HELP--high school all over again???

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p>This is kind of long, but I hope you can help. </p>

<p>One of my parents was recently recruited to an international organization here in Geneva, Switzerland, and as such, all of us children will from now on be studying here. I am 19 years old and a recent high school graduate back in my home country. </p>

<p>My problem lies in my education. It goes like this. I have two options, to go to the world-famous, prestigious, almost costless University of Geneva where French is the language of instruction, or to attend Webster University--a rather commercialized, not-so-good (a "diploma mill" in short) international university where tuition is almost 24,000 swiss francs (no problem for the tuition though because the organization will pay 75% of the tuition fee).</p>

<p>The catch is, the University of Geneva will not accept me--because all universities in Switzerland require citizens from my country who did not undergo high school in Switzerland to already possess a bachelor's degree before they can accept us to their bachelor's program. Plus I have to master the French language. If I really want to get in, there is another option though. An international high school here in Geneva is offering the A-Levels program (I'm sure most of you are familiar with this; instruction is in English), which only takes 2 years. The A-levels is recognized by all Swiss Universities so that, if I pass the A-Level examination at the end of the 2 years, I can get into the University of Geneva. And during the A-Levels, French can be one of the major subjects and I can study the French language outside school as well. </p>

<p>Webster University, on the other hand, has already accepted me.</p>

<p>The pros of going to University of Geneva:
1) I have a world-class diploma (It's the University of Geneva!)--it's recognized throughout first-world countries so it's easier to get a job;
2) it has strong connections worldwide; I can even do an exchange in Yale or Harvard
3) I have training in the French language;
4) My parents don't have to pay a big amount of money (only around 1,000 swiss francs)
and the cons are:
1) I will have to graduate late (age 25) because I have to go through the 2-year a-level program
2) I have to endure studying my way through university through the French language</p>

<p>The pros of going to Webster University:
1) I graduate right away
2) Instruction is in the English language
and the cons are:
1) It's a diploma mill; not really a good university
2) It's wicked expensive (with the 75% subsidy my parents will still have to pay 6,000 swiss francs)</p>

<p>PLEASE help me; I'm in a state of confusion right now. I would be really, really grateful for all your help. THANK YOU.</p>

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<p>There's a Webster in my city as well. Basically, stay away.</p>

<p>Besides, you'll get to go to Geneva International School, right?! Or else it's College du Leman. From what I've heard (I go to a sister school in another European capital), it'll be fun.</p>

<p>The University of Geneva sounds like a very sweet deal. Besides, if you later decide it's not for you, the A-levels will allow you to apply to other universities. Those in the UK may be of particular interest to you, since there it usually takes three years to obtain a bachelor's and four for a master's degree, so this allows you to make up one lost year.</p>

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<p>Some personal non-related comments and ?s to entertain first, as always (sorry, BLY's styles, lol):
1) "Intl org" in Swiss? WOW! That must be BIG!
2) So the first language in Swiss is French? I thought it was German
3) What is it like to live in Swiss? Isn't it expensive?
4) What's your home country?</p>

<p>Okay, now we are back on your topic.
I think on this issue you are so restrictive. You narrow your choice to only two options, which might be good, but have you thought of some other ways? For instance, do you have to stay in Swiss to attend college? If you can, just try to apply colleges in UK and I think you would be fine.
Now let's assume you can't leave Swiss for some reason (in which case your parents must be in some damn crucial intl org that operates the world, say, some UN organs or the bank)
If I were you, I would choose UG.
1) It would be easier for you to get a job after graduation, as you mentioned
2) You save $
3) You can know a lot of smart inteligent people or probably some kids with special background in the school. You would have a strong network, which would eventually be a LIFETIME BENEFIT. Actually, that's why everybody wants to get into Ivies.
4) It's never too bad to master another language right? (Just don't tell me you literally know NOTHING about French...) Plus French is also a romanian language as English. You would do just fine and fast.
5) You mentioned age. So what? Graduating at 25 is no big deal at all, unless you want to pursue a master degree. But my suggestion on that would be to get a job first and then study part-time to get the master. However, make sure you have enough WORK EXPERIENCE in handy by the time you graduate.</p>

<p>And that's about it.</p>

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<p>Ooh, let me guess. This international organisation is either UNIDO or the IAEA.</p>

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<p>I think UNIDO and IAEA are both in Austria.</p>

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<p>Yup, but I think they have offices in Geneva.</p>

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<p>thanks for the replies :) they're very valuable when I'll finally make my decision. :)</p>

<p>BLY: the "int'l org" i'm talking about is a branch of the UN, actually :) just want to maintain privacy by not specifying which one :) my home country's in Asia, hehe :P Switzerland has 4 main languages -- French, German, Italian and Romansch -- it depends on what area you are. :) and yes it's wicked expensive here, much more expensive than the UK and Japan :(</p>

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<p>Trinity, I thought undergraduate school in europe take three years. If you're 18 now won't you be 23 at graduation?</p>

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<p>Okay, I have a friend at Webster Uni in Geneva. He doesn't talk much about it. I did catch a brief glimpse of it this summer visiting him and it didn't look that great. Nor does it seem that awesome from the few words he tells me about it. He seems to find it full of people obsessed with fashion and rich kids and stuff. Then again, he's a goth... (And his dad works with the UN, too.)</p>

<p>Uni of Geneva - no idea what it's like.</p>

<p>I'm turning 20 this year and am going to graduate high school. I had to repeat two year of high school because I moved here from M'sia, from A Levels to I.B. Depending on what the student body is like at your A Level school, you might have to grit your teeth a few times to get over the clique-ness that high schools always seem to have. </p>

<p>UofG seems like a better choice. I'm going to assume you've had some background in French (IGCSE or whatnot) in order to take it at A Level level and to feel that two (more) years will prepare you sufficiently for writing college-level essays in French.</p>

<p>I have an Asian classmate who used to live in Switzerland and attended College Du Leman. Her Pop worked at UNHCR. Anyway, she says CDL's A Level programme is great and she learned French the best there as opposed to her British boarding school (O Levels) and here (IB). Her sister also graduate from CDL and they both seem pretty awesome in French. <em>envies them</em> </p>

<p>But if you're not going to CDL, forget the previous paragraph. :p</p>

<p>Best of luck makin' your decision.</p>

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<p>path1: if I take the a-levels, I will be finished at age 21. I have been told that the university of geneva takes 4 years, but then again I will have to check :)</p>

<p>Izzy: thanks so much for the very very valuable input! that helped me a lot, especially your friend's feedback about webster u :)</p>

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<p>
[QUOTE]
It's never too bad to master another language right? (Just don't tell me you literally know NOTHING about French...) Plus French is also a romanian language as English. You would do just fine and fast.

[/QUOTE]
</p>

<p>It's not. French is a romance language like Spanish. English is of Germanic origins (but 30% of English words have some French origin because the French invaded England in 1066. I went to a British high school. This is what you learn). You can't start A-level French if you know nothing of the language. It starts from quite a high base level. Look up some GCSE French papers on the web. This is the exam UK students take age 16 and they have to have GCSE French before they can start A-level. If you can answer GCSE questions you can starts A-level no problem.</p>

<p>Where do you want to live/work in the future? If that is Switzerland/Europe then I definitely think U of Geneva is the best choice. I have never heard of Webster University so I cannot comment on it. Being fluent in French could only be an asset to your future career, unless struggling with the language would lead to low grades at U of Geneva. If you are quite good at languages, I don't think this is likely.</p>

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<p>I just talked to my friend at Webster. He recommends going to Uni of Geneva and that staying two years in high school isn't that huge a deal considering the benefits. He despises it at Webster. So... hmmm.</p>

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<p>I know this is kind of a late post, but anyway...
I, too, live in Switzerland, Zurich, namely. If I were you, I would definitely attend the University of Geneva. So, maybe you will be 25 when you graduate... generally, people in Switzerland graduate later, anyway, because high school (gymnasium - lyc</p>

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<p>thanks for all the replies. will definitely consider all of them during my decision-making. all the best to you guys! :D</p>