Canadian studying at an American high school! Problems!

I"m a Canadian citizen living in Michigan, U.S. with my parents (one of them has a TN visa). I currently study at a local high school in Michigan. American education seems to be so much tou...

Canadian Expatriate and Travellers Forum Index -> Canadians in the USA -> US Visas and Immigration

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lavenderbaby
New Member

Joined: 20 Nov 2007
Posts: 2
Location: MIchigan

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:58 pm

I"m a Canadian citizen living in Michigan, U.S. with my parents (one of them has a TN visa).

I currently study at a local high school in Michigan. American education seems to be so much tougher yet so much more promising. For post-secondary education (undergraduate school), I really hope to attend an American school. But the big problem is that I'll be considered as an international student. International students don't have a lot of the privileges that American students do. I don't believe that this consideration is fair since there is basically no difference between Canadians and Americans. Especially since I'll be graduating from an American high school with an American transcript. Has anyone ever been in the same situation? If you have any suggestion or piece of advice, please feel free to respond.

By the way, if anyone knows the specific rules of Canadian highschoolers going to American universities, please please tell me more about it! I would really really appreciate it!

Thanks!

Lavenderbaby.
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Allyssa
Super Member

Joined: 20 May 2007
Posts: 132
Location: Canada

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 7:13 pm

Hi Lavenderbaby,

What do you mean by "specific rules"? I agree that since you are graduating from an American high school you should be entitled to the same academic status as any other American student. I can tell you that American citizens who take their education overseas and come back to the US for university certainly have to prove that their education was up to par. I think your school guidance counselor should be able to give you the specifics as to your status applying to university. Also, if you already know which university you want to attend, contact that school with your specific questions.
While academically you should in all fairness be considered at par with any American student graduating with your marks, I do understand if you are not entitled to the same financial considerations. It would certainly be the same for an American student studying here in Canada.
All the best -- and really do talk to a guidance counselor at your school or someone else who knows your specifics.

Smile

Allyssa

lavenderbaby
New Member

Joined: 20 Nov 2007
Posts: 2
Location: MIchigan

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 2:51 pm

Thanks for the above information!
I am definitely going to talk to my guidance counselor even though the answer is most likely gonna be what I expected.
Sorry to bother, but I have another question regarding my post-secondary education. If I go back to Ontario for UofT or any other Canadian public university, am I going to be considered as an international student to Canada? I really don't hope so. Because if a Canadian school suits me well, I'll always think about going back to Canada. Other than that, do you know if there is an official source (number/place) where I can find more information about my status as if I attend a Canadian university after graduating from an American high school?
Thanks for your time and effort!
I"m looking forward to getting more help!

Lavenderbaby
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Allyssa
Super Member

Joined: 20 May 2007
Posts: 132
Location: Canada

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:14 pm

Hi Lavenderbaby,
I really think your best bet to find out your official status would be to phone the "office of the registrar" for the university you want to attend and get your information first hand. When I went to university I moved from Alberta to Manitoba and I know that it was pretty much no problem, but I still needed to find out how my credits transferred to prove that I actually had the requirements. The U of M had all this information and really helped me get a handle on things. You can also try this website and see if you can get any info about how your credits will transfer. http://www.wes.org/ca/students/index.asp
Good for you that you are scouting into this now, instead of graduating there and realizing you don't have the credits in the right areas to get into the program you want. I am sure upgrading would suck!
Smile

Allyssa

Reba
Moderator

Canuck in NC

Joined: 16 Jul 2004
Posts: 1031
Location: North Carolina

Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 6:46 am

If you are a Canadian citizen, I believe you would pay local tuitions in Ontario, not international tuitions. But check their website, or call the registrar to be sure.
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Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP

Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 806
Location: Calgary

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:15 am

lavenderbaby wrote: I currently study at a local high school in Michigan. American education seems to be so much tougher yet so much more promising. For post-secondary education (undergraduate school), I really hope to attend an American school. But the big problem is that I'll be considered as an international student. International students don't have a lot of the privileges that American students do. I don't believe that this consideration is fair since there is basically no difference between Canadians and Americans. Especially since I'll be graduating from an American high school with an American transcript. Has anyone ever been in the same situation? If you have any suggestion or piece of advice, please feel free to respond.

There's one big difference - the Americans have US citizenship. Laughing

My niece is in a similar situation because she is a US permanent resident and she wants to go back to the UK to go to university, but you have to be resident in the UK three years prior to get all the student benefits. Plus an American High School Diploma is an unknown quantity to UK universities.

So basically, even though she's English, she'll get treated like an American international student and have to pay full tuition.

American taxpayers don't want to give student aid to foreigners - even foreigners who pay US tax. Rolling Eyes

Welcome to Lou Dobb's world. Laughing

(I so want that guy to run for President so that he'll get thrashed and brought down a peg.)

Although in fairness it's always hard for foreigners to get loans in any country, because you could leave and the money would be difficult to retrieve.

Look on the bright side, at least as a Canadian you don't have to get an F-1 visa, you just need the I-20.
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Steve.

TNVisaExpert
Moderator

Canadians helping Canadians

Joined: 02 Apr 2007
Posts: 137
Location: San Diego, California

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 11:01 am

If you're going to attend a Canadian university, the fees may be dependent on being a Canadian citizen as well as being a resident in Canada for a period of time before attending.

A university may have a hard time determining how long you've been a resident - esp if you have a Canadian address when you apply.
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