Semester exchange in england?

Question

i wanted to go to school for a semester in england(london) or maybe spain. i am a freshman in high school now. would i still be able to work towards the american high school diploma?? also i am in IB so could i work towards that diploma?? is there any programs that do this?? boarding?? any information on this topic would be helpful! thanks!

Answer 1

Hi. I live in northern England, near York, and I can only speak for my local school when I tell you that they don't offer any foreign diplomas or qualifications.

That said, I live in a very English town, with very very few foreigners around, so it may be different elsewhere; especially in the capital.

Yorkshire is the heart of England, you ought to study up here if anywhere. London smells and crime is common. A lovely Yorkshire town is ideal for relaxing, studying and enjoying life :)

(A little plug for Yorkshire there) :P

Answer 2

Hey! I'm freshman right now and in IB too. I want to study abroad next year too in China, Japan, or Korea for a semester. Well anyway,  there's a International IB Website that tells you all of the info about IB all over the world and I have a few schools from Korea, Japan, and China picked out.  You just go on the left side and you say diploma program for the first one and for the second say England. Yeah. Talk to your counselor and IB coordinator too. You would want to look for a school on that website or else if you go you will be out of the IB Program or so my teachers say. Oh yeah the website is www.ibo.org!

Answer 3

YEAH, IB!!!!

Sorry, I had to.

Now, since you're a freshman, you should know that IB credits are pretty much useless until your Junior and Senior year - if you were to study abroad, that would be the time to do it.

I'm fairly sure the only way to do this would be to enroll in an independent foreign exchange program placing you somewehre convenient to an IB school. If that's done, then your IB credits should transfer flawlessly.

Answer 4

Trasferring IB credits could be messy, if possible at all, for the 2-year classes (mostly history and english), since different works are studied (different books in english and different history courses depending where you are in the world), which wouldn't work for all those ib essays and ib tests. So studying abroad while doing IB isn't really an option.

However, you're not in the real IB program yet, which is junior and senior year, so you don't need to worry about that. You're not working towards your diploma, the classes you're taking are just preparation for IB, so no worries. Studying abroad your sophomore year is your best bet, though applying to the IB program at your school could be a bit trickier.

Answer 5

I spent a year abroad about 30 miles north of London when I was 16.  This was through a company called EFF I think, but I know its "Education Foundation".  My French teacher provided the information to me.  Any courses you do in England will transfer to American high school.  I met the man who is now my husband while I was a foreign exchange student (19 years ago!) and learned alot!  I ended up spending quite a bit of time working and living in London after that, I have an American high school diploma and college degree.

Remember though, that English schools grade very differently than US schools.  In England, there is no shame in a B or C grade and an A is difficult to come by, you have to really stand out.  An A grade is so special because not everyone gets them.

Also, the standards are different.  When I first went to England, I received low marks because my language was 'unsophisticated'.  I changed my style and improved my grades in England.  Upon coming back to the States, I again got low marks in writing.  This time because my writing style was 'pompous'.  I felt like I couldn't win!

Students in England are 'tracked' from an earlier start than Americans, specializing in a few subjects rather than many.  Thus, I was discouraged in art and French (two subjects I excelled at in America) because the other students had concentrated on it so much more than I had, and they were consequently more skilled than I was.

There are also the social differences.  Its hard not to overdo it at the pub.  When you're an American and you realize you can get into pubs and drink, you tend to go a little crazy.  It gets lonely sometimes.  Finally, you make alot of great friends and come to love alot of new things that you have to leave at the end of your term...

All that aside though, its definitely worth it!