AFEX LEARNING HUB

  In the past two weeks I have had a few parents asked me this question in various ways, but, essentially, they want to know if it is necessary to continue to do the A-levels after they are done with the AS or O levels. They typically ask this in the context of sending their children to do their undergraduate studies in universities abroad (i.e. the US, Canada, the UK and Australia). While my experience in Australian Universities is limited my answer has always to been YES and NO when it comes to most of these destinations. Some of you might think it must be an odd question for a parent to ask because why wouldn’t a parent want their child to finish high school as structured. Well, some of the parents either say it’s expensive to do year 13 and others will say they have found out some universities do not require the A-levels therefore not necessary. These are valid and worth exploring.   So, let’s start with the YES… Widens University Options: Many universities, esp...

  Yesterday, one of our clients sent a colleague a YouTube video ( https://youtu.be/06o2xyPNZtQ?si=8XGFPy-bhbF1E_y4 )  of a parent passionately talking about "removing the lid" on parents sending their children to study in various destinations in Europe, North America, and Australia at a young age, meaning right from high school or even earlier. While I share and appreciate many of the fears and anxieties raised in the video, I think two important questions are obvious: WHY and WHEN should you send your child to study in a foreign land, and importantly, is it worth it and SAFE? As someone who has assisted students in applying to many universities abroad, either for high school, undergraduate, or graduate programs, I think the simplest answer to both questions is knowing where your child is now (I mean physically, mentally, culturally, and academically) and for a parent, if it is within your means. So, what is needed is knowledge: knowing to ask yourself and understand you...