Academic rigour at HYMPS (US) vs Oxbridge (UK)

[eggsbenedict23]

Hi,

Was briefly chatted about DS about UCAS and year 13. Has already signed for the TMUA and has finished the PS.

Speaking about US unis we saw that still for many (but not all) of HYMPS the SAT/ACT is optional. And we also saw the application deadline is early January. We are considering just trying an application to see what happens.

Did some googling. I know how these universities like breadth and well roundedness but now does the actual course compare?

I've read that the actual academics and studying are less academically rigorous? Is that true.

As in does a degree in Economics from Cambridge convey more economics knowledge than a Economics degree from Harvard/Stanford let's say?

@Lizzieregina I can’t seem to link here, but a search will bring up a number of institutions offering admission to UG + Medical School in America. Not a huge number, perhaps 20. All recognisable, some quite good. They mostly take 7 or 8 yrs though with a few finishing in 6. Then there is The University of Chicago Accelerated Medical Scholars Program which admits very strong final year students to Medical School early. There might be other examples like this.

I think the other type of dual degree is MD-PhD, sorry about that.

Our UK students are 21-22 years old the US ones are around 24.
They have all done two years post high school before starting their current course

You ate tantalising us, @fiftiesmum Age 24 is relatively old in the US to have only 2 yrs of post secondary education. Unless they’ve all done military service or something? Or come from disadvantaged backgrounds and had to complete substantial remediation?

@poetryandwine yes I’m familiar with the types of programs you’ve mentioned where you specify interest as an undergrad and if you meet rigorous requirements, they’ll admit you directly to their professional program in year 5. I don’t tend to think of them as direct admit programs though as they still take 4 + 4 years. I wasn’t aware that the U of Chicago did that for medical school. I’ve never heard of one with a 6 year program. That may be newer as my daughter considered medicine but couldn’t face the long educational requirements and did Dr of PT instead in an accelerated program.

I have heard of loads of MD/PhD programs though which you do concurrently. They take quite awhile to complete.

@fiftiesmum I'm quite surprised that you get so many American students that did 2 years post high school before going to college. It’s quite unusual. Most of them go at 18.

It sounds like you need to commit to some of the programs initially, @Lizzieregina . This is listed as a disadvantage.

Hofstra, U Missouri-KC are the only two listed as 6 yrs. Thos Jefferson and U Miami are 6–7 yrs. The others are 7 or 8 yrs. Chicago is not on the list so these may be the programs you must apply to initially, not accelerated type programs.