<p>My son just graduated from high school and was accepted to a school in Glasgow, Scotland. He has a very specialized major, and was also accepted to several schools here in the States. In April, when it was time to make his final choice, he agonized as to which school to choose. The feedback he received from the Scottish school was overwhelming, reputation of the school is very high, and the opportunity to study abroad proved to be too hard to ignore. </p>
<p>We are taking a leap of faith by sending him abroad for his schooling. Some differences from US schools-- Bachelor's program is only 3 years. (BA is recognized in US.) Dorm is privately owned and there is no food/meal plan. He will be in a true urban environment with no campus life as we know in the States. Drinking age there is 18. As a parent-- that's a lot for me to digest, but I also feel that it's time to "push the little bird out of the nest" and give him this incredible international experience that people only dream of. Am I scared to death? Heck, yes, but he'll turn 19 only a few weeks after starting classes and it's time he really grew up. (He's traveled abroad before and has lived away from home during the summer for many years.)</p>
<p>So-- just wondering if there are any other parents out there who have also been in this situation. How'd it turn out? Child happy with his/her experience abroad? Advice for me??</p>
<p>I may be wrong, but I thought Scottish schools granted 4 year Bachelor degrees. Schools in England and Wales grant 3 year Bachelor degrees.</p>
<p>Has your son spent any time in the UK and or Glasgow in particular? The culture shock could be important. Good luck, hopefully somebody can help you with specifics.</p>
<p>Well, mine didn’t do this until after the BA, but they have to do it sometime. :)</p>
<p>It sounds as if your kid is better prepared than many, given his prior experience. I bet he will be fine. </p>
<p>There will be plenty of other students living on a shoestring. Probably the big thing will be for him to deal with drinking. But he would have to do that here, too. I think you guys need to have some realistic, non-lecture <em>conversations</em> about how he envisions handling budgeting, the food issue, the fact that he will be able to legally drink AND the fact that the UK has IIRC even higher rates of alcoholism and binge drinking than we do, especially among youth.</p>
<p>He’ll need to get used to the Glaswegian accent which can be challenging for Americans. Also, be aware that Glasgow, just like major US cities, has dangerous areas which you don’t want to wander into. Here’s a video clip to give you some idea of both.</p>
<p>Our family has never been to the UK. We did extensive research about the school and city before making the final decision. We also talked to several parents of US students at the same school to get their feedback about their child’s experiences there.</p>
<p>The BA for my son’s program is 3 years. If he decides to stay after graduation, he could get his masters in 4 years.</p>
<p>We realize that there will be a lot of drinking and clubbing. We’ve talked to him honestly about it. But-- that happens here in the States, too, no matter where he went to school. All I can hope is that he “makes good decisions” and has good “mates” that make sure he gets back to his room alright. Kids are going to be kids. Does it scare me? Yes, I won’t lie, but he has to go out and be his own person, and have his own experiences- good or bad.</p>
<p>Congrats to your son. My friend wanted to do this, but his son was not accepted at any of the UK schools to which he applied. His father is British, and he’s been to England before, so it would not have been as different as it will be for your son. It would not have been sight unseen either, because he did visit the schools in prior years.</p>
<p>However, I made the reverse transition. Raised in Europe, went to the US for college. First time I saw my college was when I arrived with suitcases in hand. That was not an unusual thing back 40 years ago. Still happens a lot here with foreign students studying in the US. I happened to be up in Buffalo during the special International students move in days, and there were many such cases. Though they come from a much greater distance for the most part and many have never seen the school; some never been in the US, most of them that day came alone, even the freshmen, as opposed to the US kids being accompanied, often by both parents for move in. </p>
<p>We are Americans who live in London. Our S chose to go to the States for university, but there are major differences that we have noticed between UK and US universities (I did graduate school at Cambridge, but have US undergrad degree). The biggest difference is that UK unis expect the student to take more responsibility for their learning. You may only meet with the professor once a week, but they still expect you to do the readings, write the papers, etc. You may also get no grades or feedback until the end of the semester - so a student needs to be very on top of things. </p>
<p>You were right in saying that there is no “campus life” as such. Most socializing is done in bars and pubs. Or at house parties, which are more popular because drinking in pubs is expensive. There may be extracurricular clubs, like sports teams, but you really have to seek them out. </p>
<p>The other issue is specialization. There are usually no “general education” requirements. You jump right into your major and that is all that you study. UK universities graduate specialists, not generalists. Because of this it is very difficult to change your major mid-course. You almost have to start over.</p>
<p>And my last caveat, which I’m sure you’re aware of - the cost of living is very expensive. Glasgow will be a bit cheaper than London, but it is still pricey. In general, prices will be 1 1/2 to 2 times higher than in the US. Be sure to teach your kid to budget. </p>
<p>All that being said, my 18 yr old loves living in the UK - being able to drink and being treated as an adult. </p>
<p>I’m the child in this situation. I just finished up my first year. :)</p>
<p>If he’s lived away from home and traveled abroad before, he has much more experience under his belt to help him deal with the adjustment compared to most international students.</p>
<p>While my D applied and was accepted to several UK schools, she ended up getting her BA in the US. However, she did study abroad in London and is currently doing her MA in a school just outside of London. She enjoys the different approach to education and being treated as an adult.
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Though drinking age is 18, she has not seen any crazy partying as of yet. Which is fine for her as she is not a big partier. However, she finds it a bit harder to socialize there, especially now with the older crowd, some go home to their families on weekends. There is socializing done at pubs and in fact, her school has its own small pub that caters to students for networking events. There was more partying in her US school in the dorms and such.</p>
<p>The most difficult thing, besides the cost of living, we found to be the visa process. I would get very familiar with that asap. We were waiting till the very last minute for the visa and it was quite a nail biting experience. </p>
<p>It sounds as if your son and you as a family are as ready as can be. I second getting familiar with the local accents and regionalisms. Some are easy enough to follow but others are real bears! </p>
<p>Oh and opening a bank account can be difficult. Check with your university to see if they have recommendations of banks, etc. If you just walk into a bank without a letter of introduction from your university or employer, they won’t let you open an account. Some even want personal letters of recommendation from your US bank. Most also have a minimum deposit too.</p>
<p>You can use a US debit card at any UK bank ATM and most of them don’t charge a fee. The exchange rate on ATM withdrawals usually isn’t that bad. If you S wants to use a US credit card, try to get one with a chip and pin - some places don’t accept cards that arent’ chip and pin. </p>
<p>I am the student in this situation. I am coming to the US from Australia. It is not as extreme a transition as I have been twice before- but I have never been to the city I am attending university in (therefore obviously never visited the school either). Luckily I, like your son gave previous overseas experience - went in exchange for 3 months to Paris at 16- which I think will really help me. I’m excited and only a little nervous (same with my parents). Of course like all international students coming to the US I will be experiencing the opposite change drinking age wise, going back to being underage after 1.5 years of being legal, which I am not at all looking forward to ;)</p>
<p>My daughter is graduating from Kings College in London and has had the time of her life! She is now going to do a Masters, also in London. She had not seen the university before she accepted the spot but it has really helped her grow academically and personally. No spoon feeding in UK. I’m sure your son will really enjoy his time there as long as he is self motivated. On a side note, I am British and studied at Glasgow University. It’s a great city with lots to do and a world renowned University. The drinking age of 18 isn’t a problem as most kids at University of Glasgow are too busy studying in the library to be spending much time in the pub!</p>
<p>@SU88BFA .I moved my son from one country to the UK for your equivalent of HS for 2 years and now he will be coming to the US for university. Glasgow is a welcoming community. It is a little more intimate than London(I went to school in the Uk from age 9).The people are very welcoming and warm .I will reiterate that the university system in the Uk is very “hands off” ,their are no counsellors who query or check up on you,so it is easy to spend an entire session “loafing around” and not attending lectures ,with no alarm bells being sounded until the final exams ,which is at the end of the academic year.
I sure your son will excel at Glasgow and gain some wonderful experiences there.</p>
<p>He should also take advantage of any orientation opportunity or meet up with “study abroad” students to get established initially … and learn quickly that UK education tends to involve fewer assessments which are “higher stakes” - probably no weekly quizzes but only a really tough final exam or paper. Marks will be lower than he’s used to here.</p>
<p>Sounds like a great excuse for a family trip to Scotland to me!</p>
<p>I set up a local checking account for my daughter before she left to study in Spain this semester. I chose the bank because it refunds any ATM fees my D incurs, anyplace in the world! I can transfer money into her account online, then she can withdraw it for free. It has worked very well. I have seen a lot of $3 refunds that her bank has given her after she uses the ATM in her town.</p>
<p>My daughter is only 16 and has done really well overseas. Her study abroad program did a good job of explaining culture shock, so she wasn’t surprised when she went through it. Her biggest problem now is that she doesn’t want to come home! I am thinking that she may want to go to college overseas.</p>
<p>Thanks for everyone’s input! It’s appreciated. My son has been able to personally meet several of the US students who will also be in his major (a very small group of only 20-25 kids). He’s also been very active on Facebook with many of the other students who live abroad, and it’s exciting (for me!) to see where some of these other kids are from. One of the reasons we’re sending him to Glasgow is for him to truly have an international experience and meet people from around the world. We live in boring suburbia and this will be a big change for him. But, like I posted earlier, he’s traveled abroad, but not lived abroad…big difference.</p>
<p>We still haven’t figured out the best thing to do regarding the banks. Some parents of current US students at the same school said they didn’t have any problems setting up an account with a local bank. Very soon we’ll get on the visa application, as it can’t be started until 3 months before the first day of school (mid-Sept.)</p>
<p>re the 18 year old drinking age. It was that in my college days (actually in WI it went from beer only to all alcohol while I was in school). Not sure there is any LESS drinking by US college students than in my day. I wouldn’t worry about that any more than if he were attending a US school.</p>
<p>Son did a semester study abroad at Sterling, not far from Glaskow. He went to Glaskow several times while there. Because of his wonderful experience, his roommate ended up doing his Study Abroad in Glaskow and loved it. The kids/people in general, are so nice and friendly. Son found groceries (he had an on campus apt) very inexpensive. </p>