Considered International Student or not?
For most colleges in the US, you are NOT considered an international applicant if you have American citizenship, regardless of whether or not you are attending a high school in the US.
The application requirements are fairly similar to those students attending school in the US, except for a few which are mentioned below. Although you are considered a domestic student, you do have the benefit of the international experience and hopefully language skills you have gained while living outside of the US. These are great assets to highlight in your applications.
High School Curriculum and Grades
If you attend a non-American school, you need to be sure that the college understands your grading scale and curriculum. If your transcripts are not in English, you will need an English translation from a reputable or official translator (requirements vary by school). It is recommended to include a key to the grading scale with your translation. Typically, admissions offices have staff which are familiar with the various international curricula, but even if they aren’t, most will review the student’s application holistically without full grade and course conversions.
Your high school counselor or another school official can also prepare a school profile which is a great resource to provide colleges with an overview of the school. It typically includes information about the curriculum, graduation requirements, exams, grading system, demographics and class sizes, and any other important information that would help give general context of the school. This profile can be shared with all colleges the student applies to and should be written in English.
Proof of English Proficiency
Even if a student has a US passport, if English is not their native language or the language of the school they have attended, they will need to provide proof of proficiency. These requirements vary by college, but typically one of the standard tests such as TOEFL, Duolingo, or IELTS will be necessary. Students should familiarize themselves with the format of the test and do a bit of practice even if they are proficient in English. Luckily, these tests can be taken online at home.
Testing
Although testing is currently optional for admission to most colleges, getting a good score can still help you and give colleges another way to evaluate you, especially if you are attending a high school with a curriculum less familiar to them. Many international high schools offer the PSAT and SAT and/or ACT. If you attend a school which does not offer the tests or dates which fit your schedule, you will need to look elsewhere. This will take planning ahead as the locations and test dates vary and you should register for your spot early. The new digital SAT is now released for all students testing outside of the US. The test dates beyond June 2023 have not been released yet. The ACT dates for 2023-24 are now on their website, but you will need to search for locations near you.
Financial Aid
In addition to merit and financial aid from the colleges themselves (also known as institutional aid), US citizens are also eligible for federal aid regardless of where they live. In order to apply for this aid, you must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) each year. If you are applying to a school which also uses the CSS profile for institutional aid, make sure you complete that as well. Check with the colleges to find out the deadlines for these applications.
Timeline
It is important for students to begin their application process early. In contrast to many colleges abroad, US colleges have application deadlines as early as November of the student’s senior year. Students should take the time to familiarize themselves with the requirements for each of the schools they are interested in applying to well before then. Also, students who will need standardized testing should plan well in advance to give themselves time to register for the tests, prepare well and possibly retake them. Visiting colleges in the US from abroad may not be possible during the school year, so families should plan these in to their summer and longer breaks if possible. The college planning process should really begin by 10th grade at the latest so that students have time to explore their options and prepare well.