Why do people choose to go to Oxbridge?

Well, yes, but for the sake of the RAE's Imperial have far fewer subjects to worry about ergo they need far fewer people doing top quality research than anywhere else to get the top grades - It's worth noting that no other evaluation of research quality puts Imperial so high. Note that I'm not criticising Imperial for their focus on science, merely claiming that's it's easier for them to manipulate the system. I'd be curious to know how they did on the A/B/C rating.

I'd quite like to see you argue that there are UK universities which, as a whole, are better than Oxford or Cambridge for research.

I assume that you mean that you can't agree that Oxford and Cambridge have the best facilities or the best academic staff. I suggest you look up the UK university research league tables. Oxford and Cambridge consistently come out at the top. This is because they attract some of the best academics in the world (by research, publication, and academic reputation. even if they aren't necessarily the best teachers), extremely high standard undergraduates and post-graduate researchers, a very substantial amount of research funding, and are rich, so can afford first class facilities. They might not be the best at everything, but on average they come out on top. The reason, therefore, that claim is made for them is because it is supported by the evidence.

I quite often have to do selections for jobs. When I am looking at application forms, I will often shortlist Oxford/Cambridge graduates provided they meet the essential criteria for the post because I know they are very bright, probably hard-working, and usually quite sparky. They might not succeed at interview, but they have a good chance of at least getting a foot in through the door. Once they have the job, they're on a level playing field with everyone else, and it's their performance in post that counts. That being said, they often turn out to be very good employees as well.

And that is why people like to have Oxford/Cambridge on their CVs.

I'd quite like to see you prove that Oxford or Cambridge are the best at everything for research. And just because you are going there don't try to convince yourself that you are going to the best and only those 2 unis are good in the UK and in the world and that is one of the reasons I'd never go there.. you can start seeing the arrogance on people even before they start studying there...

just because the oxford one had AAA at A'Levels? Just because he had no social life before coming to uni? Or even at uni?

That's because of people like you that I don't look at League Tables and perhaps you can try to explain me why would you rather employ someone from Oxford than someone from Southampton let's say... just because the oxford one had AAA at A'Levels? Just because he had no social life before coming to uni? Or even at uni?

Oh well I'm not here to argue with geeks I'm sorry.

Cheers,

war

You're an idiot.

Firstly, I've at no point claimed that Oxbridge are the best for everything. Secondly, I've not made the even more absurd claim that they're the only two good unis. Thirdly, you're the one who first made the claimed that Oxbridge aren't the best for research so the onus falls on you. Given that you've failed to provide any evidence whatsoever even when asked, I can't imagine you have a terribly strong case. Finally, at what point in this thread have I insinuated anything about myself? I may well have been admitted by accident

I I think this proves, to my satisfaction if no one elses, that Oxbridge graduates can be brilliant and successful or self obsessed failures. Simple really.

Yea i no i'm an idiot as well. oh and i like peanuts also.


EDIT: That's my last post on this thread. If you think oxbridge are the best on everything have a look around other unis. I doubt for example that Oxford or Cambridge have bettter sport facilities than Brunel or Bath for example and I havn't been around a lot of unis to say this eventho i've been in oxf and cambridge before. over an' out.

oh by the way have a good 2008.

Fair comment. You're right - being an Oxford/Cambridge graduate doesn't necessarily make people good at 'proper jobs' and I can think of one or two who were really dire (interestingly enough because they too thought themselves to be intellectually superior to their colleagues, which made them hard to manage and unpopular). However, a far higher relative proportion of staff from Oxford/Cambridge have been very good.

I reckon you can often tell at interview whether they're going to be the self-obsessed type for whom nothing is ever going to be good enough. The ones I'm looking for need to be innovative self-starters (what I mean by 'sparky') who are good at whole-systems thinking. In my experience, it's the extremely bright people who come with well-developed skills in those areas, and it tends to go hand-in-hand with high standards of academic achievement. But not always!

Erm... I'm not going to uni to do sports... For some people it's a consideration, but for most people the sports facilities at Oxford and Cambridge are more than adequate.

EDIT: That's my last post on this thread.

I meant sport degrees.

And as for the last post by "Eternal Student" u think exactly the same way as me but I still can't agree on the "sparky" factor unless u mean something else and then its different.