Education in the United States – both higher and secondary – is expensive. The cost of education in private schools is more expensive only in Switzerland and Great Britain.

The U.S. secondary education system provides two independent systems of grades – high school exit exams, which are included in school diplomas, and SAT/ACT scores. For admission to universities in the U.S. and Canada, test scores matter, which reduces the value of a high school diploma and levels out a child’s performance over the course of school.

To get into European and top American universities, students must take a special one-year AP preparatory course and get good grades on it. This increases the length of schooling to 13 years, which is more than the OECD average of 12 years and increases the cost to parents.

In the U.S., schools are taught in English, which is good for universities in all English-speaking countries of the world. However, in these countries, higher education is not free. Thus, it is quite difficult for graduates of American schools to get the opportunity to study for free at European universities. Especially considering the fact that the study of a foreign language is not included in the list of compulsory subjects.

The PISA international student assessment puts the United States below the OECD average (31st place out of 70). Public school students received this rating. In private schools, judging by the percentage of graduates who went on to university, that score would have been higher, but no research is done on the competencies of private school students.

Nevertheless, the system of secondary education in the USA has valuable advantages: the educational system is as flexible as possible, the schools offer a very wide list of disciplines, from which students choose their priorities. The flexibility of the school program allows children to focus on core subjects. In fact, admission to American universities is based on the results of 3 tests – English, math and one major subject.

There are a great number of summer academic schools in the USA, which give the opportunity to get credits and recommendations increasing chances of entering a chosen university.

The United States is very loyal to foreigners: in order to get into an American university they need to take the SAT/ACT tests and provide a high school diploma of the country of their studies. They do not need to retake school subjects. However, the latter advantage is more about access to higher education.

If your goal is to attend top universities in the United States, high school in the country is the best way to reach your goal. It is in the U.S. high school is ideally put the work on career guidance, help in choosing a future profession. In 4 years, the child fully adapts to the new environment, learns the language, and prepares to enter college.

However, if there is a need to save money, you can confine yourself to summer schools with SAT or ACT preparation. If several times to go to such programs, your child will not only get training for these exams and practice English among native speakers, but also be able to get academic credits, which could prove to the admissions committee his motivation and desire to learn. And that is what is most valued in the U.S. college admissions process!