Question by Kokalade: University college Utrecht and Roosevelt Academy?
I am a student living in Jordan but I have the Dutch passport as I am half Dutch, I am choosing colleges and I already applied to the University College Utrecht and am applying to the Roosevelt Academy soon (both are University of Utrecht honours Colleges ) I would like to ask how these International Honours Colleges are and how living there and the atmosphere differs from other “Mass Universities” and is it too hard to get accepted?( I know motivation is very important and so are extra curricular activities) but can anyone give me more information depending mostly on personal experience or what you have heard of it. Thank you.
I would also like to add that I am a GCE student ( A-levels )

Best answer:

Answer by Fyodor C
I studied at RA and I really liked it. I think the atmosphere at RA and UCU is quite different from larger Dutch universities (I study at one now, I graduated from RA). The community is a lot smaller and more international. In fact, larger universities don’t really have “a community”, they have lots of different groups, concentrated around specific fields of study or student associations. At RA and UCU, there is much more a sense of a shared community because students live together, study together, party together, etc. Most people at RA and UCU like that, but some people also prefer a different atmosphere. Of course, also at RA and UCU you still have a lot of freedom in choosing who you hang out with, if you want to join parties or activities, etc. “Normal” Dutch universities have more specific courses (you choose more or less what you want to study for the next 3/4/5 years when you apply), the university colleges are more general. So if you are 100% sure you want to study nuclear physics or French, you are probably better of going to “normal” university. On the other hand, university colleges allow you to choose a varied and interesting set of courses (most people do a Master program afterwards for specialization).

(Atmosphere) differences between RA and UCU:
RA is a bit smaller than UCU (I estimate ~500 vs ~750)
RA has a few campus locations spread out in the center of Middelburg (all very close together, max 10 minute walk). UCU has a more concentrated campus in Utrecht (at the edge of the city, not the city center).
Middelburg is a very nice city, but it is not very big (55.000 people) and not very close to bigger cities (Rotterdam/Amsterdam/The Hague are approx. 2 hours by train, on the other hand, Antwerp and Brussels are relatively close).
Utrecht is much bigger (300.000 people) and is closer to other large Dutch cities (~45 minutes).
At UCU all students eat all meals together in a dining hall, at RA students can eat individually, with friends, or house mates, etc.

As for getting in: I can’t estimate you chances of course, but I guess you’ll have a pretty good chance. Only way to find out is to apply and see if you are accepted :) . Regarding extracurriculars : think of things that you can add to the community (sports, organizing student activities, lectures, etc.), not just things that you have done in the past.

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