It’s the nightmare of every high school senior: You applied to Harvard, MIT, and the University of Chicago, and now your only plans for the fall are extra shifts at the local Starbucks. But as FP's Charles Kenny writes, before you send Mom and Dad to the poor house for the $40,000 per year tuition at a middle-tier U.S. school, broaden your horizons to some of the world’s best bastions of higher learning -- available for a fraction of the price. Why languish in Comp. Lit. 101 at a university that doesn’t thrill you when you could be roaming the halls of the Harvard of Hong Kong? Here are some of the best schools abroad, tailored to whatever clique you belonged to in high school.
The All-Around All-Stars
University of Hong Kong: As the territory's oldest university, HKU has more than 20,500 students from 80 different countries, and over 45 percent of the staff comes from leading universities overseas. Ranked above renowned American universities like George Washington and Notre Dame at a fraction of the price, HKU’s students tend to end up in the upper echelons of their chosen field. Almost 80 percent of its undergrads and 85 percent of its post-graduates are employed within a year of graduating -- figures that should make many U.S. university deans green with envy.
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The Next Alan Greenspans
University of Melbourne: The University of Melbourne is consistently listed at the top of world rankings. Its staff includes a prestigious roster of international scholars, and its location and international focus gives its graduates access to emerging Asian markets and industries. Recently, the university's research programs have partnered with IBM to create a new development lab that will allow it to develop better responses to natural disasters.
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The Free-Thinkers
University of Cape Town: Let’s say you want a school that nurtures creativity, allows you to design your own majors, and gives you the freedom to pursue your own interests -- but don’t have the GPA to get into some of New England’s more free-wheeling liberal arts colleges. South Africa's University of Cape Town, where "each person contributes their unique blend of knowledge and thinking," may be the place for you.
With students from more than 100 countries, Cape Town keeps an emphasis on social engagement and democratic citizenship. UCT has a leading African Climate and Development Initiative that focuses on building research capacity in Africa, as well as numerous student-led activist groups. It also apparently boasts quality local wine and views of the picturesque Table Mountain.
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