www.acs.bg
ඵ ACS is
accredited
by the Middle States
AssociaƟon of Colleges and Schools in the United
States, by the Ministry of EducaƟon in Bulgaria, and
by the InternaƟonal Baccalaureate OrganizaƟon as
an IB
ඵ As the
World School.
oldest American educaƟonal insƟtuƟon
outside the United States, we are the school
that
marks the beginning to American-
Bulgarian educaƟonal relaƟons.
rigorous university
preparatory curriculum and 97%
of our graduates conƟnue their educaƟon
abroad.
who are we?
ඵ ACS provides a
ඵ Courses are
taught in English
with the
excepƟon of foreign language classes.
ඵ We oīer a choice
of diīerent areas of
academic concentraƟon, also known as
proĮles. All ACS students take English as their Įrst
proĮle and mathemaƟcs as their second proĮle.
Choices for the third proĮle include chemistry,
physics, humaniƟes, and computer
programming.
ඵ We have a faculty of
highly qualiĮed
professionals with extensive experience and
diverse educaƟonal pracƟces.
ඵ
30% of our teachers are
internaƟonals coming from the USA, Great
Britain, Canada and South Africa.
American College of Sofia
ඵ ACS has a long history of selecƟng and developing talent.
ඵ Our students receive
intensive academic training,
ACS students will be part of our special
advisory system that ensures students
get guidance and support by trusted adults outside their classes.
which combines
acquiring and applying knowledge.
ඵ We provide programs for conƟnuous work with students who excel in diīerent
ACS
ඵ
ඵ programs for students with speciĮc interests in parƟcular areas (sports program,
InteracƟve methods of progressive educaƟon are at the core of our curriculum.
IB Programme oīered to internaƟonal students since 2005
ඵ A wide range of IB courses, including but not limited to English A: Literature
High Level (HL), French B: Standard Level (SL)/High Level (HL), Spanish B: SL/HL,
German B: SL/HL, Economics HL, History HL, Biology SL/HL, MathemaƟcs SL/HL.
ඵ The Theory
of Knowledge (TOK), Community-AcƟon-Service
(CAS), and the Extended Essay (EE) programs encourage
students to extend themselves intellectually, while also considering areas of social
responsibility.
ඵ Students are in the center of the learning process. The average classroom size
at ACS is 17, while the average size for IB classes is fewer and depends on
the IB enrollment.
“One aspect of the IB
Programme that I really
enjoyed was the openmindedness
of
the
teachers and the accepƟng
environment under which
we were taught.
In
university, the atmosphere
is far less personal, where
you're on your own for
almost everything. At ACS,
however, I was constantly
provided with guidance and
genuine empathy.”
Lazifa Karimli,
Class of 2013,
Student at Bilkent University
“The IB Diploma Programme at ACS enriched my life in many
ways, most crucially through helping me decide on a course
for higher educaƟon. The IB Economics subject taught at the
College introduced me to the most important concepts of the
Įeld and allowed me to apply these theoreƟcal ideas to realworld events. The rigorous approach taken along with the high
amount of feedback I received made me conĮdent in conƟnuing
with the subject at university. Having this understanding of the
fundamentals made the transiƟon to higher educaƟon much
more comfortable, and I sƟll occasionally Įnd myself thinking
back to IB Economics concepts to this day. ”
Ivan Yotzov,
Class of 2013, Economics Student at The University of Warwick
performing arts program, school newspaper, school literary magazine, mathemaƟcal
individual aƩenƟon for every student
high quality educaƟon & IB Programme
areas and have disƟnguished themselves at compeƟƟons.
students are supported through:
team, physics team, etc.)
ඵ programs for conƟnuous work with students who excel in diīerent areas and have
disƟnguished themselves at compeƟƟons.
ඵ special consultaƟon periods, built into the daily schedule.
ඵ
personal growth programs, developing one’s social skills and a strong sense of
community.
At the College
parents have the opportunity to:
ඵ maintain constant
communicaƟon with teachers and admini-
straƟon through our electronic plaƞorms ENGRADE and Lotus Notes.
ඵ request and take part in
individual parent-teacher meeƟngs
during and outside of the regular conferences.
both
InternaƟonal ACS
students:
ඵ interact with students and faculty members represenƟng
diīerent cultures
and tradiƟons. Our internaƟonal students come from Austria, Canada, Greece, Georgia,
Serbia, Syria, Great Britain, Turkey, the USA and Vietnam.
ඵ learn other foreign languages.
exchange programs,
internaƟonal compeƟƟons, and forums.
"ACS is the place where, so far, the best five years of my life have passed. I must admit that it is
among the top contributors, after my parents, to my development as a person, and I can frankly
say that I have grown into myself here. There have been numerous moments of joy and gloom
throughout my studentship at the challenging ACS. Overcoming the challenges put forth, though,
is an indescribable achievement. I hope every current and future ACS student will experience such
accomplishment and follow their dreams.”
Sevgin Bedri, Class of 2012, Student at University of Leicester
ඵ We encourage perseverance in achieving one’s goals.
ඵ We promote respect for the community in which you live and study.
academic honesty by teaching students to take
responsibility and make sound decisions.
ඵ We emphasize the value of
ඵ ACS graduates are criƟcal thinkers and problem solvers able to set and achieve
engaged in social issues and are able to compete with outstanding students world-wide.
clear goals. They are
mulƟcultural environment
personal character development
ඵ have a chance to parƟcipate in internaƟonal school
ඵ thrive in a tolerant environment, respecƞul of diīerent cultures, idenƟƟes, opinions,
and beliefs.
"The College is a living testament to the belief that schools should extend beyond the classroom,
that learning is fostered as a lifelong pursuit rather than simply a means to an end, that a wide
range of abilities and interests is the essence of a fully-realized life. Here your table tennis coach
is an expert in Byzantine Studies; your English teacher, a published author; your classmate, an internationally acclaimed debater. Here is a community that embraces a commitment to excellence
and to a shared purpose of allowing students to shape their own futures, fulfill their dreams, and
deepen their engagement with the world."
Philip Altman, History teacher
extracurricular acƟvities
beyond the classroom
Through our rich extracurricular program we encourage students to idenƟfy
their interests beyond the structured academic curriculum and assist them in becoming
well-rounded individuals.
variety of CAS projects and clubs:
ඵ Girls and boys sports teams (volleyball, soccer, basketball, tennis, and table tennis).
ඵ Numerous clubs and acƟviƟes including Cinema Group, Business Club, Medical
ACS students can choose from a
Group, LaƟn American Dance, Hiking, Ecology, Psychology, Debate, Photography,
Cooking, Guitar, Arts, Chess, Programming, Science and Balkan Dance.
ඵ
Performing Arts Program, Instrumental Studio, ACS Choir,
Dance Program, The Fountain literary magazine, College Life student
newspaper, and many more.
“Th̖ American College of
Sofia became famous not
only because of academic
excellence, but also due to
the extracurricular activities.
This was, and still is, a great
strength of the College.
Back in the days, there were
numerous interesting studentinitiated clubs. They all played
a big part in creating the
atmosphere of the College
and in building the personality
of the students. We got used
to relying on ourselves, not
on our parents. We had the
chance to develop on our
own.”
Petko Bocharov,
Class of 1939, Bulgarian
translator and journalist
ඵ We
admit
transfer
internaƟonal students on a rolling basis
according to space availability and the College’s acceptance of prior oĸcial high school
ඵ To be admiƩed students need to have a minimum average grade of “B”-
English language proĮciency and
successfully pass a comprehensive admissions exam,
or 3 on a scale of 4, demonstrate
administered at the American College of SoĮa.
ඵ A beauƟful park-like campus with classical buildings.
ඵ A large library of more than 16 000 volumes and computers with access to a number
of online encyclopedias.
ඵ Four computer labs and three science labs.
admission
a posiƟve atmosphere promoƟng quality learning
records.
ඵ Fully equipped, 435-seat theatre and a 180-seat concert hall.
ඵ
MulƟmedia in the classrooms, facilitaƟng interacƟve educaƟon.
ඵ Full size mulƟ-purpose gymnasium.
ඵ Indoor and outdoor
sports
reading comprehension,
verbal reasoning, and mathemaƟc skills. Applicants for the 9th grade
ඵ The comprehensive entrance exam will measure
faciliƟes (including a rock climbing wall, dance studio,
Įtness center, outdoor basketball courts, tennis court and playing Įelds).
are required to achieve at least the average scores in proĮciency achieved by Bulgarian
students leaving the 8th grade at the College. Applicants for the 10th, 11th, or 12th
ඵ An environment fostering safety and promoƟng a healthy lifestyle.
“It has been 17 years since I graduated so I have had many occasions to ponder and discuss my
past. I have discovered that I can gather my experiences at ACS in one truth: This is the place
where I learned to think. Before then, I never imagined that people at school cared about what
went on inside my head. (Grant it, even at ACS they wisely cared only about a part of what went
on inside my head.) Today, as a researcher, I am paid to think. What a privilege this is. It is a lifelong journey that started there, at ACS. And I am forever grateful.”
Daniella Molle,
Class of 1997,
Professional Development Researcher at University of Wisconsin - Madison
grades are required to demonstrate signiĮcantly higher scores.
ඵ
Dependent children of United States government employees are admiƩed
with priority, followed by graduates of the eighth grade at the Anglo-American
School, SoĮa. Other internaƟonal students are admiƩed in the order of their applicaƟon,
unƟl available spaces are Įlled. Children of oĸcial Bulgarian diplomats who have studied
at an internaƟonal school abroad for at least one academic year are also eligible for
internaƟonal students admission at the College.
top academic and professional opportuni es a er gradua on
COLLEGE MATRICULATION:
CLASSES 2009-2014
STANFORD University
PRINCETON University
University of CAMBRIDGE
YALE University
University of OXFORD
BROWN University
CORNELL University
LONDON SCHOOL of ECONOMICS
DARTMOUTH University
TUFTS University
VASSAR College, and others
▪
97% of ACS graduates con nue
their educa on abroad.
▪ Gradua ng students that choose
to con nue their educa on in the
USA receive scholarships
that cover a substan al part of their
tui on fee for the full course of their
educa on.
▪ ACS graduates are now successful
in Bulgaria and
around the world.
professionals
“Had I not gone to ACS, I would have never gone to Harvard for my undergraduate degree – an
academic, personal, and professional experience that clearly has marked all of my experiences
therea er. Had I not gone to ACS, I would never have formed the las ng friendships and
professional rela onships I currently cherish and put to good use in my everyday work. Had I not
gone to ACS, I probably would have never been able to effec vely iden fy and a ract mo vated
and socially responsible young volunteers for the non-profit ini a ves I got involved in a erwards
(indeed, ACS students are s ll among the best volunteers you can find around!). Had I not gone to
ACS, I wouldn’t currently be in a posi on to appreciate the importance of great teachers and great
schools in one’s life and to lead Teach For Bulgaria with such confidence and belief in our mission.”
Evgenia Peeva, Class of 2004, went to Harvard University, founder of
Step for Bulgaria Founda on, execu ve director of Teach for Bulgaria
Founda on, member of the ACS Board of Trustees.
American College of Sofia
Tel.: (359-2) 434 10 08; 434 10 10
facebook.com/americancollegeofsofia
www.acs.bg