This past year, the Ivy League has seen some of the lowest acceptance rates in history, with Harvard’s admit rate hovering around 3.5%. Meanwhile, Oxford and Cambridge have seen their acceptance rates remain around 20%, despite being, well, Oxford and Cambridge (or, as they are commonly called in concert, Oxbridge).
However, the UK’s top two universities are a different world than what you’d find in the US. Here are a few basic questions worth asking to figure out if your child may be interested in studying at Oxbridge.
Are you passionate about your field of study?
No place in the United States is going to let your child pursue their field of study in as much depth as a typical British university, and few British universities are going to go as in-depth as Oxbridge.
Before you come at me in the comments, it’s just math: In the US, one might spend anywhere from 30-60 credit hours in their field of study, so about 1-2 years of study. In the UK, one spends the vast majority of their time, upwards of 90% of your courses.
Meanwhile, at Oxbridge, the reading-intensive curriculum, combined with the tutorial system, means that you’re going even more in-depth.
Verdict: If your child really likes what they want to study, consider Oxbridge. Otherwise, it’s probably not the best option.
Are Your Extracurriculars the Strongest Part of Your Application?
In the UK, as well as much of the rest of the world, no one cares about extracurricular activities. The only exception is if it is directly related to what your child wants to study; if they worked in a lab and want to study chemistry, that’s relevant. No one cares about their tennis record.
The fact that sports don’t matter really seems to shock some people; I’ve had enough angry conversations with parents who think that their child’s soccer skills should earn them a Cambridge scholarship.
Instead, Oxbridge only cares about interest in a subject as demonstrated through your child’s spare time. But how do you demonstrate that interest, you may ask. Extracurriculars are a great way to do so, but also being able to intelligently discuss (in writing) relevant scholarship in a field.
For example, is your child interested in applying for an international relations angle on PPE at Oxford? Then they might want to be prepared to discuss Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations (and be prepared to be disagreed with, no matter what they think).
Verdict: If your child thinks their ECs aren’t good enough for top universities in the US, look to Oxbridge. They literally couldn’t care less, unless it’s related to your degree.
What Do You Want to Do Outside of Class?
Social life at Oxbridge is quite different from top universities in the US. Foremost, Greek life isn’t a thing, and college football and basketball don’t exist. However, Oxbridge has a ton of traditions and social opportunities, revolving around your child’s College, any societies they join, and the annual sports events held between Oxford and Cambridge. Also, while opinions are mixed, plenty of people I’ve worked with love Formal Hall dinners, which many compare to something out of Harry Potter (but with really great food).
University-level sports is starting to take off in the UK, but about the same level as a club team at a LAC right now; that said, if that’s their thing, it’s worth considering.
Instead, due to term times being relatively short at Oxbridge, your child will be expected to work hard and play hard. These are academically demanding places, and the grade inflation you see at practically every American university is less obvious (it’s still there – most everyone gets either a 1st or a 2:1, which is roughly the equivalent of a 3.3 or higher). The tradeoff is that they will have plenty of time for travel, research, or internships away from either Oxford or Cambridge.
Verdict: Tailgating is best done on this side of the Atlantic, but if the thought of a great three course meal for eight bucks sounds great, then consider Oxbridge.
How Much Are You Willing to Spend?
This one is pretty straightforward. Top universities in the US are pretty generous with their financial aid. Oxford and Cambridge offer next to nothing to Americans. Yes, there are some ways around this (if your child is a gifted organist, you’re in luck!). However, if you’re trying to spend or borrow less than $180,000, then you’re probably going to want to stay stateside. (For what it’s worth, we reckon about $135,000 for tuition at most other universities in the UK for the full three year degree).
If, on the other hand, your family isn’t eligible for financial aid and you’re not expecting much in the way of merit aid, then it can make sense to go to Oxbridge. They are the two most expensive universities in the UK (outside of some medical schools), but the return on investment of going to either of them is higher than just about any place else on the planet. Also, there are ways to use federal student loans to pay for 90% of the costs, but I’d only recommend them in a handful of cases.
Verdict: If you’re already looking at spending more than $180,000, there’s no reason to rule out Oxbridge. If you’re looking at a lot of financial aid, you might want to reconsider Oxbridge when you are looking for a graduate degree (which allows you to leverage federal loans better).