Universities in Northern Europe for Americans?

[happy2bmom]

<p>Now that we (the parents and the younger children) are likely moving to Europe for a few years, my HS junior's college search has taken a twist. He wants to explore the idea of going to school in northern Europe: he loves the idea of the adventure and he would be closer to the family. He will finish high school here in the States. He may still go to college in the U.S., but this is now an option that we want to consider.</p>

<p>He is a B student who wants to study psychology. He is planning to go to graduate school. Most of his classes are honors classes (very academically rigorous high school) and he has not had any AP classes. He might have one or two APs as a senior. No SAT scores are available yet. He has some ECs.</p>

<p>So far I have looked at Jacobs Bremen in Germany & Webster Leiden in the Netherlands. I'm trying to sort through the UK options; I am wondering if he would have a chance of getting into Trinity Dublin. Any other suggestions? Thanks.</p>

[niftydesign]

<p>Maastricht University in the Netherlands</p>

[college_ruled]

<p>I know people who have gone to UK universities for undergrad. Even students who have taken plenty of APs find that there is often a mismatch between US and European (UK) curriculum. UK students go in knowing what they want to study, because they have had a more intense high school (IB) curriculum. The concept of general education requirements is basically non existent, because the curriculum at European universities is basically just one’s major. If students want to transfer to a different school or change majors they basically have to start over. There is supposed to be a lot more “hand holding” in American Universities, and it is much more common for there to be only one or two assignments that make up one’s entire grade. I also think there is more focus on the under graduate experience in the United States. One of the reasons why college in the US costs so much is that US colleges provide amenities that European colleges don’t. </p>

<p>There was an article in the New York Times a few years ago about Saint Andrews in Scotland. Scottish Unis are generally supposed to be a better fit for Americans because they are a 4, not 3 year degree. </p>

<p>The undergrad students I know at UK Unis are all happy, but they all took mostly AP classes in high school. I know your son wouldn’t be applying to Cambridge, but I know one person’s acceptance to Cambridge was conditional upon receiving certain AP scores senior year. (I don’t think even the Ivies require that). I also have had friends who had a fantastic time studying abroad in the UK.</p>

<p>I don’t know; however, how continental European Universities differ from their UK counterparts.</p>

[M_s_Mom]

<p>Check out Richmond University in London. [Study</a> at Richmond, The American International University in London](<a href=“http://www.richmond.ac.uk/]Study”>http://www.richmond.ac.uk/) Neighbor’s daughter attends and loves it. Another daughter at University of Bath.</p>

[jonri]

<p>[Academic</a> Programs - Academics - UMUC Europe](<a href=“http://www.ed.umuc.edu/undergrad/]Academic”>http://www.ed.umuc.edu/undergrad/)</p>

<p>The University of Maryland offers courses in Europe (and elswhere in the world.) Most of those who take the classes–at least way back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and I was young–were military members. A fair number of “dependents,” college age children of US armed forces members, also took the classes. The beauty of it is that you can transfer to UMaryland in the US and get full credit for your courses. </p>

<p>OOPS, sorry, it looks as if the student or a parent must be employed by the US government. I’ll leave the link just in case that applies, but see <a href=“http://www.ed.umuc.edu/undergrad/services/admissions.html[/url]”>http://www.ed.umuc.edu/undergrad/services/admissions.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Another option is the American U. in Paris. [Welcome</a> to The American University of Paris](<a href=“http://www.aup.edu/]Welcome”>http://www.aup.edu/) Or the American U. in Rome <a href=“https://www.my.aur.it/ics[/url]”>https://www.my.aur.it/ics&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Then of course, there are the foreign colleges. One word of advice–remember that if your S gets his degree in Europe, he will not have the services of a career services office which will help get internships and jobs in the US. I don’t mean to emphasize this too much, but it is a consideration. </p>

<p>My understanding is that some of the Dutch schools offer classes in English. </p>

<p>St. Andrews, which has about 10% Americans in its student body, is also a good option.</p>

[TXArtemis]

<p>Not quite on point, but something to throw in the hat…</p>

<p>NYU offers a freshman year in Florence, Paris and London–for sophomore year, you return to the New York campus. The entire gig is a two-year liberal arts “core” that allows you to jump off into a wide variety of degree programs in junior year.</p>

<p>[NYU</a> > Study Abroad](<a href=“First Year Away Programs”>First Year Away Programs)</p>

[starbright]

<p>What languages does he speak? Is he limited to English speaking universities? How north? </p>

<p>I have been investigating UK colleges a lot in recent months. And I’m learning that, as with most things on CC, there is tremendous mythology so don’t rule out anything from word on the ‘cc street’. Including my post, lol.</p>

<p>Scottish unis as someone mentioned- such as St. Andrews, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen- are 4 years and provide quite a bit of flexibility. Moreover, to my surprise, I’m finding a lot of very interesting and flexible programs within British unis as well, many of which are four years long. And some colleges that are particularly residential- so more akin to US colleges- besides St. A, and Oxbridge.</p>

<p>If UK is a possibility, a couple of fantastic websites include the student room (the uk equivalent of cc), UCAS course finder, and unistats. This last website is FABULOUS for being able to compare student attitudes AND student outcomes, and I only wish such a database existed for US colleges!</p>

[jonri]

<p>You asked about Trinity. Here is the link to the minimum requirements for Americans to apply: [Entrance</a> requirements - Undergraduate non-EU - How to apply - International Office : Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland](<a href=“http://www.tcd.ie/international/apply/non-eu-undergraduate/entrance-requirements/index.php]Entrance”>http://www.tcd.ie/international/apply/non-eu-undergraduate/entrance-requirements/index.php)</p>

[Kajon]

<p>I believe Copenhagen has an American University and the other city I would feel comfortable having my kids live would be Stockholm.</p>

[happy2bmom]

<p>Thank you all so much for your replies. Recently, I have learned so much about the European college system and American unis abroad - but I still have a lot to learn! </p>

<p>To answer a question, my son would have to have a program in English. He has studied a foreign language, but he could not manage a program in a foreign language.</p>

<p>Some additional thoughts: </p>

<p>I was surprised to see that Maastricht University does offer some undergraduate programs in English. I have discovered that it is not too hard to find European graduate programs in English but quite unusual to find those for undergrad. However, the psychology program is in Dutch. </p>

<p>He will likely meet the requirements to apply to Trinity. Of course, meeting the requirements to apply and getting in are two different things. Without multiple APs, admission to U of Edinburgh seems highly unlikely. Is St. Andrews easier to get in than Edinburgh?</p>

<p>Scandinavia: I have not found any American Universities nor have I found any European schools with undergraduate psychology programs in English. I am of course open to suggestions.</p>

<p>Richmond in London looks interesting and possible. </p>

<p>How far north? UK, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Scandinavia. Maybe France.</p>

<p>TXArtemis, thank you so much for the idea about the Freshman Year Abroad. Even if my son’s chances for getting into NYU are slim, I love the idea of searching for a Freshman Year Abroad program. That is a strong possibility. He is not crazy about the idea of being an ocean away from his family. Neither am I! But after the first year we might be more comfortable with it. We had always planned for him to do a study abroad year during college.</p>

<p>The story is a bit old (2007), but here is an article about Freshman Year Abroad: [News:</a> Freshman Year Abroad - Inside Higher Ed](<a href=“http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/10/23/freshmen]News:”>http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/10/23/freshmen)</p>

<p>Again, many thanks.</p>

[Grcxx3]

<p>I’m going to throw out another option…a 13th year. </p>

<p>I know many people who have moved overseas in a similar situation. In several cases, the oldest child chose to hold off college in favor of another year at school. </p>

<p>Some students chose to spent the extra year at the same overseas school they attended/graduated from. The students took additional courses, took additional AP exams, furthered their foreign language skills, served as assistant athletic coaches, heped with fine arts classes, worked as classroom aids, etc. </p>

<p>And I know of one student who chose to do a formal 13th year program at Leysin American School in Switzerland.
[LAS</a> - Post-Graduate Year](<a href=“http://www.las.ch/ibacademics/postGraduateYear.html]LAS”>http://www.las.ch/ibacademics/postGraduateYear.html)</p>

<p>Just a thought! :)</p>

[hannahorenstein]

<p>Another thought: Could your son do Global Liberal Studies at NYU (the freshman study abroad program), return to New York for sophomore year, and then take another study abroad junior year? I’m not sure how that would work out in terms of credits, but it may be a possibility.</p>

[Spriteling]

<p>As an American (who will be paying international fees) your son will have a good chance of getting into programmes in the UK. Edinburgh will not be unlikely for him. Requirements are usually lower for international students, just because they pay more money, and the uni is more flexible if you miss your offer. </p>

<p>I’d definitely email Edinburgh/St Andrews/any other UK universities and explain about the courses your son is taking. Honours courses will probably be an acceptable substitute for AP courses, though obviously AP courses are standardised and so they’re slightly easier for unis to deal with.</p>

<p>If you’ve got any questions, I’m at Edinburgh currently, and I applied through UCAS to unis in the UK.</p>

[college_ruled]

<p>Skidmore has the First-Year Experience in London ([Skidmore</a> College: The London First-Year Experience](<a href=“http://cms.skidmore.edu/ocse/programs/london_fye/index.cfm]Skidmore”>http://cms.skidmore.edu/ocse/programs/london_fye/index.cfm)).</p>

[momjr]

<p>My friend’s son attended the American University in Paris. Classes are taught in english. The school is in a great neighborhood near the Eiffel tower. He had an amazing experience.</p>