Want to study in the United States? Part 1

Fantastic! The good news is that the United States wants you.

In the past, foreign students studying at the university level was the norm. As time went on, private U.S. high schools started welcoming countless students, eager to get an advantage when applying to top U.S. universities. Recently, international parents have started sending their middle school students to American private schools.

Benefits for these students include a much better grasp of English, top TOEFL scores when applying to university, and a deeper understanding of what is expected in regards to western education. However, there are some things to consider.

There are a great many schools vying for high school students, in all 50 states and all with different entrance requirements. Families are turning to agents for help with this baffling and, potentially frustrating, task. For substantial fees, agents will compile the required information, transcripts, and test scores and submit them to various schools. Students will normally have an interview, via Skype if a local one is not possible. Not all students will be accepted to all schools. The agency will charge a fee whether the student is accepted or not. To minimize costs, it is important for the student and family to find out as much information about the schools that the agent proposes the student apply for. Quite often, the schools will only accept a certain amount of international students in relations to their domestic students. Spots at these high schools are quite competitive and normally require a good command of English.

This school in Dublin, CA only accepts 17% international students but is highly respected and students regularly attend top universities.

Some schools have a very liberal acceptance policy. This can be a blessing as students are admitted with ease and there is not need to apply to other schools if it is acceptable to the student and family. However, proceed with caution. Many of these schools have a large population of international students, and many students find small communities from their own country in these school. Instead of speaking, learning, and improving their English, it is easier for the student to communicate with their own language. I have had parents tell me that they might as well kept their students home, rather than send them abroad at such a dear cost, both emotional and financial.

This is part 1 in a series of articles I will write about studying in the U.S.

Disclaimer: I run my own guardianship/host family placement business in Northern California,