Harvard or Oxbridge?Which is harder?

For undergrad, I'd choose Oxbridge/LSE.

For postgrad, Harvard is tops (in my opinion anyway).

Reply 2

Ipsen

I don't really know what is taught in Economics at Harvard, but the sketch could be drawn as:

-4 years long for a Bachelor

-Liberal arts education, as opposes to the British specialisation education.

-Terribly bright kids can get into Ivy-league schools. They don't have absolute prerequisitions, although ages play a role in the application process.

-Those 4 schools are all top of the world, and the differences between them can be very easily filled by not-a-brilliant personality. However, Harvard has slightly broader reputations in Far East, even though the reason is not really academically related.

-British education is as valid as American one, in terms of academic qualifications. But you still have to take SATs as those in America do.

Reply 3

IZZY!

OP

Ipsen

I don't really know what is taught in Economics at Harvard, but the sketch could be drawn as:

-4 years long for a Bachelor

-Liberal arts education, as opposes to the British specialisation education.

-Terribly bright kids can get into Ivy-league school. They don't have absolute prerequisitions, although ages play a role in the application process.

-Those 4 schools are all top of the world, and the differences between them can be very easily filled by not-a-brilliant personality. However, Harvard has slightly broader reputations in Far East, even though the reason is not really academically related.

-British education is as valid as American one, in terms of academic qualifications. But you still have to take SATs as those in American do.

Lets say one graduates from Oxbridge or LSE. Will he be able to find a high-paid job in USA?

Reply 4

IZZY!

Lets say one graduates from Oxbridge or LSE. Will he be able to find a high-paid job in USA?

Definitely. Americans hold Oxbridge (well actually Oxford in particular for some reason) in equal or higher regard to even Harvard/Yale/Princeton/Stanford.

In fact, as an Oxbridge/LSE grad you would bring more diversity so it would probably work in your advantage more than going to HYPS.

Reply 5

IZZY!

OP

Hash

Definitely. Americans hold Oxbridge (well actually Oxford in particular for some reason) in equal or higher regard to even Harvard/Yale/Princeton/Stanford.

In fact, as an Oxbridge/LSE grad you would bring more diversity so it would probably work in your advantage more than going to HYPS.

is it also true that In US the one will waste time first year, because he has done that sort of stuff in his A2 levels?

Reply 6

IZZY!

is it also true that In US the one will waste time first year, because he has done that sort of stuff in his A2 levels?

Undergraduate education in America is very broad in comparison to the UK. If you know you want to do Economics only, then yes, you could consider the extra year in America to be a "waste".

Also, the quality of undergraduate education in the UK is on the whole better than in the US.

Reply 7

Hash, i can tell from ur signature that ur a genius :rolleyes:

, i was also really interested in the States unis and thought of applying but when the application deadline came round i jus....CBS :rolleyes:

. can i just ask, how could you get into Carnegie M Uni so easily (and Standfords waiting list, thats amazing ) :eek:

??? did you have to take SAT? i reckon you might have loads of awards or sth like that dont u :smile:

?

Reply 8

Plus, in terms of Computer science IMO i think the US is the best place to learn :smile:

Reply 9

nas7232

19

prefer cambridge for economics than oxford...

for worldwide rep, LSE will probably benefit you more. For postgrad i would go for harvard.

Reply 10

zoomnguoivn

Hash, i can tell from ur signature that ur a genius :rolleyes:

, i was also really interested in the States unis and thought of applying but when the application deadline came round i jus....CBS :rolleyes:

. can i just ask, how could you get into Carnegie M Uni so easily (and Standfords waiting list, thats amazing ) :eek:

??? did you have to take SAT? i reckon you might have loads of awards or sth like that dont u :smile:

?

Haha zoomnguoivn, im not really a genius.

Yes, unfortunately I had to take all of the SATS (I and II). I must say, completing the required testing and application forms is an achievement in itself!

I almost gave up when I saw that I had to apply to each uni individually, and also write separate essays for each one.

I am good academically, and I also have good extra-curricular activitities. I think being well rounded is the key for American universities. Having the grades is almost a prerequisite for a serious application.

Reply 11

nas7232

prefer cambridge for economics than oxford...

for worldwide rep, LSE will probably benefit you more. For postgrad i would go for harvard.

Though PPE or Economics and Management at Oxford are definitely not to be sneezed at!

I would still say that Oxbridge has the wow factor over LSE (marginally).

Reply 12

IZZY!

Is it possible to get into Harvard with only AS Levels?

Yes, however you will still need to take your A2 exams.

You will definitely need to take the (new) SATI, and 3 SATII subject tests.
If you visit the Harvard undergraduate website, everything will become clear to you.

Reply 13

jpowell

This depends, neither Harvard or either of the Oxbridge unis have their own rating on the Mohs scale. So you'll just have to test them yourself.

Reply 14

Xanthe

1

If you want to go to Harvard you need to take some US exams known as SAT I and SAT II

Reply 15

trachea

6

Hash

Haha zoomnguoivn, im not really a genius.

Yes, unfortunately I had to take all of the SATS (I and II). I must say, completing the required testing and application forms is an achievement in itself!

I almost gave up when I saw that I had to apply to each uni individually, and also write separate essays for each one.

I am good academically, and I also have good extra-curricular activitities. I think being well rounded is the key for American universities. Having the grades is almost a prerequisite for a serious application.

OMG someone who knows just how i felt, i seriously deserve a medal for completely my h and y apps. I go to a state school, no one has ever applied to the states, had to buy books from web to study for sat 1 and 2s, write all the essays whilst trying to keep on top of a levels with NO HELP FROM ANYONE. It sounds so sad but although i got rejected i feel so proud that i went thru that hell. I gained quite a few contacts like my two interviewers who know their stuff and could help me in the future.

Reply 16

an Siarach

IZZY!

I was thinking of doing Economics at uni. I m only in year 11. I know it may seem pathetic, but I just want to know more information. Which of them is better for Economics?
harvard
Oxford
Cambridge
LSE
Lets say money isnt a problem for Harvard, which one would u choose to go for to study Economics?
Does the Economics course at Harvard last 4 years instead of 3?
Is it possible to get into Harvard with only AS Levels?
Which one would give more job opportunities?
Will British Education be valid in the US?

For undergrad generally a British (with the exception of Scottish) education is better while the American route would be best for post-grad. The standard of student applying and gaining entry to Harvard and Oxbridge will be more or less the same although the student body is smaller at Harvard and is probably slightly harder to get into as a result. A british education (i assume you mean school level) is certainly valid in the US and is acknowledged as being of a higher quality than that delivered within America ; an applicant in posession of A-Levels can gain advanced entry onto a US degree (the same is true in Scotland).

Reply 17

beeblebrox87

trachea

OMG someone who knows just how i felt, i seriously deserve a medal for completely my h and y apps. I go to a state school, no one has ever applied to the states, had to buy books from web to study for sat 1 and 2s, write all the essays whilst trying to keep on top of a levels with NO HELP FROM ANYONE. It sounds so sad but although i got rejected i feel so proud that i went thru that hell. I gained quite a few contacts like my two interviewers who know their stuff and could help me in the future.

I didn't find the whole process that bad, and I applied to nine different schools in the US. The SATs and even SAT2s seemed very easy to me compared to the IB exams I'm used to here, and the common application meant there was relatively little that I had to enter twice. The essay questions were annoying and frequently ridiculous, and I was not very pleased with what I ended up sending, but still it's only 500 words so the actual writing was hardly hell. I ended up accepted at Caltech and Columbia, waitlisted at Princeton, and rejected by Harvard Yale MIT and Stanford. While I think it's ridiculous that they base academic admissions on ridiculous factors like extracurriculars and "leadership", the application process itself didn't seem so bad to me.

That was rather offtopic. In reply to the original poster, if you're sure you want to do economics I would recommend (like many posters before me) LSE for undergrad and Harvard for postgrad, assuming you can get accepted to both when necessary.

Reply 18

jus out of interest, what did you guys get at SAT1 ...Hash,trachea??? ( marks on the verbal and maths paper? )

Reply 19