St Andrews - any point in applying if RUK

[dustybee]

My DS plans to study Geography (MA) and likes St Andrews. If you are RUK is there any point applying as it looks from TSR that people with perfect stats are rejected. He is predicted either 2 A and 1 A or 3 A for A levels, state school and has good gcses (8x9, 2 x8). He does not want to waste an application spot if there is very little chance. Any advice welcome!

Interesting about the rich Americans seemingly over represented in this specific prestige Uni compared to other prestige Unis - wonder if it is to do with Prince William attendance - or maybe they like golf?

Apparently Americans like the Hogwartsiness of it. It's very quaint.

DS has not sterling CAG GSCEs but good predicted A levels. Applied for geography - interviewed but didn't get into Cambridge. Got a lovely low (ABB) offer before Christmas from St A and is very happy there. The flexiblity fo the course suits him and I think after Covid having an extra year is good for him. He was told by school that sometimes St Andrews just like an application and give a low offer. I've no idea why - his PS was interesting but not relevant to applying for BSc because it was mostly about inequality (it was very clear where he lies politically). He in no way qualifies for widening participation.

I have no idea as I'm not an admissions tutor but I do think it's vital to have a coherent narrative to your PS. Ask your child to bear in mind that they're reading hundreds of them so you want to be able to 'get' the point as easily possible.

Also there are five slots on the UCAS form so I really think it's always worth giving places a slot/shot.

It it is worth looking on the student room website to see if any RUK got offers for the course your DC wants to do in the past few years. My DC applied last year but for the course he applied there were no RUK offers last year or the previous two years.

So worth a try if you are a strong candidate and likely to get other offers but it is very competitive especially for some very popular courses.

I think the foreign fees at St Andrews are about 30% of the tuition at an Ivy League college. The US system was based on the Scottish system, so four years for an undergraduate degree with flexibility to “change majors” and sample a range of courses to begin with is all very familiar as are semesters rather than three terms.

A flight to Edinburgh from the US East Coast is not that daunting. You can see how St Andrew’s would be an attractive option to Americans who are prepared to pay private tuition prices in the first place.

I'd say definitely apply! My DS got rejected from Cambridge and his two friends got accepted, he just got an offer from St A's and both his friends got rejected. All humanities subjects. It really does depend on personal statement, the number applying is huge compared to the number of places but it's worth a go.

We did a FOI request and they were really helpful - will tell you how many ruk applied and how many ruk offers. So for economics 22/23 there were 878 ruk applicants and 60 ruk offers (inc in joint course). We did this after she applied and may not have applied if we’d know tbis before tbh!! But she got an offer. You have five options so deffo worth a go if you like it. The flexibility of the course set-up sounds great as do the year abroad options.

DD applied to St Andrews (and Edinburgh). Got offers from both - in fact, they were the first two to offer. She applied in October, Edinburgh offered November, St Andrews December (on last morning of the term). She heard from her other options - two in January and one in March.

My youngest has just Firmed St Andrews as she was so impressed by last weekends Offer Holders Day. She’s gone with either Edinburgh or Bristol as her Insurance (which she preferred to Durham) as she was lucky enough to get 4 offers

Hope to see a few of you there come September drop off