Anonymous
Post 08/19/2020 15:25     Subject: Re:Colleges in Paris and London.
Paris is in France, where French is the predominate language. Geneva is in Switzerland, just over the French border. It’s also the home of the UN and the Red Cross, as well as many international NGOs. Loaded with English speakers. I believe English instruction is/has been mandatory in high school.

My point is that Switzerland has colleges and universities that offer courses in English, and specialize in hospitality. There are ample opportunities to interact with English speakers.
Anonymous
Post 08/19/2020 15:02     Subject: Re:Colleges in Paris and London.
Anonymous wrote:OP, I know you are looking at Paris and London, but since your DD might have an interest in hospitality, have you considered schools in Switzerland. There are schools there that offer hospitality majors.

If your DD wants a French-speaking location, Geneva might be a good fit. Direct flight connections if you live in the DC area.


OP noted specifically that classes "must be taught in English" so I suspect that living day to day in a French-speaking area would be pretty isolating for the DD, even if coursework is mostly in English....
But good point re: hospitality studies. I would just caution that it's a field where there might be some differences between European and U.S. regulations, rules, and norms, so students might learn quite different things in the US than in Europe though it's the same field. Still, it's worth checking out, OP.
Anonymous
Post 08/19/2020 14:47     Subject: Re:Colleges in Paris and London.
OP, I know you are looking at Paris and London, but since your DD might have an interest in hospitality, have you considered schools in Switzerland. There are schools there that offer hospitality majors.

If your DD wants a French-speaking location, Geneva might be a good fit. Direct flight connections if you live in the DC area.
Anonymous
Post 08/19/2020 14:18     Subject: Colleges in Paris and London.
^^agreed. UK not a good fit for this kid. I'm from the UK with three degrees from Russell Group universities. You need to be very smart academically and very focused on your single subject (dual subjects at the most...)
Anonymous
Post 08/19/2020 14:16     Subject: Colleges in Paris and London.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP to pull off this kind of move you need to be really focused and most of all - focused on the kind of course you want to do (or rather your DD wants to do).

The US educational system is far better placed to deal with indecisive students - you don't choose and focus on a major in year 1 etc. Sending your kid to Europe where she'll be expected to specialize is probably not the best environment for her academically.


As a parent of a child studying in the UK, I politely disagree. If OPs DC is smart and self-motivated and knows what she wants to do, then it’s a great fit if she has the grades and internal motivation. US schools, which I’m a product of, are fine, too. If the DC is completely unaware, then a liberal arts education is ideal.


You are capable of reading? Yes? Then you failed to notice that the OP mentioned her kid doesn't know what she wants to study - possibly hospitality.
Anonymous
Post 08/19/2020 13:52     Subject: Colleges in Paris and London.
Your daughter does not sound like a good fit for European universities.
Anonymous
Post 08/19/2020 12:58     Subject: Colleges in Paris and London.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP to pull off this kind of move you need to be really focused and most of all - focused on the kind of course you want to do (or rather your DD wants to do).

The US educational system is far better placed to deal with indecisive students - you don't choose and focus on a major in year 1 etc. Sending your kid to Europe where she'll be expected to specialize is probably not the best environment for her academically.


As a parent of a child studying in the UK, I politely disagree. If OPs DC is smart and self-motivated and knows what she wants to do, then it’s a great fit if she has the grades and internal motivation. US schools, which I’m a product of, are fine, too. If the DC is completely unaware, then a liberal arts education is ideal.



DP. Your post mentions the DD will be fine if she "knows what she wants to do." I think you missed the post where OP said her DD does not know what subject she wants to study. In the US that's no big deal but in the UK system, it is. Students there have been focusing on and preparing for their "major" subject since they began A level studies at 16.

St. Andrews is a great example of a UK school with a more liberal arts education like the US. Your DD may love it, but it is rather isolated. Aside from that, I can’t think of any that are liberal arts focused like many US schools. Good luck!
The DD could shift her study-abroad plans to a possible graduate degree in another country, rather than an undergrad degree.



St. Andrews is a great example of a UK school with a more liberal arts education like the US. Your DD may love it, but it is rather isolated. Aside from that, I can’t think of any that are liberal arts focused like many US schools. Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 08/19/2020 12:58     Subject: Colleges in Paris and London.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP to pull off this kind of move you need to be really focused and most of all - focused on the kind of course you want to do (or rather your DD wants to do).

The US educational system is far better placed to deal with indecisive students - you don't choose and focus on a major in year 1 etc. Sending your kid to Europe where she'll be expected to specialize is probably not the best environment for her academically.


As a parent of a child studying in the UK, I politely disagree. If OPs DC is smart and self-motivated and knows what she wants to do, then it’s a great fit if she has the grades and internal motivation. US schools, which I’m a product of, are fine, too. If the DC is completely unaware, then a liberal arts education is ideal.



DP. Your post mentions the DD will be fine if she "knows what she wants to do." I think you missed the post where OP said her DD does not know what subject she wants to study. In the US that's no big deal but in the UK system, it is. Students there have been focusing on and preparing for their "major" subject since they began A level studies at 16.

St. Andrews is a great example of a UK school with a more liberal arts education like the US. Your DD may love it, but it is rather isolated. Aside from that, I can’t think of any that are liberal arts focused like many US schools. Good luck!
The DD could shift her study-abroad plans to a possible graduate degree in another country, rather than an undergrad degree.
Anonymous
Post 08/19/2020 08:45     Subject: Colleges in Paris and London.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP to pull off this kind of move you need to be really focused and most of all - focused on the kind of course you want to do (or rather your DD wants to do).

The US educational system is far better placed to deal with indecisive students - you don't choose and focus on a major in year 1 etc. Sending your kid to Europe where she'll be expected to specialize is probably not the best environment for her academically.


As a parent of a child studying in the UK, I politely disagree. If OPs DC is smart and self-motivated and knows what she wants to do, then it’s a great fit if she has the grades and internal motivation. US schools, which I’m a product of, are fine, too. If the DC is completely unaware, then a liberal arts education is ideal.



DP. Your post mentions the DD will be fine if she "knows what she wants to do." I think you missed the post where OP said her DD does not know what subject she wants to study. In the US that's no big deal but in the UK system, it is. Students there have been focusing on and preparing for their "major" subject since they began A level studies at 16.

The DD could shift her study-abroad plans to a possible graduate degree in another country, rather than an undergrad degree.
Anonymous
Post 08/19/2020 02:57     Subject: Colleges in Paris and London.
Anonymous wrote:I have an undergraduate degree from Belgium. You mentioned your daughter doesn't want anything too academic. The European system is much more demanding academically than the U.S. The American University in Paris might be fine. I would caution against the French system or even the Germany system. Maybe the U.K.?

I also agree with the other poster--if she doesn't know what she wants to study then the European system would be a disaster for her. A LAC in the US would be better.


Umm...talk about a sweeping generalization. I went to a top 30 US university and also spent two years studying in France and Germany. It was rigorous, yes, but compared to the junior and senior years of my undergraduate institution.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2020 21:14     Subject: Colleges in Paris and London.
Considering the direction in which things are headed, UK is more likely to have in-person instruction come Michaelmas term.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2020 21:02     Subject: Colleges in Paris and London.
Anonymous wrote:OP to pull off this kind of move you need to be really focused and most of all - focused on the kind of course you want to do (or rather your DD wants to do).

The US educational system is far better placed to deal with indecisive students - you don't choose and focus on a major in year 1 etc. Sending your kid to Europe where she'll be expected to specialize is probably not the best environment for her academically.


As a parent of a child studying in the UK, I politely disagree. If OPs DC is smart and self-motivated and knows what she wants to do, then it’s a great fit if she has the grades and internal motivation. US schools, which I’m a product of, are fine, too. If the DC is completely unaware, then a liberal arts education is ideal.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2020 11:05     Subject: Colleges in Paris and London.
OP to pull off this kind of move you need to be really focused and most of all - focused on the kind of course you want to do (or rather your DD wants to do).

The US educational system is far better placed to deal with indecisive students - you don't choose and focus on a major in year 1 etc. Sending your kid to Europe where she'll be expected to specialize is probably not the best environment for her academically.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2020 21:21     Subject: Colleges in Paris and London.
OP, our DC is headed to the UK to study. UCL, KCL, LSE, Imperial are all top rated and hard to get into. But, what an experience DC is bound to have. Your DC should go for it!
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2020 19:20     Subject: Colleges in Paris and London.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have an undergraduate degree from Belgium. You mentioned your daughter doesn't want anything too academic. The European system is much more demanding academically than the U.S. The American University in Paris might be fine. I would caution against the French system or even the Germany system. Maybe the U.K.?

I also agree with the other poster--if she doesn't know what she wants to study then the European system would be a disaster for her. A LAC in the US would be better.


I went to LSE for a masters degree and a top twenty American SLAC for undergrad. I disagree with this. lSE was super easy compared to my undergrad in terms of workload. I took three classes and had three exams at the end of the year with a few papers during the year and a mere ten thousand word dissertation. I had tons of free time and very little work. I think oxbridge might be more work.

I agree with the long post up thread that most UK universities make you specialize in one subject.

However there are some schools - most not as well regarded like the American University of Paris - where that is not the case. I don’t think you have to specialize right away. I don’t think it is very hard to get into nor particularly academically intense.


I completely agree with this poster, similar educational experience (my EU Uni was in Ireland, and I have a US PhD). My classes overseas were much, much easier than my US classes, and I had to do barely any work. Most classes had a single test and paper, if that.