The purpose to send kids to intl school

cihpig

just want to know what's your purpose to send your kids to intl school?
I am thinking and hesitate if I should send my boy to intl school later... eventually I will send him to US from high school, but I am so hesitate if I should send him to intl school from kindergarden....(now he's only 9 months old)
Any comments and suggestions for me? thanks in advance     

lenglengma

Dear Cihpig,
You don't have to send your kid during Primary, but I think sending him to an American system international school during High school is essential.

If you want to send your kids to the U.S. or Canada for future education (university), I think it is best your kids to start studying in an American system Int. School ASAP. I experienced the same thing before. I spent 4 years in an British System Int. School and switched to American Int. School in Grade 11 and then went to the U.S. to study Grade 12. I still needed to spend a 2 hours a day at a nite school to study American History. In order for you to get into University in the U.S., you need to take Civics, American History and Health and Safety. These are the must. If you haven't took it, it will either lower your chance of getting into it, or you need to take these courses before you get into University. It was harsh on me at that time. Also, the grading system of U.K. schoosl are very different from American schools. In U.K. school, a "B" or a "C" are okay grades, but in the states, it is different. You can get A's and B's quite easily at school. Therefore, if you take the grades from an U.K. school to apply for an American university, they might think your grades are loudsy. They think C's are quite bad already. But indeed "C's" in U.K. school are quite good.
Lenglengma

wcllks

I am also going to send my daughter back to the States eventually.  I will not consider local kindergartens because it seems to be hard to get into International primary or secondary if she studies in a local one.

cihpig

can u tell me why it's hard to get into intl school if studying in local kinder? moreover, what's the difference between intl school and local school?
It would be appreciate for your information, since I am actully not from HK... I am now working here after back from US  

wcllks

Primary entrance interviews are conducted in English and they expect kids to speak fluent English.
In order to pass the interview, I have to make sure my kid understand and speak English.  It is quite hard to find a local school that can provide enough English training.  Therefore, to be safe, I prefer sending my daughter to an international kindergarten.

WYmom

Lenglengma,

What you said may be valid, yet we also see that many students graduated from the ESF secondary schools (UK system) enter famous US Universities.  If only US system schools are better for entering US universities, the choice of such IS in HK is very limited.  Besides, US universities accept students from many different countries with different system, they should know the standard of popular secondary schools and their grading system.  

Moreover, ESF secondary schools have adopted or will adopt IB diploma program gradually. IB is internationally recognized, so students can apply to different Us internationally. So this may even be better.

What do you think?