Q: What fees do you charge?
A: We can connect you with a specific school at no cost. However, since many families would like additional help, researching several schools, filling out all of the application paperwork, preparing for the visa interview, and many other details along the way, we offer these services at very affordable rates. If you’d like additional support from CASA, feel free to ask about our additional services.
Q: What schools do you represent, and how can I find out more about them?
A: We represent schools all over the country, currently in Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas. The average SAT score among American students at these schools ranges from around 1100 to over 1300 on the Math and Critical Reading sections. For a specific example of one of our schools, you can visit our Schools page.
Q: Where would I live when I come to America?
A: Some of the schools we represent are boarding facilities (students live together in a dormitory, with an American family, usually on campus) and some have homestays (students stay in the home of an American family near the school). In all of these cases, CASA staff are closely familiar with the boarding facilities and families.
Q: Is it true that homestays are better than boarding programs with dormitories, since there is more one-on-one interaction with an American family?
A: Not necessarily. In our experience, most boarding programs have houseparents who are very committed to being “parents” to international students. There are advantages to dorms, such as proximity, study partners, and more involvement in campus life. Homestays also offer advantages such as giving a more authentic taste of American life, separation from other international students, etc. In both cases, it is up to the student himself to make the most of the situation.
Q: How can I find out if a particular American high school is a top school?
A: American high schools are very different from, say, schools in China. For example, when we lived in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, we learned that there were three top middle schools in Taiyuan: Middle School #5, Middle School #10, and ShanDa FuZhong. If you wanted to go to Beijing or Quinghua University, you had better attend one of these three schools! America is quite different. We spoke with a friend, an Admissions Director, who is close personal friends with the Admissions Director at Yale University. She said that when Yale is reviewing applicants from American high schools, it can actually help a student’s chances of being accepted at Yale if they come from a small, unknown school! The top American universities are looking more at the student, his achievements both inside and outside the classroom, and his story. So, what is your story? (This is not to say that all American high schools are equal; however, each school brings unique advantages and disadvantages, and we encourage students to look beyond any “ranking” sites they might find and discover the best fit for them.)
Q: How soon could I come to the United States to study?
A: Any time! Many of the schools with which we work will accept students at any time during the school year. It is often possible for students to audit for the remainder of the semester if a student comes later in the school year. This often allows a student to become familiar with the English language while not counting his grades for the current semester.
Q: What is the typical total cost for one year’s study at a CASA school?
A: While cost varies, the TOTAL cost (tuition, homestay fees, insurance, ESL fees) typically ranges from $30,000 to $50,000 a year for an international student. This does not include spending money for shopping, extra food for eating out, gifts, etc.
