<p>I'm talking about going from the US to Europe/Canada/Asia, generally.</p>
<p>So I've been getting lots of emails (as has everyone ever, they're super annoying) and a lot have been from colleges in Canada and the UK.
I have to say, I'm interested.
UK universities seem to have more variety of majors, they are only three years, and are more specialized with no gen eds. Pricing is similar to US: Some are 40 k and up, like Oxford, some are around 30 k, like Kent, the same as my state schools (land grant schools)
Also, the UK universities offer 4 year MSc (equivalent of a masters of science). From my understanding, the reason these years are shaved off is because students in the UK go to a more specialized 'high school', and the A levels count for something...?
The only thing that would concern me is the ability to transfer the undergrad BSc (equivalent of bachelors of science) to US employers, graduate schools, and medical schools.</p>
In the US you have a decent chance of getting grants and scholarships so you don’t have to pay anywhere near that much, but outside the US (if you’re a US citizen) it’s a lot more likely that you’ll have to pay the full price.</p>
<p>Remember that admissions is different too. “Holistic admissions” is a fairly American thing, and AP test scores will matter (and may be required) if you’re applying to colleges outside the US. </p>
<p>My friend went to Goldsmith in London - she was deciding between UMass and the school in London - she could not be admitted until she passed all of her AP exams (which she found out about the summer after senior year) - her parents had to refinance their house to send her. She was an average student - 3.2 GPA, 1700 SAT, etc. Goldsmith required three “3s” for AP scores to be considered alongside her SAT.</p>
<p>Personally, I’d refrain from full out matriculating at a school in England or Europe in general; I can’t imagine the cost of living to be anywhere near affordable - and even today, American colleges are still regarded as the epitome of higher education - which is why the local community college near me gets so many international students from Japan, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea - because even though it’s a community college, there is still a lot of prestige associated around the world with attending an American college - never mind the chance to study at schools like Duke, UCLA, Harvard, etc. </p>
<p>Just do actual study abroad one semester of your college career. </p>
<p>The UK model is super – IF you know what you want to study and are ready to study that one subject for your whole college career. The courses are much more structured- fewer choices than most US colleges- and you effectively start in year 2 (hence the need for APs- Goldsmiths would be relatively easy requirements). If you go to a competitive college for your subject, you will have no trouble transferring back to the US- EXCEPT for med school, which want your prerequisites to be from a US or Canadian college. </p>
<p>On the hand, if you are more of an all-rounder, or aren’t very sure what you want to study, the US is a better bet for you.</p>
<p>As for costs, we currently have 1 in college in the US and one in the UK. The one in the UK is paying less per year- and the course is only 3 years- so the degree (even with flights home) will cost just over half what the US degree will. There are variations, of course, especially if you have a good state college option (we didn’t)That said, nobody should refinance their house for college! Even an ok college is better than a great college and a ton of debt- you can be the star at the ok college, and get a fantastic grad school. </p>
<p>Also, there are lot of reasons that people come to America to study- while I am a big admirer of the Community College system, it is not their stellar academics that attracts students. </p>
<p>@collegemom3717 - Oh, I don’t doubt the academic prowess of many European schools - many of which trumpet that of American schools - I was just talking (primarily) about cost because I just knew of my friend who had her family to refinance their house to choose Goldsmith over a full scholarship to UMass. I’m sure for many families, an education in Europe might be considerably cheaper than the grossly inflated cost of schools in America.</p>
<p>There are very few issues that arise in terms of matriculating at an American grad school from an overseas school (I believe that the Indian Institute of Technology is one of the largest represented undergraduate institutions at Harvard Business School, FWIW.) </p>
<p>Are you a student, @preamble1776? I’m just guessing @collegemom3717 isn’t
It’s normally around 4 or 5 AP’s at scores of 4 or 5, from what I can tell. Goldsmith does seem at the low end of the spectrum.</p>
<p>What do you know about employment and matriculation at grad schools or med schools after a degree elsewhere?
Anybody know anything about Canada?</p>
<p>Regarding life after college in the UK or Canada, I don’t see the problem with exploring life and working in the UK/Canada. If you do get into a top Canadian or UK college that you prefer over the US ones, don’t worry about life afterwards. Plenty of UK students go to UK colleges and work in UK afterwards.</p>
<p>In any case, other than APs, is there anything else we can do to prepare for overseas college application? (I’m going to try for the UK and Australia, as well as US)</p>
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