Your assumption that international schools will be significantly more affordable is wrong. The two international schools that my daughter applied to were more expensive than the U.S. schools where she got merit aid, and that is before you even consider the travel costs.

I'm from a European country and my kids chose to study here in the US. You think the grass is greener elsewhere, OP? That's funny.

Top 15 or out of the country is a pretty extreme position for a kid who has never expressed an interest in an international university. Most kids who choose to go out of the country have discussed or shown interest in it before late high school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:nah, there's a lot of evidence college isn't worth the price tag right now for full pay families. the only schools where there's some defending the value is the T5. OP is being generous to stretch it to the T15.

So you’re telling your kids that if they don’t get into HYPSM, you’re kicking them out of the whole freaking country?! That seems a little extreme. Maybe focus on state schools, or merit-granting schools, if you don’t think full freight is worth it.

try reading again.

Right now idea is foreign to her forgive the pun. On ramp to the idea may include connecting w any international school families you might know. WIS graduates attend universities all over the world for example. There are many good reasons to be away from the USA, not the least the current headlines. Follow the non usa schools you are thinking of on social media. Forward a few of those links one at a time to DS.

Anonymous wrote:nah, there's a lot of evidence college isn't worth the price tag right now for full pay families. the only schools where there's some defending the value is the T5. OP is being generous to stretch it to the T15.

So you’re telling your kids that if they don’t get into HYPSM, you’re kicking them out of the whole freaking country?! That seems a little extreme. Maybe focus on state schools, or merit-granting schools, if you don’t think full freight is worth it.

nah, there's a lot of evidence college isn't worth the price tag right now for full pay families. the only schools where there's some defending the value is the T5. OP is being generous to stretch it to the T15.

Anonymous wrote:I would like DD to consider European or Canadian universities if she is not admitted to a T15 in U.S.. I believe she has the stats and a strong chance of admission to some international schools. Studying abroad would be an amazing experience for her and could also offer a significantly more affordable education. She could then use the remaining funds for graduate school in the U.S., which is a path she is likely to pursue. However, she is adamant about staying in the U.S. How do I encourage her to seriously consider international schools?

Terrible parenting !!!

OP: This is your daughter's life and your daughter's journey, not yours. Your standard--top 15--is unreasonable and unsupported by anything that you have shared.

I laid out the money part (my side) and let them figure out the rest.

The money part - for me - including seeing value of paying full fare for T10-15 schools and top couple of SLACS and that was it. I don't think BC is worth 400k, for example.

So pay for a tip top US school, or go to UK/ Canada, or a top 50/75 US school with merit and save 200k for grad school or a down payment.

Then I took them to see the UK schools.

For me, as a kid, UK would have been perfect. But I know kids who have transferred out. With some idea like, "You can only do college once" and "I can be 25 when I'm 25" (UK schools do treat you a lot more like an adult, and going out as a legal person is fun, but it's a lot of clubbing. Again,I would have liked it but it's not for everyone.)

Anyone .. set up what your parameters are.

Hopefully you have time for a summer pre-college experience before applying Fall 2026 for the 2027-2028 school year. Just identify the likely intnl. school and hope they have a program for rising juniors/seniors.

Not all US students are well equipped for study abroad. Some students are and some are not. Do not push on this one.

You don't. You think studying abroad is an "amazing experience," but she doesn't. Talk about her budget and let her make decisions based on what would be an amazing experience for her, not you.

I would not push something like this. It's the kind of thing you have to want and to be really interested in in order to thrive. College is enough of a transition I can't imagine pushing a student who is adamant against it to also have to adapt to a foreign country.

Why not just go to a less expensive American school? Lots of parents only pay full freight for a T15 (or T5, or T25).

I would like DD to consider European or Canadian universities if she is not admitted to a T15 in U.S.. I believe she has the stats and a strong chance of admission to some international schools. Studying abroad would be an amazing experience for her and could also offer a significantly more affordable education. She could then use the remaining funds for graduate school in the U.S., which is a path she is likely to pursue. However, she is adamant about staying in the U.S. How do I encourage her to seriously consider international schools?