Atlantic College UWC selection

[Temporaryanonymity]

My son has been offered an interview and assessment process at Atlantic College. Does anyone have any insight or experience of the process? Any experience of UWC is also welcomed; particularly from the point of view of current or former parents.

Just bumping this, someone must know something!

I work in another UWC.

Has he applied to the UK National Committee or is he going through the Global Scholar's Programme?

Thank you. He’s applying through the national committee. His group assessment takes place this month.

If he is applying through the NC he could go to any of the 18 UWCs.

I don't know anything about the UK NC. They are all different.

Sorry.

What do you want to know about UWC?

We are currently being seduced by the application process. It all looks fabulous and my son really wants to be offered a place.

I guess I wanted some negativity for balance!

I don't think the UK NC has a high acceptance rate so it may not be an issue.

If he is accepted then he will probably not be at Atlantic College so that could be a negative.

It is a wonderful experience. The opportunity to be with people from all over the world and all the different perspectives. The opportunities for further study are also good.

Sorry I can't think of negatives.

I have coincidentally met people in life who have been to AC plus also - coincidentally!! - had a boyfriend who went to the Vancouver Island one and another who went to the Adriatic one. Then met someone else who went to the one in Bosnia - oh and also had a flat mate who went to the Vancouver Island one. None of them knew each other and only two were connected by the alumni group.

They all had great experiences. If you are looking for a negative then I'd say that it comes from having such an all round great school experience that it's hard to have such a good experience later, because there's never a time where everything is available and organised like that again, and you're surrounded with people like that again.

I've heard that AC has a social divide between royals/extremely wealthy students and others. I've not been myself but heard that from people who were there at very different times. Don't know anybody there right now, but know there are a number of royals.

As an aside, I'm hoping that the royals in our country forget Eton and when the time is right send there kids to UWC/AC. Would be a much better prep for modernity!

*their(!)

There has been huge changes in staff at AC last year and this.
I would definitly get your son to ask about the number of teaching hours.
Ask about average points gained.
Fabulous place for an alround education.

Staff changes in international schools are common. AC is an international school.

Hours of teaching are dictated by IB.

Average score in UWCs are generally good because most NCs have grades as a criteria. However the average score doesn't mean as much as the capability of the individual student.

I completely agree @Macropront which is why I'm saying ask these questions

Thank you for your insights. I will pass them onto my son. He’s just as keen as ever and now we wait for his one to one interview. He’s pretty set on the UWC in Armenia but says he’d go anywhere that will take him.

Good luck to him

I heard from a friend that pastoral at Atlantic college in Wales is poor and her friend was disappointed.

Seeing as he wants to go to Dilijan that is not really relevant.

I’m grateful for all insights. We’ve just completed the college choice form and he’s decided not to express a preference but to remain open to all schools apart from those with younger students. He prefers the schools that just offer IB. So now we wait!

Good luck to your son.
Please just remember all UWCs are different, don't be seduced by the name thinking they are all the same, my response if asking about UWCSEA or LPCUWC would have been very different.

I don't know enough about Armenia to comment.

Good luck!

Do you means ones that just do DP?

My child is going through the same process, is now waiting for acceptance/rejection in Feb.
Very mixed feelings about it all, incredible opportunity but losing them two years early feels scary.
How did his panel assessment go ?

@mulberrybag hello! I’m not sure how it went, he hasn’t said much. He doesn’t give much away, although he did talk through his presentation with me. It was a really interesting topic! How did your child get on? Did you attend the group sessions at AC or do them online? AC isn’t every far from us so we opted to attend.

@temporaryanonymity the topic was very interesting!
I'm finding it difficult to way up how I feel as a parent for the whole thing. I don't really want to 'lose' my child this early but the opportunity is incredible. My child is now desperate to go!
Went to AC and that was the moment it all became very real. I guess now it's a waiting game until Feb.
Best of luck to you both

I feel exactly the same as you. I feel very conflicted about it all. And now my younger one is making noises about applying next year.

Sending all parents going through positive vibes whatever the outcome and hope that it works out ok for our children. Maybe chat with you on the other side

Hi
I went to UWCAC- the pastoral care at the time was poor but has much improved. The year I applied UK national committee had over 3000 applicants for approximately 40 places worldwide, interviewing about 300. So they have done well to get an interview. It was a fabulous experience and completely changed my life- when I was there there was no divide between royalty/ mega rich and other students and I would be utterly dismayed there is now. PM me if you have any specific questions.