What do you think of St Andrews?

Hi all!
Congratulation to all who managed to get into Oxbridge. I applied to Oxford (PPE), but got rejected. I had to choose between Bristol and St Andrews. it's St andrews for Modern Languages and International Relations. There are a lot of discussions how good the University is. Times called it Princeton of Scotland. A bit exaggerated? Someone here in the forums called it Camebridge of Scotland. I would like to ask you about your opinion on St Andrews and its reputation. Was it a good decision to accept their unconditional offer? Why can't it be so elite as Oxbridge? Maybe the lack of the collegiate system? Would like to hear the opinion of a clear-minded Oxbridge student. You must surely know what a good Uni is (and what I will miss out with going to St Andrews).
Cheers,
dl.

Reply 1

Hellsbells

1

St Andrews is a very good uni, probably the best in Scotland (with Edinburgh a close second). I visited both St Ands and Bristol open days, and definitely preferred St Ands - it seemed alot friendlier, and the accomodation was better. The only criticism I would have is that St Andrews is a bit on the small side, but there's still plenty to do there!

Reply 2

The Duck

Sorry to hear about Oxford, and I'm not at Cam (and after AdvH English it's become a bit unlikely really) but had to say it - Well done with the StA offer! I applied for Int Relations and really wanted it as my Insurance but got a rejection :frown:

Basically StA has a really good rep, especially outside Scotland it seems - there are so many international dudes there. And Int Relations is THE course to do there, the tutors are amazing. Size of town means it isn't everyone's cup of tea, but StA really can be seen as a smaller Oxbridge with such a high academic rep, the Uni being such a big part of the town and the buildings being so nice :smile:

Reply 3

d750

8

dled

Why can't it be so elite as Oxbridge? Maybe the lack of the collegiate system? Would like to hear the opinion of a clear-minded Oxbridge student. You must surely know what a good Uni is (and what I will miss out with going to St Andrews).
Cheers,
dl.

Well, you'll miss out on tutorials, for one thing. Are you asking because you're considering pulling out and reapplying?

Reply 4

Hellsbells

1

d750

Well, you'll miss out on tutorials, for one thing. Are you asking because you're considering pulling out and reapplying?

I'm sure St Ands do have tutorials, just in bigger groups.

Reply 5

d750

8

Hellsbells

I'm sure St Ands do have tutorials, just in bigger groups.

Then they're not tutorials, really. You can't really compare them with classes.

Reply 6

Hellsbells

1

d750

Then they're not tutorials, really. You can't really compare them with classes.

You're right, it's not quite the same, but they still like calling them "tutorials"!

Reply 7

The Duck

d750

Then they're not tutorials, really. You can't really compare them with classes.

I've heard (from a reliable source :smile:

) that the classes can have five or less students in them, which is pretty damn impressive. It isn't Oxbridge, but it's v v close, and superior to the vast majority of British Unis surely.

Reply 8

DC_1234

dled

Hi all!
Congratulation to all who managed to get into Oxbridge. I applied to Oxford (PPE), but got rejected. I had to choose between Bristol and St Andrews. it's St andrews for Modern Languages and International Relations. There are a lot of discussions how good the University is. Times called it Princeton of Scotland. A bit exaggerated? Someone here in the forums called it Camebridge of Scotland. I would like to ask you about your opinion on St Andrews and its reputation. Was it a good decision to accept their unconditional offer? Why can't it be so elite as Oxbridge? Maybe the lack of the collegiate system? Would like to hear the opinion of a clear-minded Oxbridge student. You must surely know what a good Uni is (and what I will miss out with going to St Andrews).
Cheers,
dl.

There are two universities in Scotland; Glasgow and Edinburgh. You need not concern yourself with the others.

Reply 9

Hellsbells

1

Faboba

There are two universities in Scotland; Glasgow and Edinburgh. You need not concern yourself with the others.

St Ands is better than Glasgow!! :tongue:

Reply 10

dled

OP

I am a bit disappointed that they don't have tutorials at St Andrews. I simply can't understand why. I wonder whether tutorials as such are not necessary because of its small-knit community and the small number of students. Staff is said to be amazing, tough. i would also miss out the college system.
bye

Reply 11

d750

8

dled

I am a bit disappointed that they don't have tutorials at St Andrews. I simply can't understand why. I wonder whether tutorials as such are not necessary because of its small-knit community and the small number of students. Staff is said to be amazing, tough. i would also miss out the college system.
bye

Tutorials are very resource intensive, and St. Andrew's doesn't get very much research funding when compared to Oxbridge. Don't really see how a tight-knit community can compensate.

Reply 12

mussed

Hellsbells

St Andrews is a very good uni, probably the best in Scotland (with Edinburgh a close second). I visited both St Ands and Bristol open days, and definitely preferred St Ands - it seemed alot friendlier, and the accomodation was better. The only criticism I would have is that St Andrews is a bit on the small side, but there's still plenty to do there!

You lie! Sorry... :wink:

My best friend's grandad lives in St Andrews, and we went up for a week. There is *nothing* to do - the entire student population out at 11:45 on a wednesday night to see Donnie Darko at the small cinema. It's a bit too small, too secluded.

Having said that, it is a very, very good university. Good golf, too :smile:

Reply 13

DC_1234

Hellsbells

St Ands is better than Glasgow!! :tongue:

I'm sorry but if it doesn't do medicine and doesn't do Law then it ISN'T a University.

Anyway, IIRC Glasgow beats the other two at English, Philosophy and Law. Edinburgh is the place to go for Medicine, for Engineering, Electronics or something of that ilk Strathclyde is the place. What exactly makes St Andrew's better? It's a quasi-University located in Scotland's tourist trap for fat golfers.

Reply 14

dled

OP

dear Faboba
You raised an important question: Why don't they offer Law at St Andrews? I mean the University is known for being strong in Politics and all the Art subjects.
The departments they have are all brilliant. I think this is a much better policy than to offer everything on a low level (as you might see it at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Strathclyde). The only University that offers a wide range of subjects and that is competative at the same time in all of its subjects is Camebridge and Oxford. St Andrews is the only university in Scotland to have registered only excellent or highly satisfactory ratings in the teaching reviews.
I hope I've convinced you. As for Law, I dont know the answer.

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Reply 15

DC_1234

dled

dear Faboba
You raised an important question: Why don't they offer Law at St Andrews? I mean the University is known for being strong in Politics and all the Art subjects.
The departments they have are all brilliant. I think this is a much better policy than to offer everything on a low level (as you might see it at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Strathclyde). The only University that offers a wide range of subjects and that is compatative at the same time in all of its subjects is Camebridge and Oxford. St Andrews is the only university in Scotland to have registered only excellent or highly satisfactory ratings in the teaching reviews.
I hope I've convinced you. As for Law, I dont know the answer.

Hmmm. Convinced me to a point. I'll never accept the view that a University which doesn't even offer Law could be better than Glasgow ( nor Medicine, than Edinburgh ) but I will agree that it's a good place to study, allowed to keep it's title of University and I will not in the near future lead a horde of rampaging peasants and put it to the torch. At the same time I shall never even entertain the idea of studying there.

Reply 16

Tractarian

I went to St.Andrews for 5 years. We had tutorials for all 5 years (sometimes in groups as few as 2 or 3), where a tutor would conduct discussions amongst the group. Only in first year where there were huge numbers of students flooding certain subjects were there large groups (more like classes) in tutorials.

Also, St.Andrews does do medicine (if that's what the previous posts were supposed to imply).

Tractarian.

Reply 17

Tractarian

Oh, and the reason they don't offer law is that when Dundee University formed (as a breakaway institution from St.Andrews), it took the law faculty with it.

And, I see that it was actually stated in previous posts that St.A doesn't do medicine. False.

Reply 18

dled

OP

questions to Tractarian:
What did you study at St Andrews? What do you think of the staff? Would you compare St Andrews with Oxbridge?
Cheers,

Reply 19

Tractarian

Admittedly not the same subject as yours, but I suspect the same would apply for most subjects. I studied Philosophy. The tutors were excellent, both in terms of their academic standing and their willingness to support their students. Some of them were willing to provide extra support by offering more tutorials than they were required to do by the department.

As for comparisons with Oxbridge: the dept itself is certainly comparable. At the time I was there, the dept of philosophy at Cambridge was of pretty much the same strength. Oxford was, and remains, one of the strongest depts in the world, up there with Princeton. St.Andrews doesn't offer one-to-one tutorials (although I have, on the odd occasion, had them), but then Oxford and Cambridge aren't in the position to offer these as often.

I suspect that, in general, St.Andrews is Oxbridge-esque in terms of the architecture, the standing of the academics and the prospects of its graduates (particularly in terms of further academic study: many go on to study at the Ivy leagues and Oxbridge etc.). However, sometimes i questioned the commitment of some of the undergraduates in a way that i imagine (or hope) wouldn't be the case with Oxbridge undergraduates. Its smallness, as many people on this forum have said, is a big difference. But, somehow, it wasn't ever a problem whilst I was there. If you're enjoying your course, have good friends around you (with whom there is a social scene to share!), then St.Andrews' size isn't a problem. It was a pleasure to live there.

What do you think of St Andrews?

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