Hey there – Kristin over here at Beyond the States. I’m the in-house chief advisor, and spend most of my time working one-on-one with students and families, building their Best Fit Lists, and walking them through each step of the process toward a degree in Europe.

Today, I happen to be building a list for a student who has his sights on a rigorous science-based program in the Netherlands, but he doesn’t quite meet his goal-universities entry requirements. One approach to this, and one I suggest regularly, is fulfilling Year 1 in a lower-barrier admissions program, such as a Dutch university of applied science.

This 1-year of university credit will normally usher you in, giving you access to the original program of your choice. Keep in mind that many of the research university programs that have these stringent requirements are 3 years in duration, and so adding that Year 1 really equates to a 4-year degree in the end. Funny, many students who choose to go this route actually stick with the university of applied science program since they find they enjoy it and are thriving. This just goes to show that there are various approaches (and experiences) to getting the degree in Europe you’ve set your sights on!