ABU DHABI // Exchanging hugs and receiving congratulations as she waited in line to get her grades, Aliya Doctor was ready to finally receive her A-Level results before boarding a plane for Maryland in time for the autumn semester.
Being accepted at Johns Hopkins University to pursue a degree in law, Aliya was the only one of her friends to apply to universities in the US, whereas her peers were focused on studying in the UK.
“It was different for me because my offer wasn’t conditional, since I’m going to America,” she said. “For me, I just wanted to receive my marks and finally leave.”
As opposed to the British university system of academic admissions, Aliya already knew where she was going and planned to head off to the US just a few hours after receiving her results.
“Well, I want to do law post-grad, so I preferred the American system for that curriculum and I’m so excited, I’m ready to leave. It was good being in British School Al Khubairat but I’m ready to go on and continue my education.”
Universities in the US take a broader look at grades and overall performance of students, commonly granting British students admission regardless of their A-Level exams – a system that does not sit well with US college-bound students.
“The British system didn’t prepare me particularly well for the American system, perhaps some subjects better than others, but overall I don’t think it was as useful [for me] going to the US and doing an American system,” said Aliya.
nalwasmi@thenational.ae
