University abroad - experience?

why would you push for the US in particular, mummytime (or anyone else)? just interested as i've studied or worked at universities in a few different places, and am interested in people's experiences and perceptions

I am a lecturer in a French university.

Sadly, I'd also have to advise you to steer clear. They haven't been in great shape for many years now, but are currently being systematically, cynically and successfully run into the ground.

Especially avoid languages. I'd say my department (in what was a fairly renowned Arts faculty) has five years before it is pretty much dead.

Bear in mind that almost no one from the French political class has a degree from a university. That should tell you (a) how poorly-regarded they are and (b) how much of a damn the ruling classes give about them (they and their kids never even contemplate attending them).

Bear in mind also that there is basically no selection for entrance to universities here, except in medicine, until 2nd year of Masters courses. If you have studied for a vocational course in carpentry, you can enroll in 1st Yr law. The first two years are therefore spent trying to sort out who is actually in the right place and who isn't, with overstretched staff ("tutorial" = 25-45 students to one teacher) and resources. For good students, it is dismally unstimulating.

I could do with some info on Uni in the States as dd1 would likeis determined to to to Uni in New York. She is seriously wanting to study Forensic Psychilogy & has opted to do Psychology, Sociology, Philosophy & Ethics plus Photography at AS & onto A Level.
So any help on what she needs to do to achieve her aim would be useful.

A-levels and the French bac are poles apart in philosophy and in standards achieved. Completely and utterly different.

It is easier and more sensible for French bac holders to do undergraduate studies in the UK than the reverse.

I'd definitely go for the UK university plus Erasmus year at a European university option. There are so many good universities in the UK.

I live in France and I hope and pray that the DSSs and DD will want to go to university in England or the US.

My bestest French friend, who is über-educated and über-brainy, feels the same way and her eldest child is hoping to go to Oxford. He could walk in to any French HE, as his mother did before him.

I can tell you some stuff about France, mostly that the educational system is wildly different!

DH did an English language Political Science programme in the Netherlands and loved it.

Bear in mind they'd probably need to speak the language fluently and be very carefuly on choices at A-level (or do the IB) because French universities laugh when they see the subjects I took at A-level.

How far off is a long way off?

The UK has some fabulous higher education. Most of the ROW is not up to the same standard.

Do not, under any circumstances, contemplate university in France. Only the grandes écoles (a sort of private higher education) are worth anything on the job market, and they are very hard to access.

I would go for Holland (or Netherlands) rather than France. I don't know if they help undergraduates but post graduates get help with dutch instruction. I would suggest you investigate thoroughly if you consider France as the education system is quite different, and the superior higher education institutions are the Grande Ecoles.

However if my DS was going to study overseas I would be definitely pushing for the US. I would only go for Europe if the language was important. There are courses where you can spend part of your degree overseas. UCL has some degrees like this, they do tend to be harder to get on than the ones without the overseas experience.

Of course maybe a good gap year in Europe would be a good idea too.

Get saving!!!! I think the fees are a huge amount more than over here.... unless he can get a scholarship