I’d really like to know if anyone here on CC knows anything about US students going to study in the Netherlands! It’s something I’m seriously considering, but I don’t know really how open they are to US students.
I’m a current US high school student. I lived in the Netherlands for 2 years when I was really little. My entire dad’s side of the family currently lives there. The last time I was there was last summer to see my grandparents. Since my dad is a Dutch citizen, I’m eligible for dual citizenship, as well as a Dutch passport.
I’ve researched this a bit and I know that in order to get in, you’d need to have a good GPA (which I do have, UW 3.7 out of 4.0 which isn’t anything out of this world but it is good, right?) but the thing that worries me is that a lot of the colleges say that in order to have an equivalent to the top Dutch high school diploma, you need to score high on at least 3 AP exams. I’m worried about this because the current private Catholic high school I attend has limited APs. I’m a junior and I won’t take one until I’m a senior. But our academics are really intense and competitive: we just don’t have that many APs available to us. Will this be a big problem in my international chances? Will they understand that I didn’t have those options, or do they not look into it?
I’m looking at University of Amsterdam (is it the Amsterdam University College?) Leiden, and Utrecht. I’d like to study something in the environmental field, although I’m not sure yet.
If anyone out there knows anything about Dutch university acceptance, please help me out! Thank you!!!
Hello 
have you checked on the websites of the schools you prefer?
The standardized testing is essential, and you are unlikely to find a way in without the APs. However, it’s not the class they are interested in, but the scores. You might be surprised how many students self-study for APs, and if you are in an academically challenging school, you probably have enough background to do so. Some suggestions:
- Do some more homework, and determine exactly what course you want to apply for- you don't just apply to college, as in the US, you apply to a specific course in the university. I'm assuming that you want to study in English, and there are only a small number of courses (iirc, 8 or 10) taught in English. So, go pick the course and read the requirements carefully.
- Email the university / department that you want to apply to and ask what subjects they want to see APs in, and what score they accept. The reason the APs matter so much is that they are (in effect) your freshman year marks- that's why the courses are 3 years not 4 years. For example, you can expect that if you apply to (say) Econ, you will need a Calc.
- Look at the courses you are taking this year and next, and see if you are / will have taken similar courses in those subjects, and pick out 3 (or 4) that line up between what the university wants and what you are/will be taking.
- Go down to your GC and explain that you are looking at Dutch schools and they require AP scores for admission. Ask for your GCs help in registering for whatever APs you can for this May. It will make your life more stressful this year and less stressful next year if you can register for 3 that will work for you.
- Assuming all that works out, go get AP study books for those courses (you can get them from the library if buying them isn't practical). Over winter and spring breaks, work through them. Be sure to do several full, TIMED, practice tests. If you encounter specific material that is too unfamiliar either find a helpful teacher after school or get on good terms with Kahn Academy online.
- In May sit however many APs you can and see what your results are in July. If you have done 3 and get the required scores, then your admission is all but assured. If you still have more to take as a Senior you will most likely get an offer 'conditional' on your achieving the required marks. That's where it's more stressful: you would probably want to accept a US college with a deposit just in case the exams don't go well.
- Few enough non-resident Dutch citizens apply to Dutch universities that I think they assume if you are Dutch you are also tax-resident, which would make your tuition €4K, but as a non-resident you should be paying the international student fee of €9K. Just be prepared for that possibility! Either, way it's a heck of a deal.
One reason to consider registering as an international student is housing: the university usually has enough for first year international students ONLY. Everybody else finds housing in the open rental market- which in Amsterdam is expensive and competitive, and (especially first year) you would want your family to help you with that… And of course, if you would be living with family (which is much more common in Europe than in the US) all that is irrelevant.
- Be aware that European universities are much more hands-off than US ones: you will be expected to fend for yourself and to take charge of the process yourself. That means you have to look for information rather than waiting for them to offer it, etc. There are significant cultural differences in the expectations of students.
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