Does anyone have any international college experience...(xpost)

[Heather in VA]

I wasn't sure if this goes here or on the college board. Sorry...

My daughter dropped a bombshell on my today. Well I guess it's not a bombshell because she's talked about it before but she's serious about it. For years she has talked about going to Italy and working there as a teacher after college before settling down etc - knowing that it would be harder to live over there once she gets married, has kids etc. But after her trip with my parents a few years ago, she said she wanted to go to college in Italy. One of her guides was a young American girl who was in school there, studying history (which is what she wants to study) and working as a guide in the historic sights - I can't remember which ones.

So today she asked me if we can start researching requirements and application processes for going to college overseas. She knows I've been contacting American schools for info on what they want from homeschooler etc. so she said it woud be important to research Italy too since that's really what she wants to do. I have no idea where to start.

YIKES!!!

Thoughts?

Thanks
Heather

[Joan in Geneva]

to put a little of the burden on her, you should tell her to research which university she is interested in attending there....

There are some American universities that have overseas campuses, but those are normally pretty costly..

So I'm presuming that she would want to study at an Italian university? So she is fluent in Italian? Then you have to look at the admissions page of the universities websites..

Here in Geneva, it stipulates the admissions requirements for each country...so for the University of Geneva, it says for US citizens, a high school diploma and 5 AP tests, one of which has to be calculus, and for science, not Env. Science and then two languages, and some other things....

I've been meaning to talk to them to see if it is possible to get in with a homeschool diploma for the high school diploma...

[Corraleno]

I would also have her do some research into:

* the cost of tuition and fees for a nonEU citizen

* local living expenses, which can be astronomical in Europe (and I remember Italy being among the steepest); there are regional variations though and some cities are much more expensive than others

* student visa requirements

* work regulations (would she be allowed to work while she was there and if so, could she work right away or would she have to wait a year?)

Also, a word of caution regarding European universities: they tend to expect a much higher level of preparation than US universities do, because the European versions of high school tend to be much more rigorous.

As a back-up plan, it would be worth looking into US colleges & universities that offer a year abroad in Italy. That may provide a similar experience, with a lot less hassle than trying to do an Italian degree. As someone who lived in Europe for 10 years, and had many run-ins with the infamous French bureaucracy, I can tell you that just trying to get simple things done can sometimes be a huge hassle. And I've heard that the Italian bureaucracy is just as complex -- but far less efficient -- than the French!

Jackie

[Gwen in VA]

I'd have her investigate which American colleges have a solid junior year abroad program in Italy!

[Jean in Wisc]

I'd have her investigate which American colleges have a solid junior year abroad program in Italy!

:iagree:

I went to school in both Spain and Mexico, but they were exchange programs arranged by the university I was attending here in the states. If she does a year in Italy her junior year, she can return for graduate work if she has fallen in love with the country and wants to return. Committing to 4 years of college is a big step, but committing to 4 years in another country could be more than she realizes.

OTOH, many schools have summer exchange programs. Perhaps she could start with that. If she finds she likes it, she could proceed with her plans. It just seems as though she ought to get into this step by step rather than diving into the deep end. But then that is part of my character at age 50+ and NOT what I was like at age 19. LOL!
Jean

[Nan in Mass]

Perhaps a cover school would help with diploma problem?

[Joan in Geneva]

I do agree that it is a lot to sign up for the whole university experience overseas...I wouldn't want my children to be that far away from me...here in Switzerland, it is common for university age students to still live with their parents...or if they are schooling in a city farther away - they come home every weekend...this is due to bonding from childhood, etc...

So when we have thought of leaving my son here to continue his education, while we move back to the US...I cannot say my heart was in leaving...and happily my husband has decided we'll stay another year...

That said, just to inform about some of the differences...

the bachelor's programs here (I cannot speak for all of Europe) tend to be only 3 years....

the cost for my son to attend his polytechnical university which has a world class reputation (up there towards MIT - but not sure exactly how close) is only about $1,000 a YEAR...The international students that attend do not pay that much more...(They are thinking about changing this and increasing it to - I really can't remember but it seems like $5,000/year)

BUT I have a friend whose homeschooled son attended Oxford and I think he paid 100,000 (maybe I'm wrong but it was way up there)...so different countries fees can vary tremendously...

My oldest recently did a couple of months in Sweden - on his American passport - and the tuition was free and the housing was subsidized...at about $250/month...but he complained about the immigrants level of cleanliness in the dorm with him...Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kurdistan students in the cheapest dorm...

I completely agree with Correlano about checking out all the administrative details...they can be a headache and more...

From what I have heard though, some of these year abroad programs can be a rip off in that the program is charging you all these fees while they are basically getting the tuition of the school for free...I think there was going to be some kind of investigation about that and maybe it has been solved now....

Nan...I have been thinking about the cover school option - what would be best...

[In The Great White North]

Here in Geneva, it stipulates the admissions requirements for each country...so for the University of Geneva, it says for US citizens, a high school diploma and 5 AP tests, one of which has to be calculus, and for science, not Env. Science and then two languages, and some other things....


Wow! Wouldn't this be significantly easier than trying to coordinate the Maturite?

[Heather in VA]

Thanks ladies...

We did some research together and right now (of course she's only entering 9th so who knows) we are leaning toward an American university that is located in Rome. There are a couple of options there. If she did go overseas for her full university experience rather than just a summer or one year, I think that would make me the most comfortable as far as transfering back if necessary, graduate school, etc.

So we are just starting the research but you all have given me great help in where to start. I'm not sure how I'm feeling about it. I go back and forth between being freaked out and being super excited for her (and a bit jealous LOL). When I was in college I had the chance to spend the summer doing Wheaton in the Holy Lands and I didn't so I could stay home and work for the summer. I've regretted it my entire life.

Heather