Hello! I really need your help. I’m in my junior year in Romania. I’m going to apply to US universities next year. I’ve just received FLEX scholarship so I’m going to graduate in an American public high school. I don’t know where yet. Is this a major change? Is this an advantage or a disadvantage? What should I know? I mean smth different from now. Is there a difference on applying to fin aid or scholarships?
Also As my new teachers will barely know me at first should I sent recommendations from my old teachers right? Or should I do both? What counselor: old or new? Please give me some advice. Any opinion is welcome. Thanks!
Hey @MYOS1634
Can you help me? I’ve seen you have some knowledge about all of these.
First, make SURE that you will in fact graduate from an American high school. I have met several international exchange students who spent their final year of high school in the U.S. but were NOT given a diploma. The reasoning was that these students did not meet the local/state graduation high school graduation requirements - they were only one year exchange students. If that is the case, you may have to return to Romania and get your diploma there. That would delay your college application process – so clearly, knowing IN ADVANCE whether or not you will be given a U.S. high school diploma despite studying only 1 year in the U.S. this is a very, very important factor.
Applying to American colleges while studying in an American high school could make it a bit easier for you – you can get a lot more help with the application process in the US than in Romania, for example. On the other hand, you will still need your Romanian high school transcript and probably a recommendation letter from Romania. And that can be harder to arrange across the ocean.
Even with an American high school diploma – IF you get it – you will be still applying as an international student. So, no, no extra advantage either for admissions or financial aid.
@katliamom I read about GED. Can i take it if I don’t get a graduation diploma? Also, colleges require 2 recs in general, should I include one from US and one from Romania? What counselor should complete the recommendation and school profile?
For anyone reading this, do you think this scholarship( FLEX program) is an important achievement for admission officers or not? I don’t know how it is seen in US but in fact it’s reeally a competitive process and I can talk about it as an important experience through my life as I get it the 3rd time. What do you think?
Go back to Rolamia and finish high school there instead of taking the GED. The GED exam series is not easy, it is designed for students who dropped out of the US system, and is considered to be the equivalent of a basic HS diploma. For college admissions as an international applicant, you want your high school record to be more than just the bare minimum.
Don’t come to the US with the FLEX solely in order to improve your admissions chances at colleges in the US.
@happymomof1 I’m not coming for improving my admission chances in particular. Also, the year spent in US will be automatically equated in Romania so I can obtain a recognition of graduation in my country too.
Still, I have some wonders. What counselor have to complete the rec and school profile? Is possible to have from both(old and new)? The one from my country knows me better.
Flex is a great achievement but you’ll need to explain that succinctly on your application.
Ask two current teachers for recommendations (MIT has a good post for teachers about what recommendations should be like). If you can ask American teachers too then pick one of each.
Your Romanian GC would complete all documents (school profile = very important) pertaining to 8-11 and send it to your us GC to upload because your transcript would be divided into two segments in the
Basically due to your flex scholarship it is to be assumed that you got straight As AND are in the top 1% in your country so that should be very clear in the documents your Romanian GC sends.
What state will you be placed in?
What stream or track are you currently in (humanities, stem…)? What classes are you taking this year?
Next year should include 4 AP classes related to what is currently your ‘stream’ and/or core classes. Unlike most exchange students who can fill their schedule with whatever they like you’ll need to take hard classes and will have graduation requirements. (Details may be better PM’'d as they may be too long and personal for a public thread).
What’s your budget for college? Can your parents help in any way? Are there government scholarships at the undergraduate level?
Your Romanian GC would complete all documents (school profile = very important) pertaining to 8-11 and send it to your us GC to upload because your transcript would be divided into two segments in the common app.
Graduating from a US high school means three things: 1) in some states you may be considered for in-state tuition (which is no help at all if 20k is as unaffordable as 50kfoe your family but in some cases can help) and 2) you will be considered a domestic applicant like all others in the US for “meet full need” Pomona college and it greatly increases your odds. Downside is that Pomona College is one of the most selective colleges in the US so your odds go from 3% as an international to 9% as a domestic applicant, roughly. You could apply ED if you manage to score 1480+ on the sat in June or 32+ on the act and 750+ in two subjects. And 3) if your application is strong in September you can apply through Questbridge. Imnassuming your family akes essential than 30k in yezlrly income. It means hitting the ground running right away at your high school (a week adjusting rather than a month). And obviously it’s better if you’re in an early school year start like Florida starts school before August 15) than in a late school year start like NYS (which starts school after labor day, so, three weeks later).
Unlike most exchange students who can fill their schedule with whatever they like you’ll need to take hard classes and will have graduation requirements. (Details may be better PM’'d as they may be too long and personal for a public thread).
Thanks a lot for your help, @MYOS1634! I’m not able to Pm you… Still, there is an old post http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/2067951-share-your-opinion-with-me.html#latest where I told more about my stats. This can answer to some of your questions. Also, I don’t know where I’ll be placed. As soon as I know I’m gonna tell you. Thanks again for help!
This is what @MYOS1634 was referring to by MIT’s info on recommendations: http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/writingrecs
Also, go to Educationusa.state.gov and find an advising center near you for info on applying to US colleges