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Oxford vs. Harvard, Yale, Princeton

If someone could get offers from all three universities,
which choice would prove to be the best choice?
I got an offer from Oxford but also applied to Harvard, Yale, Princeton.
Because I need to concentrate on my IB in April, I want to organise
my thoughts now in case I get an offer from any of the 3 U.S. schools.
I heard for undergraduate level, Oxbridge is the best in the world.
Although in the general ranking Harvard is always the indisputable first.
Any thoughts?

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The key difference is that at Oxford you would be studying one\2-3 subjects throughout your course, usually lasting 3 years; the US system is a 4-year degree with much more scope to pick and choose around your major. In my opinion, this is a more important difference than assessing which is "best" amongst several unquestionably top-notch universities.
Reply 2
^^ this

However on terms of funding and opportunities, Harvard is better and Yale too. The education is what you make of it at these places. Though one thing that you do get from an experience there are the connection that can help you throughout life, that is why Harvard is number one.

Oxford undergrad is essentially grad school in the US, just not as advanced. You go there they teach you one or two courses for 3 years and you are done that is what you are pretty much doing. Undergraduate in the US is better as a system in my opinion because it teaches you indispensable skills that will be needed later in life. You should know studying the IB that it is not just about what you learn, but about how you learn and what you apply it to.
Connhk
^^ this

However on terms of funding and opportunities, Harvard is better and Yale too. The education is what you make of it at these places. Though one thing that you do get from an experience there are the connection that can help you throughout life, that is why Harvard is number one.

Oxford undergrad is essentially grad school in the US, just not as advanced. You go there they teach you one or two courses for 3 years and you are done that is what you are pretty much doing. Undergraduate in the US is better as a system in my opinion because it teaches you indispensable skills that will be needed later in life. You should know studying the IB that it is not just about what you learn, but about how you learn and what you apply it to.

I fully agrtee with you on the importance of 'transferable skills'. But isn't Oxford undergraduate education's emphasis placed upon the value of transferable skills & ability to think rather than on the subject knowledge itself?
It's all subjective. Certainly consider the facts mentioned in the above posts but also think about which University is 'right' for you.
I would say if you got Harvard then go there - it looks incredible and is more prestigious worldwide. This is only what I would do... Or if you dont get an offer this year, If you're interested in postgrad and you get a first from Oxford, then apply to Harvard then.
Reply 6
flglxpstbxkdls
I fully agrtee with you on the importance of 'transferable skills'. But isn't Oxford undergraduate education's emphasis placed upon the value of transferable skills & ability to think rather than on the subject knowledge itself?


From what I gather it is about learning a subject thoroughly. Yes there are indeed transferable skills involved but in the US you apply to Harvard, you get in, then you say I want to do History, Politics, Biology, etc... You must know what you want to do yes, but the US system gives you more freedom to choose what you like and thus imo gives greater opportunity.
Reply 7
Connhk
Oxford undergrad is essentially grad school in the US, just not as advanced. You go there they teach you one or two courses for 3 years and you are done that is what you are pretty much doing. Undergraduate in the US is better as a system in my opinion because it teaches you indispensable skills that will be needed later in life. You should know studying the IB that it is not just about what you learn, but about how you learn and what you apply it to.


What indispensable skills does US undergraduate teach you that UK undergrad doesn't?
Reply 8
In terms of international prestige - Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Princeton.

In terms of quality of undergraduate education in an arts subject (I see you have an offer for history) - Oxford, Princeton, Yale, Harvard.

Harvard has massive class sizes and its rep is really for its graduate schools, Princeton's rep is for undergrad, Oxford has the tutorial system which I think is unmatchable for history and some other subjects. But if you plan on postgrad it is easier to go from HYP to Oxbridge than vice-versa (GRE, the style of references and mutual understanding of degree classifications).

Choosing whether you want to do one subject or many is as has been mentioned a key consideration when you are choosing between these places, and whether you love learning or just want to go through the motions to have the best possible CV at the end of the day.

I would think long and hard choosing between Harvard and Oxford, just because of the name value of the former, with Yale, Princeton and Oxford I would pick Oxford personally, though I'd be tempted by Yale.
Reply 9
Teebs
What indispensable skills does US undergraduate teach you that UK undergrad doesn't?


My mate who went there for a year had this to say when I asked him almost the exact same question.

"how to function outside of a small dark room with two other no lifes and some old guy" - found that one hilarious but I am not sure if its true.

When you go to oxford you apply to READ a subject, in the US if you study at a university you are out and about not just writing essays. That is my view, an international one btw.
Reply 10
Connhk
My mate who went there for a year had this to say when I asked him almost the exact same question.

"how to function outside of a small dark room with two other no lifes and some old guy" - found that one hilarious but I am not sure if its true.

When you go to oxford you apply to READ a subject, in the US if you study at a university you are out and about not just writing essays. That is my view, an international one btw.


If you honestly think all people at Oxford do is sit in their rooms and write essays then you're an idiot. Studying only one subject in more depth doesn't suddenly make you a boing person who does nothing else:eyeball:
Reply 11
Teebs
If you honestly think all people at Oxford do is sit in their rooms and write essays then you're an idiot. Studying only one subject in more depth doesn't suddenly make you a boing person who does nothing else:eyeball:

Or even a boring one. Boinging we leave to the trampolinists.
Reply 12
Read my post, it was a joke a guy I know who went there for one year on some exchange I have no idea about said, get it in context. He is though a boring person :s-smilie:. Jokes aside, he did say there is not much fieldwork there, not a lot of group projects, mainly you functioning on your own. Outside of lectures he said that you spend A LOT of time researching and writing essays, one large well written well researched paper every week or even more often.

When did I say studying one subject makes one boring? Please read my post It was a quote that said this, the person quoted was in fact joking, if it was unclear then I am sorry.
flglxpstbxkdls
If someone could get offers from all three universities,
which choice would prove to be the best choice?
I got an offer from Oxford but also applied to Harvard, Yale, Princeton.
Because I need to concentrate on my IB in April, I want to organise
my thoughts now in case I get an offer from any of the 3 U.S. schools.
I heard for undergraduate level, Oxbridge is the best in the world.
Although in the general ranking Harvard is always the indisputable first.
Any thoughts?


Would you be classed as an international student for all 4 unis? Its certainly been the case for me that theres no way Id want to have to pay international fees for US universities over paying rather less for UK unis! Obviously if you dont qualify for this either (or youre loaded) this sort of negates all this
T-o dore
I would say if you got Harvard then go there - it looks incredible and is more prestigious worldwide. This is only what I would do... Or if you dont get an offer this year, If you're interested in postgrad and you get a first from Oxford, then apply to Harvard then.


Really I wouldnt do undergrad at Harvard over Oxbridge or Princeton.
Reply 15
Connhk
Read my post, it was a joke a guy I know who went there for one year on some exchange I have no idea about said, get it in context. He is though a boring person :s-smilie:. Jokes aside, he did say there is not much fieldwork there, not a lot of group projects, mainly you functioning on your own. Outside of lectures he said that you spend A LOT of time researching and writing essays, one large well written well researched paper every week or even more often.

When did I say studying one subject makes one boring? Please read my post It was a quote that said this, the person quoted was in fact joking, if it was unclear then I am sorry.


You said US undergrad teaches you indispensable skills with a very strong implication that UK, or specifically Oxford, undergrad didn't. When I asked for specifics you came out with people being 'out and about' rather than 'just writing essays' and some sort of manufactured difference between 'reading' and 'studying' a subject. I'd call anyone who spends all their time writing essays boring.
Reply 16
Oxford. Oxbridge is the best in the world for undergraduates, no question of it.
flglxpstbxkdls
If someone could get offers from all three universities,
which choice would prove to be the best choice?
I got an offer from Oxford but also applied to Harvard, Yale, Princeton.
Because I need to concentrate on my IB in April, I want to organise
my thoughts now in case I get an offer from any of the 3 U.S. schools.
I heard for undergraduate level, Oxbridge is the best in the world.
Although in the general ranking Harvard is always the indisputable first.
Any thoughts?


For undergraduate teaching
Oxford > Princeton > Yale > Stanford > MIT > Caltech > Top 20 Liberal Arts Colleges > Harvard

For graduate study:
Harvard > MIT > Yale , Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford > Princeton

Harvard is pretty awful for undergraduate education.
Every year, surveys among Harvard undergraduates reveals massive dissatisfaction and unhappiness with Harvard's teaching.
Lousy pastoral care and chaotic administration are some more of the many negatives of Harvard's undergraduate experience.
On the other hand, for most PhD programs, Harvard is great.
flglxpstbxkdls
If someone could get offers from all three universities,
which choice would prove to be the best choice?
I got an offer from Oxford but also applied to Harvard, Yale, Princeton.
Because I need to concentrate on my IB in April, I want to organise
my thoughts now in case I get an offer from any of the 3 U.S. schools.
I heard for undergraduate level, Oxbridge is the best in the world.
Although in the general ranking Harvard is always the indisputable first.
Any thoughts?


Who told you at undergrad level Oxbridge is the best? Undoubtedly, at undergrad level, Princeton is the world's no.1 university, followed by probably Dartmouth and Stanford. Yale, Harvard and Oxbridge are only top-class at postgrad and research level.
flugestuge
For undergraduate study
Oxford > Princeton > Yale > Harvard

For graduate study:
Harvard > Yale , Oxford > Princeton


wow I actually agree with you for once