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Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

What kind of student is A+ World Academy looking for?

  • At A+ World Academy, we are looking for motivated and mature students who are excited to grow and develop by exploring the world and experiencing different cultures and perspectives. In addition to being open-minded, hard-working, and team-oriented, students should be academically strong in order to meet the demands of our rigorous curriculum. As an English-speaking community, students need to come with a strong level of English and a desire to improve their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

What are the ages of students who attend A+ World Academy?

  • Due to the demands of life on board, students should be between 16-19 years of age.

Do you need sailing experience?

  • No, you do not need any sailing experience to be accepted into the A+ World Academy program, only a desire to learn and a strong work ethic.

Does A+ World Academy offer a diverse student community?

  • Yes, our students come from all around the world. Typically, the largest nationality is Norwegian, but we’ve had students from Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Estonia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the USA.

How many crew members and faculty are onboard the Sørlandet?

  • There are typically around 18-20 crew members aboard: 10-12 maritime crew members and 7-8 academic crew members. The maritime crew rotates approximately every 4-6 weeks. The deans (Dean of School and Dean of Students) rotate about every academic quarter, with one working on-ship and one working from land. The Ship Medic and teachers remain onboard the entire year. Onshore, a team consists of the Head of School, land-based Dean, and the Admissions team.

How much spending money does my child need?

  • Students will need spending money to cover approximately 50 optional meals (taken at their discretion during shore leave as all meals are provided, but most students want to spend shore leave at restaurants), SIM cards and data usage, postage, souvenirs, and gifts. A specific amount is hard to determine as it varies significantly from student to student. Please see practical information for more details.

What if English isn’t my first language?

  • Then we are excited for you to improve on your current English abilities! You will be a welcome addition to the international community on board. Every year, we have a multitude of non-native English speakers as part of our community, including many of our crew. However, you will need a certain English level to be successful as all classes are taught in English, and it is the community language.

Admission and Application Process

Do you accept mid-year or summer admissions?

  • Unfortunately, we do not accept mid-year or summer admissions due to the rigorous nature of the program. We operate on a full academic year basis only, from August to June.

Is there an application deadline?

  • Yes, all applications must be submitted before June 30th; however, our enrollment decisions are made on a rolling basis. This means that once all spots are filled, any additional student applicants will not be considered. Generally, all spots are filled by May.

How many students can attend the school?

  • The school’s capacity is 64 students, and thus, space is limited. We highly recommend that you apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Does A+ World Academy offer Financial Aid?

  • Yes! Each year we offer six scholarships of up to 50% of the total tuition price. Similar to our enrollment, these scholarships are issued on a rolling basis so that applicants can know at the time of enrollment if they will receive the financial aid. Therefore, the scholarships are “first come, first serve” and are only issued to non-Norwegians, since the majority of Norwegian students have access to the LÃ¥nekassen grant.

Do you offer Open Houses?

  • Normally, we do offer Open Houses in select ports. Additionally, prospective parents can visit the Sørlandet and meet with the current faculty and students at any port, as long as the visit does not interfere with the school’s program. You must contact Admissions to arrange this appointment. Currently, due to COVID-19, no appointments are being given.

Does the Admissions Staff visit my city?

  • The Admissions team travels the entire world in order to meet prospective families. Please contact the Admissions department for more information.

How much is the application fee?

  • The application fee is a non-refundable fee of 150 Euros.

How do I find out the status of my child’s application?

How do I take the swim test?

  • You need to have a swim coach or a lifeguard attest (sign) that you can swim 200m and tread water for 20 minutes. For the form, please contact us at apply@aplusworldacademy.org.

Academic and School Life

What courses can I take?

How many hours of class do we have?

  • Students typically have between 4-6 hours of class each day, with each class having around 150 hours of instruction over the course of the year.

What is the average class size and the student/teacher ratio?

  • Class size varies depending on students’ course selection. Generally speaking, higher-level maths and natural sciences will yield smaller classes, typically 5-12 students, while languages and social sciences usually have around 12-19 students in a section. Our teacher to student ratio is around 7:1.

What is an Advanced Placement course?

  • Advanced Placement (AP) is a program developed in the United Stated by the College Board, which offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. Although it was created in the United States, it is commonly used worldwide, particularly in international schools. AP courses are rigorous, and universities often grant placement and course credit to students who obtain high scores on the examinations. The AP curriculum for each of the various subjects is created by the College Board by a panel of experts and university-level educators in that field of study. For a high school course to have the AP designation, the course must be audited by the College Board to ascertain that it satisfies the AP curriculum. For more information, you may visit the following website at https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse.

Which universities accept AP courses?

  • Advanced Placement is a globally recognized academic program currently offered in secondary schools in over 100 countries worldwide. More than 600 universities in more than 60 countries and territories outside of the United States recognize AP Exam scores for admission, credit, and placement. Taking AP courses and exams provides students with recognized academic credentials, wherever their college or university plans will lead. To learn more about universities that recognize AP qualifications, see this link.

How many exams do students have?

  • All courses have formative assessments at the end of each unit and the end of each semester. Formative assessments may include a traditional exam or, depending on the class, take the form of a formal project, debate, or essay. 

What kind of high school credits, and diploma would my child receive when he/she graduates?

  • Students who graduate will receive an accredited A+ World Academy diploma and if the criteria is met, an AP Capstone Diploma.

Will my high school credits be transferrable if I only attend grade 11 (VG2)?

  • Yes, because our classes are standardized, credits should be transferable. We highly recommend that you speak with the school counselor of the school you will be attending following your year at A+ World Academy for guidance in what courses you should take in order to ensure you will have the credits necessary to graduate from their school. We are happy to share syllabi and other academic documents to assist in this process. If you are looking to continue your international education after A+ World Academy, we can connect you with some of our partners, including Leysin American School in Switzerland.

Do you offer a GAP year or a post-graduate (PG) program?

  • Absolutely! How better to distinguish yourself from other university applicants than by sailing the Atlantic on the oldest active tall ship in the world? Spending a year with A+ World Academy is a fantastic opportunity to improve your education, develop essential life skills, and gain new perspectives that will set you apart in your university applications. 

How long is the program, and when does your school year begin and end?

  • The program lasts for a full academic year, going from August to the beginning of June. The academic year is approximately 270-290 days in length, including about 60 days off the ship in various ports.

How often can parents communicate with their child?

  • While at ports, students have the opportunity to communicate with families through WiFi, previously purchased international phone plans (which are highly recommended), or purchasing local sim cards. We ask that you be patient, though, as some students are often overwhelmed by the adventures open to them while at the port and may not make contact immediately. There is no WiFi or cell service at sea, although emergency email communication is possible via the office. We encourage all parents to follow the school’s social media platforms, where we post updates from the ship. You will find us by searching for “aplusworldacademy” on Youtube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. 

How often do parents receive school communication from the School?

  • The Ship Dean typically emails A+ families from the ship weekly, and the school uses social media to post updates on the students’ adventures. Parents are also more than welcome to contact the deans if they have any concerns about their student(s). 

Are there parent/teacher conferences?

  • Yes, parents have the opportunity to have a face-to-face or virtual Parent-Teacher Conference during the Parent Ports. You can read about Parent Ports here.

Which extracurricular activities are available for the students?

  • After completing all academic, maritime, and community duties, students have the opportunity to take part in a variety of clubs. All clubs are student-organized and vary from year to year depending on student interest. Baking and Holiday Club are always popular, though, with the two clubs teaming up to help the community celebrate holidays from around the world, all while eating delicious treats.

    Each Sunday, there is also a fun, bonding activity such as a game or movie night. Board games, a small community library, and art supplies are available to the students to use any night they have free time. 

Are physical activities part of the program?

  • Physical activity is part of daily life on board. While on watch, students climb in the rigging, haul lines, and participate in other physically demanding activities. During free time, there are also opportunities for students to participate in optional fitness activities such as pilates, yoga, and aerobics that fellow students and crew organize. 

Is there a student government?

  • Yes! The Student Council is an essential part of the community. Students have the opportunity to run for office at the start of the program year. Those elected serve the community by coordinating student activities, working collaboratively with the crew to develop and enact solutions to community issues, and assisting with the community’s overall functioning.

Is there a school uniform?

  • Yes, there is a uniform which is provided at the Pre-Departure Meeting. The school actually has two uniforms: a maritime uniform, used at sea for classes and work on deck, and an academic uniform, used for school visits and other port excursions. The maritime uniform is comprised of a t-shirt and work pants along with foul weather gear. The academic uniform is either a t-shirt or polo with khaki pants.

Are there religious observances?

  • A+ World Academy celebrates diverse holidays and will accommodate its students’ religious observances and practices when possible. We cannot, however, provide Kosher or Halal food.

Where do the students sleep?

  • The students sleep in the banjer, a large, multi-purpose common space. Each student is either assigned a hammock or bunk, with the vast majority of the students sleeping in hammocks. Each night, the hammocks are hung up, with them being stowed in the morning to allow the space to be used for meals and class.

How much time do we spend on schoolwork?

  • The amount of time required to spend on academic work varies depending on each student’s course load. However, students can expect to devote around 50-60 hours a week to their academics. One of the vital life skills that students learn and practice while in the program is time management, as the more efficient students are with their time, the more free time they will have.

Is there SAT / ACT tutoring?

  • There is tutoring available onboard for exams such as TOEFL and the SAT, but we strongly recommend that students take these exams prior to their school year at A+ World Academy. Coordinating these exams can be immensely challenging as voyage plans typically need to change due to variables such as weather.

How do I submit my college applications?

  • Submitting college and university applications while part of the A+ World Academy program is challenging due to there being no internet onboard and no phone service while at sea. Students need to come as prepared as possible and use their time in port wisely in order to complete and submit their applications. 
    Our academic staff supports students by guiding them as they complete their applications and work to find their paths, both professionally and personally. Students need to keep in mind, though, that they are the ones responsible for their applications, not the academic staff. 
    For those applying to colleges and universities in the United States, A+ World Academy has partnered with Prepory, college admissions, and career coaching company. For an additional fee of 2,000 USD/semester, Prepory provides A+ World Academy students advising sessions by college admissions coaches that have received extensive training from seasoned college admissions experts.

Life in Port

Do students have free time when at port?

  • Yes! While in port, students are allocated time for shore leave (free time in port). Shore leave is also the time for students to complete research for college applications, collect resources for academic assignments, and find WiFi or purchase a SIM card to contact their families. For safety reasons, students need to go on shore leave in groups of four, have access to a working phone so that they can call for assistance if required, and return to the ship by curfew. At least one student from each group must also have Life360 turned on so that the Teacher on Duty (TOD) can locate them in case of an emergency. 

Is there a curfew?

  • A reasonable curfew is enforced aboard the vessel to ensure students are well-rested and alert for all activities. Additionally, certain ports of call become higher-risk environments after dark. The Ship Dean will establish curfews on a port-by-port basis, and students will need to check in with a staff member upon return to the vessel from shore leave.

How long do you stay in each port?

  • Port calls vary from place to place, but in general, we stay in a port for 5-9 days (including arrival and departure days). 

How do you decide where to go?

  • The school works collaboratively with the Captains to develop an itinerary that is, first and foremost, safe. The route is carefully planned, making sure that seasonal storms, areas at risk for piracy, and politically unstable countries are avoided. Then, ports are determined based on what would provide optimum sailing conditions and an enriching educational experience. 

Life Onboard

Do you have showers and bathrooms?

  • Onboard there are two shower rooms for students, one for male students and one for female students. Both shower rooms have three showers and sinks. There are also six private restroom stalls.

How do students do laundry onboard?

  • There are two washing machines and two driers onboard. At the start of the year, a schedule is put in place in which each watch group is assigned a day to do their laundry. It is important that the community remains flexible, though, as the laundry schedule may need to change due to water restrictions and weather. While on shore leave, students are also able to do their laundry at laundromats ashore. 

What is a typical day at sea like?

  • Each day is different, challenging, and exciting but we do have a structure to our days to ensure consistency and to accomplish both academic and ship tasks in an organized way. The following is an example of a typical day at sea:

    0630

    Galley team is woken up.

    0700-0715

    All students are woken up and students are out of the banjer until breakfast.

    0730-0755

    Breakfast

    0755-0800

    Banjer is cleared by the tidiness watch and everyone prepares for Colors

    0800-0810

    Colors

    0810-0830

    Breakfast for the watch standing during breakfast time (06-08 watch)

    0810-0855

    Cleaning

    0900-1000

    Classes

    1000-1015

    Coffee break

    1030-1300

    Personal Time/Lunch/Homework

    1300-1800

    Classes resume

    1500-1515

    Coffee break

    1800-1830

    The banjer is cleared and prepared for dinner.

    1830-1930

    Dinner

    1900-1930

    Deck rinse

    2100-2200

    Gender spaces/quiet hour

    NIGHT WATCHES: each off-going watch wakes up the on-going watch 20 minutes before the watch change and checks if the banjer is tidy. The on-going watch musters on deck 10 minutes before the watch change.

    2000-2100

    The banjer entrance is tidied

    2100-2200

    Privacy curtains are drawn, and quiet hour commences

    2200

    Lights out in the banjer

    2200-0000

    Garbage washing and compressing under AB’s supervision

    0000-0200

    Ship laundry is started

    0200-0400

    The drying lines are emptied on deck or in ballast by watch

    0400-0600

    Deep clean of part of the forward heads

What is the most challenging element of the school?

  • There are many challenging aspects of the program (e.g., adjusting to life at sea, communal living, time management, self-discipline). Typically, one of the most difficult is the fact that there is little to no privacy onboard. You are constantly around people and have no doors you can close to get some alone time.

    Another significant challenge for students is learning to manage their many academic, maritime, and community responsibilities. It takes a great deal of self-discipline and time management. Students learn the importance of prioritizing, experience the real consequences of their decisions, and live daily the philosophy of “Ship, Shipmate, Self”. 

Will I get seasick?

  • It is common to feel a bit seasick during the beginning of the voyage, but it passes within a short amount of time for most people. It is different for everyone, with some only experiencing slight headaches or minor fatigue, with others becoming quite nauseous and vomiting. The best thing you can do to combat seasickness is to push through and be active. 

Do I get formal sailing training?

  • The first three weeks of the program are devoted to students’ learning the basic maritime skills required to properly and safely sail the ship. Once the academic year begins, students then continue their sail training while on day and night watch. 

What clothes do I need?

  • If accepted to the program, you will receive a Welcome Aboard Packet that will include a packing list and other important information to help you prepare for joining the program. The A+ World Academy team is also readily available to answer any questions that may come up as you prepare to start your academic adventure with us.

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