<p>Nemesis, you won't have to spend 4 years at an American high school to graduate - they would give you transfer credit for the work already done, and there is usually some flexibility as to graduation requirements when kids transfer in from an outside high school. So for example, if all kids must take US History, you will probably need to take that your senior year (which would be grade 12, the year you would start after completing grade 11 in Egypt). But if all kids are required to to take a year each of biology, chemistry & physics, and a kid transfers in from a high school that offers an integrated science program instead, the kid will be given credit without being required to make up courses ordinarily given in prior years. All high schools in the US are different - there are always statewide requirements, which vary from state to state; local district requirements, and then often requirements related to the programs at individual school. But American kids do move around a lot, so school administrators are very used to making adjustments for kids who come from different states and districts. </p>
<p>On the other hand, as you will already be 18, you might want to consider attending a year of community college instead -- but you need to check carefully to find out whether that would disqualify you from applying to a college as an entering student rather than as a freshman. I do think that if you move to California and live in the state for a year, you will be able to establish residency -- as you are an American citizen, you should also register to vote soon after you arrive. The part about establishing residency would probably NOT be true if you had a living parent -- in that case, your residency would still be tied to where your parents live. But I'm pretty sure that an 18 year old without parents would be like any other adult - living, working and attending school in the state for a year should establish residency.</p>
<p>Actually, if you are seriously interested in attending a UC campus, one of the best routes into the UC system is as a transfer student after 2 years of community college. So you could start at community college and take all of the general education courses required for your intended major; if you have good grades then after two years you are virtually guaranteed admission into one of the UC campuses, though not necessarily your first choice campus. </p>
<p>You might consider hedging your bets by applying to colleges next fall, with the backup plan that if you don't get into a top choice college, you will attend community college for 2 years in California, assuming that your aunt and uncle would be willing to let you live with them. Your SATs are so strong that I think you have a good chance of getting into colleges whether or not you have all the courses a US-educated student normally has. Colleges value the diversity you will bring that comes from your experience living in a mideastern nation, and your exposure to and prior study of arabic would be especially valued these days.</p>