Moving to Spain for College
Posted by Dense_Heat4796@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 27 comments
Hello! I am an American who is about to graduate high school. My mom is from Spain, I took four years of Spanish classes in school so I at least understand basic Spanish and how to ask for needs. I am a Spanish citizen with a Spanish passport. I want to move to Spain and attend a University. My preference is to actually do college onljne. As a child, I visited Spain every summer. My mom is from Andalucía and that is where we visited every year (Jerez). I am most familiar with this area. I would really appreciate any advice when it comes to moving to Spain as a citizen, enrolling in college, paperwork I would have to do.
proof_required@reddit
Wouldn't it make more sense to ask your mother?
Dense_Heat4796@reddit (OP)
As knowledgeable as she is on life in Spain, she doesn’t have much advice on how to move there from America. I mostly need help with paperwork.
proof_required@reddit
There is no paperwork as Spanish citizen.
_Anonie_@reddit
They also call it UNIVERSITY in Spain, not college
ith228@reddit
OP did use the word university.
_Anonie_@reddit
"Moving to Spain for College" Read the title.
ith228@reddit
“I want to move to Spain and attend a University.” Read beyond the title😁❤️
_Anonie_@reddit
GET A JOB. 😁♥️
ith228@reddit
Getting mad at a random on the internet is so crazy.
_Anonie_@reddit
IKR?
inga-babi@reddit
Why do you want to move to Spain to do college online? You can literally do that anywhere.
Dense_Heat4796@reddit (OP)
Because I want to live in Spain.
inga-babi@reddit
Right, then go to college in person in Spain. You’ll meet way more people that way!
Tall_Acanthaceae2475@reddit
You'll be very lonely if you go to college online, especially in a foreign county. Also, being a citizen doesn't always entitle you to free college tuition.
withdrawalshot@reddit
A ver di algo
Dense_Heat4796@reddit (OP)
?
withdrawalshot@reddit
It’s a thing i comment every once in a while when someone claims to speak either Spanish or English.
As someone who is bilingual as fuck without trying. Really, I should read some books.
Anyway, I hope you’re not talking about HS “Spanish 1,2,3,4”.
Good luck with that.
And they don’t speak Spanish in all parts of Spain. Also, some of their accents are a bit intense.
BagApprehensive1412@reddit
This is a very self righteous response.
withdrawalshot@reddit
It’s more of a joke. But I don’t blame you for your perspective.
ith228@reddit
I mean OP’s mom is Spanish… if they don’t speak it yet they’re gonna learn if they move.
withdrawalshot@reddit
Watched a documentary a long, long time ago…
There’s a point in childhood past which learning a language becomes unnatural, or difficult.
Just cuz his mom is from Spain doesn’t mean that 4 years of US Spanish classes will do him any good.
ith228@reddit
What’s the point of any of your comments? Even if OP knew zero Spanish they’re gonna learn in Spain. They have resources (parent, family in Spain) that 99% of the people in this sub wish they had.
withdrawalshot@reddit
Oh no, a redditor who takes Reddit way too seriously.
I’ll go cry in the corner now.
Double-Lettuce2472@reddit
I’ve learned a language as an adult, as have thousands of others… it’s definitely harder than it is for children, but I wouldn’t call it unnatural
withdrawalshot@reddit
It’s natural for children to learn it by comparison.
beetus_gerulaitis@reddit
As a Spanish citizen, there’s no paperwork to come in the country, live, or work.
There is however the whole issue of applying for college, taking tests (do they even care about ACT?), figuring out which colleges to apply and which part of the country, transferring your high school transcript, figuring out where to live, etc.
The whole thing seems easier if you were to take a gap year after graduating HS and live in Spain for a year. Then apply for college for 2028. That would give you the chance to improve your Spanish, figure out about college and generally get the lay of the land.
Do you have relatives that you could stay with for the first month or two and then help you find a place to stay?
ALBA38@reddit
As a Spanish citizen, why do you think you need extra paperwork?