American Education Guide

Whether you have recently moved to the United States and are looking for a school for your child, have lived in the U.S. for a while but have questions about how the school system works, or are applying to college, there are lots of things you need to think about. There are lots of questions that will arise. Whatever the case, this is the chance for you to have your questions answered. Learn more about… Schools Finding the Perfect School for Your Child Finding the right school for your child can be difficult, but it’s easier than you think. You are limited in your choice of schools by the area you live in because each area is assigned (districtied) to one particular school. If the neighborhood you are going to live in depends on the school, there are a number of ways you can quickly assess the school’s quality. Finally, you may be able to get around all this through school choice programs… Learn more Best Deals for School Supplies You can find school supplies almost anywhere there is a stationery section — supermarkets, grocery stores, office supply stores, and even pharmacies. The problem is knowing when to buy them. A few weeks before the school year starts, stores have massive back-to-school sales, where you can buy all your school supplies for a lot cheaper than at any other time of the year… Learn more Challenging Classes Taking challenging classes in school can be both rewarding and beneficial because it makes a student’s academic profile look better to colleges. Students can pick from honors/accelerated classes, AP classes, gifted programs, and dual enrollment. In addition, some schools offering school choice programs — magnet schools and IB programs — offer a more challenging curriculum… Learn more Extracurricular Activities Extracurricular activities — activities such as soccer practice, art classes, or chess team, that are done outside of school hours — are highly emphasized in American schools. Participation in activities is not only good for your child’s development but is also highly sought-after by universities… Learn more Colleges and Universities *Note: people in America use “college” and “university” interchangeably. College Application Process You start your college application process by taking admissions tests in 11th grade (or, in the worst case scenario, early in 12th). It is also highly recommended to form a list of universities you want to apply to and research their requirements in 11th grade. In 12th grade, you will complete the actual college and scholarship applications as well as financial aid papers — FAFSA, CSS PROFILE, and/or IDOC Packet — and send all these to your universities… Learn more Searching for Colleges and Scholarships It  is really important to start researching universities and scholarships early to find the best ones and make sure that you do not miss the deadlines applications.  During your college search, see what grades and test scores each college requires and what financial aid each offers, just to name a few things. You should also attend college visits to demonstrate your interest and learn about the university. As for scholarships, you can find them from different sources and use special scholarship search tools to learn more… Learn more College Admissions Testing The process of college applications starts in 11th grade with taking the SAT and/or the ACT, the two college admissions tests accepted by all universities in the U.S. In addition, the university you want to apply to may require you to take SAT Subject Tests… Learn more Affording College College is expensive. However, there are a number of ways to cut your expenses. Scholarships and financial aid documents (FAFSA, CSS PROFILE, and IDOC Packet) are the ones people think of first. In addition to these methods, you can also participate in co-ops or choose an nontraditional way to pay for tuition — ROTC programs and the military… Learn more Just for International Students English Proficiency Testing Most international students will have to take an English proficiency test to determine whether they can attend classes with native English speakers immediately of whether they need extra support integrating into American classrooms. Testing for grade school (elementary through high school) is usually mandatory, and the specific kind of test is determined by the district. On the other hand, proficiency testing for universities may or may not be required, depending on the university. Most universities accept the TOEFL and/or IELTS tests, for which you can find plenty of preparation resources online… Learn more Financial Aid for International Students With a few exceptions international students are not eligible for federal or state government aid. However, they may still need to fill out the FAFSA to help the universities they are applying to see what university-sponsored financial aid they are eligible for. In addition, international students have other ways of paying for tuition, such as special international student scholarships and tuition waivers. Undocumented and DACA students are also not eligible for federal aid. However, they can benefit from university-sponsored aid, in-state tuition, and special scholarships set aside for these students… Learn more