Choosing The Right College School Spotlight: University of St Andrews Written by Elyse Krantzon August 21st, 2018 I became interested in the college admissions process after serving as a student tour guide in the admissions office of my alma mater. After graduating, I accepted an admissions counseling position at Bennington College in Vermont where I evaluated applications and reviewed art portfolios from students across the country. Three years later, after pursuing my master's degree in New York City, I joined the admissions staff at Barnard College where I served as a senior admissions officer. At Barnard, I directed Long Island and Boston recruitment in addition to managing the College's alumnae interview program, coordinating admissions statistics, and editing various college publications. Having also served as an alumni interviewer for Dartmouth College and visited over 75 colleges, I feel especially well-equipped to help students prepare for admission interviews and campus tours. Learn More About Elyse choosing the right college, college lists, There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. And for some students, this includes schools beyond the U.S., too! As such, we are highlighting an international college this week in our School Spotlight series. School Spotlight: University of St Andrews Fife, Scotland, UK Founded in 1413 as Scotland’s first university, the University of St Andrews attracts students and faculty from 140 countries around the world. Approximately 8,800 students (at both the undergraduate and graduate level) call St Andrews and the small town of Fife their home. All first year students are guaranteed housing on campus, and one of the University’s many traditions matches first years with third and fourth year students, integrating them into an academic family. In addition to outstanding teaching, St Andrews is also known for its flexible degree structure. Like many universities in the US, St Andrews allows students to study several subjects their first two years before concentrating on a single course of study for the remaining two. However, thanks to the University’s joint honors programs, it’s easy to specialize in two or more academic fields. Biology students, for example, can pursue a joint honors degree in fields ranging from geography to psychology. Over half of students participate in some form of athletics at St Andrews. The University features 100 competitive sports teams and more than 50 club sports, ranging from badminton and croquet to mountaineering and windsurfing. What’s new at St Andrews? In 2019 the University will unveil a brand new Music Center, featuring a recital hall, piano practice rooms that are open 24/7, recording studios, a library, and group rehearsal rooms. Good to know: students can apply to St Andrews through the Common Application, the UCAS application, or using St Andrews’ direct application. Image Credit: Top, Courtesy University of St Andrews Related Resources Read | Posted on November 12th, 2024 Unlocking College Admissions: The Power of the Common Data Set Read | Posted on October 3rd, 2024 Does Where You Go To College Matter? Read | Posted on July 30th, 2024 Colleges with Farms and So Much More