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First top 5 US universities you think of

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Original post by Malcolm-X
With all due respect, I don't think your personal experience of growing up in an Asian household and your ideas of trying to score one over your peers is any means to rank Harvard above Oxbridge. Cambridge was recently ranked as the top University in the world by some ranking system THES or the Shanghai one, I'm not 100% sure.

Oxbridge ok by virtue of them being founded some 1000 years ago, are more deeply entrenched in world history and at the forefront of scientific development especially in medicine (discovery of circulation, structure of DNA to name but a few) and probably have a longer line of distinguished alumni across all corners of the world than say Harvard which in fairness has (for obvious reasons) had more of an impact on history in the United States than beyond it's borders.

And if anyone would even think that HYP somehow "trumps" getting into Oxbridge bearing in mind they're as competitive as each other (Oxbridge possibly more so), then perhaps they've been inhaling too much helium or just plain stupid? So I'm guessing the long line of graduates from Oxbridge some who made an impact on Science and History were somewhat vastly inferior because they didn't board a flight across the Atlantic to study at HYP?

Also Princeton doesn't even have academic departments in any of the Health Sciences (which is quite an important field) nor does it have an MBA programme i.e. seems to lack some major professional departments compared to Harvard, Cornell or even Oxbridge.

Not that I'm knocking Princeton. It just strikes me as more of a "feeder school" i.e. good students will go there to do their bachelors before progressing onto a graduate course at somewhere like Harvard or Yale.

Not that I'm saying just because it doesn't have a medical school doesn't mean it's any good. You'd be hard pressed to find a medical student who'd say Princeton would be better than Cambridge.

Oxbridge set the standard for the Ivies to follow and sure they may have done well but they certainly don't come close to matching the sheer prestige and grandeur of those two.

You say you know the Asian clique, well being Asian myself as far as Indian and Hong Kon culture are concerned, I'd say Oxbridge is definately held in much higher regard. Also the British Higher Education system is more internationally diverse than its American counterpart which I've found to be very isolated to those from outside North America.

Oxbridge certainly left a far greater mark in history than Harvard or Yale could ever claim to have. Heck they pretty much defined "elitism".


Honestly, I don't think I'll ever understand the culture of one upsmanship. Because I don't think my plan for higher education effects anybody else. As long as I'm happy, I'm good to go. I'm not trying to live my life for someone else. If that means that I'd be happy at London South Bank, so be it.

With that said, I agree with pretty much everything you are saying here. The problems you mentioned with Princeton are the problems with Dartmouth and Brown...and to a degree Cornell. Princeton would probably be number one if it had started off with a law school, medical school, and a strong engineering program.

The biggest beef I have with American unis are the liberal arts requirements. I don't think people understand that employability among arts/humanities majors from the ivy league is terrible. Go on and read the US equivalent of TSR for grad students. Its literally a bunch of unemployed humanities majors. I'd rather go to MIT and get an engineering degree than go to Harvard and get a degree in english.

Original post by manchild007
The fact that you've even made such a ridiculous judgement is laughable - so much so, that I honestly don't know why I should waste time in replying to you, when you accuse others of subjective opinions when you yourself make such moronic statements yourself (i.e. based in no fact).

Thus I'll focus on the objective. The one league table that ranked Cambridge over Harvard was the THES - it was for the first ever they did this, and it was down to a methodology change. They are the only league table in the world which uses this methodology and as a result, their major partner in the league tables walked out in protest/rejection of such a flawed method.

Every other league table in the world ranks Harvard >>> Oxbridge. Moreover, despite its shorter history, Harvard has been ranked the best university in the world, more times than any other.

Period.


Harvard=Oxbridge>Yale
(edited 13 years ago)
Reply 181
Original post by manchild007
The fact that you've even made such a ridiculous judgement is laughable - so much so, that I honestly don't know why I should waste time in replying to you, when you accuse others of subjective opinions when you yourself make such moronic statements yourself (i.e. based in no fact). I mean you discount my actual experience in Asia, but then say in your previous post "if anything Oxbridge is better regarded in Asia" which has no basis whatsoever - make up your mind for god's sake, if don't wish to consider subjective statements, don't make them yourself (99% of your posts are full of them) :rolleyes:

Thus I'll focus on the objective. The one league table that ranked Cambridge over Harvard was the THES - it was for the first ever they did this, and it was down to a methodology change. They are the only league table in the world which uses this methodology and as a result, their major partner in the league tables walked out in protest/rejection of such a flawed method. It was a well documented spat.

Every other league table in the world ranks Harvard >>> Oxbridge. Moreover, despite its shorter history, Harvard has been ranked the best university in the world, more times than any other.

Period.


No I think you're the one making moronic comments on how you think because of the opinions of a few narrow-minded individuals of an ethnic group means that HYP trumps Oxbridge. The rankings aren't the hard and fast rule on which are the better universities and if anything we should look more closer at Nobel Prize winners.

I mean Manchester doesn't even rank as one of the best in the UK yet somehow comes highly in world rankings?

No point arguing with some school kid anyways. I hope for your sake you get into Princeton. Wouldn't want Auntie to look down on you now do we?
(edited 13 years ago)
Reply 182
Original post by adam0311
Honestly, I don't think I'll ever understand the culture of one upsmanship. Because I don't think my plan for higher education effects anybody else. As long as I'm happy, I'm good to go. I'm not trying to live my life for someone else. If that means that I'd be happy at London South Bank, so be it.

With that said, I agree with pretty much everything you are saying here. The problems you mentioned with Princeton are the problems with Dartmouth and Brown...and to a degree Cornell. Princeton would probably be number one if it had started off with a law school, medical school, and a strong engineering program.



Harvard=Oxbridge>Yale


No I agree with what you say about the Ivies. Obviously owing to my science background I've always viewed Harvard, Yale, Cornell Columbia and UPenn in high regard because of their medical and health departments. Brown and Dartmouth ofcourse have those too but it's impossible for me to even consider Princeton in that same circle as they don't specialise in my field of study and hence I couldn't make a fair judgement.

But I do feel that Princeton gets far more credit than it deserves given it doesn't offer any of the major programmes that you'd consider to be the "bread and butter" of any elite university.
Original post by Malcolm-X
No I agree with what you say about the Ivies. Obviously owing to my science background I've always viewed Harvard, Yale, Cornell Columbia and UPenn in high regard because of their medical and health departments. Brown and Dartmouth ofcourse have those too but it's impossible for me to even consider Princeton in that same circle as they don't specialise in my field of study and hence I couldn't make a fair judgement.

But I do feel that Princeton gets far more credit than it deserves given it doesn't offer any of the major programmes that you'd consider to be the "bread and butter" of any elite university.


Exactly.

Brown and Dartmouth---with regards to medicine--they each rank in the 30's for med school. Which frankly, is flat out embarrassing.

I agree on Princeton. I have always viewed it highly, but really with no basis. Perhaps their reputation has become outdated.
Reply 184
Original post by adam0311
Exactly.

Brown and Dartmouth---with regards to medicine--they each rank in the 30's for med school. Which frankly, is flat out embarrassing.

I agree on Princeton. I have always viewed it highly, but really with no basis. Perhaps their reputation has become outdated.


Perhaps in the US med school rankings come into question more given the system is a private one whereas in the UK all medical schools need to be accredited by the GMC and all meet a universal standard hence in theory it doesn't make a difference to your graduate prospects.

As for the stupid Asian clique, coming from an Asian background myself and putting the Harvard v Oxford debate to one side, you could flat out suggest that studying anything other than Medicine or Engineering or an MBA is disgraceful. But thankfully we live in the real world...well some of us do and hence we don't adopt that way of thinking.

So now do you see how moronic it looks to knock Oxbridge as a disappointing consolation to Harvard? Anyone thinking like that probably needs admitting to a mental hospital nevermind university.
Original post by Malcolm-X
Perhaps in the US med school rankings come into question more given the system is a private one whereas in the UK all medical schools need to be accredited by the GMC and all meet a universal standard hence in theory it doesn't make a difference to your graduate prospects.

As for the stupid Asian clique, coming from an Asian background myself and putting the Harvard v Oxford debate to one side, you could flat out suggest that studying anything other than Medicine or Engineering or an MBA is disgraceful. But thankfully we live in the real world...well some of us do and hence we don't adopt that way of thinking.

So now do you see how moronic it looks to knock Oxbridge as a disappointing consolation to Harvard? Anyone thinking like that probably needs admitting to a mental hospital nevermind university.


I think its more of a research issue. Dartmouth and Brown just aren't putting out. There is a doctor shortage in the US...so people from the Caribbean med schools can even get jobs. Mind you they won't be prestigious neurosurgeons at leading research hospitals, but they'd be making a respectable 100k as a family practitioner.

And I agree with your latter points. I've never been able to get through to that kid.
(edited 13 years ago)
Original post by Malcolm-X


Excellent - don't answer to your own hypocrisy or the actual substance of the post, but make a quip about my family. Spot on :rolleyes:
Reply 187
Original post by adam0311
I think its more of a research issue. Dartmouth and Brown just aren't putting out. There is a doctor shortage in the US...so people from the Caribbean med schools can even get jobs. Mind you they won't be prestigious neurosurgeons at leading research hospitals, but they'd be making a respectable 100k as a family practitioner.

And I agree with your latter points. I've never been able to get through to that kid.


Reputation as a clinician is based more on your clinical/hospital experience, professional record and competence. Not so much on where you studied but maybe it's different in the states. But you could be top of your class at Oxford and be a lousy doctor if you don't know how to carry out a cardiovascular exam or have serious professional questions about your bedside manner.

But yeah I'm a bit peeved that somehow "Asian pressure culture" dictates Harvard being vastly superior to Oxbridge. I'd be just as impressed with someone studying at Oxford or Cambridge as I would be if it were Harvard or Yale. They're the best of the best, there's very little to distinguish from them. A difference of two or three spots on the league table doesn't paint the full picture. And if we're going to look at history and the most significant impact worldwide, Oxbridge certainly made a wider impact maybe due to the influence of the British Empire. But nevertheless they made their impact on history and continue to do so.

And if some kid on an internet forum who probably hasn't even been to university can come up with statements like that, then really you can't take them seriously.
Reply 188
Original post by manchild007
Excellent - don't answer to your own hypocrisy or the actual substance of the post, but make a quip about my family. Spot on :rolleyes:


Hypocrisy?

Dude you're coming out with some of the biggest pile of rubbish ever stated about university reputations and not to mention Asian cultural stereotypes.

If anything in an Asian culture more attention would be paid to what you're studying and many a family I know would spit on you if you weren't studying Medicine or Dentistry or an MBA (obviously postgraduate level).

Anyways I have an essay to do. It's almost 6:30am and I got to be in clinics at 10am so can't be wasting anymore time here. Ciao.
Original post by Malcolm-X
Hypocrisy?


You make a moronic subjective statement in that "Oxbridge is better regarded than HYP in Asia" DESPITE HAVING NO LIVING EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE REGION.

I have been born and raised within the region, heck my generational ancestors have all come from the region, which puts me in a position better qualified than you if anything to make a statement. But when I make my statement, its too subjective - yet your one, which you don't even have any personal experience to base upon, is okay? :rolleyes:

As for being spat on for not doing medicine/dentistry, whose making the stereotypical moronic statements now? Heck you could get into HYP to study English or History and it would be seen as more prestigious than doing X at Oxbridge, b/c all people really care about is the prestige. And the US (HYP/MIT etc) has much greater prestige than Oxbridge.

Bottom line HYP >>> Oxbridge here in Asia. Now run along and do your essay :smile:
Reply 190
Original post by manchild007
You make a moronic subjective statement in that "Oxbridge is better regarded than HYP in Asia" DESPITE HAVING NO LIVING EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE REGION.

I have been born and raised within the region, heck my generational ancestors have all come from the region, which puts me in a position better qualified than you if anything to make a statement. But when I make my statement, its too subjective - yet your one, which you don't even have any personal experience to base upon, is okay? :rolleyes:

As for being spat on for not doing medicine/dentistry, whose making the stereotypical moronic statements now? Heck you could get into HYP to study English or History and it would be seen as more prestigious than doing X at Oxbridge, b/c all people really care about is the prestige. And the US (HYP/MIT etc) has much greater prestige than Oxbridge.

Bottom line HYP >>> Oxbridge here in Asia. Now run along and do your essay :smile:


I wasn't making stereotypical statements but merely poking fun at your moronic way of thinking. And no prestige isn't all that matters. Just because you live in Asia doesn't make you the authourititive word on Asian values. Heck you're probably some bratty little oriental kid who isn't even at uni yet or old enough to have a shave. Your comments so far have been shallow, moronic and immature and perhaps a dog shelter is more your scene than university.
Original post by Malcolm-X
I wasn't making stereotypical statements but merely poking fun at your moronic way of thinking. And no prestige isn't all that matters. Just because you live in Asia doesn't make you the authourititive word on Asian values. Heck you're probably some bratty little oriental kid who isn't even at uni yet or old enough to have a shave. Your comments so far have been shallow, moronic and immature and perhaps a dog shelter is more your scene than university.


Oh look, another stereotype about Asians, or in this case Orientals - ironic that you make such racial/ethnic stereotypes given your username after all. How convenient also that when you made the comments, there was no mention them simply being 'mocking', given the tone, they were anything but - but of course, now that you've been called on your hypocrisy, it was all in jest now wasn't it :rolleyes:

You really are a pleb if I've ever seen one….
Oh what an eleoquent message you've sent me too;

bitchfaced **** don't you dare tell me to run along you worthless piece of horse crap


Indicative of your intellect (or lack thereof in your case) no doubt. Now run along little boy...
Reply 193
Cambridge
Harvard
Oxford
Yale
MIT
Reply 194
Original post by doubledot
Uh. That's six.

Mine are: Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Brown and MIT. I got an offer from Brown, coincidentally. *sigh*


Brown is not good, be glad you didn't go there. It really isn't anywhere near the quality of the four you mentioned alongside. In fact it is two tiers below them.
Reply 195
Original post by Amodeus
Cambridge
Harvard
Oxford
Yale
MIT


False. Nice wishful thinking though.
Reply 196
Harvard
Princeton
Yale
UPenn
Stanford

just were the first to come into my mind
of course there are
Columbia
Brown
MIT and many more
Harvard
Yale
Princeton
Stanford
MIT
Id be cheating if I went and researched some,but these are the (four) uni's I think of,off the top of my head

Harvard
Yale
Stanford
Brown
Original post by dn013
Brown is not good, be glad you didn't go there. It really isn't anywhere near the quality of the four you mentioned alongside. In fact it is two tiers below them.

This is a credited response.


Original post by manchild007

As for being spat on for not doing medicine/dentistry, whose making the stereotypical moronic statements now? Heck you could get into HYP to study English or History and it would be seen as more prestigious than doing X at Oxbridge, b/c all people really care about is the prestige. And the US (HYP/MIT etc) has much greater prestige than Oxbridge.

Sure you might have 4 years of fame amongst your family by getting an english degree from yale. But once you graduate with that worthless degree, and your family realizes that it has zero employability you will be shamed for not doing a science subject at Cambridge.

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