Students who are preparing to go to high school in the United States tend to choose private high schools, so during the preparation stage, you should focus on understanding the relevant information about private high schools.Costs and conditions for studying in private high schools in the United StatesApplication requirements for master's degree in the United States, ,Requirements for studying in an American high school, ,What are the requirements for applying to study in the United States?, ,Application requirements for graduate students studying in the United States, ,Studying in American UniversitiesThe problem.
1. Cost of studying in a private high school in the United States
1. Tuition fees for private high schools in the United States
Public schools are free, only for exchange students and local students
Public schools in the United States account for about 85%. They are funded by local governments and do not require tuition, but they are only for local students in the United States. International students can only study in public high schools in the United States for one year as exchange students, and they still need to return to their home country after one year.
Private high schools are expensive
The majority of high schools studied abroad in the United States are private schools, most of which are funded and run by institutions or religious groups. Tuition fees are relatively high, averaging more than $25,000 per year.
2. Living expenses of private high schools in the United States
Food + accommodation: Average $8,000
The meals provided by the school are regular food provided by the cafeteria. Dormitory fees refer to double-occupancy in a room. You need to know whether the accommodation fee includes bedding (quilt, pillow, blanket) and basic dormitory services. If you live on campus during the summer, you need to increase the budget for room and board for three months.
Transportation: Average $600
The fees are for reference only and can be calculated based on local transportation costs. The school's transportation budget usually does not include international travel expenses, so you need to add the round-trip airfare. If you plan to change from living on campus to day-study, you will have to bear the local daily transportation costs.
Other expenses: Average $1,000
These expenses include basic living supplies, services, and activities, such as laundry, movies, and exercise. For example, if you need health insurance, your expenses will increase significantly if you have dependents or special medical needs.
Warm reminder: Textbooks generally cost around $500, but if there are other necessary additional educational expenses, such as mechanics, art, and movies, students' expenses will be higher than those of ordinary students.
2. Application requirements for studying in private high schools in the United States
1. Have relevant standardized test scores
Generally speaking, American private high schools require international students to provide two standardized test scores: SSAT test scores and English standardized test scores. English standardized test scores include: SLEP, TOEFL, and IELTS. SLEP is specially designed for international students to study in high schools in the United States. This is the most basic English test for international students, with scores ranging from 20 to 67. According to the scores, they will be roughly divided into three levels, namely elementary, intermediate and advanced. About 20-45 points are elementary, 45-55 are intermediate, and 56-67 are advanced.
If the score of the SLEP test is over 60, it means that the level of the SLEP test is difficult to detect the student's true English level. It is recommended to take the TOEFL. Because SLEP only has listening and simple grammar and reading tests, it does not cover the four aspects of listening, speaking, reading and writing like TOEFL (iBT). If the English TOEFL (iBT) test is 79 or above, it means that the student has basically acquired the same level of English ability as American children of the same age, so you can consider choosing a school that does not require ESL courses. Another standardized test for applying to private high schools in the United States is called SSAT (American High School Entrance Examination), which is mainly an exam for local American students to enter private high schools in the United States. Most private schools require international students (except short-term exchange students) to take the SSAT. There are test sites for SSAT in China, currently in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
2. You must be a student in the first or second year of high school
To apply for a high school in the United States, you need to obtain relevant certificates from your previous school. At the same time, the minimum age for admission to private high schools in the United States is generally 14 years old, which also requires you to provide certification materials.
3. Good academic performance
Private high schools in the United States will evaluate your past academic performance in China. Generally, private high schools in the United States require an average score of more than 80 points. Some good private high schools even require students to have a score of more than 90 points or be in the top 10% of the grade. Therefore, the quality of students' domestic academic performance will have an impact on admission. Generally, transcripts from the last two to three years are required.
4. Good family financial situation, with family income sufficient to pay tuition fees for the next three years
The school is very concerned about whether it can receive your tuition in full and on time, so it will take this into consideration when admitting you, and it also affects whether your US study visa application can be successfully approved. You need to provide a bank deposit certificate, which needs to be original and can be obtained from all major banks. The family deposit certificate for studying in a private high school in the United States can be around RMB 1 million.
5. Have certain specialties
American private high schools like applicants with rich interests and comprehensive development. At the same time, they also believe that such applicants can inject fresh vitality into the campus. It is worth mentioning that families with good financial conditions can choose to send their children to private high schools! If the applicant is successfully admitted, he or she can start preparing for follow-up work such as contacting the school, applying for accommodation, and contacting the airport for pick-up.
3. Checklist for studying in the United States
1. Important Documents
Such as passport, I-20 form, diploma, admission letter, various notarizations, graduation certificate, degree certificate, final transcript, medical examination documents, etc. In addition, you can also prepare a few more copies of important documents, such as passport.
2. Personal clothing
1. Find out the local temperature and prepare the appropriate clothes.
2. The four seasons are distinct in the United States, but in winter, there must be a heater in the room, and the room temperature is usually kept at around 15℃ to 20℃. Autumn clothes are most often worn. Pants are occasionally used, but thick sweaters are rarely used. Even in the coldest weather, you can just wrap yourself in a snow jacket or a thick coat.
3. It is best to change and wash underwear, socks, etc. every two weeks.
4. You may decide how to dress after you see other students' clothes after you arrive in the U.S. So you don't have to go shopping before going abroad. Shopping in the U.S. is also fun.
5. You may want to bring one or two sets of traditional Chinese (or modified) clothing to wear at the International Student Day or dinner held at school.
6. You won’t have many opportunities to wear formal suits and dresses, so just prepare one or two sets.
7. Carrying a thin jacket with you is very useful when boarding the plane and when you get off the plane in the United States.
3. Learning Tools
1. No matter what major you are studying, try to bring along some reference books that you have used. Buying books in the United States is sometimes quite troublesome. In addition to textbooks specified by professors, bookstores only sell some very ordinary books or manuals. Related reference books can only be borrowed from the library. The library has a sufficient variety of books, and there are many new books, but you cannot make punctuation annotations on the books, which is sometimes very inconvenient. Therefore, you can bring along some books that you will use in the first semester. The price of books in China is cheaper than in the United States.
2. You may want to bring along a dictionary you are used to, such as an English-Chinese or Chinese-English dictionary. You can buy an English-English dictionary when you arrive in the United States.
4. Computer Software
Since downloading software online is not allowed in the United States, it is recommended that you download your commonly used software in China first and put it on a USB flash drive to bring with you.
5. Daily necessities
It is recommended to bring less bedding such as sheets, quilt covers, wool blankets, and quilts because they are relatively large. You can buy a good quality quilt in the United States for about 20-35 US dollars. But I would like to remind you that you cannot buy quilt covers in the United States. If you need them, bring them from China.
You don't need to bring too much toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, shower gel and the like. If you bring too much, it will be heavy. Just bring enough for you to use for a while. You can buy more there when you are done.
6. Electrical Necessities
Be sure to bring a conversion plug and an extension cord because the power supply in the United States is 110V and the power socket is three large items.
VII. Pharmaceuticals
1. If you need to take medication regularly due to personal health reasons, you should prepare enough medicine and carry the doctor's prescription or instructions with you.
2. Except in special cases or serious conditions, which require a doctor's diagnosis and prescription, general medicines such as anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, vitamins, cold medicines, various ointments and trauma first aid medicines can be purchased at general pharmacies. If you have any questions, you can also consult the pharmacist of the store.
3. You can prepare some temporary emergency gastrointestinal medicine, cold medicine, Tiger Balm, etc.
4. Some schools require all new students to receive vaccinations. It is recommended to get them in China.
8. Suitcase
Buy suitcases of different sizes. When not in use, the smaller ones can be stored inside the larger ones, so that the empty suitcases do not take up the limited dormitory space. Also, prepare a few good padlocks that can be used to lock suitcases, desks, and cabinets.
4. Accommodation arrangements for international students in the United States
1. School Dormitory
With the advantages of low cost, convenient classes and guaranteed safety, it is the first choice for domestic students to study abroad. However, the general supply is limited. Although international students can submit applications effectively, the success rate is not high.
The application is made directly on the school's website. There will be a special dormitory application entrance. Everyone needs to fill in their personal information, check the services they want, sign the contract and pay the deposit, then they can submit the application. If successful, the deposit will be converted into rent, otherwise it will be refunded.
The internal facilities of the dormitory are relatively simple, generally including a bedroom and bathroom, and the furniture includes a bed, wardrobe, table and chairs. Electrical appliances basically need to be purchased by yourself. In addition, a public laundry room and kitchen are provided, which can be used freely after moving in.
2. Off-campus accommodation
Considering the limited number of dormitories, apartments are a very important part of the school's surrounding supporting services. Formal apartments will have their own websites, and you can submit your application directly on the website. You don't have to worry about being cheated, which will affect your study abroad.
If you choose a larger apartment, you can make an appointment on their website just like applying for a dormitory. Select the house you are interested in and make a reservation. Be sure to pay attention to the configuration and charging standards to ensure that you can obtain the benefits of the contract.
Since you are renting a house, you have a strong sense of personal initiative, so you must examine all aspects of the situation, including the distance from the school, the convenience of travel, and the safety of the surrounding area, and be able to obtain reliable information from different aspects.
3. Homestay
Boarding can be said to be a way to save money and worry. You can directly live in a local family. For students, there will be someone to help them adapt to the new life and play a guardian role. However, as outsiders, everyone needs to adapt to the family's habits and change their lifestyle.
Applications must be made through official channels. Some schools have direct channels, and you can also apply through an agent. The process is not complicated, and you do not need to prepare much materials. You can also put forward your own requirements to facilitate allocation and screening.
Summary of the costs and conditions for studying in private high schools in the United States
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