Higher Education in the US or the UK?
Hey, Everyone!
I am near finished with my university application process, and I thought this was the perfect opportunity to share my experience with you all. I have been applying to schools in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Whenever I mention this to people, they are always astonished by my choice and ask why I would choose to study overseas. Although my situation is slightly unique, I hope that reading this may clear up any reservations you may be having about where to continue your education.
Before I jump in, here's a little background information. I plan on studying the subject of PPE (Politics, Philosophy, and Economics) if I choose to study in the UK, or Political Economy if I choose to study in the US.
Applications in General
In the US, there are two ways of applying to a university: either directly to the school or through the Common Application - a system where you complete one application that can be sent off to multiple schools. The Common Application allows you to apply to a total of 20 universities. Some schools in the UK offer international students the choice of applying through the Common Application, but there's a catch! If you read the fine print, you will notice that the UK schools on the Common Application ask for a separate 500 word-or-so essay. They typically do not take into account the portion of your application that states all of your extra-curricular activities, part-time jobs, etc. Therefore, it is really important to sell yourself on the separate essay when applying to UK universities via the Common Application so that they can get a true sense of your character.
With the exception of the few British schools that offer international students the luxury of applying via the Common Application, all UK universities require you to apply through a system called UCAS. This application system only allows you to apply to 5 universities of your choice. I won't go into detail of how the UCAS application system works, but there are some things to note. First, you must know what you want to major in before you apply. Otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete. Also, UCAS doesn't beat around the bush. Yes, they ask for your personal information just like the Common Application. However, they do not have separate sections asking if you've ever had a part-time job or if you play any sports. Instead, they graciously give you 4,000 characters to cram in the following: why you want to study a particular major, why you think you're ready for university, what your personal and academic achievements are, what sports or musical instruments you play, and what your extracurriculars are!
Entrance Requirements
College entrance requirements in the US are a lot more lenient than they are in the UK. All you really need to be considered for an American University is a completed high school transcript with sufficient credits in each subject, as well as an SAT/ACT composite score. Once you have this information, you can send it off to the university and they will review your application. Each university processes applications at different speeds. But once you receive your offer, you're either in or you're out. There is no so-called "conditional offer" stating that you must meet a specific grade on your final exams to officially be admitted. However, more prestigious and academically demanding schools may require you to maintain a certain GPA for the remainder of your final year in high school.
In the UK, however, the system is far more nerve-wracking. A simple American High School Diploma isn't going to cut it. British schools typically accept the American High School diploma and SAT/ACT scores for international students. However, they require for you to have one of the following in addition to your SAT/ACT composite: AP subject scores or 3 SAT Subject Tests. Once you receive your results for your AP tests/3 SAT subject tests, you can send it to the university and they should give you an "unconditional" offer based on the quality of your results - "unconditional" means you're either admitted or you're not. There's no catch. You can also apply to UK schools through UCAS without ACT/SAT scores if you have an IB diploma. If you are expecting to receive the IB diploma, be prepared to receive a "conditional" offer - meaning you will only be admitted depending on what final score you receive. Students enrolled in the IB diploma receive their scores the July before University starts. So, they have to wait until July before they find out if they're admitted!
Why does this matter for IB students? American universities don't really care about your final IB score. The only time they do is if they offer you college credit for your IB score. So, you can find out from as early as mid-November to as late as March to find out if you got admitted. When applying to the UK, however, you have to bite your nails until July to see if your IB scores were good enough to get you into the British school of your choice.
Studying Options
I have no experience so speak of when it comes to the ultimate university experience in the United States versus the United Kingdom. However, my brother recently graduated from the University of Exeter in England so I will pull from the information I gathered from him.
In the United States, students typically spend 4 years at university before they complete their undergraduate degree. However, depending on how well they performed on their IB/AP tests, they may earn college credit that will shave a couple of semesters off of this 4 year total. Additionally, I found that many universities do not offer many majors that consist of multiple subjects. For example, I originally intended on studying Political Science and Economics. A lot of schools only offer either Political Science or Economics as a major. I did not want to study either of those subjects exclusively, nor was I particularly keen on doing a major/minor degree. So, I made sure to apply for schools that offer Political Economy as a major - therefore, I could get the best of both worlds.
In the United Kingdom, it only takes 3 years to receive your undergraduate degree. It is important to note that some universities offer a " sandwich" course - you study for two years, your third year is spent completing industrial experience, and then you complete your fourth and final year of studying. I love this option because by completing a sandwich course, you have work experience under your belt to add to your transcript. This makes it much easier to find work after graduating. My brother, for example, complete his industrial experience year with IBM in London. Once he graduated, he was offered a paid job at IBM in London because they had already worked with him and trained him in a particular field. In addition to the 4-year "sandwich" courses, some UK universities will allow you to study for only 4 years and graduate with a Masters degree depending on your major. This Masters degree is recognized outside of the UK as well. As far as subject choices available, I would say hat the UK has better options for integrating subjects in your major of choice. For example, I would be able to study PPE (Politics, Philosophy, and Economics), which is a perfect mixture of what I wanted to study in the first place. At the end of the day, your major is what's really important. I'm sure the Pre-Medical programs are far better in the US than they are in the UK, for example.
Fees and Finances
It is difficult to compare the cost of going to university in the US versus the UK.
In the US, the fees of each university depend on whether it's a private or public school, where it's located, how prestigious it is, etc. However, there are tons of scholarship opportunities available for students studying in the US. There is also a huge emphasis on financial aid, with no shortage of organizations to supply it.
In the UK, the fees of universities are not drastically different (depending on your major, of course). Unfortunately, there are few, if any, scholarship opportunities to students studying in the UK.
Final Thoughts?
The choice of where to study is completely an independent decision. I would not recommend relying on the internet to make the decision for you. Each student's situation is unique. Also, I would not stress early on about where you would like to study geographically. I am in my final year of high school and I haven't even decided yet. What I would suggest is to apply to every school that appeals to you and see what kind of offers you get. Then, take out a yellow legal pad and make a pros and cons list!
To avoid writing a novel, I tried to keep this blog post short and to the point. If you should have any questions or clarifications about anything I wrote, please do not hesitate to comment or email. Well, there's my two cents! :)
Until next time,
Sophie F.
