Showing posts with label overseas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label overseas. Show all posts
Applying to Universities Overseas
Years ago, I wrote a post about going to college overseas. Today's post is Part 2 to that. But first, let's melt over the beauty of the University of Glasgow. Can this building (and student) be more gorgeous? I think not.
My daughter applied to universities overseas several years ago and is completing her degree in the UK now. Here's what helped her narrow down which universities she wanted to apply to for her bachelors degree. By the way, I will use the shorthand "uni" to mean university in this blog post.
1. Look for "unis" that offer the major (also called "program of study" or "course" or "degree program") in the language you want to learn in. For example, my daughter likes biology, so she narrowed down the unis that interested in her based on which biology programs were taught in English. If you are fluent in other languages, you will - of course - have more options. Also, if your program of study is business, finance, and/or economics, you likely will have more choices, too, since those courses are more widely available around the world. For biology, there are very few unis that teach biology in English, so my daughter had less to choose from when it came time to apply.
2. Once you have identified which unis have your degree program in the language you prefer to learn in, as early as possible, learn about the uni's admission process and requirements, tuition for international students, student visa process, and housing options. Most university websites have thorough explanations of these. It's best to start exploring your overseas options during your 10th or 11th grade years in high school in case there are special requirements you need to complete (for example, a specific number of AP classes, or certain IB scores). Starting early also helps you understand the uni and it's pros and cons. For example, originally, my daughter was interested in applying to unis in the Netherlands, however, during her application cycle, many unis in the Netherlands were extremely short on housing for uni students, which made those unis less inviting to apply to. If you can visit the uni in person, that intel is also helpful to narrow down your choices. After my daughter visited several unis in Ireland and the UK, I made this video to explain her favorite options and what we learned during that uni tour.
3. If you are a parent reading this, join Facebook groups related to favorite unis to learn, from a parent's perspective, what that university is like. There is so much useful intel in those parent FB groups! Just do a search for "Parents and XYZ University" to find the right groups. There are also general FB groups that also offer good intel like Flown Abroad
4. If you are applying to unis in the US via the Common App, some overseas unis accept the Common App, too, which makes applying fairly straight-forward.
5. For schools in the UK, use the UCAS application to apply to up to five schools. The cost to apply via UCAS back when my daughter applied was approximately $35 US dollars to apply to five schools all at once. What a bargain!
6. You can get free help with your UCAS application and personal statement if you apply to one of Across the Pond's universities. This is another great bargain - it's free! When you apply to Across the Pond, they assign you an advisor who walks you through the UCAS process. My daughter's advisor also gave her feedback on her personal statement. Lauren, her advisor, was a HUGE help in the UK uni process.
7. Deadlines to apply to unis overseas can be different than the United States, so pay close attention to deadlines. This is also true for decisions, too. Whereas in the United States, students often know by mid-May where they have been accepted, overseas, it's not always as early. For example, my daughter applied to University College Dublin in September and heard back about her acceptance within weeks! For the UK schools, she heard back via UCAS about all her final acceptances in July after her senior year! Of course, this waiting takes extreme steadfastness and patience on the student's and family's part.
8. Because some overseas unis do not share final acceptances until the summer after a high school student's senior year, it makes sense to apply to some US universities, too, get accepted, and hold a spot at that university by making a deposit (if you can) so you have a safety net or school to attend in case an overseas option does not work out.
9. Why would an overseas option not work out? Probably the most common reason why an overseas uni option may not work out: The student may not earn the final grades or test scores that they need to get a final offer from that uni. For example, most overseas unis are very specific about what AP and IB scores are needed in order to get fully, unconditionally accepted. Another reason may be housing (like I mentioned above in #2).
10. Like anything important in life, good things require effort. Due your due diligence, ask for help with this process from parents, college counselors and Facebook groups.
My daughter did explore financial aid options, scholarships, etc. for international students, so do that, too, if that resonates with you. Some unis offer some type of financial aid for international students, others do not.
If you have questions, drop them in the comments. I'll do my best to reply!
Cheers, Jen
Going to College Overseas
What is your opinion of earning an entire college degree overseas?
Since one of my core values is growth, I am already enjoying learning about all the college/university options in the world since Miss O will be going to college in a few short years.
When I was in high school, going to school for a degree overseas seemed like a bad idea - mostly because US degrees felt more credible. Because the world is more globally-focused now, I'm learning that degrees from overseas are valued and the cost?! Y'all, college/university overseas is so much more affordable from I am learning than attending a college/uni in the US including masters degrees! Some degrees cost nothing for US students and others cost $4K-$12K for the year. My mind is blown. One year of studying in many US-based universities cost $25-50K. Imagine getting your entire college degree for the price of one year of US study?!
First, I think you all know my family and I enjoy traveling overseas. We haven't been to too many places, but we loved our weeks in Portugal, England and the Netherlands (photos in this post) over the past few years. When the pandemic is over, we hope to explore more countries specifically Spain and Germany.
In the meantime, here are a few international college resources I am learning the most from about....
Beyond the States - This blog, consulting service and podcast are all very helpful. Jenn (who started Beyond the States)'s son is studying in Rotterdam, Netherlands right now and she has literally made herself an expert on studying overseas. Jenn is also living in Lisbon, Portugal, so her real-life experience is interesting, too. Check out Jenn's blog here, website here and podcast here. I also follow Beyond the States on Instagram, too.
Private Facebook Groups - A fellow mom recommended I join a private FB group (or two) related to attending college overseas. Y'all, I am learning so much from the posts I am reading. Right now, I feel a bit like a voyeur because I have nothing to offer. Learning-wise, it's so interesting to read about all the places US-teens are going to college overseas even during the pandemic.
Ulysses Facebook Page - This is another consulting service (like Beyond the States offers). A fellow FB parent recommended it to me. I have not explored them deeply yet, but I just started following their Facebook page to see what I can learn.
International University Admission Guide - This free guide is packed full of information. I highly advise it as a read.
I'm curious....what are your thoughts about completing a college degree entirely overseas? What other resources should I explore?
Excited to learn more,
Jen
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