Universities in Chicago and Oxford fight it out to land talented teenager

9:51am Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Haydn Lewis, haydn.lewis@thepress.co.uk

Huntington School pupil Luke Charters-Reid, 17, who has gained a scholarship to the University of Chicago Huntington School pupil Luke Charters-Reid, 17, who has gained a scholarship to the University of Chicago

TALENTED teenager Luke Charters-Reid has the world at his feet.

At the age of 17, the Huntington School sixth-former has two of the world’s top universities offering him a place.

Luke, of Haxby, has been given an unconditional offer to study in America at the University of Chicago along with a scholarship of more than a quarter of a million dollars to help cover the expenses for his four-year course, but he has also been offered a place at Mansfield College, Oxford, to study politics, philosophy and economics.

The teenager, who wants to become a politician and who introduced Ed Miliband on stage after he was elected as Labour leader, said he was caught in a dilemma between going to Oxford or studying in the USA.

Luke said: “It’s a really hard decision to make. I originally wanted to do PPE (politics, philosophy and economics) at Oxford and applied to the U.S. as a Plan B, but I didn’t know then what the offer would be and I am waiting to hear back from Harvard at the moment. I am just completely chuffed at the moment. I really still haven’t decided and one day I think it should be Oxford and the next, Chicago.”

Luke’s application to study in America was put together with the aid of the Sutton Trust, which helps state school students with their applications to top universities. He also attended a summer school in the U.S.

His head teacher, John Tomsett, said he was immensely proud of Luke. He said: “Beyond being a highly talented young man, Luke has always worked tirelessly; he is one of the most determined students I have ever encountered in my 25-year career.

“He commits himself to every initiative he undertakes and shows real grit when he meets with difficulties. Of anyone I have taught, Luke deserves to be successful. This is a life-changing opportunity for him.”

Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust, said: “I congratulate Luke on his tremendous achievement. I am sure he will gain greatly from his American university experience. Our summer schools offer a fantastic opportunity for some of our brightest young people to get a taste of life on campus at some of Britain’s and America’s greatest universities.”


How the cities compare

Chicago
Population: 2.7 million
Industry: Boeing, Kraft Foods
Crime: 435 homicides (2010)
University of Chicago Alumni: novelist Philip Roth
Twinned with Birmingham

Oxford
Population: 150,200
Industry: Mini car plant, Oxford University
Crime: 1,167 violent crimes (2012)
Mansfield College Alumni: philosopher Pamela Sue Anderson
Twinned with Perm, Russia

Comments(15)

jorvik says...
9:55am Tue 22 Jan 13

Just what we need,another posh rich left wing liberal who will claim to be from a poor working class family whilst attending the elite colleges perusing the left wing agenda which has ruined this country

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ReginaldBiscuit says...
10:13am Tue 22 Jan 13

jorvik wrote:
Just what we need,another posh rich left wing liberal who will claim to be from a poor working class family whilst attending the elite colleges perusing the left wing agenda which has ruined this country
Stop those negative waves man.

Spoilt for choice. What a great position to be in! The only thing I can say apart from querying Hadyn's selective choice of statistics (there are many others he could have supplied and at least two of those statistics will affect the narrow-minded such as jorvik) is if I had my time again and could choose between two great universities to study at, I would choose the one in another country. Success and academic ability are more highly prized and regarded in a country such as America. A quarter-million dollar scholarship can't be turned down either. It'll mean quite a comfortable existence as well and should pay for study materials and the odd shandy. Yes, Oxford is a prestigious university but it isn't the guarantee of a job/career it once was. Besides, the US is sitting on top of a massive shale boom and the UK is, well, just sitting on top of people, a mountain of debt and an extremely uncertain future.

Good luck to you Luke. The world needs bright people like you to move forward successfully. Whatever your choice, eyes down, work hard, apply yourself and may the force be with you.

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Ignatius Lumpopo says...
10:37am Tue 22 Jan 13

A difficult decision. However, if I was a red-blooded seventeen year-old, my mind would be made up by looking at the small print in the comparative details.

Pamela Anderson - at Oxford? Phwoar! I didn't realise she was a philosopher but she makes the choice a no-brainer...

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R'Marcus says...
10:46am Tue 22 Jan 13

Which "Chicago university"? There are several in the city!

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Sawday2 says...
12:10pm Tue 22 Jan 13

jorvik wrote:
Just what we need,another posh rich left wing liberal who will claim to be from a poor working class family whilst attending the elite colleges perusing the left wing agenda which has ruined this country
Jorvik - you really are a tit.

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CHISSY1 says...
12:13pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Sawday2 wrote:
jorvik wrote:
Just what we need,another posh rich left wing liberal who will claim to be from a poor working class family whilst attending the elite colleges perusing the left wing agenda which has ruined this country
Jorvik - you really are a tit.
"I protest,he is not a tit,they serve a useful purpose.And good luck to the lad,hard work has got him there".

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twotonethomas says...
12:34pm Tue 22 Jan 13

jorvik wrote:
Just what we need,another posh rich left wing liberal who will claim to be from a poor working class family whilst attending the elite colleges perusing the left wing agenda which has ruined this country
Don't you just love the right w(h)ingers and their politics of envy.

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Buzz Light-year says...
12:47pm Tue 22 Jan 13

jorvik wrote:
Just what we need,another posh rich left wing liberal who will claim to be from a poor working class family whilst attending the elite colleges perusing the left wing agenda which has ruined this country
What an total w4nker you are.
Just another whiner massively twisted by political bias always carping on about the council.


Politics aside.
Well done that lad!
Not everyone with talent puts the effort in to make something of it. Credit where it's due.

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JHardacre says...
2:40pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Brilliant news Luke. Just shows that ability + extremely hard work can give you an unbelievable life choice. Whatever you decide I hope that all turns out well for you.

BTW just ignore that ignoramus Jorvik - the chip on his shoulder must be really weighing him down.

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Garrowby Turnoff says...
5:14pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Well done Luke!

No brainer.. Oxford for me...

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chrisbrown8370 says...
7:50pm Tue 22 Jan 13

R'Marcus wrote:
Which "Chicago university"? There are several in the city!
The University of Chicago!! It does say this in the news report.

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Micklegate says...
8:31pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Good news for him, well done to him, I wish him every success. It's a good scholarship but that apart it's ridiculous as a story, hundreds from York get university offers every year, shall we have a feature on them? Or is it just those going to Oxbridge/the US? if so it will still be dozens. As I say, good for him but this paper just gets worse.

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expubcrawler says...
8:47pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Chicago is a fantastic city.
Just saying.

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expubcrawler says...
8:50pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Chicago is a fantastic city.
Just saying.

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expubcrawler says...
8:51pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Didn't mean to post it twice. - Sorry!

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