Hello College Confidential,
At the moment I am making plans to attend a foreign university (France or UK.) I’d like to go to France because of the language immersion but the UK has some great programs. After looking around I read someones experience with receiving a French degree, he had to go back to school in the US. Now he says this was a while ago. But it has me thinking how transferable a foreign degree would be in the US job market. I actually would like to stay in France after university but I always need to be able to come back.
I am currently an English major in community college, most likely changing my major to Hospitality, Global Studies or another Language.
Can I get anyone’s experience with receiving a foreign degree?
Lots of variables - what subject the degree is in, what university, how good your grades are, work experience/internships, what field of job you’re going into.
For some degrees, where you get the degree from matters a lot. For others, it doesn’t. Country of degree is particularly important for licensed occupations (think medicine, civil engineering, teaching). It also matters for degrees where the curriculum differs by country (think law or business).
For hospitality management specifically, I would recommend that you to study that in the country you intend to live in afterwards. (And if you are not a citizen of that country, make sure that there’s a viable legal path for you to immigrate and settle there.) So much of the content of the degree will be specific to the laws and culture of that country.
I’m trying to decide on a degree either a language, hospitality or international relations in France or the United Kingdom (most likely France because I am studying the language.)
Have you been admitted? If so, in what programs and schools?
Since French is your language, have you looked into any programs of study offered at McGill University in Canada. I do know that McGill language of instruction is English, but French is widely used in Montreal. I suggest this because McGill degrees are recognized & accepted in the US.
I have looked at McGill, also UBC, and Concordia university.
I will be applying in the Fall, I am trying to make a list of schools right now. I have a counselor appointment on the first but I wanted to be prepared
Let’s talk about some of the practical challenges faced by people who want to relocate to the US from Europe.
Most US employers don’t want to interview applicants who are physically residing overseas. Therefore, it’s typical to move to the US first and then do one’s job search more locally. Alas, that involves a period of unemployment and uncertainty. Another commonly-encountered problem is that European credentials often don’t line up with the expectations of employers here. (For example, many European countries utilize written letters of recommendation for former employees; American employers expect phone numbers of references who they can call.)
Many immigrants find that their first job in the US is one or two steps down from their last job abroad, simply because US employers seem to be more skeptical of applicants with an unfamiliar work and education history.
I would expect the transition back to the US to be particularly difficult if you want to return straight after university abroad:
- The best time to apply for entry-level jobs would be during your last year in college, and it may be difficult (both time-wise and money-wise) to make several trips between Europe and the US for interviews.
- US employers often ask for transcripts for entry-level positions, and may struggle with transcripts not written in English.
- Many entry-level jobs in the US are filled via university-based recruiting events, alumni networks and internship programs. You'd be locked out of that entire machinery by pursuing your degree abroad.
For most young adult Americans, a semester or year abroad makes more sense than pursuing an entire degree abroad.
On the flip side, there’s also niche markets for bi-lingual professionals in the US, where your foreign degree might be an asset. Certainly in hospitality customer service positions. (Not sure about hospitality management.) But also other professionals that travelers and immigrants rely on, such as doctors, lawyers, accountants and translators.
I am considering the American University of Paris because it would be a little easier to get recognition. At this time I think a masters degree might be a good idea instead of going for a bachelors.
Have you thought about what major you might study at the American University of Paris?
It’s a tiny university and more than half of their students study business, economics, journalism or communications. You may feel most comfortable there if you want to pursue something in that same realm.
One thing I would investigate is their retention rate of 69%. That’s rather low for a selective university. I don’t know what’s happening, but something must be going wrong when almost one third of their freshman students decide not to return for their sophomore year.
Just to emphasize how tiny the university is: Foothill College has 16,000 students. The American University of Paris has less than 1,000. You’ll find nowhere near the breath of courses that you are currently used to, which is why it’s important to verify that your interests align with the opportunities that are available.
I’m still deciding on a major, currently I am an English major but I have been looking into Global Studies, International Business and Theatre minor. I don’t have a problem with the size, my first hs had that many students so no big deal.
College is different from high school because you can largely design your own program of study. But only if the university is large enough that you actually have options.
If you study Global Studies in a large department with 20 professors, you can choose your concentration. Do you want to focus on Europe? Asia? Africa? Global Environmental Policy? Economic and Social Development? Politics and War?
If you study Global Studies in a small department with 2 professors, you won’t have the option to build a concentration. You’ll just have to take whatever courses are offered. If you happen to dislike 1 of the 2 professors, too bad - you’ll be taking half of your courses with them anyway.
I went to a small college too. I intended to major in computer science, in a department that had exactly 2 computer science professors. I hated one of them with a passion. As luck had it, this one professor I hated always taught exactly the course(s) I had to take each semester to stay on track for my major. After 3 semesters of torture, I decided to drop the major because I could not stand the thought of taking yet another class with the same instructor.
Had I attended a larger university, I would have most likely finished my computer science major. And I would most likely be collecting a bigger paycheck today… Size matters.
American University of Paris is known as a school for rich kids who couldn’t get into a better school.
For hospitality, there are programs such as Vatel Bordeaux or the Joël Robuchon school, whixh are in English, plus programs called BTS which are free, some with co-ops, but in French. Before BTS you can get Cap and bac pro, two professional programs.
See if you can find 3-year cégep programs in hospitality in Quebec ?
I agree with MYOS… American University of Paris does not have a good reputation in France, or in the US (that is, among employers and academics who know about it; most won’t.) This parent would never pay tuition for AUP… but would gladly spend money on any public option in France, if that is what my child wanted.
I may still apply to the school but I do intend to apply to a few French universities. I already have a few in mind. I have to decide if I will be taking the French exam for university admission this fall or doing a year at the Alliance Francaise in France first.
Aren’t you also thinking of applying to Liberty?
Just so you know, France is secular. Public expressions of faith are frowned upon. If you wear a cross necklace it must be hidden while in school. Many consider themselves atheists. To give you an idea, the least religious US state (Vermont) is still twice more religious than France in terms of church going or beliefs.
What you want to study isn’t offered in universities but in BTS programs or at the specialized schools I listed.
http://lycee-hotelier.fr/
http://www.lycee-saintmichel33.com/fr/hotellerie/
http://www.lycee-kyoto.eu/_site/index.php
http://www.lycee-hotelier-biarritz.com/
http://institut-international-joel-robuchon.com/home/
https://www.vatel.fr/en/campus/campus-bordeaux/bachelor-s-degree
I am considering Christian colleges and French Universities.
I understand the confusion.
Deciding between the two options might be difficult in the end. I don’t wear a cross and although my faith is important to me. It isn’t something that I express with others except when I go to church Saturday and Sunday.
I know how not to push my views on others and feel that it would affect the life I would make in France. In the case that I am able to go.