The secondary education in the America is the key to successful admission to most American universities. 90% of graduates of the boarding schools in California enrol in the prestigious universities of the USA, including the universities of the Ivy League. Boarding schools in California offer excellent educational opportunities. Through a combination of academic classes, compulsory sport activities and a wide range of extracurricular activities, children will learn about various social and cultural activities.
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Schools in California for the foreign students – specifics of studying
According to the US Department of Education, it is boarding schools that give the international students the best knowledge in the exact sciences (mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology) and foreign languages. Successful completion of the boarding school in California is actually a guarantee of admission to the leading universities of the country. That is why, despite the rather high cost of tuition, the competition for schools remains consistently high.
The foreign students study in small classes, where the number of students does not exceed 10-15 persons. In such environment the teacher can pay much attention to each student. Each foreign student chooses the list of subjects for studying and makes his own personal schedule. That is, in each subject, he finds himself in a new team.
Despite the rather large freedom of choice, there are a number of compulsory subjects – mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences, computer literacy and English. The student chooses other subjects independently based on the scope of his interests.
Physical education is also included in compulsory disciplines, however, in high school students are engaged in some specific sport. Sports achievements are especially welcomed in America and affect not only school studies, but also are a significant plus when entering a university. In addition, boarding schools in California have all the opportunities for music, various types of art and leisure activities.
High school students can attend Advanced Placement courses (AP). Its program largely corresponds to the first year of study at the university, and with the successful completion of such a course, the subject can be credited at the university.
For international students, schooling in the USA is a great way to adapt to the American system of study in general. The boarding school in California requires not only good academic performance, but also an active life position: lessons and extracurricular activities last from morning to evening and are aimed at fostering leadership qualities, self-realization of each student, teaching effective communication and proper organization of time. The best boarding schools in California give rather an algorithm for mastering knowledge, teach the foreign students to think independently and find the necessary information. As a result, graduates are better prepared for practical life.
At the end of school, students take the SAT exam, which is of two stages. The first – SAT I – includes verbal and mathematical parts. The second, more advanced and complex – SAT II – tests the knowledge of three subjects of choice from the offered list. For admission to most colleges, SAT I is required, but the most prestigious universities prefer SAT II.
TOP boarding schools in California – enrolment requirements
To become a student of a prestigious boarding school in California, the foreign student will need to ensure compliance with certain established rules and prepare a package of documents. The student must promptly deal with the issue of admission to the American boarding school. So, taking into account the fact that the beginning of the school year in America falls on September, the acceptance of applications ends in January-February of the current academic year. In addition, the list of accepted students for the next academic year has already been formed approximately in March-April. To enroll in an elite boarding school in California, the foreign student needs to prepare the following list of documents, namely:
- Report cards for the last 2-3 years
- A copy of the first page of the passport
- Providing the characteristics of the incoming from several teachers
- Provision of various diplomas, diplomas, certificates that were received for the high results achieved in a variety of fields of activity
- Writing an introductory essay or a motivational letter
- Passing the international language exam.
As a rule, the best boarding schools in California accept the results of international TOEFL or SAT exams. In addition, it may be necessary to pass a personal interview or an exam of the host American school. During the conversation with the commission member, not only the level of knowledge is determined, but also a general assessment is given of whether a student is suitable for this school: how purposeful and motivated he is, what hobbies he has, whether his professional interests coincide with the specialization of the school, etc.
In case of insufficient English proficiency, a foreign student will need to take a supportive language course. In addition, in order to check the level of knowledge in academic subjects, an international student will need to pass a special exam. In the US, the following types of test are most in demand – AST or Reasoning Test.
Boarding schools in California fees for the international students
The tuition fee is stipulated by the following factors, such as the ranking of the educational institution, its location, accommodation type, the list of additional services. On average, the cost of studying in the prestigious private school in the US, including nutrition and living, fluctuates from 40,000 to 90,000 USD per year.
However, there are ways to significantly reduce costs. Most schools provide their students with financial assistance: it is allocated to both students with high academic performance (merit-based) and families experiencing financial difficulties (need-based). Scholarships can reduce the cost of study by 2-3 times.
