What advantages does going to Oxbridge actually bring?

Of course you get the "wows" coming at dinner tables, but either than that, will going to oxbridge really give you any more disadvantaged than a graduate from LSE or Imperial?

Reply 1

coolstorybrother

8

Original post by Xyrish

Of course you get the "wows" coming at dinner tables, but either than that, will going to oxbridge really give you any more disadvantaged than a graduate from LSE or Imperial?

I guess it depends what you do, a graduate from imperial doing engineering would probably give any oxbridge engineering graduate a run for his/her money....

Reply 2

Harry S Truman

2

Sixty-seven figure salary as soon as you graduate.

Reply 3

Lifesaver

6

Original post by Xyrish

Of course you get the "wows" coming at dinner tables, but either than that, will going to oxbridge really give you any more disadvantaged than a graduate from LSE or Imperial?

I couldn't quite figure out what a "wow" is (World of Warcraft?/Wild Older Woman?) and I definitely didn't get why they particularly needed to orgasm at the dinner table, but I can guarantee you that if this is a sample of what you normally write, then you don't really need to worry about the advantages of the Oxbridge universities over any other university!http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/images/smilies/rolleyes.png

Reply 4

jjarvis

14

Original post by Harry S Truman

Sixty-seven figure salary as soon as you graduate.

I knew I was getting shafted by my high sixty-six figure salary.

Reply 5

Xyrish

OP

4

Original post by Lifesaver

I couldn't quite figure out what a "wow" is (World of Warcraft?/Wild Older Woman?) and I definitely didn't get why they particularly needed to orgasm at the dinner table, but I can guarantee you that if this is a sample of what you normally write, then you don't really need to worry about the advantages of the Oxbridge universities over any other university!http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/images/smilies/rolleyes.png

Because, its like saying you went to Harvard, people will be very impressed and will instantly know your smart, whereas if you come from LSE or Imperial people will just say oh ok, or thats a good uni not a "wow"

Reply 6

yothi5

14

Gives you that all important graduate contract.

Reply 7

Bobifier

13

My dad has been explicitly told by interviewers that he got an interview because he went to Oxford. I wouldn't complain at that.

Reply 8

Pride

21

Original post by Lifesaver

I couldn't quite figure out what a "wow" is (World of Warcraft?/Wild Older Woman?) and I definitely didn't get why they particularly needed to orgasm at the dinner table, but I can guarantee you that if this is a sample of what you normally write, then you don't really need to worry about the advantages of the Oxbridge universities over any other university!http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/images/smilies/rolleyes.png

alright, don't be a douchebag about it...

Reply 9

Manitude

20

Employers might be impressed too. But for specialised jobs, the person doing the hiring might recognise some departments above the equivalent department in Oxbridge.

Though from what I gather a lot of graduate jobs simply require "a degree", sometimes in a vaguely similar area to what the job would entail.

Reply 10

Sim2319

Well you will get some good contacts and obviously the reputation.
From what I hear, it is extremely competitive so you will have to keep up. You will probably have some amazing tutors.
It's really about whether you like it there and what you graduate with (e.g. 1st, 2:1 etc). Bear in mind there are other great universities out there so don't limit yourself :smile:

Reply 11

Manitude

20

Original post by Bubblyjubbly

Which departments might these be ? I don't know of any. Even Oxbridge economists are regarded above those at LSE.

I've heard there is some Creative Writing course at UEA which is supposedly world leading. I also heard you have to be invited to participate rather than apply though I'm not sure if that is still (or ever) true.

Also, my own department ranks highest in the country for research (which is a fairly major part of a typical undergrad degree, given that the fourth year project is essentially a shorter, slightly less abstract, version of what a phd student would do). As I stated in regards to specialised jobs, someone applying for particular jobs at CERN with a degree from Lancaster would be looked upon most favourably, as a large proportion of the department works in HEP. Though Lancaster physics dept is not necessarily better than Oxford physics dept overall, the research aspect the department certainly is.

Reply 12

Sam Walters

3

Oxford and Cambridge are household names.

It may get you into an interview you wouldnt normally get into, but i wouldnt rely on it.

Reply 13

username451352

11

Original post by Bubblyjubbly

Which departments might these be ? I don't know of any. Even Oxbridge economists are regarded above those at LSE.

Well, for a start, if you wanted to be a professional musician (instrumentalist), you'd be far better off going to RCM, RAM, etc than either Oxford or Cambridge Music courses (because they're far too focused on the structure and form of the music than on the actual instrumental part. My cello teacher went to Oxford, and he thought when he was there that the performance part of the course was simply there as an afterthought (this was a long time ago though)).

On the same tack, if you want to do science behind music, there's some place in Surrey that's far better than whatever Oxbridge will teach you about it (cant remember the name). A*AA requirements, lots of it's Maths and Physics (to the stage that you get asked about the behaviour of capacitors in your interview). If you graduate, you're basically guaranteed a job in the music industry -- which is far better than most similar courses.

If you want to do some kind of science/business/management mixed degree you'd be better off going to Warwick, because they're far better at undergraduate business/management than Oxford or Cambridge. That's a slightly more dubious one for me, since I don't actually know anything about either business or management. That's just from anecdotes.

If you wanted to go into the banking sector after a computer science degree you'd probably be as good going to Imperial as Oxford (or maybe Cambridge), as in Goldman etc basically clean out the Imperial students.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 14

The_Lonely_Goatherd

20

Original post by Manitude

I've heard there is some Creative Writing course at UEA which is supposedly world leading. I also heard you have to be invited to participate rather than apply though I'm not sure if that is still (or ever) true.

That comparison doesn't exactly work though because Oxford doesn't offer creative writing at undergrad level :nah:

I'd say Oxford has given me various advantages that other unis (Cambridge aside) can't offer in the same way/at the same level. These include:
-the chance to study a far more advanced curriculum than other unis offer
- honing my writing skills
-the tutorial system (obviously)
- wider extra curricular opportunities whilst I was there and the benefits that has on my CV
- very close monitoring of work
- close relationships/interactions with world-leading/upcoming academics
- the prestige factor, of course
- very close, personal pastoral care that wouldn't be feasible at most other unis
- a bursary so huge and generous that it is kinda funding my MA :biggrin:

I got the distinct impression at my Masters application interviews (which were post-Finals results) that they could easily tell that I was not a 2.2 standard applicant, even though that's what I am on paper. There seemed to be a great deal of respect for and acknowledgment of the training I had undergone at Oxford.

On a more random note, applying to be a reader at the British Library became a piece of cake as soon as the man processing the form realised I was from Oxford :biggrin:

Of course, it makes for great stories to tell at parties and easy small talk :yes:

In short, there were a lot of advantages for me :smile:

Reply 15

TurboCretin

20

Original post by Xyrish

Because, its like saying you went to Harvard, people will be very impressed and will instantly know your smart, whereas if you come from LSE or Imperial people will just say oh ok, or thats a good uni not a "wow"

Probably says more about their education than that offered by the universities in question.

Oxford and Cambridge's prestige precedes them. It's little to do with the relative quality of the institutions, high though it undoubtedly is in Oxford and Cambridge's case. It's a distortion produced by the fact of them being the best, however marginal their lead might be for certain courses.

Reply 16

username451352

11

Original post by Bubblyjubbly

If you wanted a job in Banking, you'd be better off going to Oxford for Music than the other places you mention, the transferable skills are what employers are looking for. If you are looking for someone to fiddle with his/her trumpet, you may have a point, but so what ? And that place in Surrey which you can't even name ? Anyone can produce a degree to fill a gap in the market, but for how long ?

I've got to ask - if you wanted to go into banking, why would you do a degree in music? My point is that for certain subjects with a view to certain vocations, you can certainly do better than Oxbridge. Music is an obvious one - but there are certainly more.

Business/Management degrees are frowned upon by top employers and a number of top employers have blacklisted courses at Warwick. How come the Judge Institute and Said Business School are rated higher than Warwick Business School ?

Again, anecdotes, I can't defend that.

As for computer science, bollox. Goldman is clearly stuffed with LSE graduates on account of location and contacts, nothing else.

Sure, location. Going to university in london makes it easier to go to work in the city, due to work experience etc. That was basically my point. Imperial physically can't send Goldman enough of their graduates. After a fair few years in a job, your university degree is basically a tie-breaker for career progression.

Oh, and slightly different but still relevant:
About 25% of Cambridge Maths students get a 2:2 or worse every year, by how they do the grading (i.e. a hard limit, not just if they don't make the grade). This means that even though you're extremely bright (because of STEP, you'd likely have been able to get a 2:1 or better at any other university), you might get a poor degree, simply because of the way Cambridge classifies. So if you'd be in the bottom ~25% at Cambridge, it would probably be better worth your while simply taking a degree at a different university - because if you could get a 2:1 or better at (say) Imperial or Durham, you'd be more employable than if you got a 2:2 from Cambridge because the people there were simply better than you. Obviously an MMath. from Cambridge through the Part III Tripos is pretty much unbeatable -- but if you stand no chance of doing that, why bother?
This is different from the standard 'If you aren't bright enough for the good university, then don't go to it' argument, because many of the people who get 2:2s from Cambridge are good enough, but simply miss out due to the high quality of all their peers and an archaic awarding system.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 17

Tsunami2011

15

Original post by Bubblyjubbly

Business/Management degrees are frowned upon by top employers and a number of top employers have blacklisted courses at Warwick. How come the Judge Institute and Said Business School are rated higher than Warwick Business School

would love a source for this..

Reply 18

The Phelps

3

Firstly... Where the hell is ImSoAcademic?

Secondly... You will be at Oxbridge the same time as ImSoAcademic.

Reply 19

sclez1

9

Original post by Bubblyjubbly

Creative Writing ? I'm talking proper degrees.

Leave RAE rating out of it:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/2008/dec/18/rae-2008-history

Imperial top for history ?

I can assure you that an Oxford Physicist would trump one at Lancaster any day of the week - I know where I'd want my degree from. Your argument is like saying that an emplyer looking for supply chain managers would prefer a degree in SCM rather than an Oxbridge degree, which they would, but so what ?

You simpleton.

What advantages does going to Oxbridge actually bring?

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