Donna_c uk

Hi
we have the opportunity to move to the USA and have two teenagers.14& 16
Everything else is in place( visas house job etc)
However we are worried about how our teenage girls will manage in highschool.
Our youngest has just this term started her GCSE course and eldest 2 years of A levels.
We understand the high school diploma is recognised as being slightly higher than GCSE but I'm worried when we return to the UK after 5 years, employers will struggle to accept her US qualification ?
Any advice greatly recieved

WEBlue

Hi Donna, I wonder if you've already looked at this thread? There's a lot of useful advice & opinions here.
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=771399

Good luck with your move!

scrubbedexpat099

What sort of degree courses are they looking at?

Bob

There has been 2-3 threads on this very subject over the last week....have a snoop over those and see if they answer any/all of your questions, would save time on everyone repeating themselves

Good luck though.

clarity1971

Hello Donna, we are in a similar position although not had formal job offer yet so you are a good few steps ahead.

I don't think you will have a problem getting UK employers to recognise a US qualification. The problem might be getting the qualification in the first place!

The High School Diploma will be the easy part as your 16 year will just transfer into High School and take it from there. But you need to decide how you will fund college in two years time and bear in mind that (depending on your visa), you may have to pay international college fees.

If you are only planning to stay 5 years then will your oldest have tiome to complete her College Degree.

2 years at High School plus 4 years at college?

Also bear in mind that your 16 year old may 'age out' at 21 and be required to return the the UK. Lots for you to think about.

We are facing the possibility of having to move our twin 16 year olds out to the states - not something we really want to do and it couldn't have come at a worse time for them in terms of their education.

We are seriously considering allowing them to stay here in the UK and to finish their A Levels at a state boarding school (the education is free because it's a state school but you incur boarding fees of up to £11,000 per year).

We are still undecided and have lots to think about still, make sure you do your research.

There is some excellent information on the Fulbright Commission website by the way that might help to convert your 16 year olds GCSE's to determine a Grade Point Average - something that colleges and high schools seem to set score by

NatashaB

Lots of schools in our area offer the international baccalaureate, that might be an option too. Although as has already been mentioned, your bigger issue is paying for college and the 'aging out' problem. What visa will you be going on? Will your employers consider sponsoring a green card? You may need to ask them to do that, otherwise your daughter won't be able to stay after she turns 21 unless she gets a visa under her own steam.

NatashaB

Just seen from your other post that you will be going on an L1 and your employer will sponsor your GC. If that's the case, I would ensure that you get that moving as soon as possible so that your daughter is included in the GC petition and can remain after she turns 21. Depending on what processing category they place you in you should have the GC within a couple of years at most, ours was only a few months.

Middlemore

Slightly off topic here, but its my experience that teens do not move easily, they are too settled to move to another town, never mind emigrate!
Mine flat refused to go to the US, and stayed on to finish A levels in England, despite us finding him a place in a good Seattle school offering IB courses.
He is now at uni in England and will only visit us in the US during uni vacations. I don't like that he lives on the other side of the world to us, but I respect that he cannot be forced to move to live with us.

Hope yours want to move, otherwise you are in for a rough ride.