USA vs. Europe

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey all, I'm a rising senior and I'm about to make the hardest decision in my life. College...
Let me be direct: I don't know what's the best for me, go American or European. And I'm not talking about UK, I'm talking about Germany and Swiss. About me, I live in germany and went for my junior year to US, and I loved it there. Now I have to decide whether I should return to finish high school and go American, or sty here and go euro... Let's hear what you guys think.</p>

<p>My stats:
-ACT:29
-3.7 GPA
-no SAT
I should be able to score a lot higher now bc my English was just really bad.</p>

<h3>US</h3>

<p><schools i'm="" looking="" at="">
-Umichigan
-Uchicago
-Upenn
-UCB
-Stanford</schools></p>

<p><pro>
-Top colleges(really the best)
-once in, it gets easier(I'm disagreeable on that one)
-life experience
-prestige
-good weather :)</pro></p>

<p><contra>
-they are all most selective
-roughly 200k dollars in four years to pay(tuition+everything else. Plus I'm not applying for FA, bc I'm a international and my chances are already miserable)
-far away from home</contra></p>

<h3>Europe</h3>

<p><schools i'm="" looking="" at="">
-ETH Zurich
35 Nobel prize winners
Albert Einstein and Röntgen graduated there</schools></p>

<p>-University of Göttingen
45 Nobel prize winners
School of Oppenheimer, Gauss, Max Planck, Bismark, Napoleon, brothers Grimm</p>

<p>-University of Heidelberg
30 nobel prize winners
Graduates: Von Siemens, Max Born</p>

<p>-University of Munich
33 Nobel prize winners
Gustav Hertz, Röntgen</p>

<p><pro>
-Tuition-free
-guaranteed admission
-not so far from home
-no possible language barrier</pro></p>

<p><contra>
-highly selective after 2 semesters. **About 60% of the students fail the final exam and drop out or repeat first two semesters.<a href="partly%20bc%20pretty%20much%20everyone%20gets%20admitted">/b</a></contra></p>

<p>-extremely challenging final exams
-no football, baseball and college basketball
-crappy weather</p>

<p>Alright, I think many would think that those us colleges vie listed are very high or even beyond my highest reach based on my stats, but I do believe I can improve my stats by a significant amount. In addition, I aim so high bc European universities offer excellent and challenging programms, too(just a lil bit below Ivies and Stanford and some other great colleges). And they are tuition-free. People would also ask which one I lime more, yet I am really in a dilemma... </p>

<p>On the one hand there is this energic, vital and exciting America and all it's passion for freedom and many other great things sch as football( PS: I really enjoy blue mountain states)...On the other hand there is this old Europe with it's tradition and history for 600 years(for example Heidelberg university was found in 14th century). And my family lives here. I really can't tell which one I favour more.</p>

<p>Once a CCer told me the only way not to get into a college is not to apply. Maybe I should just apply to both sides and decide later, but I think if Ive decided to go European, I will take my time to enjoy the last year in high school and not deal with essays and all that stuff :)
So, Please CCers, tell me what you think.</p>

2

<p>Like you said, your chance at all the schools you mentioned (maybe with the exception of UMich) are slim to none without significant improvements of your stats. However, in my view, if attending an American college is really worth it.</p>

3

<p>“crappy weather”</p>

<p>Don’t leave Germany expecting to have better weather at U Mich or U Chicago.</p>

<p>“I live in germany and went for my junior year to US, and I loved it there. Now I have to decide whether I should return to finish high school and go American, or sty here and go euro…”
“I’m a international”</p>

<p>You don’t have to graduate from high school in the US in order to get into college/university in the US. International applicants who have never even visited the US are admitted to colleges/universities here every single year. You should stay in Germany and finish your secondary school education there. Then you would be able to apply to colleges/universities in both the US and Europe.</p>

<p>“roughly 200k dollars in four years to pay”
“I’m not applying for FA”</p>

<p>Sit down with your parents and/or whoever else is going to help you pay for your education, and find out just exactly how much money is going to be available. Is your family willing and able to pay 200k or more for four years of studies here? If not, how much are they willing and able to pay? Studying in the US may not be an option at all. Or, you may be limited to places that are less expensive and/or offer you scholarship money.</p>

<p>If you have not already done so, you need to read through everything (and I do indeed mean everything) at [EducationUSA</a> | Study Abroad, Student Visa, University Fairs, College Applications and Study in the U.S. / America](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.info/]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.info/) Then you need to make an appointment with the counselors at the advising center closest to where you live. There are several in Germany: [EducationUSA</a> - Find an Advising Center](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.info/Germany]EducationUSA”>Germany | EducationUSA) These counselors are expert at helping students from your country find good places to study in the US. They can guide you through the whole process.</p>

<p>You also should spend some time in the International Students Forum here at CC. Look for threads and posts by other students from Germany. b@r!um is one who will have good ideas for you. [International</a> Students - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/international-students/]International”>International Students - College Confidential Forums)</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>