Over the February break, I experienced something much different. The concept was similar, however the setting was much different. One unfamiliar. Over the course of five days, I visited four Universities in the United Kingdom.
So why did I do this? Well… at the start of this school year I began the college search. When considering universities, I considered schools across the pond almost immediately. The idea of going to a place so foreign, so far away from home, really made me excited. I began doing further research on the schools. As I searched, I became more eager for the future that lay ahead of me. I knew I had to go visit. Almost immediately, my family and I booked a trip. We would be headed to the United Kingdom where my future could lay.
The English system of University is very different from what we know here. What we call majors here in the U.S are referred to as a “courses of study” in England. The process is quite simple. However, there is no flexibility. You pick one course and you stick with that course until you graduate in three years. Yes three years, not four
On the afternoon of the 20th of February we arrived at London Gatwick Airport. We went to the train ticket booth in the airport and soon we set off for London City Centre.
My family and I woke up bright and early the next morning. We would be in store for a busy day; two college visits in two very different areas of London. Two very different schools.
The first school I arrived at was The University of Westminster located in The Westminster area of London. Well within the city center, I thought that Westminster would be a great choice for me. I would be within a short distance of almost anything I could imagine with some of the finest connections in the world. I did not know much more about the school as I made a decision to visit it solely based on an introduction video promoting the university.
On the other hand, I knew that King’s is a highly regarded and well renowned school as it ranks consistently in the top one percent of all worldwide institutions.
When I began doing research on schools abroad, I knew I wanted to be in a city. I came across London as an immediate possibility. I thought once I arrived I would never want to come back. However, I was wrong. Don’t get me wrong, London is a great city but I do not think I could see myself going to school there for at least three years. I simply did not love the English University System. Although I feel the U.S system has too much common core, I think the English system does not give you as much guidance.
After two days of searching in London, we packed up and headed North into the unknown. We were on our way to Scotland.
As soon as I stepped off the plane at Edinburgh Airport I fell in love with it. Even though the weather was a bit colder and nastier, the atmosphere just felt better to me. We stayed in Edinburgh for two days. Even though the city has about 400,000 inhabitants, it felt much quieter and laid back than hustle and bustle of London.
On Thursday morning, as Winter Storm Doris pummeled the British Isles, we ventured by train from the City of Edinburgh to the small coastal town of St. Andrews. St. Andrews is small and quaint. Most of all, it’s historic. Historians believe the town was founded over a thousand years ago.
We trudged along, the cold wind and rain hitting our face as we scrambled into yet another Admissions office. When I entered, that is when I knew I had found the right place. I was welcomed with a nice smile from the lady behind the desk and told to sit in the conference room for an information session. I was greeted with a personal letter and some complimentary morning tea. I soon found out the Scottish University system is very different from the English one.
Like America, Undergraduate degrees are to be completed in four years. However, the expectations are different. During your first two years, you are required to study three subjects. After those two years, you can choose one or complete a joint degree in two. This option really appealed to me. I felt as though I could really learn and find something I really want to study without the pressures of switching a major halfway through.
After the hour long information session, we braved the elements and took a tour of the campus. I’m glad I did just so. The school is amazing. Unlike many Universities, both the town and University of St. Andrews are integrated. University buildings are seen all over town and are not just condensed in one area. However the town is small. There are only twenty thousand inhabitants. This was probably my favorite thing about the school. I felt both connected to the town and University within a few hours of being there. I could tell that not only the students were engaged, but also the town’s residents were also engaged.
Most importantly, everyone felt nice. At no point did I not feel welcome. Although three thousand miles from home, I felt like I was at a second home. Also forty five percent of students at the University are foreign born, many of whom are Americans, so would I have ever really left?
I still have lots of decisions to make and lots of time to do so. But as of right now, studying at a university in the United Kingdom may very well be a possibility for me. But who knows… I will just have to wait and see what my future will bring.
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