Preparing for college as an "international" student

[Embassy]

My kids may go to college in either the USA or Canada (citizens of both countries), but will not be living in either country when it comes time to apply. I'm looking at requirements for a high school diploma for the different countries and they are different. Should I mesh the two or do you think a college would expect that an "international" student would not have typical required courses for Canadians and Americans? I'm mostly thinking about history, geography, and civics. I guess we could do a year of Canadian history and a year of American history, but I'd rather cover them together. Canada also requires a year of Canadian geography, but I think a world geography course would be better fit.

[HejKatt]

Interesting question because you could structure your dc's education based on the resident country's high school, or the target country's.

 

Here is an example from University of Michigan of requirements for international students.

http://www.admissions.umich.edu/international-requirements-by-country

 

My understanding of it is:

1. If you take the standardized testing route (SATs), a transcript is required but there isn't a requirement that the student has taken X course.

2. If you can take an accreditation (IB Higher Level) available in your resident country, you may be able to transfer some credits which is a plus.

[Laura Corin]

 

My understanding of it is:

1. If you take the standardized testing route (SATs), a transcript is required but there isn't a requirement that the student has taken X course.

2. If you can take an accreditation (IB Higher Level) available in your resident country, you may be able to transfer some credits which is a plus.

 

 

There's an unfortunate extra wrinkle: some qualifications available in the resident country may not be open to home educators - the IB is one.

 

When we were living abroad, I was planning to choose one country's requirements and stick to them, then adapt for other countries as necessary. In our case, our boys are joint UK/US citizens. Because I'm a Brit and most familiar with the UK system, I was going to put the boys through the British system (GCSEs and A levels), then adapt for US entrance if necessary. The adaptation would not have been huge: US colleges usually accept A levels, they just require the SAT as well.

 

Laura

[Embassy]

Thanks. You both have been helpful! Right now I'm thinking that I'll probably pick a country's standards and add a little to cover some of the classes from the other country.

 

The resident country won't be an English speaking country so I won't be following their standards. I'm not sure where they will attend college. I'm guessing they will probably apply to colleges in both countries where they hold citizenship.

[Deb in NZ]

It makes more sense to check with universities in both countries to see what they require of homeschooled students or students educated abroad. If you are planning to homeschool for all of highschool, then I would assume that the homeschool requirements would be the one you must meet, no matter where you live during that time. If you plan on putting your dc in school (local, private, or international), then the international student requirements would apply to you. If you will be abroad the year before your dc plans to go to uni, you may need to check on residency requirements as well. My dc are dual citizens, so this is something that we have looked into as well.

 

HTH,

[Laura Corin]

If you will be abroad the year before your dc plans to go to uni, you may need to check on residency requirements as well. My dc are dual citizens, so this is something that we have looked into as well.

 

HTH,

 

Yes - for example, the residency requirements in the UK made a big difference to us. We had to be resident here for three years before the boys went to university, otherwise we would be treated as foreigners as far as fees were concerned.

 

Laura

[Chloe]

I understand your predicament. We are Americans living in the UK, but we've only been here a year and have always home educated. I'm gearing my dc's studies according to what the US colleges require for US residents, mostly because that is of what I am familiar. I can't seem to wrap my head around the UK school system. My two oldest are fairly certain they want to attend college in the US anyway (especially my dd who's considering majoring in American Government). If we're here longer than four or five years, I may do things differently with my younger two dc. Right now, this whole high school thing terrifies me enough as it is.

[Lanny]

Yes, our DC who are dual citizens will have some extra hoops to jump thru, to get admitted to a university. However, they have a BIG PLUS. The universities give priority to applicants who bring diversity to their campuses. My DD is a dual citizen (USA and Colombia), so this is a thread I have been following. GL

[JumpedIntoTheDeepEndFirst]

One thing to remember is that requirements to graduate high school are not the same as entrance requirements for university. I might consider looking less at what is required to finish high school and more at what the requirements are for homeschoolers to be accepted to university.

 

For example, in the US various school districts require credits in PE, health, state specific history or driver's education to graduate. There are probably very few universities that require any of these for entrance. Most US universities have a set number of years spent in subject preference ie. 4 years of math, 2 years of history, 3 years of science, etc. Of course all universities vary in what they prefer or what is the average for their applicants.

 

The other area you might focus on is what entrance exams or validation exams are required as part of the application. For example, in the US, a SAT or ACT score, AP or CLEP exams, etc. You might wish to look at your options for taking these in your overseas location and the timing of them. You may need extra time to locate a testing site that can accomodate you or need to plan a visit "home" to accomodate the exam.

[Embassy]

Great advice. I'll have to check on the residency requirements. I did find the SAT available at an international school in the capital city which we can get to in a couple hours by train. I haven't found information on AP tests though. I think almost all the international schools in the country are based on the British education system so the North American tests aren't quite so popular. This sure is confusing!!

[Laura Corin]

I understand your predicament. We are Americans living in the UK, but we've only been here a year and have always home educated. I'm gearing my dc's studies according to what the US colleges require for US residents, mostly because that is of what I am familiar. I can't seem to wrap my head around the UK school system.

 

 

If you do, at any point, need to understand the UK education system, I'm happy to help. It's the system I grew up with and the one my children are in now.

 

Laura

[Chloe]

If you do, at any point, need to understand the UK education system, I'm happy to help. It's the system I grew up with and the one my children are in now.

 

Laura

 

Thanks so much, Laura. I may take you up on that. :001_smile:

[Laura Corin]

I am very interested in this thread. We are in a similar position, but high school and college are still a loooong way off for my kids.

 

Laura, I was discussing the requirements to get into university in England with an acquaintance the other day. It seems like they need to have been resident for one year to apply as a local, now? That system sure has changed a lot since I was last there. Do you have any links that may help me and others to understand the requirements?

 

 

It's three years, not one, otherwise you get charged overseas fees. Here's the official story.

 

Laura

[Laura Corin]

Thanks, that should give me plenty of material to study. It appears that non-British EU nationals pay home fees, but I'm not sure if there is a requirement to have been resident in the UK. Is there any support for low-income people? Scholarships?

 

The last I heard about university in the UK was the big controversy over top-up fees during the Blair government. This convinced me nobody in my family would ever be able to go to university in the UK. It's been a while :).

 

 

You'll have to check on that - I think that residence in the EU is enough, but I'm not sure.

 

There is support for people with low incomes, but I don't know if you have to be resident in the UK to get that. And the loans (again, I suspect just for UK residents) don't have to be repaid until the young person is earning a wage. The loan is written off if the young person hasn't reached a 'decent' wage after about 30 years or so.

 

Laura