From the King Street Chronicle: International Day of Education Spotlights the College Application Process

International Day of Education spotlights diversity in college application processes worldwide

by Blaire Williamson ‘27, Opinions Editor

As the world celebrated International Day of Education January 24, a day that highlights education as a shared priority across the globe, many high school students in the United States (US) completed their applications to international colleges and universities. In fact, the appeal of completing all four years of university abroad, or even just three, as is more common across the United Kingdom (UK) and other European countries, is on the rise amongst American students, according to cbsnews.com.  With significantly lower costs of tuition, career benefits of earning a bachelor’s degree abroad, and the thrill of cultural immersion, UK and European universities entice prospective American students, according to wsj.com. Thus, students researching their global options for higher education must navigate the starkly different application processes between US, UK, and other European universities.

One of the biggest draws for American students to study abroad for their entire college experience is the potential to save thousands of dollars on tuition. This especially appeals to students who may not qualify for financial aid at their US university of choice. For instance, the average sticker price for an in-state student attending a public college in the US is $11,371 per year, and the average price for attending a private institution is $44,961 per year. Meanwhile, international students pay around $1,500 per year in the UK and around $7,300 per year in Europe. However, it is important to note that tuition costs in the US, UK, and Europe typically do not include housing, food, school supplies, and other essentials. Therefore, these numbers do not accurately reflect the full cost of attendance for their entire university educations, according to usnews.com.

Furthermore, studying abroad attracts American students because of the more simplistic and straightforward application processes. US colleges take a holistic approach, evaluating factors of an applicant’s profile beyond their grades, such as extracurricular activities, personal essays, individual qualities, and personal connections to the college. Universities in the UK and Europe take a much more academic focus when considering applicants for admission. Mrs. Christine Gerrity, Co-Director of College Counseling at Sacred Heart Greenwich, shared some of the biggest differences between applying to colleges in the US, UK, and Europe.

“The things that create the most well-rounded, hyper-involved American student are almost muted in an international application process,” Mrs. Gerrity said. “International admissions committees are not as focused on dedication to community service or a passion project that you’ve created. These holistic factors are far less considered compared to the level of rigor you’ve engaged in your academic coursework and the achievement in that rigor.”

Another major difference is selecting a field of study.  In the US, colleges often allow students to enter undecided and declare their major later, while most universities abroad expect students to apply for a specific major, or field, from the start. This expectation requires students to choose their field of study while they are still in high school. Although this format can be exciting for students who already know exactly what they want to do, many US students are hesitant and unsure of what they want to specialize in, according to beyondthestates.com. Indeed, the general absence of liberal arts programs at UK and European universities may deter many American students who value a broad, well-rounded academic foundation. However, this may soon change, as liberal arts programs are becoming increasingly popular across Europe and schools in the UK, according to warwick.uk. Mrs. Gerrity stated how this overall difference in the education systems may affect potential US applicants. 

“Not only are your grades really the bar and the measure, but you are expressing from the very start what you want to study and what you want to do,” Mrs. Gerrity said. “The liberal arts approach in the United States, which so many schools and students can take advantage of, doesn’t exist in many places over there. You are expressing as a very young person the field that you want to be in, and you really have to know as a high school applicant what you want to do. Across the board in most international situations, you are putting yourself on the path to your future career immediately, which can be confining, risky, and scary for a lot of students.”

In addition to a clearer application process and lower tuition fees, universities in the UK and Europe attract Americans because of the invaluable international exposure they can gain from studying abroad, according to eliteprep.com. In fact, students who study abroad tend to try more things outside of their comfort zones, according to The New York Times. Moreover, completing university in the UK offers international students a two-year post-study work visa, giving students flexibility and security to work, job-hunt, or travel freely, according to uniwise.com. Ms. Beata Servick ’25, a current first-year student at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, reflected on her experience of studying abroad so far. 

“You leave home to go abroad, and you live a completely separate life, and it’s just so eye-opening,” Ms. Servick said. “You really get such a good sense of adulthood and it prepares you for anything. I would definitely recommend [doing] your best to get out of any bubble that you’re in. Going abroad is just such a good introduction to what the rest of your life can look like and all of the different paths you can take. I truly feel like I could go anywhere because I’ve already moved across the world.” 

Featured Image by Blaire Williamson ’27

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