Anonymous
11/18/2025 17:11
Subject: Overseas college
OP, you said your DC "can choose a career based on interests, not debt payments". It is my understanding that UK schools are very different from U.S. colleges and that students have to choose their path at 17. And that's it. That is the path they are on. Is your DC ready to do that? U.S. schools are very different and students for the most part have about 2 years of college courses before they have to declare a major.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 16:09
Subject: Overseas college
Anonymous wrote:Hello - I’m in a dual US-UK national family, and fortunate have the option to consider overseas college at local rates, which are lower than any in state tuition fees here. Our college savings right now would cover the whole degree. We’re not on track to do this at US prices.
We’re thinking about moving as a family to get local residency, which would mean during the last few years of high school overseas. While this is disruptive, it also means LO graduates with no debt and can choose a career based on interests, not debt payments. Is this bananas?
We have lived and worked in both countries, and both of our careers are at a decision point where we could transition. Biggest downside would be LO having to make new friends at a new school.
This seems like a lot of work. There are many ways to lower the cost of a US college education. Have you checked them all out?
For example:
Use a combination of AP exam credits & community college courses taken while in high school to graduate in 3 yrs instead of 4.
Save a lot by having kid get a Resident Assistant (RA) position in a dorm.
Find a public university that will give you the in-state tuition rate and/or a significant merit scholarship based on GPA & SAT/ACT. (Check out Fla State, Texas Tech, Alabama, Nebraska, Arizona, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Florida International, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State etc.)
Take a year or 2 at a community college, then transfer to a 4-year college.
Anonymous
11/18/2025 11:43
Subject: Overseas college
Anonymous wrote:If not has their American education prepared them, probably not.
I beg to differ - in STEM, the acceleration flexibility makes the US more than adequate, at least assuming you're from a place like FCPS AAP where you can take algebra 2 and precalc before starting A levels. Not to mention A level physics not even being calculus-based.
Also, it's easy to find A level study material to self-study at your own pace, e.g. https://www.reddit.com/r/6thForm/comments/1nb0nq7/i_selftaught_a_level_maths_and_further_maths_in_6/ since 6thforms don't grade homework.