Are those who attend imperial far more academically superior than those at oxbridge

Whilst Oxbridge may get Academically astute students in their masses, other universities will occasionally get an amazing student. Not all A*A*A* will go to Oxbridge, One may also point out that some or the brightest in the world do not flourish in an academic situation whilst others Do.

Reply 27

Original post by GradeA*UnderA

In what way? Imperial has interviews, entrance exams?

Aside from medicine, the vast majority of people who are called for interview by Imperial get an offer.

Reply 28

the bear

Original post by DFranklin

Not often you see a bear feeding a troll...

Reply 29

Original post by M4cc4n4

Not all A*A*A* will go to Oxbridge

This is known. And isn't the issue.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 30

M4cc4n4

Original post by Doonesbury

This is known. And isn't the issue.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Mainly pointing out, Institution doesn't always = academically superior

Reply 31

Original post by M4cc4n4

Mainly pointing out, Institution doesn't always = academically superior

For individual students that's fair comment :smile:

Reply 32

Original post by Doonesbury

Aside from medicine, the vast majority of people who are called for interview by Imperial get an offer.

I feel like that's nearly every course at nearly every university? I'd imagine it would happen at less competive courses at Oxbridge, even some med schools.

At Cambridge it isn't the case, because most applicants tend to get an interview, but med schools tend to operate by a "roughly halve the applicant number for interviews, then roughly halve it for offers" basis.

It obviously depends on the subject - like hell STEP/PAT is comparable to half the Oxford entrance exams.

Reply 33

Original post by RogerOxon

But for a fluffed entrance exam or interview, they're basically the same level of candidates. Imperial seems to delight in giving very high offers.

Imperial has longer terms, so I suspect that you have to do more work if you go there. That will have advantages in some areas.

Idk, depends on the definition of work. Shorter terms may mean higher intensity work at Oxbridge, but longer may mean higher quantity at Imperial.

Reply 34

Original post by D3LLI5

Everyone chooses oxbridge over imperial, hence oxbridge get to pick the best, most 'academically superior', students.

Not necessarily if you live in London, want more job connections, have a scholarship to go to Imperial, want to do engineering.

Because according to CUG, Imperial Chem Eng students have the highest UCAS tarrif for that subject. It inevitably means some rejected Oxbridge.

Reply 35

math42

Absolutely. Oxbridge is nothing compared to the mighty Imperial. It crushes Harvard and M.I.T. too. Anyone who's anyone goes to Imperial.

Reply 36

Wired_1800

Original post by GradeA*UnderA

Not necessarily if you live in London, want more job connections, have a scholarship to go to Imperial, want to do engineering.

Because according to CUG, Imperial Chem Eng students have the highest UCAS tarrif for that subject. It inevitably means some rejected Oxbridge.

Or some don't apply to oxbridge because they feel like they may not get in, even with their triple A*s.

It has been argued here on many occasions, but i think Imperial is overrated to an extent. It is a very specialised college that gets compared to broader universities like UCL, Oxford or Cambridge.

Don't get me wrong, imperial kids are clever and imperial is a really good college, but the idea that it is on par with oxbridge or even better than Oxford or Cambridge is rubbish to me.

Reply 37

Original post by Wired_1800

Or some don't apply to oxbridge because they feel like they may not get in, even with their triple A*s.

It has been argued here on many occasions, but i think Imperial is overrated to an extent. It is a very specialised college that gets compared to broader universities like UCL, Oxford or Cambridge.

Don't get me wrong, imperial kids are clever and imperial is a really good college, but the idea that it is on par with oxbridge or even better than Oxford or Cambridge is rubbish to me.

Who wouldn't apply if they had 3A*? if it was a science subject they be guaranteed every other uni bar those three of getting an offer.

LSE is even more specific and is generally considered better than UCL. Imperial also has business degrees at PG and many language modules available through Horizons.

If you're a science uni only and you do every degree you offer exceptionally well, I don't think offering mildly small broadness is a bad thing. UCL is as broad as you can get, but as seen on TSR, some of its departments are lacking, such as engineering. There was a viral TSR thread about some student's experience of the course there and had other UCL students sympathising. It's life science and humanities departments are a lot more appealing than physical sciences and engineering it seems.

Edit: Caltech and MIT are also science focused and are also seen as better than general Unis, because they do everything they offer well, that's something UCL needs to provide so that it gets to Oxbridge's level.

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 38

Original post by GradeA*UnderA

I feel like that's nearly every course at nearly every university? I'd imagine it would happen at less competive courses at Oxbridge, even some med schools.

At Cambridge it isn't the case, because most applicants tend to get an interview, but med schools tend to operate by a "roughly halve the applicant number for interviews, then roughly halve it for offers" basis.

It obviously depends on the subject - like hell STEP/PAT is comparable to half the Oxford entrance exams.

That's why I said ignoring Medicine.

At Imperial about 80% of Physics interviewees get an Offer. At Oxford it's about 30% of interviewees.

For Mech Engineering Imperial's interviewee offer rate is >90%. At Oxford it's, again, about 30%.

Not sure what you are saying about Oxford entrance exams. PAT *is* an Oxford entrance exam.

The interview stage is clearly important for Oxbridge, whereas it isn't for Imperial.

Reply 39