I’m not completely sure where this thread belongs, so I apologize if this is the wrong forum
I am currently a high school student in America, and I am interested in attending a CPGE in France after I graduate.
I was wondering if anyone had any info regarding what the French Baccalaureat is like since I will have to take it; the general one specifically. Also, if anyone has any experience on the post-bac admission online thing, please comment! I am so confused.
That’s my only question, but good lord, is it hard to find information on French colleges. I’ve been googling for around thirteen hours, and there’s barely any information on CPGE’s and such. The French Baccalaureat test doesn’t even have a website, and I can’t find any study books like the SAT or AP tests do. Since I am not fluent in french yet, the post bac admission site was a nightmare to navigate and I had no idea what I was doing.
I don’t think you’ll need to take the French bac. You’ll need bilingual fluency in French and as many APs as you can: Calc BC will help you (what prépa are you thinking of? ECS? MSPI?), as well as all three AP History (minimally AP Euro + another one), another foreign language at AP level, and either AP seminar or a community college philosophy class. A community college class focused on classical literature (like, from the Greek/Roman period) will also help you. The rest of the background you need depends on the prépa you’re interested in.
APB is for French students. American students have to go through campusfrance.
Why are you interested in CGPE? It’s a very, very strenuous choice.
@MYOS1634 Thank you for your detailed reply!
Would taking the french bacc help me? I am confident in achieving a high SAT score, but from what I’ve read, the Frenc bacc is a completely different ball game.
I was considering ECS, specifically the economic and social route.
I will definitely check up on my AP’s and SAT subject testing, thank you.
If I apply to a CPGE, will there be a part of my application dedicated to such testing and my extracurriculars? I think that my study in the harp at a very known program here would help me, however, what is a known program here may not be recognizable by French admission officers.
When you say APB, are you referring to the post bac admission website?
I don’t know if you CAN take it, unless you’re already in a lycee français…
You can look for books like “annales du bac”. For the questions, look right now, the students are taking their exams (philosophy was on Wednesday, History and Geopolitics on Thursday, today was foreign language, I don’t know what’s on Monday. Just look at any major French paper: they recount the subjects, have politicians try their hands at the ^prompts, offer “correct essays” that students should have written, and on TV (France2 13H, France3 Grande Soir 3) there are specials, following some students, etc, etc, etc. Everything you could wish to learn would be there.
BTW, it’s not a test, the French bacc is a cumulative exam that lasts 6 days. Each exam lasts 3 or 4 hours and there’s specific stuff to master, not just content but structure. basically you need to attend a French school to take it, which is why you need French + APs + ^philosophy for an equivalent.
Why are you interested in CPGE though?
If you want intensive training with small classes and no tuition, why not BTS or IUT?
CPGE are peculiarly French and I don’t know how an American-educated student would handle it.
It’s a bad idea if you can’t speak french. You’ll be at a huge disadvantage in a competitive environment. And they only care about your grades for admission.
@MYOS1634
Again, thank you for replying.
Unfortunately, the video will not play in my region, but I appreciate the articles.
I read somewhere that I have to contact somebody in order to take the BAC in America, but I haven’t contacted them yet, haha. I still have a few more years.
I am very interested in a foreign education, specifically in France. To attend a CPGE is neither simple nor orthodox, that I completely understand. I’ve always had this thing where if I do something, I do the extreme; if I’m interested in a french education, why not take the hardest route? The hardest route, if successfully completed, always bears the sweetest fruit, to put it one way.
I find the idea of entering an American college ridiculously boring, also. I know that the CPGE program is absolutely no joke and is basically a two-year cram session, but I’m fine with that. I am confident in my ability.
This is not an end-all be-all; I am only a sophomore right now and trying to explore my options.
Do you have any advice regarding which of the 3 prepas to enroll in?
When you say APB, are you referring to the post bac admission website?
@oneandone
Thank you for your reply!
I plan on being fluent in french before applying. I currently am enrolled in the honors line in french at my school (which isn’t saying much, I know), but I plan to go on an exchange program during the summer of next year or such.
Do you know if they will look at all four years of my high school career or only the last two? I read somewhere that for french students, they only care about the last two.
I don’t know which years they consider for American students.
What are your career goals? Are there any specific schools you’re interested in? Have you considered the UK where there wouldn’t be a language barrier? Also, are you good at math :-)?
Looking for challenges is fine, but why look for a pointless challenge? Because you could go for a year, that would be a challenge, and a tough one to boot, especially if you manage the challenge of going abroad while in high school - you can do a year in a lycée after junior or aenuir year, look for the memoir Post cards from France by mc Neill Libby… but your plan doesn’t make sense. You apens two years incram school and then what? If you want to go to France, why not try the Columbia/sciences po or ubc/sciences po?
@oneandone
Again, thank you for your reply.
I am not specifically interested in any school yet; I am unsure still that this is the path I will take. I am just collecting background info so that I can see my options. I have considered the UK, and am considering it still. The CPGE’s intrigue me and if I have the ability to go, I probably will.
@MYOS1634
Again, I appreciate your reply.
I am exploring my options I am intrigued by the CPGE programs, and if I have the ability to be accepted by one, I would probably accept it. However, none of this is final and I am simply researching.
I am intrigued by the CPGE programs, and if I have the ability to be accepted by one, I would probably accept it. However, none of this is final and I am simply researching.