As I came here I had finished my bachelors studies in a top tier school in the US. As I went to get my diploma recognized by a university in Switzerland they said that I would have to start again at the bachelors level because the difference was so great. Basically saying that a matura is equal to high school + 4 years of college. While this is not the case , it is still difficult to get things to work here the way that you want them.
At the moment they are doing a lot of reforms in the university system (Bologna reform). I was lucky enough to find another university to that would take my qualifications and I am doing fantastically. So there is hope that you can "haggle" qualifications as it were. The thing that I had going for me that your son does not have was that I was completely finished with my studies and was not trying to start them in the middle.
My advice:
1) If you son is offered something much lower than you think he deserves then fight for it. Don t take no for an answer. Offer to have him take whatever tests or assessments necessary to prove his level of education in a certain subject.
2) Ask around. Don t go to one school go to many. They are not so standardized here and many principals can make their own decisions regarding child placement.
3) Look for an international school in your area. They are likely to take his qualifications from the States with little or no problem.
I hope that helps and good luck.
I seriously doubt that a principal could overrule the requirement to have a Matura or equivalent education for college, but then again I do not know.
Ok, than the question is: if a student has a completed hight school diploma from the states where he can apply? Does universities accept those student strait from the school or it should be something in between?
Since American HS is so all-encompassing, from face value I'd say it's not equivalent at all to the Matura. In the US, everyone goes to high-school, whereas only ~13% of students reach the Gymnasium and are eligible to take the Matura, so the exclusivity is built into the Swiss system, while you have to prove through coursework that you're an excellent student in the US.
However, having experience in both HS systems, I'd say that AP/Int'l Bac, etc are to a certain extent equivalent, the intelligence levels are relatively the same, as are the workloads and expectations. As one of the previous posters noted, his/her Matura allowed him/her to skip several 1st year courses at the university, which is the exact same thing that AP coursework prepares students for (and the end tests do).
That being said, I think the more important point is whether a European university is right for your son. I've also had experience in both university systems, and for someone raised with US education, switching systems is quite a shock. Quite honestly, if I had been a regular student instead of an exchange student in Switzerland, my grades would not have made the cut and I would have most likely been kicked out. That's not to say that the Swiss/European system is more stringent, it's simply different, and places much more emphasis on theory than practical exercises. European universities, in my experience, are still very focused on a Bachelors (or equivalent)-->Masters-->Doctorate/Job career path than the typical American Bachelors-->Job/Career path, which means that the equivalent to a US bachelor's is a European masters (in terms of being able to get a job in each respective market). This also determines, to a large part, the nature of lecture material in the bachelor's stage.
Quite honestly, say what you will about the US secondary education system, but the universities are among the best known in the world and prepare students for more practical situations (and allow an earlier start to one's career) than European ones.
Keep in mind that this is just my experience, and apologies if it is overly opinionated. However, you should really sit down and discuss with your son the potential challenges of entering a new education system at such an advanced level where one has little chance for adaptation and/or failure. It's not like it's 5th grade, where one wrong move just means you have to study a bit harder for your final or do extra credit work.
You also have to keep in mind that to study in switzerland (depending on where) you need to be able to speak/understand etc either German, Italian or French. If he can do that fantastic then the highschool credit translation is the only thing you have to worry about.
http://www.uzh.ch/studies/applicatio...elor_en.html#6
You can check out this website, it will give you an idea as to what the universities are looking for.
Since the system is changing it may be possible for your son to start a bachelors program once he is finished with his high school education.
The whole switching in the middle of highschool bit is anybodys guess as to how it will turn out. Be prepared for people to tell you that he has to start in a lower grade etc.
It does not hurt to talk to a few schools and to get all of the paperwork ready. I would even get recommendations from teachers saying that he is a top student etc. Everything helps.
Another question: if he will take some university level courses online, for example from Open Uni in Geneva, or a similar place, would that help him to be accepted?
went to high school in the US. She had to learn a high
level of high German by passing the "Zentraloberstufenprüfung"
from the Goethe Institut.
After that, she was accepted to a "Fachhochschule" which
is similar to a University except that it is more specialized
in the area of study.
Basically, learn a really high level of German and apply
to a University.
Or go to a university in the States and apply here
for grad school.
Here is the link for the Goethe Institut
Even though the government is trying very hard to standardize things Universities are still independent entities. You should call the appropriate offices and ask there.
As far as the US high school is concerned - the high school diploma does not allow direct access to the Swiss universities. Two successful years in a Swiss recognised US university are required. Furthermore you cannot just study anything for two years - it has to be a Swiss-recognised programme as well.
I did not have to pass the Zentraloberstufenprüfung to study at a german speaking university here though. There is a test given for foreign students to test their German that is administered by the university. I do not know the name of it but it is much easier than the test you mentioned. If you pass that then you are allowed to study. The Zentraloberstufenprüfung is only one of the many ways you can meet that language requirnment.
a specific instance of a friend of mine.
She had no university at all in the US, but she had high school
in the US. She had to prove her German at a certain level
to be admitted. It probably depends on the University and
the specific subject that you want to study.
Cheers!
You would think they are past that by now. . . . . . I still question it
of study. In IT, they don't really care whether it is from Uni
or Fachhochschule. In Universities, you learn many useless
subjects that don't translate into real world skills.
Name some useless stuff you've been through while in University?
Except when it comes to the pay cheque.
Latin..................
The point is that Latin is useless. French would be useful, or
German would be useful. Latin, however, is not.