Additional Coverage:
- Their son did well in high school and on his SATs, but got rejected from 30 US colleges. So they set their sights on Europe. (newsbreak.com)
Lou and Jennifer Zeidberg, a couple residing in the US, shared that their children opted for European universities due to frustrations with the US college application process. Their son is studying in France, and their daughter plans to attend a college in Spain as they find the educational offer in Europe not only more affordable but also culturally enriching.
Lou, a marine science lecturer, initially envisioned his children enjoying traditional American college experiences like he did at the University of California, Berkeley. However, the daunting and competitive admission processes in the US led their son, Jacob, to face multiple rejections from nearly 30 colleges, pushing him to start at a junior college instead.
Jennifer, a physician, became inspired by a patient’s stories of her children’s positive experiences in European education. This led the family to explore options through “Beyond the States,” where they discovered a fitting program in Toulouse, France. Jacob secured admission there swiftly, a stark contrast to his prior experiences.
Jacob adapted to life in France despite initial challenges with the language and cultural differences. He now enjoys the opportunity to travel extensively around Europe. Following Jacob’s path, their daughter Phoeber, influenced by a short program she attended in Spain, decided to bypass the overwhelming US admission process and directly applied to IE University in Spain.
Amid skyrocketing tuition fees in the US, with private university costs increasing significantly over the past two decades and substantial student debt burdens, the Zeidberg family found European universities to be a financially and culturally viable alternative. They emphasized the broadening experiences and different educational methods offered in Europe, which included shorter program durations and opportunities for internships, making it an appealing choice for their children.
The family’s story highlights a growing trend among American families considering international education as a response to the escalating costs and competitiveness of universities in the United States.