<p>Hi, I'm an American student considering attaining a degree abroad in the UK (not sure where, but at the moment, my top choice would be University of Edinburgh). I have also considered just doing a single year abroad, and attaining a degree from an American uni. What are the pros and cons of each? If anyone has any personal experiences with the topic, sharing them would be very helpful and much appreciated! :)</p>
<p>I teach at a university in England and think the experiences are rather different. The American students we have doing a full degree with us tend to be doing it, because they wanted the British style of specialised university education rather than the US liberal arts model. Also for those who are unlikely to get much financial aid in the US, it’s supposedly less expensive. Admittedly, Edinburgh lets you do three subjects for the first two years so is a bit different, but on the whole, you spend a lot of time with the people in your year doing a particular course, as you all take the compulsory classes together, so you get to know each other well, so make close friends. You also have the chance to get used to a very different educational system as the first year rarely counts to your final degree grade. The downside is that it’s a massive step to go and spend 3-4 years in a foreign country. It’s definitely not for everyone. When I think about it the Americans doing a full degree with us tend to have travelled and lived abroad because of their parents’ jobs.
Doing a year abroad is different. American colleges tend to send quite a few people from the same college together, so you go with friends or at least acquaintances. They also tend to organise programmes of activities like sightseeing trips. There may even be an on-site coordinator to go to with any problems. The US seems to be the only country that does this highly organised study abroad system, but it does allow their students to have a ‘safe’ taste of study abroad. (I cannot believe how much our US partner colleges charge their students in addition to our tuition and housing charges though). The US students who spend a year with us tend to be studying a very odd mix of subjects, so it’s a bit harder to make friends in class, as you see the same people less often, but it’s definitely possible to get to know British students through joining clubs and societies.
Really I suppose it depends on why you want to spend time in the UK and whether the educational system would suit you better than in the US.</p>
<p>Bewildered is exactly right: if you are ready to specialize, British universities are a better deal. My daughter will go in the UK, and even with the rise in tuition, we calculate it will cost 1/4 what it would at comparable institutions in the US. She has picked her field of specialization, though in some ways I regret that she will not go for the liberal arts education. A single year abroad is fine, but not very deep as an experience of another culture. Of course, that is best if you learn another language.</p>
<p>Thanks for the detailed replies! They definitely give me some new aspects to consider that I hadn’t considered before!</p>