I am ashamed. Being a senior in high school, I was oblivious to the fact that APs were extremely important. However, I soon changed that mindset after looking at the schools I applied for. To replace the APs, I took SAT Subject Tests (they confirmed it was okay to replace this) and did not do so well… My application was amazing, but the scores— not so much. I never met any of the requirements for studying music in the UK. It hurt my soul as this became my dream a little too late… now I have the option of taking 3 or more AP courses online (800 dollars each class) or going to community college. Everything became so overwhelming. I feel so down. I should have been smarter, but it’s too late to go back. I found out I could apply through Extra (February 25- July something) and it is extra admissions for people who didn’t get into the other schools or did not get the chance to apply before. I am troubled and lost. I’m not sure which action to take. I’m so stressed and at such a down mood. It is extremely hard to know what to do. Do I take the AP courses? Do I study at a community?
Why do you want to study in the UK? Are you from the UK?
There are many universities and colleges in the US that have very good music programs. There are many more in Canada. You would not need AP classes for most of these, and some are SAT optional.
Some of these are not past their admissions deadlines. However, if you have not yet applied to any safety schools then you had better get to it quickly.
If you tell us your stats, your home state, your budget, and what you want in a university, some people here might be able to suggest some appropriate schools.
No, I’m not from the UK. I just was really amazed by the culture. I really liked a lot about it and I liked how different it was to the US. I’m in California right now. I want a strong Music program with a campus in somewhere foreign. My budget is unknown right now. SAT of 1030 (yikes) GPA of 3.0. My personal statement is amazing and so is my recommendation letter.
Thank you so much for your reply. It means so much. I felt so hopeless. I’ve applied to communities already.
Can you afford the UK? It is probably at least 40K a year, even if you got in to a UK school. Unknown budget is a euphemism for not having that sorted. Clearing might get you an offer, as a full pay foreign student, but you would want to know why a school would do that. Would you be a talent admit?
“Somewhere foreign” doesn’t conjure up the UK for an English speaking American. Unless you go to Wales ?
“I’m in California”
I do not know much about music programs in California. Hopefully someone else on CC does. We live in the northeast and have relatives in Canada so those are the areas that I know better.
I really wanted to go to a school in England. It was my dream. Looking at other colleges just isn’t the same. I’ve been preparing for this, yet it doesn’t feel fine. Honestly, my parents do not really believe I can do this (hence why my budget is unknown) but once I told my mother I had an interview, they were suddenly able to get me to the UK for that interview. I’m not sure how money works around my household, but I don’t think it’ll be as much. From the websites, tuition is about 9,500 per yr (includes extra estimated costs for people living in that area) and for the US it is about 15k per year (estimated with living expenses etc.)
I’m not sure how money works<<<<<<<<<<
Yeah, you should work that out. Which school as an example? Where are you plucking your numbers from?
Your parent’s took you to the UK for an interview? Where?
What is it your think you want to study, what does “music” mean as a degree? For what outcome?
But you admit your scores and GPA were off and, “I never met any of the requirements for studying music in the UK.”
Just wanting a foreign experience can’t overcome that. It’s not enough. You have to imagine the foreign adcom’s reaction.
Not knowing your own budget is curious. You dont even know if these music programs were affordable? Do you know if ANY other school is, besides comm college?
Why not set your sights on a school in the U.S and plan to study abroad for part of it?
If you are as applying for music, AP exams, especially in subjects for which you have not prepared by taking a class, are unlikely to be helpful.
My limited knowledge of the UK is that they admit by numbers. I don’t think a 1030 SAT and 3.0 GPA will get you there. The good news is that CA has an excellent education system.
You need to find out how much your parents can pay per year without borrowing. Have you completed the FAFSA yet? What’s your family’s EFC? The FAFSA EFC will tell you if you’re eligible for a federal Pell Grant.
If your parents can’t afford to help you pay for college then your best option is a CA community college. Attending a community college is nothing to be ashamed of, and you don’t need to spend $800/class on AP classes to get accepted to one.
A year at community college can be used instead of APs/SAT subject tests for admission to many UK colleges, and those in England are often 3 year degrees. So, starting at Community College this year and re-applying in the autumn to the UK is an option.
It would also give you another year to mature and take charge of your life, and tbh I think you need that before you are ready for the UK. There is no hand-holding in the UK: you are expected to figure out how the system works by yourself. Right from day 1 you are expected to be fully adult.
Have you done the homework to understand what your course would be like? It will be much more structured than a US degree, and examinations are big part of the assessments.
As for money, the other big difference between the UK and the US is that you will have to prove that you have the money for a full year (tuition + living expenses) in the bank to get a student visa. The only loan program is if the university is FAFSA accredited, and that is only a few thousand / year.
Thank you so much to all of you. I think a year at comm college would sound more appealing. I was resentful on that choice because of my cousin. She kept telling me that it took some of her friends 3-4 years to get out of there, but hopefully i’ll find a way to get the things I need to get done— done.
@bblanca A very large number of kids from my daughter’s high school do one or two years in community college, before transferring to a four year college to finish their degree. The majority (by a large margin) finish the the courses they need in the time which they allot to themselves and transfer. The reason that many students end up in community colleges for 3-4 years is because they are not sure what they want, and have no real plan. If you have a plan, have a set of courses which you are going to take, and ficus on finishing them, you’ll be ready to transfer within a year, or two at most.
Tuition in the UK for many universities is usually only low for UK residents and possibly residents of the EU (though with Brexit, it’s difficult to know what will happen). International students pay a lot more, and, with the extra money that it will cost to travel, and set yourself up, the cost will likely be more than any in-state programs which are available for you.
BTW, there are many colleges in CA with excellent music programs to which you have a pretty good chance of acceptance, though this may increase substantially if you take a year at a community college and do well.
The difference between a dream and a fantasy are facts. If the facts aren’t working, then you need to shift your focus to something that does.
I don’t know where in California you live but I promise you- unless you are exceptionally well traveled, you will find at least a hundred colleges in the US “foreign” if not downright exotic.
You need to nail down the financial piece ASAP. You need your parents to give you a dollar amount, per year, of what they are prepared to spend (from savings or from current income). This is all fantasy land until you have that number.
Then come back. We can help you with some affordable, achievable options. There is no college in the UK where an amazing personal statement can overcome grades and scores below their cut-offs. Their admissions are NOT holistic (unlike most colleges in the US) and there is no finger on the scale for a kid from California who hasn’t met the requirements.
Have hope. You admit that you did too little, too late. You aren’t the first and you won’t be the last. What are you going to do about it?
Some say, “I blew it.”, fold up the tent, and give up on their dreams.
Others say, “I am going to make my dream come true, come hell or highwater, but it is going to take me a bit longer.”, make a really solid plan, dig deep, and put a big chip on their shoulder as a daily reminder.
Start with the goal: Living in the UK.
Next a timeline to work backwards from: (Perhaps) In 7 years, I will work and live in the UK as a young adult and really soak it up rather than be just a student.
Plan each step out to that goal/timeline: ? Fill in the blanks. There are so many paths.
Adjust and adapt as needed: inevitably will happen
Have you applied to any US college?
(Sonoma State is superb for music).
What instrument (s)?
Excellent colleges that likely would feel foreign and where you have a shot: Luther, Concordia Morehead; Mansfield university, SUNY Fredonia, Eckerd, Guilford, Berry college (if you’re Evangelical Christian) would all be possibilities.
In the UK, the ONLY things that matter are your subject test scores and your SAT score.
Choose college with BCC or CC entry requirements (=3.0. A British C= American B. Their grades go all the way to G and there are no minded)
No matter what you should also choose an extra. If you don’t like it, you dont have to attend - you can always attend CC in the us znd try again the following year.
Music is often a bit of a special case.
What is your instrument and how good are you?