Guides

Starting high school in the U.S. can feel very different from going to school in China. You may no longer have a fixed class, everyone can have a different schedule, grades depend on much more than final exams, and students are expected to make more decisions on their own. This guide explains the biggest differences and what you should focus on during your first semester.

Applying to college in the United States is about more than just getting good grades. Colleges may consider your GPA, the classes you take, extracurricular activities, essays, recommendations, and other parts of your high school experience. Requirements also vary by college. This guide explains the major pieces of a U.S. college application so you can understand what matters and start preparing early.

You don’t always need the perfect answer. Knowing a few simple phrases can help you respond politely, avoid awkward silence, and feel more confident speaking English.

If you're coming from a different education system, GPA can seem confusing at first. The good news: the basic idea is simple, and you don't need to master it on day one.

AP sounds important, and everyone seems to be taking them. But more AP classes is not automatically better — the right number depends on you.

If you went to school in China, you may be looking for the American equivalent of a 班主任. A counselor is not that — and that difference matters.

In the American system you don't pass a year — you collect credits. Once you know the number you need, the whole system makes more sense.

If you go to high school in California, you'll hear 'A-G' constantly. It's simply the list of courses the UC and CSU systems require you to complete.

Not all AP courses are equally valuable for every student. The best AP schedule is not the one with the largest number of AP classes. It is the one that shows academic rigor while also supporting your interests, strengths, and intended college major. If you already have an idea of what you may want to study in college, you can use that direction to build a more focused high school course plan. This guide will help you understand which AP courses may be most relevant to different college majors—and how to create a challenging but realistic schedule.

In some classrooms the ideal student listens quietly. In many American classrooms, the ideal student talks. Neither is 'right' — but knowing the difference helps.

Group projects are graded on the result — but also on the process. Knowing how to work in a group is a skill you can learn.

Presentations are common from the first month onward. They're also one of the most learnable skills in school — and one of the most useful later.

In many classrooms, asking a teacher for help is not a sign that you're behind. It's a normal part of how the class works.

Email is a normal way to contact teachers here. Short, specific and polite is all you need — and these templates cover almost every situation.

You don't need twenty friends. You need one person to sit with, then a few more over time. Friendship here usually comes from repetition, not from big moments.

You may understand far more than you can say. That gap is normal, it's temporary, and it does not mean you're behind.

Facing discrimination can be confusing, especially when you are new to the United States. Knowing how to respond can help you protect yourself, stay confident, and get help when necessary.

Clubs are the easiest way to build a weekly routine, meet people with shared interests, and create the kind of long-term involvement colleges actually notice.

American high school gives you more freedom than you may be used to — and freedom is a time-management problem. A simple weekly system beats motivation.

This one isn't a definition. It's the list of things that would have saved the most confusion in the first month — written for the next student.