SBCC Helena: Perspective Brits

I know a lot of people at home have asked me how I went about going to American College. If you are interested here are some outlines of what you need to do. It does really vary from College to College. But also, these are just brief guidelines, what I would like to emphasize more is what it's like on a personal level.

1) Research Schools you like: There are hundreds of Colleges out here, ranging from two-year to four-year. If you decide to go to SBCC you can transfer into a four-year, for a fraction of the price. If you have a dream school you would like to go to or literally no idea, i'd have a look at 'The Best 378 Colleges'. Here, you can get a good idea of what the schools out here are like, and make a short list of ones to apply to. As there are just so many schools here, you might want to narrow it down by location. For UK students California and New York are the most popular areas. SBCC's location is like none other, it is literally on the beach. The research process is really lengthy but it is really important you gain as much information as you can, before deciding whether or not to apply. Look at the schools' websites for a better idea of what the school is like. But stay away from forums about universities online, in most cases they are completely inaccurate! If you decide to go to a two-year, like SBCC you can then transfer into your dream school after two years. Your dream school may include the UC's listed in 'The Best 378 Colleges', SBCC has a guaranteed transfer admission with them. These include UCSD, UC Davis, UCSB and UC Irvine.

2) SAT or No SAT: Some Universities will require you to take the SAT or ACT, this is their version of testing standardized testing, it is multiple choice. There are various test centers across England for SAT testing. Some Universities do not require SAT's or ACT's. SBCC does not require SAT's for international students but of course you will have to have completed your A Levels. Personally, I did begin studying for the SAT on top of my A Levels but found that it was a lot of work to manage. I think it is manageable with good time management, or just go somewhere where you don't need to do it! A Levels are enough work themselves! Another side note, unlike the UK system you will not have a conditional offer for American Colleges. It is either a yes or a no, this takes the pressure away from you when you do your A level exams, you will just need to complete them, at C grade and above.

3) I think it is really important to consider the whole picture on venturing to the other side of the world. On the one hand, it has given me a whole new life, with brilliant opportunities, met amazing people and learnt so many new things. But you are away from home for four months at a time. On the plus side, FaceTime and Skype are brilliant. Your family can always visit and the breaks here are super long. I think it really depends on you as a person. I wouldn't say I was particularly confident or really independent before here, I just took the risk and went with it. But of course, it is not for everyone. The lifestyle here in California is very different from England, it is a lot more relaxing with the beach around you, but you do have to work hard here. I would say my first two years have been at an A Level standard for the majority of classes. Even so some are easier than this, but some are definitely much harder than that. What you gain here, is that you have a lot more classes than you would in an English University. The Professors are available during office hours, to speak with you and help you. What is so great is that in some classes I have literally reevaluated any thoughts I had before. So you really are gaining value for money. As I mentioned before, SBCC is very affordable, tuition is cheaper than at home. However if you opt for a four-year straight away this can be pricey. It is worth looking into scholarships, sport, academic or others are available. The thing to bear in mind when looking at UC's is that these universities are some of the best in the world, so you are spoilt for choice!