise to attend a UK uni, no?

What's your subject, by the way?
Original post by punctuation
Why do you consider the american education system more flexible? Surely a degree from a reputable, BRITISH uni will enable you to get a job or postgrad degree in BRITAIN? KCL is a great uni, right in London... Besides, uni in the UK is three years, so it will give you a head-start. Uni in the UK vs. college in the US has different grading systems, too, so it would be easier for you postgrad- and job-wise to attend a UK uni, no?

What's your subject, by the way?


I would second your opinion on how British unversities would pave an easier path to find a job in London, BUT it's also very true that the american education system is more flexible.

The schools in the States are much more liberal arts oriented... and thus allow you to study a wider range of courses during undergrad. In extreme cases like Brown, I believe you only need 2 semesters of your major in order to graduate (Correct me if I'm wrong! It's been a few years since I looked up the universities in the States :redface:). That would mean I can study history (for example) all the way up till Junior year before I 'start' on my major.... molecular biology!

And even disregarding those extreme cases, I think the sheer fact that you can apply to university as "undecided" demonstrates a greater flexibility than the UK where you have to write about your major in your PS. :smile:
Reply 4169
I've applied and gotten accepted into a few schools in the UK - but now the question is how to pay for it. There seems to be far less financial aid available to help pay for school for International students in comparison to schools in the US.

To all who are/have attending school in the UK, how did you fund it? Did you just take out massive student loans? This is the only thing holding me back... :/
I got accepted to study music. I guess going to KCL would give me better internship opportunities and job connections, and I know it's only three years and cheaper...but I didn't want to study just music. And their program isn't exactly what I thought..
Reply 4171
Original post by rueplumet
I got accepted to study music. I guess going to KCL would give me better internship opportunities and job connections, and I know it's only three years and cheaper...but I didn't want to study just music. And their program isn't exactly what I thought..


You might want to back up a little bit. Start with the music part. Which one has the better music program? Do either have any international aspect to their music program? What (besides music) would you like to study in college- and is either school stronger in that area? Look at the grad school entrance requirements for music at some of the UK schools- would either program prepare you better? Johns Hopkins is best known for medical sciences and IR, and has a rep (fwiw) of a very tough marking system. NYU has more of an arts rep. Does that matter to you? And don't overlook the school life aspect- the two schools are very different & it is 4 years of your life. NONE of these 3 schools will close doors to you- they just open different windows.
Reply 4172
Original post by bauch
I've applied and gotten accepted into a few schools in the UK - but now the question is how to pay for it. There seems to be far less financial aid available to help pay for school for International students in comparison to schools in the US.

To all who are/have attending school in the UK, how did you fund it? Did you just take out massive student loans? This is the only thing holding me back... :/


Been wondering this too. I think massive student loans are really the only option, though :frown: Unless I win those scholarships I applied for...
Reply 4173
Original post by ariadne1
Been wondering this too. I think massive student loans are really the only option, though :frown: Unless I win those scholarships I applied for...


Yeah... unfortunately there isn't a whole lot of help for international study it seems for American students - at least in the UK.

I just decided to accept my spot at UC Davis today - I received a full scholarship so its a bit hard to turn down! Hoping perhaps I may be able to do a study abroad program as there are ample scholarships available for that... or perhaps go and work for a year between undergrad and med school in a couple years.

Best of luck to you!
Reply 4174
Original post by adam0311
Applying for law to LSE, UCL, Durham, Bristol, and Queen Mary. Finally finished UCAS. Finalized my personal statement over the weekend and have my refrence all filled out.




Hey... My name's Seth, and I've applied for Law (M100) to several universities in the UK and I am thinking of accepting University of Leicester's offer for this upcoming October. I wanted to know what your plans are after graduating since studying law is difficult to do back in the US with a degree from the UK. Thanks!
Good luck on AP's these next two weeks, people!
Original post by sparis92
Hey... My name's Seth, and I've applied for Law (M100) to several universities in the UK and I am thinking of accepting University of Leicester's offer for this upcoming October. I wanted to know what your plans are after graduating since studying law is difficult to do back in the US with a degree from the UK. Thanks!


I have no massive preference between long term in either London or NYC. So for the short-term, my career will 99% likely start in London at a city firm. After 4-5 years, I'll reassess and look at the possibility of heading back to the US...ideally thinking in-house at a hedge fund/private equity firm, NYC law firm advising on UK law, or one of the offshore magic circle firms.
Question: How are your prior AP scores reported to UK colleges? Self-entry?
Reply 4178
Original post by thesmiter
Question: How are your prior AP scores reported to UK colleges? Self-entry?

Self-entry but you can select your colleges if they're registered at the College Board. If not, you can scan the score report and have it on hand if they ask for it.
What's the deal with Aberdeen/the University of Aberdeen? Looking to do an exchange there next year. It's really the only school that works with my major (petroleum engineering). Any info? I'm Canadian.

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