As educational consultants, we’ve helped hundreds of families from around the world – including dozens from Bermuda – find the best schools and universities for their children across a range of English-speaking countries. On both sides of The Atlantic, these institutions are actively seeking students who offer demographic and cultural diversity.
So where is it better to study, the US or the UK?
Here’s a sneak preview of my upcoming presentation on whether you should choose The Yanks or the Brits. The talks will be held Friday, September 12 at 4:30 and 6:00 PM at The Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI).
As a bonus, if you are indeed learning towards North America, you’ll also get the chance to meet with dozens of boarding school reps during our Schools To Know fair held simultaneously that same Friday. Sign up here (it’s free) or email me directly (don@mcmillaneducation.com) for a private chat on the island Sept 11-14.
Why the UK?
The UK educational system offers three distinct advantages:
1) The curriculum is focused and efficient, meaning a student who knows that she wants to focus on STEM can dispense with many Humanities requirements, either by choosing three particular A level courses in high school, or selecting a specific specialty and zeroing in to earn an undergraduate degree in just three years. It’s more like the Master’s Degree focus in the States.
2) The UK schools and unis are steeped in tradition. Eton was founded by Henry VI in 1440; King’s School, Canterbury has been serving its dapper charges since…597 AD! Hogwarts-like campuses abound, as do school uniforms and centuries-old rowing, cricket and rugby rivalries, and idiosyncratic events like the May Dip in the chilly North Sea bordering University of St Andrews or the May Morning day-break chorus sung through the streets of Oxford.
3) The cost is less expensive than the States, even with recent UK tuition hikes, for both boarding schools and universities. Currently we’re seeing more Americans and internationals leaning towards saving some money and dodging the current US political scene.
Why the US?
The States offer its own trio of advantages:
1) The American curriculum is broader and even more greatly stresses the crucial skills necessary in the evolving world of AI – critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, innovation, and communication. The US boarding schools (check out the McMillan Education Boarding School Guide) tend to offer more chances for exploration, hands-on experimentation, and discussion than content-focused, memory-based exams. And for university, The Liberal Arts and Sciences approach means students can study a range of subjects, and often have time for internships and study abroad during the four-year undergraduate experience.
2) Tailored learning support programs generally provide more assistance for students with issues regarding ADHD, Executive Functioning and dyslexia – though the UK is certainly catching up on neurodiversity.
3) 24/7 Residential Learning Communities– Whereas US universities, like boarding schools in both countries, offer the full dormitory experience, with activities and sports and lectures and social events offered non-stop, UK uni students tend to go to class, work hard on their studies – then return to their flat. They need to seek out optional clubs and societies.
If you still aren’t sure whether your son or daughter is best suited for the US or UK, we can expand your search to include additional North American and European options.
Canadian boarding schools and universities offer world-class academics and an unrivaled natural beauty. The country’s historic blend of American and British and its own provincial cultures filters down to the academic curriculum, offering a mix of UK depth and US breadth.
And beyond the UK, for a truly unique educational experience, Europe offers a range of distinctive boarding schools that span across the Swiss Alps, into Spain, and beyond. The ability to learn a foreign language and experience an exciting new culture awaits.
There are also some boarding school gems in deserts of Egypt and Jordan – but that’s a presentation for another day…
