UK students take gap years for all sorts of reasons- hers might be a little less conventional than some but no less valuable if she thinks she’d look back on the decision to abandon her sport with regret.
10 years ago gap years were known but uncommon in the US- they are becoming more mainstream, and with Covid they aren’t something which cause an adcom to blink an eye. I don’t think there are any burnt bridges as far as US colleges are concerned.
You might want to contact the folks at study across the pond (all one phrase, no spaces). They work with about 40 UK universities (not Oxbridge, but some Russell group) and help students from North America through the application process. They may have some insight into what some universities are accepting instead of SAT subject tests or AP tests. There is no cost to you. They make money from the universities, bringing in those sweet American $$ I guess. My daughter is an American interested in going to university in the UK and has talked and emailed with the folks from study across the pond some and found them helpful.
I presume her school does not offer IB, either? Most public schools in the US do offer either IB or AP but some of the private schools do not.
Everyone has been really helpful with sage advice. Only 2 further thoughts for you.
Quite a few UK unis do offer Foundation years - Exeter, Nottingham, Warwick - to name a few. UCAS has them all listed.
Coming from the US with international qualifications, you need to confirm but I believe she will be considered as an international candidate for fees, regardless of her passport and place of birth. IMOHO £27k per year is still a worthy cost saving vs $80k one would otherwise have paid to a US establishment of similar caliber.
Good luck in her process!
It appears that the OPs parents still live in the UK, so she would be a domestic applicant- which oddly may be less helpful. There’s a reason that US students get in reasonably reliably to most UK unis: $$
Yes! Although I have wondered if we can bizarrely apply as a US applicant and just pay more if it improves her chances…
Thank you for all your great ideas. I have taken a big breath and will work with her over the summer to look at APs vs Foundation years as ways back into the UK system if this year’s college apps draw a blank…In the meantime, I will keep praying for the couple of US college options that would be great both athletically and academically to come through. Both coaches have approached her already so fingers crossed…although I’m concerned that (understandably) there is quite a lot of antagonism about giving these precious slots to non-US athletes.
I don’t quite understand what you mean by this years apps…are you talking about starting college in autumn of 21 or 22 now?
She is currently a senior but didn’t get coach pull last year (it felt like she was slightly squeezed out by covid related roster compression but perhaps I am being over-optimistic) and didn’t make it into those schools on regular decision (despite passing pre-reads and being promised a team slot if she got in off her own back - but of-course the odds are so much tougher without coach pull especially if your hook is athletics).
She is going to take a PG year and try again this fall…
note that high-level athletics can get you “help” (in ancillary support and in order to get in) in the UK too - at Stirling and a few others where they train Olympic-level athletes.
I didn’t know that about Stirling…that’s interesting…and possibly a way for her to study part time whilst still competing.
Of-course most UK Uni’s aren’t interested in EC’s at all, I think even all the Oxbridge Boat race crews are in on their academics alone… its good to think some might be more understanding…
Loughborough, Bath, Cardiff Met and Edinburgh were amongst other places that accommodated elite athletes with studying. It might depend what her sport is, however.
Not trying to offend any Light Blue/Dark Blue rowing fans out there, but a fair number of competitors in the Boat Race are “ringers” from the US who are doing a one year Masters program. I think Cambridge had an ex-Princeton rower who was getting his masters in film studies in this year’s race as an example.
Yes, its exactly inverted to the US: being a champion rower may get you in as a grad student bu5 never as an undergrad.
Yes but there’s ringers and there’s Princeton graduate ringers! Doubtless recruitment is all a question of daggerdly (un)gentlemanly propriety…like the Ivy Academic Index but all done rather quietly…they had to throw a few engineers in to balance the boat!
Nottingham also emphasises its athletics and support of Olympic hopefuls. It was a big selling point when I was looking at options. Again, depends on what sport your D is competing in.
Yeah, I don’t think you should be too worried about being able to resume academics (even after several years pursuing her sport if she decides on that route). Some UK unis do accommodate athletes (which other posters here would know far more about). There are also the University of London International/External/online programmes (definitely not the traditional uni experience, but provides flexibility).
After her sporting career ends, I believe many UK unis provide pathways to uni.
In the US, Columbia GS seems set up for someone like her (needs a gap of at least a year in formal schooling, still not easy to get in to, and does cost a ton). There’s also HES when 21 or older, which is definitely not Harvard College (it’s the Extension School) but doesn’t actually cost a ton.
Thank you. I think you’re right that one option could be to do an online first degree if she wants to pursue the sport full-time with a view to getting into a better ‘brand’ at graduate level. I feel like the Graduate/Masters programmes are less competitive to get into in the UK than the US…
This thread has really helped me see there are so many options…whereas before I was feeling like her life depended on the whims of two coaches (actually a third one even approached her this week that is a bit of a compromise athletically but definitely not academically). Thank you all…
Is study abroad mandatory for edinburgh university ?
no - wouldn’t even be the norm.
Gap years for many UK kids (of US origin) applying to US colleges are particularly common especially now post COVID.