Is St Andrews elite or elitist?

August 30, 2009
By Jessica Cook

Members of the Kate Kennedy Club (dressed like idiots)

Members of the Kate Kennedy Club (dressed like idiots)

’19 YEAR OLD GRADUATED ETONIAN SEEKS social, intellectual and aesthetic equal. Must be pashmina clad, preferably adorning worn ballet pumps, Jack Wills tracksuit bottoms and in possession of a public school education?’

Is The University of St Andrews elite or elitist? Having been labelled last year the 3rd best university in the UK by The Guardian and the 4th by The Times Good University guide does its reputation as academically elite extend to its admissions policy?

The university has previously been accused of being elitist due to its poor record for admitting state school students. The university was adamant that it selects its student on the basis of their academic excellence, irrelevant of their educational background.

We are then faced with the dilemma of whether a university should favor state school applicants with lower grades over private school students with superior marks. In 2004 the Government was commanded to “take its tanks off Oxford’s lawns” when it threatened to apply financial penalties if Oxford university if it did not increase state school admissions. Although St Andrews has never received this ultimatum, having been attended by Prince William only a few years ago, it faces harsh criticism over its large percentage of private school students.

The Kate Kennedy club, does nothing to defend this reputation of elitism, similar to the Cambridge University Pitt club this group is ‘penises only’ and is selective in its membership. The University withdrew its recognition of the club earlier this year in an attempt by the female principal to stamp out elitism. Despite their reputation the Kate Kennedy does many productive things for the town, it holds many of the university balls, and regularly gives money to charity.

In practice St Andrews has its fair share of social cliques, nights out are split between social circles and house parties are not unknown to have bouncers at their doors. More common than not, student irrelevant of their background will be clad in the ‘fabulously British’ brand Jack Wills and drunken insults are reduced to ‘Do you know who I am?!’

Although without the openness of the Leeds art student who searched for the perfect husband as part of her art project, St Andrews has previously been coined ‘the English girls finishing school’ and boats the highest intermarriage rates of any university in the UK, its student pairing off with the symmetry of Noah’s Ark and going on to marry in selective St Andrews venues such as St Salvador’s chapel.

What do you think? Is St Andrews just a place for Rahs to meet, marry and then breed? Or is such a viewpoint simply boring old class warfare?

Bookmark and Share

Related posts:

  1. Students at St Andrews in KKK shame – well, Kate Kennedy…err…Klub
  2. Teacher charged with attempted murder
  3. It’s time we gave up the lazy clichés and appreciated the Boat Race

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.

2,017 Responses to “ Is St Andrews elite or elitist? ”

  1. Adriane Precourt on February 10, 2011 at 10:44 pm

    You spoke about several curious points in this posting. I found this article by using Google and I must admit that I am now subscribed to the blog site, it is extremely good :)

  2. grzybica on March 25, 2011 at 2:14 pm

    Excellent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely excellent. I actually like what you have acquired here, really like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it sensible. I can not wait to read much more from you. This is really a great web site.

  3. Ellis Grana on April 9, 2011 at 5:55 pm

    Usually I don’t read article on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing style has been amazed me. Thanks, quite nice article.

  4. Oswaldo Cieszynski on April 10, 2011 at 11:00 am

    Your style is very distinctive in comparison with many other people out there. Appreciate posting when you’ve got the opportunity.

  5. Santiago Zsohar on April 16, 2011 at 3:54 pm

    Yeah bookmaking this wasn’t a bad determination outstanding post! .

  6. Judith Salehi on April 16, 2011 at 3:58 pm

    Exactly what I was searching for, appreciate it for putting up.

  7. Amado Mestanza on April 16, 2011 at 3:58 pm

    But a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw outstanding style .

  8. Zana Dietel on April 16, 2011 at 4:00 pm

    Great post, I conceive people should larn a lot from this web blog its really user genial .

  9. Leigh Osterhout on April 16, 2011 at 4:00 pm

    I believe other website owners should take this website as an example , very clean and superb user friendly layout.

  10. Eleanora Girvan on April 16, 2011 at 4:00 pm

    I adore gathering utile information , this post has got me even more info! .

  11. Norman Klouda on April 16, 2011 at 4:03 pm

    Very nice style and fantastic subject matter, hardly anything else we want : D.

  12. Vera Waszmer on April 16, 2011 at 4:03 pm

    Some genuinely choice posts on this site, bookmarked .

  13. Damion Macky on April 16, 2011 at 4:06 pm

    Only wanna remark on few general things, The website design is perfect, the subject material is real fantastic : D.

  14. Edwin Mohseni on April 16, 2011 at 4:06 pm

    I like this weblog its a master peace ! Glad I noticed this on google .

  15. seguro online on April 21, 2011 at 6:54 pm

    Was hunting on several instructions on this topic and i need to confess your tactic could be the one that tends to make much more sense to me. thanks for sharing

  16. star academy 6 lbc prime 13 on April 25, 2011 at 11:38 am

    Gracias de todos los otros grandes excelentes mensaje. El lugar else puede nadie tipo de información info a de tal perfecta enfoque forma de escribir? He siguiente semana y I am a búsqueda de información tal información.

  17. po?yczki pozabankowe on April 26, 2011 at 10:14 pm

    I love your texts very much. That is why I like to use them in my work, if it is ok for you. I am interesting in that topic, and I need you help. Please, say YES. I warmly thank you.

  18. motherfucker iorga eugeniu laurentiu on April 26, 2011 at 11:37 pm

    Eugeniu Laurentiu Iorga Str. Uioara, Nr. 1A, Bl. 1v-1c, Sc. 2, Ap. 66, Bucuresti,041011,Romania is a Scam a liar and a fraud +40.0761802854, iorga.laurentiu@yahoo.com, peshtishor_xxx@yahoo.com

  19. studia w gdynii on May 13, 2011 at 2:15 am

    What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It positively useful and it has helped me out loads. I hope to contribute & assist other users like its helped me. Great job.

  20. Black License Plate on May 18, 2011 at 4:02 pm

    The layout for your website is a bit off in Chrome. All The Same I like your website. I may have to install a “normal” browser just to enjoy it. :)

  21. Bruce Tadiello on May 19, 2011 at 11:44 am

    I am testing something new out that you might be interested. If you don’t care about making money with your blog then please just ignore this. With this tool, you can instantly see which keyword phrases are less competitive but still highly searched. Getting top search rankings will give you lots of traffic to your blog. Then you just have to monetize that traffic. Just create a post like you normally would but when you type in your headline, the software will give you suggestions for search terms that could be better for your rankings. It is all done semi-automatically so you can just write your posts as usual and select the search terms that you want to rank for. All of the keyword suggestions are color coded, according to how competetive they are. You can keep drilling down to the less competetive words so that your post will rank higher. If you are an affiliate marketer then this could be just what you need to skyrocket your response rates. Check it Out -> http://adf.ly/1WI2X

  22. Jake Sheekey on May 19, 2011 at 11:40 pm

    Thanks very quite considerably, inside the finish, following long days and even weeks of searching, I discovered some thing really worth interest. Yours!!

  23. Apartament Warszawa on May 22, 2011 at 6:58 am

    aught righteous ideas, benediction

  24. Nicky Clarno on May 22, 2011 at 11:49 pm

    Howdy webmaster. I do think this may be interesting to your site.

  25. bar supplies on May 23, 2011 at 3:11 am

    You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I find this matter to be really something which I believe I would never understand. It kind of feels too complex and extremely wide for me. I am having a look ahead to your subsequent post, I’ll try to get the dangle of it!

  26. Michel Baures on May 24, 2011 at 12:11 am

    Hello there website owner. I do think this may be interesting to yourself.

  27. bar supplies on May 25, 2011 at 4:20 pm

    certainly like your website but you need to test the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very troublesome to inform the truth then again I will surely come back again.

  28. Rob Rasner Blog on May 29, 2011 at 11:11 am

    Just learned this great site Is St Andrews elite or elitist? | Lazy Students by using Search engines, what a pleasant surprise… In addition how about Tunisia amazing information… Salam Rob Rasner Blog

  29. startn on May 30, 2011 at 5:25 am

    Wow,Fantastic article,it’s so helpful to me,and your blog is very good,I’ve learned a lot from your blog here,Keep on going,my friend,I will keep an eye on it,One more thing,thanks for your post!welcome to [url Reply

  30. cuckold on June 2, 2011 at 6:45 am

    It’s the best time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I’ve learn this submit and if I could I desire to counsel you some attention-grabbing things or suggestions. Maybe you can write next articles regarding this article. I want to read more issues approximately it!

  31. Marcos Rotert on June 9, 2011 at 5:08 am

    I could spend hours reading your messages, keep up the good work

  32. Zachary Booton on June 9, 2011 at 10:09 pm

    This design is incredible! You most certainly know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!

  33. Los Angeles ceramic floor tile on June 10, 2011 at 2:40 am

    Excellent post. I’ve saved it undoubtedly.

  34. Kristopher Bluhm on June 21, 2011 at 2:53 pm

    56. Hey very nice site!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your site and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find numerous useful info here in the post, we need develop more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  35. Swarovski Earrings Sale on June 22, 2011 at 1:07 pm

    Hi there, I honestly like reading your posts, hold responsible you!

  36. Edwina Keir on June 25, 2011 at 2:20 am

    Thanks.

  37. musical vintage watches on July 1, 2011 at 1:49 am

    Restoration amounts to wanton destruction of heritage.

  38. wholesale Nordiques jerseys on July 3, 2011 at 10:49 am

    Hi there I am wondering if I can hate this article on entire of my blogs if I link endorse to you? Thanks!

  39. red corset on July 4, 2011 at 5:14 am

    I have to express my passion for your kindness for individuals who must have help on in this matter. Your personal commitment to getting the solution up and down appeared to be amazingly insightful and has all the time allowed guys just like me to realize their targets. This informative tips and hints signifies much a person like me and additionally to my office colleagues. With thanks; from all of us.

  40. lcd fernseher 26 zoll mit dvd player on July 4, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Hey very nice website!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your website and take the feeds also…I am happy to find a lot of useful info here in the post, we need work out more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  41. Gennie Suns on July 6, 2011 at 3:36 am

    I like to repress out of the closet your blog a several times a week also in behalf of restored readings. I was wondering if you beget any other topics you write about?

  42. u de chile on July 7, 2011 at 7:09 am

    I discovered your weblog web site on google and check several of your early posts.Continue to keep up the extremely excellent operate.I just extra up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader.Seeking forward to reading much more from you later on!?-

  43. Sena Minihane on July 10, 2011 at 8:06 pm

    I was looking through some of your content on this internet site and I conceive this web site is rattling instructive! Continue putting up.

  44. Lizabeth Schellenberg on July 10, 2011 at 8:06 pm

    I went over this website and I think you have a lot of excellent information, saved to favorites (:.

  45. 2001 volvo acc concept on July 14, 2011 at 4:00 am

    I genuinely wish I hadn???t observed this as I truly want one now!

  46. Sklep Muzyczny on July 15, 2011 at 5:23 am

    Thanks , I have just been searching for info about this topic for ages and yours is the greatest I’ve discovered so far. But, what about the bottom line? Are you sure about the source?

  47. Leota Bonnifield on July 15, 2011 at 6:03 am

    Usually I don’t read post on blogs, but I wish to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, quite nice article.

  48. Finca Lerida on July 16, 2011 at 4:17 am

    The Giants lineup for May 16th..1978

  49. coffee clip art on July 16, 2011 at 6:15 am

    Oh my goodness! an remarkable article dude.Thank you Even so I’m experiencing issue with ur rss .Do not know why Unable to subscribe to it.Is there anybody getting identical rss issue? Anybody who knows kindly respond.Thnkx

  50. Sklep Muzyczny on July 16, 2011 at 11:00 am

    Hello my friend! I wish to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include approximately all important infos. I’d like to see more posts like this .

Leave a Reply