Hi Everyone,
I am an international student that has been accepted to Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center and to the Business Management program at King’s College in London. In the moment I’m thinking in between the two. Any tips in terms of what to consider would be appreciated! I’m most interested in opportunities after graduation, social life, as well as general campus feel (I’m guessing people on here would know more about Fordham, as this is a US-based site).
Thanks,
What is your citizenship?
The UK system is shorter: three years for undergrad instead of four in the U.S. This is because there is less (or no) emphasis on what occurs at nearly every US post-secondary institution: spending the first two years sampling a broad range of classes and then deciding on a major at the end of one’s second year. Instead, students in the UK are expected to know what they want to study and “hit the ground running” (an expression in English). There is less hand-holding, less daily work, and there is more emphasis on preparing (reading) for exams. The UK education should also be cheaper.
In terms of social life, education in the UK will not be what you see in American movies that show American campus life. For instance, American undergrads often wear tee-shirts and jerseys that boast their school’s name. This is practically unheard of outside the US. In general, the whole “school spirt” thing is much more intense in the US. Don’t get me wrong. Students in the UK and elsewhere outside the US will socialize, head out to drink, and band together to study, but there’s a stronger sense of independence. My ex-wife went to the University of Barcelona, which is very much a city school, despite its centuries-old age (the whole idea of campus life is also lesser at many schools outside the US); students rent an apartment, attend classes, and overall start living a quasi-adult life.
It depends what you are most interested in. That is a banal statement, but there it is! The two systems aren’t radically different, but they are different enough that you should know where you want to study. You might also consider where you ultimately want to live and work. Some international students study in the UK because UK schools are better regarded (or the UK itself is better regarded). Other international students study in the US because US schools (any US school) have prestige back in their home countries.
Thanks for the quick responses. I am Italian by citizenship, but since I live outside the EU, I still have to pay the overseas fee for the UK. In terms of the student environment, I am more inclined to the UK system, since I consider myself to be independent, but the US school (Fordham) seems to offer more opportunities, especially with regard to internships, even though it doesn’t have the brand status of KCL. Anyway, thanks again for the tips!
I think you have a good understanding of the differences.
The biggest academic difference is whether you want some general education along with your major subject (US) or not (UK). That’s such a major factor in your experience that I think it should be the first question you answer and it should probably play the biggest role in your decision.
I would say the biggest academic difference (which I see as style rather than content) is between high stakes testing at the end of the year (in most UK universities) and continuous assessment where finals are a modest percentage of the grades (in most US universities). But I agree the decision about course content (in terms of how certain you are about what you want to study) is a major consideration.
Also the UK has the advantage that with an EU passport you are likely to be able to stay more easily to work after college (assuming a softer/no Brexit) than in the US.
I don’t know, but I work with a computer engineer (degree) tha does automation and advanced vision systems for manufacturing. He did 2 years at Georgia Tech and then 4 years in Germany in 2004-2008, and says hands down Germany is better.
He says, the work ethic, lack of party culture, team concept, and just advanced math in their Comp. Eng program blew him away. His comparison was Georgia Tech…bright guy!
He always grills the US, “Germany was free and the edcuation and culture is far better!” etc etc.
Comparing the frosh/soph courses at GT with the upper level (and master’s degree level?) courses at the German university, obviously the latter is more advanced and technically impressive.
But yes, in the US, there is much more of a party and social aspect of attending university (at least in the popular image of such, though reality is not so much that for the masses attending commuter based universities) than there is in many other countries.
I don’t think German schools are a good comparison to UK universities. And yes their engineering schools tend to be superb, but that’s not relevant to OP?
UK students definitely know how to party - they just do it in a very different way to US ones. This may have something to do with the drinking age being 18 in the UK, so students (legally) go to pubs and clubs a lot more. There are sometimes bars on campuses too. Generally agree a lot less emphasis on sports and rah-rah school spirit in the “stereotype” of the typical American college.
OP, have you visited either of the schools yet? I just wonder if the Fordham Lincoln Center is what you’re looking for in a colleg experience, it’s a great location, but it’s a very small “campus”. But yes, 2 good schools, 3 years in London or 4 in NYC… all good options.
To answer the last question, no I haven’t visited Fordham. I’ve, however done a summer course at KCL, the summer before, which was amazing, but I don’t think that it would be a great indicator for the actual college experience. I chose Fordham LC specifically, rather than a more campus based university because I like the city feel, pretty much the same reason I chose KCL. In terms of the social scene, I think that I could adapt to both the UK and the US, as long as the vibe is more chilled out, in the end what I care about more is not if I’ll go to a bar in London or to a show on Broadway, it’s the type of people around me. Thanks for the many tips everyone!
If you primary concern is about “the type of people around me”, then what type of people are you seeking ?
American universities are much more of a ‘community’. In the UK, you’d likely live 30mn away from the buildings where classes take place. At Fordham you’ll all live in dorms, have a cafeteria and dorms, etc. It’d make socializing easier, planning study sessions easier, etc.
In the US you’d have about 15 hours of class time, whereas in the UK you’d have about 8 hours of class, at KCL for Business generally a large lecture, with most of your time supposed to be spent in the library. In the US you’ll have many formats - lectures, discussion sections, seminars, study sessions, office hours etc, (many depending on your own impetus and willingness to take advantage of the resources provided).
At Fordham you’ll have to take a core of general education classes in addition to classes for your major. It’ll make you more broadly educated and may even help you discover subjects you hadn’t thought of, ideas that will enrich your life. Lots of options and choices.
On the other and at KCL you’ll have a streamlined but very prescribed path. Only three years but almost no choices.
Are you talking about KCL specifically? I can think of many UK unis this is not true.
Internship opportunities available US citizens at Fordham are likely not available to an Italian citizen.
^good point - OP needs to understand the work restrictions of an F1 visa.
- yes, speaking of KCL specifically (although this also applies to UCL and quite a few universities in London. Accomodations are within 30mn by tube. Not talking about commuters etc obvs).
- F1 students get CPT, ie., right to work while registered if the internship relates to their I20 major (here: business). Those are plenty in NYC. After graduation, some majors get STEM OPT and the others get basic OPT (practical training). The huge problem is at the end of OPT time - it used to lead to H1B because highly qualified, socially well integrated immigrants is exactly what we need, but that’s no longer the case. Most graduates who’d have been H1Bs now go to Canada where full permanent residency has been streamlined for these highly desirable internationals. As this is 2025 for OP hopefully the problem will have been fixed.
Fordham’s business core requires 13 specific courses plus 4 project courses.
https://bulletin.fordham.edu/undergraduate/gabelli-business/core-curriculum/business-core/
Business students are also expected to take 13 courses in the liberal arts core. Of the 13, 9 are required, and 4 can be selected from a narrow list of options.
https://bulletin.fordham.edu/undergraduate/gabelli-business/core-curriculum/liberal-arts-core/
There’s also the required courses for one’s concentration/major within business, which accounts for another half dozen required courses (if not more).
One may have more flexibility at Fordham than at KCL, but Fordham’s requirements are extremely rigid by American standards with very little room for exploration.
Thanks for the information to all that commented. Since I am quite certain in what I want to study, the UK system appears like a better fit. But, with all the uncertainty around Brexit, plus considering the fact that NYC and the US in general is where opportunity abounds, it seems like a tougher choice. Anyhow, thanks again!