<p>Well, in general, the advantages of going abroad for college are exposure to new cultures and language(maybe.) There is also the possibility of going to a better college system. However, the latter really doesn’t apply much to the U.S.</p>
<p>I can tell you are not pleased by the quality of the U.S. education system at the high school level. I assure you that many aren’t, especially myself. However, the college system in the United States operates so differently and in such a wonderful manner that it is often considered to be the greatest in the world. In few countries elsewhere(though certainly not none) will you be able to get the same high quality education with as many varied options available.</p>
<p>Furthermore, you stated you would like to not have a new language learned or a very different culture. Unfortunately, this is very difficult to manage. You could look into some schools in Australia, Britain, Ireland and other English speaking nations, such as Oxford, Cambridge, and Trinity(though from what I understand about the Irish system, you need a functioning knowledge of Gaelic(forgive me if I’ve used the wrong language) in order to go to a university.) However, while these are wonderful schools, you may be making more of a sacrifice than you might wish to be making.</p>
<p>Consider that for four years you will likely be an outsider, of little political power, and far more importantly, in a new culture. That isn’t to say any of these things are bad, but you may be surprised at the way you expect things to happen as opposed to the reality. This in addition to the fact that you will find that these schools are about as good as the same tier of American schools, and in many countries are worse. You’ll likely have a lower acceptance rate into these schools, in addition to less financial aid(specifically for some European schools which are free to natives only.) Furthermore, you will likely be hammered with extra costs that you aren’t thinking about. Compared to much of the U.S., many parts of the world are more expensive to live in, just to purchase general daily articles. You will also be out of contact with your family other than long distance phone calls and email/letters. On the whole, it will probably be pretty expensive.</p>
<p>Now, none of this is bad per se, but is probably something to consider.</p>
<p>There is another option, however, to look into, namely study abroad programs. You could study at most colleges in the United States and get into a study abroad program, or learn a language there and go over to another nation or school. Some universities don’t charge any more than standard tuition. You could learn Arabic and head off to Egypt, or Italian and go down to Italy, or just head to Cambridge with some programs.</p>
<p>But I must agree with some prior posters. You will not find Harvard, nor MIT, nor Columbia nor Stanford, nor UChicago, nor Swathmore, nor Amherst to be at that same high school level. Forgive my fairly libertarian philosophy here, but with selectivity and the vast program of choice and independent funding, you will find that the colleges in America are truly wonderful, not only when compared to America’s mandatory, restrained, and overall poor high school system but with the world at large.</p>