<p>Hi there
I live in New Zealand and I am most likely to move to the States next year september due to my dad's job. I don't know whether I should post it here or somewhere else but I would like to ask a general question on American High school subjects and education. As a Korean living in New Zealand for four years, there might be a grammatical mistakes which I am sure you guys can understand. </p>
<p>1st question:
This might be silly but I am 15 (born in June 20 1990) and I am still struggling to figure out what grade I will be in next year. Here in New Zealand, new grade starts in Feburary and I shall be year 11 next year, which equals to grade 10 in America according to my memory. Just by looking this, it seems to be straightfoward but I heard that you guys have a new grade in September. As said before, I am moving to USA September next year, and will I be grade 11? If I will, that means I lose half year if you know what I mean. Can anyone state exactly what will happen?</p>
<p>2nd
Here in New Zealand, there are 5 subjects I have to take to go to University.
Needless to say, English and Math are compulsory. So basically, I need to take care to choose 3 subjects which Science is not needed. How about in USA? is it basically the same?
Please tell me what I need in high school to go to Uni over there (based on Ivy League) </p>
<p>I recently got a lot of help from this community concerning affairs which it is quite hard to find out about here. It would be such a grateful thing if I get some more this time! Cheers</p>
<p>I'm really not sure what will happen regarding your grade. Really, my guess is that they would base their decision as to where to place you based on the level of instruction you have received in New Zealand. There seems to be no standard method of placing kids in the United States such that I have seen it. </p>
<p>As to your second question, there are no rigorous course requirements here. As a general rule, you have to take four years of English, two to four years of a foreign language (though your being Korean could get you out of that requirement), at least three years of mathematics, at least three years of science (with experience in the laboratory for at least two of those years--generally, they want to see you take chem, physics, and bio), and some other classes. So you basically have to take everything here; the difference is that the universities like ivies will impose no strict requirements. However, they do have course recommendations. Ivies generally want to see you excel in courses of high rigor, but don't take those classes just because they are rigorous and will help you get into an Ivy. You should take such classes because you truly want to or because it is the best way to be challenged at the high school level. If you try to plan your high school schedule around getting into ivies, you probably will not be all too successful or happy.</p>
<p>By age, you will be in Grade 11 but most schools will place you according to your level of education so far. It might be advisable to enter Grade 11 in any case because that gives you a full year of adjustment before applying to competitive colleges in 12th grade. You can start taking SAT tests in Grade 11--you can learn more about that here, from <a href="http://www.collegeboard.com%5B/url%5D">www.collegeboard.com</a> and from your school in Sept. Johnny 182 is right about course selection.</p>
<p>Enter grade 11 if you have finished geometry and the second year of algebra and are ready for pre-calculus or A/B Calculus. Consider repeating 10th grade if your English or math are weak or you feel that your preparation in New Zealand was not as good as it could be and you want to go to an Ivy or equivalent. So many students do Advance placement courses, take college courses, do the IB curriculum, etc. that what grade you are eligible for is kind of meaningless. By the way, some students take at least one SAT II test in tenth grade, usually a math 1C, science, or world history.</p>
<p>OH, I heard taht you can only take Sat 3 times.... if I take it now, woudln't it be too soon? or the test you are talking about is just a practice test?</p>
<p>The SAT II is a "subject" test. Unlike the SAT I, which you usually take in 11th or 12th grade, you normally take the SAT II after completing a course on the subject that the test is on, or, for tests on foreign languages or literature, at around the same time that you take the SAT I. There are a number of different SAT II tests; most colleges require that you take any 3, but they prefer that they be in a variety of subjects. SAT II tests are much shorter than the regular SAT I, and you can take up to 3 at one test administration. You can see the full list of subject tests here:
<a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about/SATII.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about/SATII.html</a></p>
<p>It is also customary to take a practice SAT I--the PSAT--in 11th grade. Your scores on the PSAT are not reported to colleges, but they can be used to qualify for National Merit scholarships.</p>
<p>There's no limit to the number of times you take the SAT I, but colleges may think it odd if you take it a large number of times and don't show score improvement.</p>
<p>So you bascially need to take every subjects?
As said, in New Zealand, we take 5 subjects or 6 at most.....
It sounds a bit ridiculous to me...lol
However, is this true?</p>
<p>Taking 5-6 subjects per year is pretty normal in an American high school. A typical year's classes would probably be English, math, foreign language, science, and history, then, optionally, maybe art or a second foreign language or something.</p>
<p>alright.... cheers
and about SAT, if I take them now, does it count?
How do you study Sat English? I know that Sat Math is straightforward, quite easy to get 800, but English is difficult as I hear. Especially Vocabs. How should I study?</p>
<p>Read a lot, choose challenging books and look up the vocabulary you don't know--but don't forget to enjoy your reading!</p>
<p>Good SATs and good performance in grade 11 together with impressive record from NZ would be a good initial basis for Ivy admission--but remember to research other schools --non-Ivies-- as a back up for very competitive admissions.</p>
<p>You should spend a few hours 1) researching admission requirements and recommendations of a few ivy league schools, 2)Also look at financial aid steps and requirements if you will need financial aid (it is time to talk about FA with your parents), 3) Look up dates, fees, registration requirements in NZ and the US for the SAT I and SAT IIs on <a href="http://www.collegeboard.com%5B/url%5D">www.collegeboard.com</a>. Choose your strongest subjects for the 3 SAT II's, but try to have them in different areas. Harvard prefers that your native language not be one of your 3 SAT II's. 4) Investigate whether it would be appropriate to take a SAT II this school year in New Zealand, and 5) Go on Amazon.com and order a PSAT workbook (perhaps Princeton Review), the College Board 10 SAT workbook and any SAT II workbook, perhaps from Princeton Review, if you will be taking any SAT II tests in New Zealand. Pyewacket is right about non-Ivies. In fact, at some point you might like to buy the Fiske Guide to Colleges or another guide to the top colleges in the States.</p>
<p>Damaris,
I am moving to the USA in 6 months. I think it would be better to take Sat over there. However I should prepare in here too. Thanks for your time and effort!</p>
<p>Some students take a SAT II sophomore year in a subject that they will not be continuing. For example, if you are taking chemistry now and you will not be taking AP Chemistry next year (and you are a strong student in chemistry), you might want to prepare for the early June SAT II Chemistry exam. You will probably take US History next year in the States. If you are taking European History or World History this year (and you are strong in history), consider taking the World History SAT II in June. Look at the College Board website and plan out your testing now, so you don't have regrets in the future. Remember, ivy league hopefuls take lots of AP's or the IB curriculum in high school, particularly junior and senior year, although the colleges won't hold it against you if your school doesn't offer them. Consequently, if you can get one of your required standardized tests out of the way and get a great score, you will be less burdened next year.</p>
<p>About the subjects/credits: no one can tell you. All systems are different (there are like 10,000 or so different school systems in the states under 50 states and 1 federal district). What state are you moving to? I can tell you graduation requirements of that state, and if you know the system, that would be better. Just PM me.</p>
<p>Local districts control graduation requirements in Iowa, not the state. Here are Iowa City's Core Curriculum Requirement:
2 Science
2 Math
3 Social Sciences/Social Studies
4 English</p>