dilemma
 

We are due to move to USA shortly with our two children who are 17 and 12, however I have big dilemma, deciding what is best for my daughter, she has only got one more year to finish her A’ levels.
Do you think is best for her to stay behind another year and finish her A’ levels???
Have any of you been in similar situations, if yes what is best to do.
What is equivalent of A’ levels in USA?
Please give me some advice
:confused:

Re: dilemma
 

Well if your going to leave behind one of the young'ens, leave them plenty of Heinz baked beans and a loaf of bread, cause they won't be able to cook bugger all else.
;)

Re: dilemma
 

You go to College right after you graduate from High School which is basically after the GED. GED I would consider the equivalent of the O'levels. She could do her SATs and go straight onto College if she likes when she comes here. This is what my neice did but I don't know details. Staying another year and completing A levels isn't going to give her an advantage. Also you could look into her doing her SATs right there in the UK and you could even apply to a College. However, School years are about to start next month, so she may already be too late to join a College right away. She could also apply to a Community College and do two years there which would basically shave off two years from her College education. I suggest you start making some inquiries...

Re: dilemma
 

Here is a website that can give you an idea of how your daughter could prepare for College:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/...about/SATI.htm
Many countries conduct classes that prepare you for the SATs. You may be able to sit the SATs while still in the UK....

Re: dilemma
 

Leave her behind, to get her A level.. In the opinion of many an English A level is the equal of any degree here...

The equivalent of A levels in US is a Bachelors degree, or at least most of a Bachelors degree. She would have to do a GED here at her age to get her into college (one year is not enough time in high school to get all the credits for a High school Diploma)...and the GED is roughly equivalent to the 11 plus- in that yer average 11 yr old could pass it. I know what I would do in your cicrumstances;)
You don't mention your visa status though- are you coming in with a green card?

Re: dilemma
 

Will she/you be living in the U.S. permanently or for a long time? I came here with my A levels and went to what is considered on of the best U.S. universities. Upon entry, sight unseen so to speak, they informed me that I would get the BA in 3 instead of 4 years because I had A levels. I also found the BA course of studies extremely easy on the whole - less work than A levels in terms of what was required, although of course you can do more if you want. If she is thinking of gonig back to UK/Europe to work, I would let her get the A levels. I don't know where in the U.S. you are going, but for both your children US schooling is going to seem extremely easy compared to what they are used to.

If she has O'levels she doesn't need to do her GED. All she needs is to pass her SATs to get into a College here. All I have said is assuming she intends pursue a College degree in the US. US Colleges aren't going to equate London A'levels to a Bachelors degree or even a part of it. However she will be awarded credits depending on the College to which she applies...

Depends on the school I expect Ranjini- I had to go get a GED before I could enroll. They wouldn't give me any credits for any of my qualifications. You're right they won't give her a BA for her A levels - I didn't mean to imply that. But if she does her A levels in UK she is going to romp through a BA degree out here- probably able to CLLEP the first year at least.

It depends on the OP's circumstances, which he didn't state. If he's looking for permanent entry for his family- then I would still finish the A levels- it'll save a fair amount of time and money in a US school -and even consider doing a Bachelors in UK- and come out here for MA (Dunroving says post grad courses are superior here). As LiW said, if she intends working in UK, then A levels are a must.
If the OP doesn't yet have a green card... at her age now, his daughter could well "age out" of his application- and end up back in UK anyway or having to get an F1 student visa under her own steam here.
Also, if the OP isn't a permanent resident- he is going to have to pay foreign student fees for his daughter, which are 4 times the fees for residents. ..Very expensive.
But whatever the circs I would let her finish the A levels.

You are right. Everything depends on the school. The OP should contact a College and get some information about their requirements. My daughter had London O and A Levels as well as three parts of CIMA for which she got credits. My niece had just London O/L and all they both did were the SATs. Inquiries at Community Colleges could also help. As you say, it depends on the OPs circumstances...

Thank you all for your replies, I must say that I am now more confused than I was 24 hour ago!!
We are coming over with Green Card, and relocating to Florida.
We have been waiting for nearly 2 years and it seemes that we have not got long left before our interview.
Any tips to prevent a divorce before leaving is much appriciated.

Separate planes!

That certainly makes things more clear. You could leave your daughter behind to complete A'levels but that's not going to necesserily give her any edge as far as entering a College in the US. As Taffyles pointed out the College she entered wanted her to get the basic GED and refused to recognise any of her UK qualifications. Whereas the College my daughter attended gave her credits for the qualifications she already had. Basically, it's upto the College she chooses to attend . If your daughter is going to continue her education in the US, I personally see no advantage in her getting her A/Ls. But it's a personal choice. You may want to make inquiries at a few Colleges in Florida as far as requirements before you make a final decision.

A lvels and US college
 

As I have an 17 year old applying to US colleges right now I am up with this stuff.
There are a wide range of things taken into ccount in getting in to a US college. Your GPA (which as far as I know doesnt exist in the UK) your score in the SAT or ACT and now your score in SAT II exams whihc are subject specific. In addition your outside interests and any work experience may be important. There are several approaches to getting started for an overseas student . She may want to get into a local community college and get ready for the SAT/ACT or even finnish some of her early college requirements.
The local colleges are more likely to be flexible in their enterence requirements and are much, much cheaper. I am always amused at those who think that the British system of concentrating on 3/4 subjects at A level is so superior to the US system. My son is taking a full load of science and arts course and will , if he succeeds, get a waiver from his first year uni courses. He is educated in a wider range of material than a graduating UK 6th former. There are pluses and minuses to both systems neither is clearly superior or the british system wouldn't be in the turmoil it is now!

Re: dilemma
 

Of course..and perhaps the most important question is:
what does your daughter want to do?? ...