My husband has a very attractive job offer in Stockholm. We have elementary school-aged children and I’m concerned that moving to Sweden might hurt their chances for US college admission a decade down the road. I’m sure this has been asked before but… what would our children would be considered by US colleges if we lived in Stockholm? Domestic or foreign applicants? Both parents are American-born (husband’s parents are both Spain-born). Don’t want to even contemplate making something already challenging (college admissions – from NYC no less) more challenging. TIA.
They will be considered “domestic”. There are plenty of Amexican citizens living abroad w school children. Being expat kids will give them an advantage by enabling them stand out in the applicant pool. American-curriculum int’l schools have excellent college advising, administer all the relevent tests, and get visited by college admissions reps.
Thanks for the reply. OK this is helpful.
I’d move to Stockholm in a minute if we could do it! 
Good luck with your decision.
The biggest consideration is ds1 who has Asperger’s. He’s 7 so still very young but this would turn his would upside down to say the least. Ds2 is 5 and would go native in about two weeks. He’s very adaptable, sporty, into skiing, super social, etc. But ds1 might be a deal breaker. I’ve fought tooth and nail for services and supports and we’re making it work (mainstream schooling) with a lot of hard work. Hard to risk all of our hard-won progress with him.
Any way to find out about your local school options in Stockholm before you get there? For all you know they may have fabulous support for Aspies.
It seems the big obstacle to consider is not college, but finding good options for your kids current education needs. Is there someone in your H’s company that can help you determine if there is an appropriate school for your S? And would the job pay for private school tuition at an American speaking school?
Agreed. Just researching the options is daunting.
If you are still there when they are applying for colleges, you will not be considered in-state anyplace, thus closing of some of the most inexpensive options. At private schools they would be considered domestic students for merit aid – but if your spouse is getting job opportunities in Stockholm, you may be above that income level.
That said, with strong standardized test scores, their admissions chances should be fine. I adore Stockholm, and have a kid who is on the autism scale (but high functioning). I’d have gone in a minute and taken my family.
Many expat families opt to return to the home country for kids to finish HS. Your kids are only elementary school age now. You’ve got PLENTY of time to make that decision.
Our family left for a foreign posting while eldest was in 1st grade. It was supposed to be for only 3 years. Multiple foreign postings and beaucoup freq flyer miles later, eldest is in college now, and we’re still overseas.
If you have the opportunity to go to Stockholm, definitely go!
I spent all of my elementary school years overseas and it was a great experience. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I had a bit of a bumpy transition in junior high - mean 7th grade girls - but I survived and went on to excel in junior high and high school.
I’d echo the points made by the above posters. There was a poster yesterday in a similar situation to the one you’re curious about (US citizen living overseas and applying to American colleges). I went into some detail on the matter, and although I haven’t the time to rehash it all, most of the relevant points can be found in post #6 of this thread:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/18880981/#Comment_18880981
I suspect there are people here on CC - including current and former admissions officers - who know far more about the process as a whole, but I hope there’s some info there that may prove helpful for you.
With regards to your son, the Scandinavian countries have historically had excellent government services - good enough that high earners don’t mind tax rates well above 50% in order to pay for them - and health care costs are next to nothing. It’s possible that the mental health care system is a weak point compared to the health care system as a whole, but I think it’s highly unlikely.
Schools in these countries are also exceptional, as the Scandinavian nations routinely score in the upper tier of developed countries on the PISA.
Are you seriously worried about this now? College is over a decade away for this kids. Stockholm is beautiful and living abroad is an experience that your children will never forget. Mental health services are likely better in Stockholm than where you currently live now, anyway.
I believe the OP is less concerned about mental health services than about Aspie support services in school. That’s a different issue.
Well , Autistism Spectrum is in the DSM V so, yes , it’s a mental health issue.
Has the company given the green light for the whole to go? Every time we moved, the entire family had to pass a medical exam. I had a colleague whose foreign posting offer was rescinded because it was discovered that the daughter had a kidney condition.
I will fully admit that I’m so exhausted by parenting right now that the contemplation of the work involved to pull this off knocks me flat.
I have big crying jags probably 2-3 times per week and that’s just with regular old parenting a challenging child stuff.
The thought of all of the logistics… It is too much. I don’t think I could cope. And there is a real risk that world-upside down disruption could set my challenging son back. He is currently in a mainstream public school with lots of supports. I have developed a very close relationship with all of the people in his life (therapists, teachers, psychologists) and – after everyone beseeched me – I got myself a therapist too. You might call our set-up a “mental ICU” for our family. We would leave at our own risk. If it were just my husband and myself and our younger son – it would be the adventure of a lifetime. I’d be so game. But we got dealt a different hand and there is less room for maneuver. I think I was just fantasizing that if we moved we would leave our troubles behind. It’s a natural fantasy but it remains a fantasy.
I applaud you for recognizing the limitations and seriously considering the needs of your son, and how it might impact your entire family, especially you, finding new resources, new routines, etc. if he were to be moved. I can’t answer the college question, other than to say I wouldn’t worry about it at this point.