From: E-List [NACAC@PEACH.EASE.LSOFT.COM] on behalf of Bruce
Hammond [bhammond20@COMCAST.NET]
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006
9:46 AM
To: NACAC@PEACH.EASE.LSOFT.COM
Subject: Re:
[NACAC_E-LIST] Attending college abroad...
I have a few additional notes to add about attending college abroad.
Many students first think of Cambridge, Oxford and London School of Economics,
but these three are not likely to be realistic. Cambridge is
generally not receptive to American high-school graduates; one of its
colleges' websites notes "the mismatch" between the American liberals arts
system and the more specialized English approach, including the fact that
English students get 13 years of schooling vs. 12 for Americans. London School
of Economics leaves the door open a crack, noting that an American high
school diploma is "not normally sufficient" but also suggesting that
exceptional applicants with a number of AP grades of 4 and 5 can
apply. In a recent year, Oxford accepted 35 Americans high school
graduates out of a pool of hundreds and is probably the most selective
institution in the world for Americans at the undergraduate level.
More generally, England is often a questionable choice for Americans
because of the more specialized three-year degree structure. The Scottish
universities do, however, offer a four-year degree structure and these can be an
excellent choice, in part because of Scotland's heritage as an intellectual and
social crossroads. The University of St Andrews has the longest
history of recruiting Americans and by far the highest proportion of them in its
undergraduate population. The Universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow,
Edinburgh, and Stirling are other prominent names, and there are many
others. These places are moderately to highly selective for Americans.
Sticker prices vary in the U.K. but something near the low $20,000s for an
annual bill could be expected, with little prospect of meaningful financial
aid. On the continent, the primary option is the network of American-style
institutions such as the American Universities in Paris and Rome. There is an
new American university in Bremen, Germany, with ties to Rice, and several
places in Switzerland. Webster University has a number of campuses abroad.
Most of these institutions are small -- 1,000 students give or take -- and
not highly selective. The least expensive place in the
English-speaking world to get a degree is Australia, though in selectivity and
reputuation, the down-under institutions are not the equals of those in the U.K.
Bruce Hammond
Sandia Preparatory School
Albuquerque, NM
--------------
Original message --------------
From: dina jacobs
<dinajacobs123@HOTMAIL.COM>
> Thanks again for all those who
responded to this posting. This has been
> such a help!! Below is the
condensed version of the bulk of the results I
> received. Let me know
if you have any questions.
>
> Dina Jacobs
> College
Counselor
> PACE High School
> 100 Hester Street
> NY, NY
10002
>
> RESULTS:
>
> - visit
www.studyuk.hobsons.com to help you find information on UK
> colleges
abroad and how to translate the entry requirements.
>
> -
Generally speaking a US student will need:
> High School Diploma
> 600 on each section of the SAT
> 2-3 AP with scores of 3 or
higher or 2-3 SAT Subject Tests with 600
> Or the IB Diploma with
points between 30-36
> For more information, visit the undergraduate
section at:
>
http://www.britishcouncil.org/usa-education-undergraduate-degree.htm.
>
> - Last year I had two students applying to the UK. Since it was my
first
> time dealing with the entrance requirements, I found it a bit
> fascinating and very detailed. My suggestion would be to check look
at
> the UCAS site which is similar to our national Common application.
The
> site is http://www.ucas.com/ This site will give you the most
> information. There is also an exam that American students are
required
> to take. They will send you the exam once a student applies
and someone
> at your school will need to proctor it.
>
>
- visit www.studyintheuk.org is website of the British Council. This should
> be very helpful.
>
> - Go to the website for British
Council. They are the branch that works
> with students studying there
and have many helps to get you through the
> process.
>
>
- Students are admitted to UK universities on the basis of AP or IB scores
> coupled with SAT scores. Cambridge and Oxford must be applied to
earlier
> than the others and students can not apply to both. The
application form
> needed is called a UCAS and can be found at the
British site. The
> application requires one teacher reference and a
short essay. It is filed
> at a central location and then disseminated
from there to the universities.
> There is also a fee, which is the
same for 1 application as for 6.
>
> - Applying to the UK is
rather straightforward. The qualifications they
> look for are
demanding courses - particular they would want to see
> either IB or AP
courses. They will want to see Predicted Scores on the
> recommendation
e.g. how will that student do on those exams in May of
> the year he is
graduating. Most likely, unless he is exceptionally
> strong,
graduating early to attend a UK school will be difficult. I am
> sure
the British Council will be of assistance in helping you sort this
>
out. In the meantime, got to UCAS.com, it is the clearinghouse for all
> UK schools and it is where you and the student will manage the
> application.
>
> - I would also draw your attention to
another agency I met at a college fair
> called Across the Pond...their
rep was great and followed up with me almost
> immediately! Their
website is www.studyacrossthepond.com
>
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