[essygal1990]

(Original post by g-oo-ey)
Normal Dutch universities' only requirement is a pass at IB or VWO.. (except of course Medicine, Law, Psychology, you know the drill). They don't even have any space to put ECAs on their application form where I was looking to apply as a back up.

That is exactly what I said.. .. ..

[NickkO]

(Original post by essygal1990)
That is exactly what I said.. .. ..

Yeah but there's more to academics than just grades, isn't there?

[essygal1990]

(Original post by NickkO)
Yeah but there's more to academics than just grades, isn't there?

Perhaps I did not make myself clear, I was outlining how the "normal" universities base their decision solely on grades.

[limechateaux]

(Original post by essygal1990)
That is exactly what I said.. .. ..

I know I'm just emphasizing and elaborating through my own experience? Wheres the problem?

[essygal1990]

(Original post by g-oo-ey)
I know I'm just emphasizing and elaborating through my own experience? Wheres the problem?

Oh sorry, I thought that you were trying to bring a different point across .

I misread your post, sorry.

[limechateaux]

(Original post by essygal1990)
Oh sorry, I thought that you were trying to bring a different point across .

I misread your post, sorry.

Alrighties. Still nothing from UCU? I got the WEIRDEST email from UCM saying my personal statement wasn't focused enough on the uni and that they wanted another one before they'd start processing my application... I sent the same one (changing the university name, of course) to UCU and Roosevelt... Has anyone else had this problem, I don't really understand I mean it's not like I sent the exact same one I used on UCAS, I did answer the guiding questions. I'm actually wondering whether I put the wrong one in the wrong envelope, if I get the same email from UCU it means I probably did...

[NickkO]

(Original post by g-oo-ey)
Alrighties. Still nothing from UCU? I got the WEIRDEST email from UCM saying my personal statement wasn't focused enough on the uni and that they wanted another one before they'd start processing my application... I sent the same one (changing the university name, of course) to UCU and Roosevelt... Has anyone else had this problem, I don't really understand I mean it's not like I sent the exact same one I used on UCAS, I did answer the guiding questions. I'm actually wondering whether I put the wrong one in the wrong envelope, if I get the same email from UCU it means I probably did...

Wow, that really is a weird email. I suppose they're more interested in how you're suited to UCM in particular than the course. We Dutchies don't really know the phenomenon of motivation letters so they've probably got a very different view on them than we Ucas-ers do. Anyway, good luck with that!

Today I found out my application for ESPS at UCL has been succesful. So I'm wondering whether I should withdraw my application to UCU because even if I do get accepted at UCU, there's no way I'd prefer UCU over UCL. And you g-oo-ey, you've got offers from SOAS, would you prefer UCU over SOAS?

Anyway, a girl in my class got an invitation for interview today.

[essygal1990]

I don't see what the hype is with UCL, they generally easily accept "semi-good" students. I have never really been fond of it.

No, I still haven't heard anything from UCU. I just think it is absolutely unprofessional that we have been waiting for an interview since DECEMBER 13TH (or fill in your own date).

[NickkO]

[QUOTE=essygal1990]I don't see what the hype is with UCL, they generally easily accept "semi-good" students. I have never really been fond of it.[QUOTE]

All I know is that the course I applied for is extremely competitive and so unique that I don't think there's any course like it in the UK; naturally, I am glad to be accepted.

I'm curious, why don't you like UCL? Great aesthetics/location/reputation. Surely it can't be because of their academics, since you haven't experienced any of it.

[essygal1990]

[QUOTE=NickkO][QUOTE=essygal1990]I don't see what the hype is with UCL, they generally easily accept "semi-good" students. I have never really been fond of it.

All I know is that the course I applied for is extremely competitive and so unique that I don't think there's any course like it in the UK; naturally, I am glad to be accepted.

I'm curious, why don't you like UCL? Great aesthetics/location/reputation. Surely it can't be because of their academics, since you haven't experienced any of it.

I would hardly say highly competitive - you have a chance of 1 in 7.5 or rather 8 if optimistic. And, these figures are including those applicants who are not given an interview. For my course at LSE I have a chance of 1 in 34; and at St. Andrews it is already 1 in 10.

My friend was asked to attend an interview for the exact course at UCL, and she did not even meet the language entry requirements: to take French, Spanish or German at HL. Usually, as they say in the UCL prospectus, they only interview students who fulfill the general entrance requirements. For me that says enough.

Yes, certainly a great location - if that is what you are looking for. Their reputation surely does not come close to neither LSE nor Cambridge's reputation, if we follow the good-old league tables. Besides as it is such a unique course, as you recognize, it may be hard to see its worth.

And once again yes, perhaps I am speaking blindly; however, your judgements could hardly be called more valuable.

[essygal1990]

This is nonetheless my judgement, and I respect all opinions people may have.

[NickkO]

[QUOTE=essygal1990][QUOTE=NickkO]

(Original post by essygal1990)
I don't see what the hype is with UCL, they generally easily accept "semi-good" students. I have never really been fond of it.

I would hardly say highly competitive - you have a chance of 1 in 7.5 or rather 8 if optimistic. And, these figures are including those applicants who are not given an interview. For my course at LSE I have a chance of 1 in 34; and at St. Andrews it is already 1 in 10.

My friend was asked to attend an interview for the exact course at UCL, and she did not even meet the language entry requirements: to take French, Spanish or German at HL. Usually, as they say in the UCL prospectus, they only interview students who fulfill the general entrance requirements. For me that says enough.

Yes, certainly a great location - if that is what you are looking for. Their reputation surely does not come close to neither LSE nor Cambridge's reputation, if we follow the good-old league tables. Besides as it is such a unique course, as you recognize, it may be hard to see its worth.

And once again yes, perhaps I am speaking blindly; however, your judgements could hardly be called more valuable.

First of all, statistics. At my interview-day I was told there were around 600 applicants, for 40 places. Let's say that would make 60 offers -> 1/10. How is that not competitive? And competitiveness of a course is not an indication of its quality, just how many students are interested.

About your friend; it's ridiculous to base your entire opinion of a university on a friend. People have been accepted at Oxbridge whith crappy GCSEs or ABB in A-levels. There are always exceptions to rules.

Besides, when did I ever say UCL is better than LSE and Oxbridge? If I get accepted to LSE or St. Andrews I wouldn't know where to go, honestly. If you're so keen on league tables - check out the international ones for Humanities/Social Sciences. UCL is right up there with LSE.

And about the uniqueness of the course. I could totally understand that argument (even though I could not disagree more) if it was not coming from someone applying to UCU. If you really think that, then what were you thinking when you applied to an internationally basically unknown college in the Netherlands (out of all places?!) that doesn't even offer courses, just modules? UCU cannot even begin to dream of a place on international league tables, let alone national/european. Not very competitive/ relatively bad location/ low entry standards/ internationally unknown/ VERY unique course. Aren't your judgements a bit crooked?

There you go. The point of opinions is for them to be discussed, so please don't say anything like "that's simply what I think, you might think otherwhise, I don't care".

[essygal1990]

[QUOTE=NickkO][QUOTE=essygal1990]

(Original post by NickkO)


First of all, statistics. At my interview-day I was told there were around 600 applicants, for 40 places. Let's say that would make 60 offers -> 1/10. How is that not competitive? And competitiveness of a course is not an indication of its quality, just how many students are interested.

About your friend; it's ridiculous to base your entire opinion of a university on a friend. People have been accepted at Oxbridge whith crappy GCSEs or ABB in A-levels. There are always exceptions to rules.

Besides, when did I ever say UCL is better than LSE and Oxbridge? If I get accepted to LSE or St. Andrews I wouldn't know where to go, honestly. If you're so keen on league tables - check out the international ones for Humanities/Social Sciences. UCL is right up there with LSE.

And about the uniqueness of the course. I could totally understand that argument (even though I could not disagree more) if it was not coming from someone applying to UCU. If you really think that, then what were you thinking when you applied to an internationally basically unknown college in the Netherlands (out of all places?!) that doesn't even offer courses, just modules? UCU cannot even begin to dream of a place on international league tables, let alone national/european. Not very competitive/ relatively bad location/ low entry standards/ internationally unknown/ VERY unique course. Aren't your judgements a bit crooked?

There you go. The point of opinions is for them to be discussed, so please don't say anything like "that's simply what I think, you might think otherwhise, I don't care".

The reason I said the latter statement was, as can be shown through this comment, due to your tendancy to take a very personal stance which I understand. You seem to be fabricating my sentences: I did not say that "I do not care". I simply underlined that I will consider everyone's arguments as I present mine - it is called being open-minded.

As a historian, mathematician and generally, you should be more than aware that these figures are rather subjective and will accordingly vary. You may then ask yourself why I presented an argument using league tables. I simply did this as you stated, "extremely competitive"; which in my mind has a very strong connotation. I simply wanted to outline how there is generally more competitiveness elsewhere. This does not mean that I undermine the difficulty of being accepted to UCL.

Certainly there is always exceptions, which is a good point to make. This was however only one example, perhaps I should not have stated, "for me that says enough".

I have my own reasons for applying to UCU, which the entire TSR population does not need to know of. Besides, you criticized me for my lack of "experience" which you similarly lack for UCU - and UCL if I may add.

[limechateaux]

(Original post by NickkO)
Wow, that really is a weird email. I suppose they're more interested in how you're suited to UCM in particular than the course. We Dutchies don't really know the phenomenon of motivation letters so they've probably got a very different view on them than we Ucas-ers do. Anyway, good luck with that!

Today I found out my application for ESPS at UCL has been succesful. So I'm wondering whether I should withdraw my application to UCU because even if I do get accepted at UCU, there's no way I'd prefer UCU over UCL. And you g-oo-ey, you've got offers from SOAS, would you prefer UCU over SOAS?

Anyway, a girl in my class got an invitation for interview today.

My applications in Holland are just in case something horrible happens and I decide I want to stay in Holland as opposed to move to the UK, which I doubt is going to happen, but I just want to make sure that if I don't go to the UK I have a place in Holland

[jmpaun]

Good news! I received an interview with UCU for March 20, 2008. I am very excited. I am not sure if this means acceptance. I really can not wait to be apart of UCU for this is my dream college. It is still very uncertain due to the competitiveness even after the interview but, I will keep my fingers crossed. Thank you for every ones wonderful comments. NO, I am not famous and my family is middle class not extremely wealthy. I do work to pay for college at Starbucks so my grades dropped from high school years. I hope to attend Utrecht without working and only studying very hard with a few college loans. All the best, Jennifer!

[sunset_sticker]

(Original post by NickkO)
So, how was it?

I phoned UCU today. NEWS, finally! Before I even finished my first sentence, the desk lady knew what I was phoning them for and she immediately started explaining. There has been a horrible delay because due to a communication error (of which UCU is to blame) lots of applicants thought the deadline for applications for Fall '08 was MARCH 26th.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS.

Of course those applications had to be counted as well. So everything has been delayed by at least 2 months. She said all the earlier applications had finished being processed today, so we should all hear something this week. Finally.

Well, it went okay. The guy was being such an advocate of the devil it started to annoy me a bit. But without sounding egotistical :P, I think I have a reasonably good chance of getting in.

About the deadline... I ALMOST FREAKED OUT. Let me explain. In the information brochure, the deadline for Fall '08 was mentioned March 26th, like you said. So I went on the website in December, thinking 'Hey, 3 months prior, you know, that's good timing to finish everything relaxedly'. I almost fell off my chair when I read 'Deadline: December 15th', which was 10 days away!! I live 6000 miles away from the Netherlands, so with the mailing and everything, I had about a week to complete my application from scratch .

So that's my story, and I hope we all indeed hear ANYthing from them.
Anyone have anything to chat about?

[sunset_sticker]

There's always talk about how competitive the universities of our choice may be. Does anyone have an idea about what the acceptance rate is at UCU, before AND after the interview screening?

Oh, and I've noticed that a lot of people here have interests in International Relations, Political Science, Oriental Studies etc. Applying to London is indeed a great step and I'm jealous of everyone who got accepted :P. What about Science? I'm just interested in suggestions for good Science-oriented programs, like LSE and SOAS are great for above mentioned interests.

Thanks!

[jmpaun]

Hi sunset ,

You asked about "acceptance rate is at UCU"
Here are some statics for you,

2005
Number of applicants :
657
Interviews
295
accepted
261

2006 applicants
681
interviews
310
accpeted
225

2007 applicants
544
interviews
325
accepted
233

2008 - I do not know !!!

I wish everyone good luck and may all your dreams come true. I believe everyone has a good chance after the interview.

Best wishes,
Jenn

[Yeti-Boy]

Hi all!
I'm a second year student at RA and I really love the course. My girlfriend studies at UCU though, which means that often at UCU during the weekend. I think that both RA and UCU are superb universities, and in my opinion they're both superior to UCM (UCM lost all their debate matches in the University Colleges Debate Tournament). If you look at the Elsevier ranking RA was first in 2005 and 2007, while UCU was first in 2006, so I think they are pretty equal when it comes to teaching quality etc. I always have long discussions with my gf about the superiority of RA over UCU and vice versa .
In Middelburg we don't have a dining hall, which is lovely since I wouldn't like paying for the food that I ate in the dining hall at UCU. Big advantage of UCU is that they have there own bar on campus, our bar is opining in 2 weeks in city center... The reason I only applied to RA was that I didn't like the atmosphere in Utrecht, IMO it sort of feels like a prison, although I have to admit that it isn't as bad as I thought it was. RA is smaller (400 students) while UCU has 730 atm. What I love about RA is that you actually get to know everybody within a few months. As for housing in Middelburg check out our website: hac.roac.nl, I am Kostijn btw.

I have to admit though that it takes you at least 1,5 hours to get to a decent sized city, but then again the beach only takes you about 20 minutes...

Anyways they're both fabulous institutions and I think that you should visit them both to make a good decision.

Good luck!

Oh, I'll go to Nottingham after RA to study Vet Med. I just got an unconditional offer for the 2009 entry .

[jmpaun]

I applied for european history and educational science !