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I'm an American and got accepted for Honors Oriental Studies at Cambridge, anyone else?

By Jetboy1857 (Jetboy1857) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 03:58 pm: Edit

Congrats, wow that's amazing! I'm studying in the US, nothing against the UK though... just curious what college will you be in? Anyway, should be an amazing experience... Harry Potter! ;-)

By Itempest (Itempest) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 04:01 pm: Edit

Yes, I've always fantasized about studying in England, but I'm too American, I guess.

I think I'd like the American college experience. :P

Good luck, and congratulations! Have you decided to go?

By Voigtrob (Voigtrob) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 04:03 pm: Edit

Hum, I haven't heard word back yet... applied for Physics at Lincoln College, Oxford. I guess I can expect to hear sometime this week. ;P

By Adxj220 (Adxj220) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 04:07 pm: Edit

Hey, I applied to Trinity sps. When did you hear, and how? I haven't gotten anything in the mail yet.

By Voigtrob (Voigtrob) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 04:09 pm: Edit

You haven't gotten *anything*? I've gotten lots of stuff, first of all being a receipt by UCAS confirming my application. On the receipt it has a Student ID number and a Password, you can go to www.ucas.com and to Track Progress and see the status of all your UK apps, including whether or not you've gotten offers and what they are. I also got about 10 pounds of crap in the mail from UCL (I got in thar), haha. ;P

By Pinkflamingo (Pinkflamingo) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 05:36 pm: Edit

I got accepted at Peterhouse, my first choice school. I heard via mail, yesterday, it's kind of funny that there wasn't a single exclamation point in or congratulatory remark in the entire letter! I'm waiting to hear from the Ivy schools I applied to before I make my final decision, but Cambridge is really really cool and at the top of my list. I don't think many Americans go there for all three years of undergrad though, so it might be major culture shock!

By Datadigit1 (Datadigit1) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 05:50 pm: Edit

Seriously, congrats! Yeah, don't expect a confetti filled envelope from Oxford or Cambridge (especially for undergrad!) Competition is so incredibly intense for spots their that there is no need for them to "recruit their admits" since there are tons and tons of other students out there that would easily kill your your position ;-).

I have a friend that went there, and loved it, and his admit letter didn't even have a reply card.. they just assumed he was coming ;-). So in short, don't be turned off by the seeming lack of exclamation points ;-)

By Mitwannabe (Mitwannabe) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 05:59 pm: Edit

oxford is a beautiful place, i studied there over the summer, i dont know if i could go there for 4 years though, being from a larger city, i kinda need that "something's happening all the time" feel, and oxford is a university inside a town and though it's absolutely stunning, unless you go to London, there's not as much going on, bar fights though, lots of bar fights, haha

By Lxg21918 (Lxg21918) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 06:08 pm: Edit

ha, i got my rejection from st. john's for PPE the day after christmas. i was kind of expecting it/amused by it after getting deferred from yale. just another one in the december pile of "you're not smart enough to be here... merry christmas" letters. here's to hoping for better news in april.

By Crazee8 (Crazee8) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 06:23 pm: Edit

Congrats Pinkflamingo! What college will you be in? I was amazed when I visited Oxbridge, the intellectual ambiance and history of the place was incredible.

Cheers!

By Adxj220 (Adxj220) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 06:26 pm: Edit

Oh, I've gotten plenty of stuff, interviewed, gone to open days and things like that. I meant my *acceptance* letter, which hopefully will come tommorow. I've already gotten into SOAS and St. Andrews, but I never filled out the extra essays for UCl.

By Voigtrob (Voigtrob) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 06:28 pm: Edit

There were extra essays for UCL? ;P
I certainly didn't do any, and I got an offer already... haha. I applied for physics tho, maybe thats only for certain majors?

By Adxj220 (Adxj220) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 06:31 pm: Edit

the *acceptance* was meant to be funny, not cocky--by the way.

By Haruko (Haruko) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 06:55 pm: Edit

Wow. Do you happen to be an IB student? I read their intl students/American students undergrad admissions and it seemed really complicated. You had to travel to New York to get interviewed by eight different people.. tell me about it o_o

By Haruko (Haruko) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 06:56 pm: Edit

oh, yeah, mitwannabe, which program did you study under that went to oxford? I read about some but couldn't find anyone who actually went.

By Pinkflamingo (Pinkflamingo) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 07:13 pm: Edit

I opted to travel to Cambridge for my interview in December and, no I don't take IB I took only the AP tests. I did well on all four of the ones I took Euopean History, AMerican Hist., World Hist., and English Lang.
I think the fact that I was well-lopsided, i.e. good at History helped me rather than being well rounded.
Good luck to everyone else who applied!

By Haruko (Haruko) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 07:18 pm: Edit

ah, interesting. So you did a normal interview and did take into account that the American schooling was a little different. There weren't any prereqs were there?

By Pinkflamingo (Pinkflamingo) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 07:45 pm: Edit

nope. they didnt even ask for my grades. I thought being non-IB in America would hurt me, but I think they looked at my AP's as sort of an A-level equivalent.

By Adxj220 (Adxj220) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 07:51 pm: Edit

what did you get on your APs?

By Pinkflamingo (Pinkflamingo) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 11:27 pm: Edit

I got 5's on all of them so I think that's like an AAA equivalent

By Royalchk (Royalchk) on Sunday, January 04, 2004 - 11:45 pm: Edit

Robinson College, Cambridge for maths.

By Miakulpa (Miakulpa) on Monday, January 05, 2004 - 11:03 am: Edit

Pinkflamingo, did you go to Open Days last year? If so, did you visit more than Peterhouse. I'm thinking of booking for Open Days at a few schools and would like to know how helpful that was for you. I've been to Oxbridge a couple of times already so I know what the towns look like.

By Veggieoptionsux (Veggieoptionsux) on Monday, January 05, 2004 - 12:12 pm: Edit

i got in.

econs + mgmt @ New College, Oxford

I just finished my first term. lookin forward to going back on the 15th.

By Adxj220 (Adxj220) on Monday, January 05, 2004 - 08:53 pm: Edit

I'm in at Trinity, Cambridge--to study Social and Political science.

By Radagasty (Radagasty) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 09:04 am: Edit

Peterhouse is creepy, or, at least, that is what my professor told me when I asked for his advice regarding college selection at Cambridge. He was at Emmanuel himself.

By Upandover (Upandover) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 09:12 am: Edit

Four people in my class got to Cambridge out of thirteen people who applied. Five were pooled, one of them was me... =(
The four who got in are taking.. Maths with Comp Science, Maths with Physics and just Maths. Four maths geniuses. Actually, make that three and one really good student.. =)

I applied to Queens'

By 22157 (22157) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 01:02 pm: Edit

Competition for places at Oxbridge is not actually that intense. Their application rates are amongst the lowest in the UK. Official stats show that the majority of straight A students in the UK do not apply to Oxbridge.

There is also serious concern about corruption in the allocation of places. A few years ago the Chancellor of the Exchequer even caused a public row when he complained about it. Recently two officials/lecturers lost their jobs when it was revealed that they had been offering places in return for cash.

Sorry to rain on your parade guys, but the real world is not such a pretty place.

By 22157 (22157) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 01:09 pm: Edit

Sorry to rain on the parade, guys, but a few facts are needed here to bring some life into this treacly Oxbridge love-in:

1/competition for Oxbridge places is not that intense-despite huge recruitment campaigns they have one of the lowest application rates among UK universities;

2/at least 50% of straight A UK students do not apply to Oxbridge, despite the fact that they are both large, multi-faculty universities;

3/there is wide-spread official concern about corruption-there was a huge row a few years ago when a government minister criticised Oxbridge for favouring privately educated applicants over brighter state school kids;

4/recently two academics/officials were dismissed from Oxford after they offered places in return for cash...

By Adxj220 (Adxj220) on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 03:29 pm: Edit

...the point being? They still offer among the best educations in the world.

By Upandover (Upandover) on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 12:05 am: Edit

Really? Not that intense? I beg to differ. Please don't say what you don't know. This goes for your post on the other thread. If Arealtexan was still around, he would have a few points to pick with you.

I got straight A's and 1510 for my SAT and 800 for both Chem and Math IIc and a host of other things. Go and do a Message search on my resume. And I got pooled. So did a lot of people with stats around mine. I could go on, but it's not worth it.

By 22157 (22157) on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 06:21 am: Edit

The point about Oxbridge admissions is this: sure they are world class universities. But you've got to live in the real world, otherwise the disappointment, when you do attend them, will be intense. Free yourself from the Dreaming Spires kitsch.

Most of the people, at most universities, even the most elite, are nothing special (I speak from experience). At the best places, including Oxbridge, a lot of people are there because they are good at passing selection processes, because they have been very well taught, because they are lucky, because their parents knew the right people, or because of statistics (quotas for minorities and women and privately educated stduents are now a hot issue). Any one or several of these factors may be relevant.

The really gifted students and tutors will always be a small minority-a bigger minority than in a low grade college, but still a small minority, just as in the rest of the world. These are the people who bring distinction to the place-the rest is hype and PR-useful when getting a job, but hype and PR cannot overcome the sense of anticlimax you feel when sitting in seminars with people who have been educated beyond their ability.

And even the gifted people are often not what you expect. Lord Annan used to talk about the disappointment visitors experienced when they came to High Table at King's. Instead of the glittering conversation and brilliance that they expected, they found themselves listening to petty college gossip from crusty old farts who were narrow specialists with a very limited range of interests.

Of course Oxford and Cambridge are very desirable places. But don't live in a fantasy world: if you get into one of the bigger colleges you can have a great time, if your face fits, otherwise you might find yourselves spending 24 weeks a year in some obscure college, of which there are many,in what is really a dull provincial town, with rugby players (you'll wonder how they got in) and nice but dim ethnic minority girls (the politically correct stats will tell you how they got in).

Go for it. But don't have any chocolate box illusions.

By Windupbird (Windupbird) on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 07:27 am: Edit

Anyone going to Pembroke college, Oxford? I got accepted there for PPE, but I had no idea how that college is like. contact me, if you know anyone there, ok?
qudian@hotmail.com
Thanks a lot

By Upandover (Upandover) on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 11:12 am: Edit

Ewwww.. what a party damper. Considering he is quite new on the board too


Sorry to rain on your parade guys, but the real world is not such a pretty place.

Go for it. But don't have any chocolate box illusions.

But don't live in a fantasy world:

At the best places, including Oxbridge, a lot of people are there because they are good at passing selection processes, because they have been very well taught, because they are lucky, because their parents knew the right people, or because of statistics (quotas for minorities and women and privately educated stduents are now a hot issue).


Maybe he's just jealous or something.

Anyway, congrats to everyone who got in!!!!

By 22157 (22157) on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 06:04 pm: Edit

Ok, Upandover, one thing you will learn as your university career progresses (if it does) is the importance of treating claims and statements on their merits. You can go on making snide and vaguely threatening personal remarks, but it really makes very little impact. Alternatively you can grow up a bit and produce some reasoned arguments (for a change).

Now where were we, oh yes, have you got any data to refute the information about the low numbers of people who apply to Oxbridge? It would also be interesting to see you explain exactly why there are four mathematical 'geniuses' in your class. This surely must rank as some kind of world record

By Jetboy1857 (Jetboy1857) on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 07:56 pm: Edit

"It would also be interesting to see you explain exactly why there are four mathematical 'geniuses' in your class. This surely must rank as some kind of world record"

What was that about "making snide and vaguely threatening personal remarks"... yeah you just lost all credibility there!

Congrats on all those accepted to Oxbridge! I think it is totally awesome. As far as I'm concered if you're just going to post a bashing comment then you shouldn't post at all. I too agree that those that just post pointless comments bashing the amazing success of others are certainly just jealous that they are not going to a school like Oxford or Cambridge!

By Haruko (Haruko) on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 08:39 pm: Edit

lol 221whatever-- these people are content with their choice of college. You go be content with yours. Stop trying to demean them. You disagree with them and their beliefs seems to make you unhappy. Get over it. Simply leave this particular message. Peace.

By Adxj220 (Adxj220) on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 09:25 pm: Edit

221...No one is under the impression that Oxbridge is some sort of a perfect place. It isn't. Harvard isn't, nor Yale. Nor, for that matter, is the world. But Oxbridge absolutely allows for one of the best educations in the world.

By simply looking at admissions percentages (of course unpopular majors such as Classics will bring the percentage down), the average student offers, the enrollment and graduation statistics it should be perfectly clear that Oxbridge is quite selective. But this is irrelevant, because selectivity has little to do with quality of education.

Again, your criticisms--some of which are credible--of Oxbridge are to be found at every deucational institution in the world. You've obviously suffered through some embittering experience. Please keep your redundant messages, and the inadequacies of your own life to yourself.

By Royalchk (Royalchk) on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 09:45 pm: Edit

Let's stop with the foolishness and tell an ignorant American with an offer from Cambridge how he can go about registering to sit STEP.

Please?

By Upandover (Upandover) on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 09:53 pm: Edit

Hiya, my friend who got Maths at Magdalene said that she will go to the British Council and ask them.... So, I guess you have to call up the British Council?

By Voigtrob (Voigtrob) on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 04:00 pm: Edit

Wooooo... I got a sweet offer from Lincoln College, Oxford (two fours on AP exams).

I can't even really consider going, though, if I don't find some sort of source of financial aid. Does anyone know anyplace an American should look in trying to find aid (esp scholarships). I think I really would want to go to grad school but for undergrad I may stay in the US, just cause of the expense. We could prolly pull off paying for it, but I'd prolly have to work 10-20 hours/week while there in addition to taking out a big loan. And that's no fun. But I'd love to be able to consider it... does anyone know of any places I should look for help?

By Voigtrob (Voigtrob) on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 04:01 pm: Edit

For physics, by the way.

By Voigtrob (Voigtrob) on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 04:01 pm: Edit

For physics, by the way.

By Royalchk (Royalchk) on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 05:13 pm: Edit

I don't know about Oxford, but I've applied for the Cambridge Overseas Trust, which is a large award that in the interests of my getting it I'd appreciate if other potential Cantabrigians did not bother to apply .

Seriously, a very thorough Google search is in order before you write off Oxford.

(Thanks for the British Council advice...)

By Expataznamerica (Expataznamerica) on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 07:50 pm: Edit

Law at Exeter, Oxford :-)