Each year, seniors at Woodgrove High School begin the tedious task of applying to colleges and universities, among other postgraduate options. This process usually has students applying to six to eight schools, with the majority being in state or within driving range of their parents. Within recent years, Woodgrove has seen an uptick in students researching and applying to universities abroad. These schools offer a very different college experience, one full of new change and culture shocks.
Many high school students dream of traveling abroad to learn new languages and immerse themselves in diverse cultures, and what better time to do it than while you are still in school and young? Going abroad for school provides students with a long trip and also gives them a chance to prove to themselves that they can survive on their own and be independent from their parents. Ellie Malone, a senior, is applying to the University of Rome in Italy. “College is a great place to start that journey, because I would be living and learning with people my age from all over the world. Plus, it’s a great way to immerse yourself in another language, and gives you a different perspective than you might have if you stay in America,” she said. However, those same cultural differences that are envied by prospective students can also prove hindrances when alone in another country. Woodgrove alumni Molly McPhillips, a junior at the American University of Paris (AUP) discussed her time in France, saying, “My first semester was a shock. There were so many subtle differences, and although most people spoke English as a second language, having a limited French background made communication difficult,” said McPhillips.
Foreign schools offer a diverse list of courses, similar to their American counterparts, but the storied histories of many of these countries greatly contribute to students’ college decisions. Malone plans on majoring in Archeology and the Classics, a subject that was greatly influenced by events like the Roman Empire, the Renaissance, and the Great Wars, all of which occurred on the University of Rome’s backdoor. McPhillips, an Art History major, says that “being able to do that in Paris with full access to museums like the Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay helps me to learn firsthand and fully understand my subject. I think that these collective experiences have given me a much more grounded and diverse world view. I am more aware of the wider world outside of America than many of my friends at home are.”
Over the past few years, foreign schools have captivated the minds of many students, and many have begun to look abroad for new opportunities. “I’ve always wanted to travel, and my goal is to visit as many different countries and meet as many different people as possible.” said Malone. However, students do not need to travel across the Atlantic to have a foreign experience. Iman Etienne, a senior at Woodgrove, plans to attend University of Toronto next year. When asked about what brought her to consider foreign schools, Etienne responded, “Ever since I was a kid, the thought of going to school in another country appealed to me. I had a chance to visit the University of Toronto, or UofT, back in November. The combination of old, British style architecture within a modern city really stood out to me. The whole thing felt like going to Hogwarts in NYC.”
All three students said that their experiences with Global Ambassadors, a club that organizes a variety of experiences with students from across the globe, and meeting people of a variety of nationalities during Loudoun County’s annual International Summit contributed to their decisions to go abroad. “My desire to live in another country pushed me towards thinking of what other places I could study. Besides the location, the decreased tuition was definitely a factor, as I want to have enough funds for a master’s degree in the future,” said Etienne. Typically, according to many research centers and college advisors, foreign schools have tuition that is lower than their American out-of-state counterparts. However, the additional compounded cost of travel can quickly drive the price higher.
These students found their home in another country. Ms. Jennie Hill, Woodgrove’s Career Specialist advisor, said, “All students should do some research and explore toward maybe applying abroad.” By researching different universities in other countries, students can make informed decisions that align with their future academic and professional goals.