UCL - Any advice?

OK, but does she have any EU/UK passport, then? Is the plan to find a European/UK hubby so that she can live and work in Europe/UK? A job with an American company that posts her to Europe/the UK?
We tell International kids who want to go to college in the US all the time that they should assume that they would have to find a job back in their home country after they graduate because landing a job as a foreigner without citizenship/permanent residency is tough. The same applies to an American looking to stay in the EU/UK after graduation/grad school.

Oh, and marks come down almost solely to big tests/essays at the end of the year (that British kids spend the months leading up to those tests holed up in the library cramming for).

If she wants to end up in Europe/the UK, going to undergrad there makes sense. But has she actually ever lived in the UK/Europe (or anywhere outside the US for a year or more)? Travelling isn’t the same as living somewhere.

Have you figured out exactly how many years she intends to study in the UK for? That could significantly impact the total cost. Also there are time limits (5 years) on how long you can stay in the UK for undergrad, which includes the year abroad (see http://visaadvice.net/time-limits-uk-study-5-year-cap-3-year-cap-8-year-cap/)

If she’s done 1 year of college in the US, was Edinburgh going to let her start in year 2 of a 4 year degree? I assume UCL is starting again in year 1 of a 3 year degree?

It’s important to note that study abroad from the UK adds an extra year (i.e. makes a 3 year degree into a 4 year degree), it doesn’t give you credit towards the UK degree (though it may be a requirement as part of a language degree). However the cost may well be less than for the other years.

@PurpleTitan @Twoin18 No she doesn’t have any way to stay in the U.K. after school unless she gets a job but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t try! Her grandmother is from Germany & feels she could get her a European passport but I don’t really think so. Hey if she can’t find a job there she won’t but how will she know unless she tries? You gotta go for what you want in life, sometimes it works & sometimes it doesn’t.

Yes we know, a big test at the end, Richmond is very similar, several classes she had 2 tests all sem & that was it, most gave zero grades back. She’s a study maniac.

No she’s never lived there, so what? She tries it & takes a chance, if she doesn’t try she will never know. I moved all over this country, lived on NYC, Los Angeles, Boston, etc, been to all but 2 states in the lower 48, I am a big believer in seeing what you can & taking chances, if you’re more the play it safe type that’s great if it works for you but she & I would rather try & then know for sure. She knows living there is different, bills to pay, commuting to school, slogging thru the cold dreary weather, it’s all part of the experience. No reason not to go because it might be different? Why go if it’s NOT different?

English schools are the full 3 yrs, so the same as she would have here, the 2 Scottish schools told her with her program she is a good candidate for entering as a sophomore. She cannot officially start that process until she is accepted of course so we have to wait and see. All her classes this year are history except 2 whichnare French. She has no electives at UR and will not, only courses for her major, just like in the U.K.

In most or all of the schools her study abroad is part of the curriculum so it counts. We have already checked that out. I can’t pay for an extra yr so if a Scottish school wont admit her as a sophomore she probably will not go. As I said, we are just trying to figure out options and assuming few, if any, will work and if so what adjustments might need to be made. I think she’s done most of her homework as every objection you mentioned she has checked out.

“Yes we know, a big test at the end, Richmond is very similar, several classes she had 2 tests all sem & that was it, most gave zero grades back.”

Wow. That is so unlike my undergrad experience.

Agree that for landing a job in the UK, you should be there. Anyway, best of luck.

One criterion she could use is whether any of these universities had an exchange with either École du Louvre or either one for the Normale Sup schools (école normale supérieure). Those are the two schools that would matter to get a job in Continental Europe, along with Sciences Po.
She should also see if Richmond does.

Another possibility would be for her to apply to Science Po Reims. A French school but classes are in English. In a city about 1h from Paris. They hold international interviews but the final round of international selections must be soon.

I’d pick among Durham, Edinburgh, and St Andrews for undergraduate history in the UK. All will be more collegial than the London universities. At Edinburgh I’d try to take a class in Scottish history since they offer that, especially if they have something about the Auld alliance, and it’s possible (in fact, recommended) to take language courses.

If she decides to go that route, she should take a leave of absence from Richmond, rather than withdraw. This way, if things don’t go as well as she hoped, she can return, no harm no foul.

@MYOS1634, wouldn’t she be transferring (to the Scottish Unis; starting over in England).

wrt working: France has a special visa for university graduates. If you get a degree in France and find a job, you’re automatically eligible for it. it can then be converted into a 10-year residency card that you can use anywhere in Europe and then you can apply for citizenship (there are shorter pathways too).

She’d likely transfer to the Scottish Unis, yes, so that the program length would be 3 years regardless, if she chooses to go through. Do you think that if after a year (treating this as a sort of gap year abroad) she wants to go back to the US and has simply asked for a leave of absence, she won’t be able to return to Richmond? (I have no idea how administrations would treat this)

@PurpleTitan I know, right? SO unlike my experience and the kids have no idea what they have for grades unless they ask the teacher! There is an online grade portal but none of her teachers use it except a couple posted mid terms. I really don’t like it but I suppose its good as that seems to be the way it is in the UK.

@MYOS1634 Can she take a leave of absence?? Wow - that would be amazing! Thanks for all the help too, I was going to message you but my work is the busiest this week its been in a couple of years & I can’t seem to get much else done. I keep hearing about this Science Po thing - need to look it up! She really seems to prefer Edinburgh, I think she likes St A but is concerned its a small town which is the problem now. Durham is also a small town but wow - so stunning! All these places seem to be, however!

Though note that even with a work visa, youth unemployment (even among uni grads) is very high in France. It’s possible that certain grandes ecoles grads do better. Again, I defer to @MYOS1634.

At St. Andrews did she apply for French and History, or just History? If the joint honors I believe that includes a year in France. But unlikely she could complete in 3 years.