United World Colleges

[MrsChollySawcutt]

Does anyone know anything about United World Colleges?

DD is looking at 6th form options. She is keen on studying in Maastricht or Flekke in Norway.

I worked in one for 13 years, but as a peri music teacher.
What would you like to know? I might be able to give some insight.

If interested then go to the Open day in Wales. You will get information there, and it is very different to anything else.
Assuming you live and are from the UK. You apply to the UK committee, it is highly competitive and they select a few of those who apply for a selection panel in Wales. Ultimately they match people with places including overseas although you can express a preference.
You can't though just "buy" a place.

Thanks both. It's a new concept to me so any insight would be appreciated.

DD is interested in studying the IB and loves the prospect of studying abroad. Her eventual aim is to study medicine.

I realise application is via national Committee and that there are only a few places available. The reality is that we would have to stump up for the fees as scholarships are means tested. That doesn't mean we could easily afford it. Especially when you factor in travel costs etc.

Academically, what are the standards like? To obtain a place on a medical degree course, DD will need good grades (and a fair amount of luck). Pastorally, how much support and guidance is available for students?

I'm pleased to hear that music tuition is available. DD is studying music at GCSE, sings in a choral choir and plays an unusual instrument and would love to carry on with both.

Look up the open day and go! It will answer your questions - the costs can both be higher but also the Bursary can operate to a higher level.
My DD applied and didn't get through - but even if in the UK it is a pretty unique and international experience.

Can't find an open day mentioned on the Atlantic College website?

I knew a few people who went there. They didn't really settle into anything in particular after school. If you look at their website the vast majority go on to work in 'business'. There are plenty of options (both in Britain and abroad) for the ib. Do have a good look arou D so you can be sure that you've got the right school for her.

DDs current (state) school offers the IB. I'm really keen for her to stay on. It's an amazing school with plenty of students applying and hoping to get a place.

I need to let her explore the options at this point but really hoping she will conclude that her current school is the best place to be for 6th form.

The one person I know who did go there is now the Master of an Oxford College, and pretty high flying in his chosen and pretty lucrative career.

Yes from the research I've done the academic results of the colleges DD is interested in are pretty impressive. I've also read that the prestige of getting a place at UWC goes down extremely well in university applications.

The music students I taught came from all over the world, but I also had a handful from the U.K. I had one brilliant boy (previously Steiner educated) who didn't get an offer from the uni he wanted initially, because they just didn't understand/weren't interested in the IB. He took a year out, did some kind of work for a charity and then got a place at an RG uni. Another UK student of mine got an interview but no offer from Oxbridge; she ended up doing PPE at Durham, with a post grad at King's London and is now something to do with the Labour Party.
A lot of the overseas students seem to go to US universities. From what I understand, the majority of students are on some kind of financial support in order to find their place at UWC. Some pupils can't afford to go back to their home country during things like the Christmas break, so are found host families.

My experience of UWC is that they are unique places, almost in a bubble of their own. The students are confident, opinionated ( not necessarily in a bad way), dynaminc, self-starters, with a very much global view of the world and their place in it.