<p>I realize that United World Colleges aren't quite the same as a prep school since they are just the last two years or IB diploma programme, but I wondered if anyone had considered having their child apply there. UWC</a> | UWC I haven't considered a full four year program anywhere but my oldest daughter will do a two year program at a public boarding school for gifted youth so I have started thinking about UWC for her younger brother. Would you send your child to boarding school overseas?</p>
<p>This is one of two steps which i will go towards if we dont get into bs.</p>
<p>Another possibility is Mary Baldwin College in VA, the have a PEG, program for the exceptional gifted, it is college but about 75 girls belong to this group within a small woman’s college</p>
<p>there is also [Home</a> — Bard College at Simon’s Rock - The Early College](<a href=“http://www.simons-rock.edu/]Home”>http://www.simons-rock.edu/)</p>
<p>neatoburrito —thank you…we have spoken with some one from Bard College</p>
<p>The UWC’s go through grade 13 so figure out whether your daughter wishes to add an additional year to her high school studies.</p>
<p>van–that additional year is what i am pretty much decided on, she was born late august, thus always the youngest in our part of the country</p>
<p>I would actually prefer to send my son to one of the UWC over a high school boarding school. By the time he finishes his sophomore year he will have taken AP calculus, English, world history, environmental science, biology, Spanish, U.S. and comparative government as well as plenty of honors classes and concert band. With some summer English classes he could just graduate but I’d rather he had an international experience and an IB diploma.</p>
<p>My oldest son graduated from the United World College of the Atlantic (the UWC in Wales). He had a fantastic experience and I would recommend the experience to all.</p>
<p>He is willing to answer any questions – so ask away.</p>
<p>Do you know of any place where there are statistics on U.S. students accepted by UWC? My 8th grader plans to apply in 10th grade. He currently has ACT scores of 30, 27, 33, 29 with a composite of 30. He will also have taken 8 AP classes and exams by the end of 10th grade. He goes to a blah urban public school and will do an exchange year and then go to a public boarding school for gifted youth for 11th and 12th if he doesn’t get to go to a UWC, but he thinks a UWC would be ideal. Our state boarding school is pretty good but does not have an IB program. Besides academics, which come easily to him, he enjoys band and running cross country. What other activities should he be involved in to be a good candidate for a UWC?</p>
<p>Some community service would probably help. Service is a relatively big part of student life at any UWC. Beyond that, your son shouldn’t really need to be involved in any other activities than those he’s interested in and enjoys.</p>
<p>There aren’t any websites I know of that list statistics for US students accepted to or attending UWCs, but if your son does well in his AP exams and keeps grades up along with participation in ECs, I see him having a good chance at being accepted.</p>
<p>The most important thing is for your son to really want to go to a UWC, to have that international experience. That really shows, in my opinion, in the application and interview.</p>
<p>Also, the UWC program does not necessarily add an extra year. It can for students who apply in junior year and it did for me, but I’m pretty sure I was in the minority.</p>
<p>Which UWC did you attend? Did you have opportunities to learn another language/use another language with other students? Do you feel it helped you be better prepared for college or in college admissions? It seems like a good way to do an IB program because the CAS is built-into the whole experience compared to tacked on when you attend an IB program at a (non-boarding) school in the US. Did you feel that way? What did you enjoy most? What was the most challenging? Sorry to inundate you with questions but I am very curious.</p>
<p>I attended United World College of the Atlantic. It’s located in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, UK.</p>
<p>The IB requires that students take a second language. I took Spanish and had a lot of opportunity to speak in Spanish with other students. For the majority of second year I spoke with most of my latino friends in Spanish. However, I’d say I was in the minority as far as language progression goes, which is to say that students get out of the language course what they put into it.</p>
<p>I’d say UWC helped prepare me for college academically and socially, for the most part. The living arrangement was similar to what you’d find at most universities: co-ed residential houses with dorms, study rooms and a communal kitchen/living area, class rooms on the main area of the campus and a main dining hall. I’m not so sure about college admissions. It definitely didn’t hurt, seeing as I got into U of Chicago.</p>
<p>I’d say if your son is really into a particular EC, like Boy Scouts, or sports then UWC isn’t the way to go. Activities are largely limited to those on campus and if it’s not on campus you’re SOL.</p>
<p>It was definitely convenient to have CAS built into the experience. It was relatively easy to complete the CAS requirements because it was just part of life at the school.</p>
<p>What I enjoyed most was socializing with the international students and getting to know them and becoming good friends with quite a few of them. When I say it that way it actually sounds kind of boring and not particularly unique, but I assure you it’s a very unique thing to have friends from various countries throughout the world. </p>
<p>The IB was the most challenging aspect of AC. Spending two years in a class to prepare for one exam that could count towards 50+% of your grade is somewhat stressful.</p>
<p>And I don’t mind being inundated with questions. I’m happy to respond and if you’d like any more detail or if you have any other questions, feel free to ask 'em. :)</p>
<p>Justin</p>
<p>That sounds good. My son enjoys running cross country and playing percussion but I think he won’t care if he isn’t in a concert band and running races as long as he has opportunities to be active and hear music. I know what you mean about being around the international students. I was an exchange student and my 16 yo daughter is currently a Rotary exchange student. We both have loved being around people from other countries. Thanks for your comments. It affirms much of what I thought. My son has two years of high school ahead of him before he can apply but I think it would be a good fit for him. I hope he gets that opportunity. Otherwise he’ll do an exchange year and then spend his last two years of high school at our state boarding school for gifted youth - not quite as exciting as UWC and no IB program but still a fun and challenging boarding school environment. Thank goodness for Facebook and Skype - I lost contact with my exchange friends from the '80’s but you’ll be able to stay in touch with your overseas friends forever.</p>
<p>At Atlantic College there was a running group while I was there and a number of students ran daily, so if your son still enjoys doing that he shouldn’t have a problem, at least not at AC.</p>
<p>There’s also a music department at AC. I don’t know much about it, but there are practice rooms and music lessons. I don’t know if it will change between now and when your son applies, though. The current head of the music department will be retiring at the end of this academic year and I don’t know if Neil (current headmaster) is planning on doing anything different with it or keeping it as it is.</p>
<p>Either way, UWC or no, it looks like your son will have two to three very enjoyable years of school ahead of him.</p>
<p>And facebook and skype are definitely relationship-savers. There are quite a few people, probably most of my classmates, that I would have lost touch with by now if it weren’t for those wonderful inventions. ^.^</p>
<p>Good luck with applications!</p>
<p>Does anyone know the approx acceptance rate of Pearson (UWC of the Pacific) or the school of the Atlantic? Is it comparable to Exeter…? If it’s an absolute crapshoot to get in (like Exeter!), then I figure I shouldn’t waste my time, but UWCs look really, really interesting… it’d be awesome if I had a shot!</p>
<p>The way I see it, if you’re meant to go to a UWC then that will show in your application and interview and you’ll be chosen to attend one.</p>
<p>I don’t know about Pearson, specifically. If you’re an American student it doesn’t actually matter how many students go to each individual college because you apply to the UWC movement through the US National Committee, rather than individual schools. The Committee then looks at your list of preferences and based on a variety of factors (I say “variety of factors” because I’m not entirely sure how this decision is made) you are placed in one of the various UWCs. Sometimes you get your first choice, sometimes you don’t.</p>
<p>The year I applied, the numbers were as follows (if I remember correctly):</p>
<p>400 students from the US applied during the first round of the app process.</p>
<p>Of those 400, about 100 made it to the interview stage.</p>
<p>Of the 100 interviewed, 50 were sent to the various UWCs throughout the world, with about half remaining in the US and attending the Armand Hammer United World College of the American West.</p>
<p>Now, this was a few years ago and I think that the number of applicants has increased, but I’m not certain of that.</p>
<p>I’m fairly certain (almost 100% positive) that the number of students selected to attend UWCs doesn’t change. It’s fixed at 50 per year, which means that as the number of applicants continues to increase it becomes more and more difficult to get a spot.</p>
<p>However, like I said at the beginning of this post, if you’re meant to attend then I think that significantly increases your chances of obtaining a placement at one of the colleges. There are plenty of students who apply because they think it’s the hot ticket to university and I’m sure that shows just as much in the application process.</p>
<p>If you want it, go for it and keep a positive attitude.</p>
<p>so i’m planning to apply to the UWC program this year and am trying to convince my parents. they think if i participate in the UWC program i might not nd up at good colleges like ivies. i was wondering, out of the partnered college the davis scholars program has, if your a UWC graduate, do you automatically get into one of the colleges with a scholarship like Stanford? (of course you still would have to apply to it, yet would your chances of acceptance be high enough to be guaranteed a spot?)</p>
<p>hi there! i’m applying to UWC too! i’m sorry i can’t answer your question, it would be great to talk about it through PM or here! have you already sent the application?</p>
<p>My name is Oliver, and I am a second year at Red Cross Nordic United World College.</p>
<p>I have a little blog about my extra curricular activities, which might be of interest: [Oliver</a> @ RCNUWC (Red Cross Nordic United World College)](<a href=“http://oliver-rcnuwc.blogspot.com/]Oliver”>http://oliver-rcnuwc.blogspot.com/)</p>
<p>My email is on the blog, please contact me if you have any questions :)</p>