<p>is it too late to enter prep school. pls note that even if i get in, i must go through 2 years of national service first. so it means that i will enter prep school at the age of 20 / 21</p>
<p>uhhhh...sorry, I don't think that's going to work. some prep schools accept post-grads but most of them are like 18-19 in age and only stay there for a year.</p>
<p>would you honestly want to be in high school when your 21?</p>
<p>I really don't think that prep school is what you are looking for -- what are your reasons behind the question? Are you wanting to apply for US schools but don't feel academically prepared, or is it something else? </p>
<p>Maybe we can give you some other suggestions.</p>
<p>well im thinking it would be easier to get into top US unis through prep schools/ community colleges in US.. cos i see that its very hard for internationals to get into them :(</p>
<p>moreover, as long as you do well academically in CC, ECs are not needed to transfer to top unis rite?</p>
<p>In the us community colleges are generally considered feeder schools for state universities - it would be exceedingly rare for a transfer student to go to an Ivy via a community college.
That said, many state universities are top schools. The University of Buffalo (in New York) has one of the top ranked medical, dental, engineering and pharmacy programs in the US. Other large states like Michigan, Ohio, & California have many chapters of their state systems within their borders that they are very able to accept transfer student from a CC who want to go on to complete a 4 year degree.<br>
CC is a very different route from prep school - they are not comparable in any way. Prep schools are highly selective and involve a lengthy application process similar to Ivys and most liberal arts colleges. In some cases, is is far more difficult to get into prep school and the work is far more difficult than some colleges. An example - my Husband went to an Ivy from a public school and had a stressful, challenging and extremely disappointing (grade wise) freshman year. His counterparts that attended Boarding school felt like they were on a year long vacation their freshman year. Your age (I think) precludes attending a prep at this point.<br>
A CC is a post high school institution that does not have a selective application process. It is open to all that wish to enroll in courses, and the highest degree that can be achieved is an associates degree (2 year). If you wish to get a bachelors or masters you MUST transfer, and many do. From my high school, it was common for students to go to CC. Many did not want the commitment of a 4 year college or have the money to pay for it. Most CC's offer general knowledge courses (English, History,...) and also offer practical life classes (beginning Nursing, Paralegal) where a student can get a job soon after leaving school at the lower rungs of a profession, while continuing their education at a state university (such as Nursing - many more years would be needed post CC to advance to RN - Keylyme would know more than I). I know many people who have left CC to get engineering degrees and masters - and they all say that they were too immature to attend a large 4 year after High school and the CC gave them some thinking and breathing room at little cost. As an international student - I have no idea what the process of registering at a CC would be.
I think you should look at small 4 year schools that are looking for diversity in their student populations - many schools in the mid atlantic region and midwest are sorely lacking in global diversity and may really want an international student.
Since I have no real experience in the college shopping or application process, you might want to post on the main College Confidential forum for advice.</p>
<p>Are you from Korea? Just guessing from the 2 years national service. </p>
<p>Well tonnes of Koreans go to top US universities already from Korea so I don't see why you can't do it from there. And also, just because you will be going to school in America doesn't change you from Korean (guess) to American in the application process so you'll still have to go through a much tougher application. </p>
<p>I'm in your shoes in that I'm an international and am going to go to Phillips Academy Andover this year. But even if I stay at Andover for the entire 3 years (which I will) I won't be classified as a American for the application and like you I'll have to struggle through those ludicrously difficult international application!</p>