While the US receives many international students from all over the world, many US students are going abroad to Europe for college. They go for a variety of reasons such as wanting to travel for pleasure, lower tuition, or a specific program/school.
There is a difference between a semester abroad and actually going to a European school. A study semester abroad is being an exchange student. This is usually an agreement between an American university and a foreign university where they exchange students. Exchange students still receive the classes from their university of origin and eventually return. It is not actually going to a European school, it is going to an American School in Europe. There are over 1,900 American school programs in European universities. Around 50 of these are free of charge even for international students. When looking at schools in Europe, make sure they are accredited. This means your diploma will be valid in the United States.
To consider school in Europe, consider the following pros and cons:
PROS:
1. Cost. University in most European countries is free for its citizens, but if you are an international student it can cost anywhere from around $7,000-$15,000. Compared to the US average of around $40,000 for private, $11,000 for in-state, and $30,000 for out of state.
2. Location. Going to college in Europe is not just an academic choice. The immersion of cultures and countries nearby is why a lot of people consider college in Europe. Taking a train or a short day trip could get you in multiple countries!
3. Timing. In the US, a bachelor's degree is earned in 4 years and a masters in around 2. While this varies between students and colleges, most American Colleges in Europe take only 3 for bachelor’s and 1 year for master’s. Europe does not have the general education courses that the US requires.
4. Application process. The application window is shorter but much simpler than the one in the United States. Colleges/universities in Europe only require an essay on why you want to be at their schools and their programs, as opposed to the story-like essay in the United States.
5. Job opportunity. Students who have studied abroad have worked at local schools teaching kids English. It’s practical, an easy source of income, and a great experience.
6. Apartment living. While some may view no dorms as a con, living in a nearby apartment complex is not as bad as it seems. Many students become roommates, and apartment living is more independent and parallel of what adult life will be like.
CONS:
1. Far from home. Being overseas from everything you grew up around is terrifying and often accompanied by homesickness. Though the experience and meeting new people will easily distract from these feelings.
2. 5 school limit. The application process in Europe only allows you to apply for 5 colleges/universities. The US allows up to 20 schools, but most students choose up 7 because of all the application work. Research and choose wisely.
3. No campus experience. In Europe, the college/university atmosphere is different. There are no sports games, no campus bonding, and no dorms. While this is one of the bigger cons, everyone’s choice of lifestyle is different and campus life might not be for everyone.
4. No undecided. During the application process, you must choose your major or course of study. Since European schools don’t require general education classes, you dive into your course of study right away. For those who already know what they will study, this can be a pro, but for those undecided there is a difficult choice to make.
5. Little to none resources. There is not a lot of resources or information on studying at an American college in Europe. Most students who make this decision do their own research. The resources that do exist, usually cost money and require months of planning ahead.
Lastly, going to school in Europe is not the average course that most high schools
students decide to take as post secondary education. High school counselors will try their best to help, but it is unlikely to be their expertise. There will be challenges in the research, application, and even when you’re already in college. Some websites that are helpful are world-schools.com and beyondthestates.com. Remember to look at both the pros and cons and remember why you want to attend college in Europe!
SOURCES:
https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-study-abroad-definition-benefits.html https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/student-finance/how-much-does-it-cost-study-euro pe https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/what-you-need-to-k now-about-college-tuition-costs https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/articles/2017-08-11/how-bachelors- degree-programs-in-the-us-and-europe-differ https://world-schools.com/the-best-american-schools-in-europe/
Written by Cami Amaya from Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
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