Any reason for this? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Any reason for this?

1238
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 19:03
Hi AnonDubai! thanks for writing in, interesting point. guiness, can you say very briefly how American curriculum schools would allow students to make that career choice at a later stage? I agree, making that choice very early on is limiting for young students. For two reasons. First, to get into a US university, they look at a whole range of different things, including overall GPA, SAT scores, extracurricular activities, and the essays you write as part of the application. It isn't based on tests alone. And SAT's measure general ability in math and english - not knowledge of science or art or anything else. Second, because entrance to college isn't based on one particular test, American students are free to take a number of different courses as electives. Everyone has to have a certain number of math, english, science courses, etc, but one term I elected to study physiology, the next Latin, the next drama. And it was the grades that I got in each of those courses that determined what school I got into. And then you essentially start over at university, taking any courses you didn't take in high school.
436
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 16:06
thanks guiness - that is really interesting feedback. We're going to keep DS at his current school for another year, but then will probably look at changing him. he is in an IB school now, but would definately look at american
1238
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 14:49
What I don't like about BC schools is that you have to specialize so early in life with those a-levels. I thought I wanted to be a doctor at 15, went to university and switched to political science/law and ended up getting a masters in international economics and Russian studies. And I have a friend that went the other way and studied law at university and went on to medical school. Don't think that is possible or at least easy to do in the British system.
266
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 14:38
I agree with AnonDubai too. I prefer the 'traditional' - if you like - approach to studies that BC schools take.
5452
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 12:23
The British-curriculum is known to be more academic than the American one, especially at the high school level. That is probably the main reason.
1238
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 10 April 2011 - 12:20
Actually I've wondered about this myself. I think the first reason is that the BC schools are a third less expensive than the American schools, particularly in later years. Then, I think that more nationalities want to send their kids to the BC schools - Australians generally prefer BC, as do many Europeans. Some Arabs also come from a BC background - from Jordan, especially. Finally, I think there are more Brits here than Americans. But to be honest, I really have no idea.
 
 

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