Osvita USA ●
🇺🇦 → 🇺🇸 A guide made for Ukrainian families

American education, explained simply.

New school. New system. You’re not alone. Osvita USA explains GPA, credits, AP/IB, counselors, activities, college applications, FAFSA, CSS Profile and the things everyone else somehow seems to already know.

I just arrivedI want to go to college

Start with what you need right now

I just arrived

Credits, counselors, portals, English support and your first 30 days.

High school

Classes, GPA, Honors/AP/IB, electives and graduation.

College

SAT/ACT, Common App, Scoir, essays, recommendations and deadlines.

Paying for college

FAFSA, CSS Profile, scholarships, international aid and fee waivers.

Choose a section

Everything is here — open only what you need.

Tap a topic to jump to it. The longer explanations stay tucked away until you open them, so the site is easier to navigate without losing any information.

Your first 30 days

You do not need to understand the entire U.S. education system today. Start with these moves.

DO THIS ASAP: Bring Ukrainian transcripts, report cards and certificates. Ask whether previous coursework can count toward U.S. graduation credits. Do not wait and assume it happens automatically.

Your counselor matters

In public schools, counselors often help with schedules, graduation, transcripts and college planning — but they may have large caseloads. Be proactive: email, schedule meetings, bring specific questions and follow up.

Who do I ask?

Teacher → assignments/grades. Counselor → classes/graduation/college. Registrar → transcripts/records. ELL staff → English-language support. Administrator/counselor → safety or bullying.

Learn to advocate for yourself

Teachers usually expect questions. Asking for clarification, tutoring or help is normal — not disrespectful.

I wish I knew…

Nobody will care about your graduation plan or college application quite as much as you will. Keep your own checklist.

How American high school actually works

Usually 9th = freshman, 10th = sophomore, 11th = junior, 12th = senior. You earn credits by completing courses, and graduation requires both enough credits and specific subjects.

English

Students commonly take English throughout high school. Exact requirements depend on the school/state.

Math

Possible sequence: Algebra I → Geometry → Algebra II → Precalculus → Calculus.

Science

Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, Anatomy and more.

Social Studies / History

World Geography/History, U.S. History, Government, Economics or financial literacy depending on your requirements.

Electives matter too. You may take art, computer science, journalism, business, marketing, engineering, film, languages, culinary arts, music and more. Some are fun; some help you test a possible college major.

On-Level / Regular

The standard version of a course.

Honors

Usually faster or more advanced and may receive extra GPA weight. Often a useful middle ground.

AP

College-level high-school courses. AP exams are scored 1–5. Colleges decide which scores earn credit or placement.

Official AP →

IB

A separate rigorous international program involving advanced coursework, exams, projects and research. Not every school offers it.

Official IB →
Friend advice: don't take seven AP classes just for the label. Challenge yourself, but choose a workload you can actually succeed in.

What is GPA?

GPA means Grade Point Average. It summarizes your grades across classes. A common unweighted system uses A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0, but there is no single national GPA formula. Your school may use a different scale, include plus/minus grades differently, or calculate class rank separately.

Unweighted GPA

An unweighted GPA usually treats the same letter grade equally regardless of course difficulty. On a common 4.0 scale, an A in an on-level class and an A in an AP class may both count as 4.0. This makes grades easy to compare, but it does not show course rigor by itself.

Weighted GPA

A weighted GPA may give extra points for harder classes such as Honors, AP or IB. That is why some students can have GPAs above 4.0. There is no universal weighting system: one school might add 0.5 for Honors and 1.0 for AP, while another school may use a completely different formula.

What should I ask?

Ask your counselor: “How does our school calculate weighted and unweighted GPA? Which classes receive extra weight? Does our school report class rank?” For college applications, do not try to convert your GPA yourself unless the application specifically tells you to.

Important: A higher weighted GPA does not automatically mean a stronger application. Colleges can look at your grades together with the difficulty of the courses available to you.
Not an official conversion. This is only a simple orientation for students familiar with Ukraine's 12-point scale. Schools and credential evaluators may convert grades differently.
U.S.Approx. Ukrainian orientation
A+12
A11
A−10
B+9
B8
B−7
C+6
C5
C−4
Texas: Texas currently uses graduation plans requiring 22–26 course credits, depending on the student's plan/cohort; rules have also changed for students entering Grade 9 in 2026–27. Always check TEA and your counselor for your personal plan. Texas Education Agency →
The part to handle early

Your Ukrainian school record can matter. Push to have it evaluated early.

Bring as much documentation as you can.

Grades and credits are two different questions. Your school may evaluate both what course you completed and what grade you earned. Ask how your Ukrainian subjects appear on the U.S. transcript, whether the original grades are shown or converted, whether they affect your local GPA, and which courses satisfy graduation requirements. There is no single U.S.-wide conversion formula, so do not assume the A/B/C orientation chart on this site is how your school will convert an official transcript.

1. Bring the strongest record you have

Bring official transcripts or report cards when possible, plus English translations, a list of subjects, years/grade levels completed, certificates, and course descriptions or syllabi if available. More context can make it easier for the school to understand what you already studied.

2. Ask how grades will appear

Ask: Will my Ukrainian grades appear on my U.S. transcript? Will they be converted to letter/number grades? Will they be included in my GPA? The answer can differ by district or school, so get the answer for your own record.

3. Ask how courses transfer

A course can matter even if the grading systems are different. Ask which Ukrainian courses were awarded U.S. credits and which requirements they satisfy—for example English, math, science, social studies, language, fine arts or electives.

4. Check the finished transcript

After the evaluation, review the transcript with your counselor or registrar. If something seems missing, ask about it early and bring supporting documents. Do not wait until senior year or graduation season to discover that a requirement was not credited.

Why credits matter

Credits determine whether you are on track to graduate.

Ask for a personal graduation plan

Ask for the list of requirements you have completed.

Every school can be different

The U.S. does not have one national high-school curriculum.

Questions to take to your counselor

How many credits transferred?

Read more / verify: U.S. Department of Education Newcomer Toolkit →   Texas Education Agency Graduation Information →

Support exists. Ask before you need it.

English Learner support

Schools may offer ESL/ELL classes.

Accommodations are separate

Disability accommodations are not automatic.

Testing support

Some testing programs may offer approved supports.

Do not wait until finals

Support processes can take time.

Things that may surprise you about American school

Asking questions is normal

You can email teachers.

Missing work matters

Missing assignments can hurt.

️ Participation can count

Participation may be graded.

⚠️ Academic integrity is serious

Check the syllabus and ask what is allowed.

PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE SCHOOL

Public school is usually free. Private school may still be worth researching.

For most families, a local public K–12 school does not charge tuition. Private and independent schools normally charge tuition, but the listed price is not always what a family actually pays.

Public schools

Public schools are publicly funded and generally tuition-free for students who are eligible to attend them. Your assigned school often depends on where you live, although rules and school-choice options vary by state and district.

U.S. Department of Education →

Private / independent schools

Private schools normally charge tuition. But do not cross one off your list only because of the sticker price. Some independent schools offer need-based grants, payment plans, or scholarships. Smaller schools can sometimes be especially willing to talk through a family's circumstances—but this depends on the school, so ask the admissions or financial-aid office directly.

How independent-school financial aid works →
Friend advice: If a private school feels like a good fit, ask about financial aid before deciding it is too expensive. Every school sets its own aid rules and deadlines.
Good places to research schools and aid

NCES Private School Search → — Find private K–12 schools by location.

NAIS: Affording an Independent School → — Learn about grants, payment plans and other aid used by independent schools.

The practical things nobody explains at first

Enrollment, school vocabulary, sports and missing documents can be just as confusing as GPA. Here is the short version.

How do I enroll?

Start with your local school district. Enrollment requirements vary, but families are commonly asked for proof of age, residence, immunization/health records and previous school records when available. A district may assign you to a neighborhood or “zoned” school based on where you live.

U.S. Department of Education Newcomer Toolkit →

Missing Ukrainian documents?

Do not assume you cannot enroll. Contact the district, explain what you have and what is missing, and ask what alternatives they accept. Public-school enrollment cannot be conditioned on proving U.S. citizenship.

Read newcomer guidance →
️ Words you'll hear on your first day
Homeroom / Advisory

A short period for announcements, check-ins or school activities.

Passing period

The few minutes between classes.

Tardy

Arriving late to class.

Excused / Unexcused absence

An absence accepted under school rules versus one that is not.

Semester

One half of the school year at many schools.

Progress report / Report card

An in-term grade update versus grades for a completed grading period.

Tutorials / Office hours

Times when teachers are available for extra help.

Lunch period

Your scheduled lunch time.

ID card / Locker

School identification and, at some schools, a storage locker.

School bus

District transportation available to eligible students in many systems.

Pep rally / Homecoming

School-spirit traditions connected to sports and student events.

School sports vs. club sports

In the U.S., many sports teams are connected directly to the high school. School teams may require tryouts, a sports physical, eligibility paperwork and minimum academic standards. Club sports are separate organizations outside the school.

Activities: depth beats collecting clubs

Colleges may care about what you do outside class — clubs, sports, volunteering, jobs, internships, research, competitions, family responsibilities and creative projects. Joining is less interesting than actually doing something.

Model UN

Represent countries, research global issues, speak, negotiate and write resolutions. Great for diplomacy, politics, economics and public speaking.

United Nations Model UN →

DECA

Business, marketing, entrepreneurship, finance, hospitality and management through case studies, role plays, exams and competitions.

DECA →

Other ideas

Debate, Science Olympiad, robotics, student government, journalism/yearbook, sports, art, music, coding and more.

❤️

Volunteering

Choose causes you actually care about. Search local animal shelters, food banks, libraries and nonprofits. Don't volunteer only to collect hours.

VolunteerMatch →

College: it is more than one exam

Depending on the college, admissions may consider grades, course rigor, activities, leadership, essays, recommendations, jobs/internships, personal experiences and SAT/ACT when required or submitted.

9th

Adjust, build strong grades, explore interests and start activities.

10th

Develop interests, consider advanced classes, leadership and summer opportunities.

11th

Major prep year: grades, testing if relevant, college research, deeper activities, recommendations and financial aid.

12th

Applications, essays, transcripts, recommendations, scholarships, FAFSA/CSS Profile and deadlines.

SAT

Score range 400–1600. College testing policies vary and can change.

Official SAT →

ACT

Composite score 1–36. Check each college's current testing policy.

Official ACT →

Common App

One platform used by many colleges for personal information, education, activities, honors, essays and college-specific supplements.

Common App →

Scoir

Some schools use Scoir to research colleges, build lists, manage applications and recommendations. Your school may use Naviance or another platform.

Scoir →
Arrived in 11th or 12th grade? You are not too late, but move faster. Meet your counselor, verify graduation credits, learn deadlines, ask about recommendations, testing and financial aid, and focus on what you can control now.

College applications: the words everyone suddenly expects you to know

Recommendations

Ask early.

EA / ED / RD

Early Action is generally nonbinding.

Rolling admission

Some colleges review applications as they arrive.

Arrived late? Prioritize.

Focus on the essentials first.

Don’t ignore smaller colleges because of the sticker price

Some private colleges and smaller liberal-arts colleges offer substantial institutional scholarships or need-based aid. That does not mean small colleges always give better aid—the amount varies enormously by college and by student. Compare the actual financial-aid offer, not just tuition.

BigFuture College Search

Filter colleges by size, public/private status, percentage of financial need met, application-fee waivers, and whether aid is offered to international students.

Research colleges →

Scholarships & institutional aid

Use this as a starting point to understand scholarships, grants and aid provided directly by colleges. Then verify the current rules on each college's own financial-aid website.

Learn about college aid →

More college options worth knowing

☀️ Summer can be useful — without being expensive

Summer can be used for a job, volunteering, a class, personal project, internship, research, sport or something meaningful. You do not need an expensive summer program just to impress colleges.

Jobs and family responsibilities count

Paid work, helping family, translating, caregiving and other significant responsibilities can be meaningful parts of your application.

Major, minor, undecided

A major is your primary field; a minor is a smaller secondary concentration. Many colleges allow some flexibility, but program rules vary.

Community college → transfer

Community college can be a two-year pathway before transferring to a four-year university. It is not automatically better or worse—just another option.

Research community colleges →

Paying for college without getting lost

Sticker price is not always what a family actually pays. Learn the difference between tuition, grants, scholarships, loans, FAFSA and CSS Profile — then verify current rules on official sites.

Tuition + cost of attendance

Look beyond tuition.

Scholarship vs. grant vs. loan

Scholarships and grants generally do not need to be repaid.

FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the main application for federal student aid. It is free. Eligibility depends on current federal rules, including citizenship/eligible-noncitizen status.

Official FAFSA →

CSS Profile

Used by participating colleges and scholarship programs for nonfederal institutional aid. Many colleges provide institutional aid to international students; requirements vary by school.

CSS Profile →

International student aid

Not qualifying for federal aid does not mean there is no aid. Some colleges offer merit scholarships or institutional need-based aid to international students.

EducationUSA aid search →

Fee waivers

Eligible students may qualify for SAT, college application or CSS Profile fee waivers. Criteria differ. Ask your counselor before paying if cost is a barrier.

CSS fee waivers →
STATUS & DOCUMENTS • СТАТУС І ДОКУМЕНТИ

Immigration status, international-student classification & documents

These words sound similar, but they can mean very different things for school, college admissions and financial aid. Use this section to understand what to check — then confirm your own situation with the official source or the college.

1. Immigration status

This is your legal immigration situation in the United States — for example, lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, parolee, TPS holder, or a nonimmigrant visa category. Your exact documents and dates matter. A school or college label does not change your legal immigration status.

2. International student/applicant

This is often a college admissions or financial-aid classification. Colleges can define it differently. A Ukrainian student already living in the U.S. may still need to ask each college how that college will classify them for admission, tuition and institutional aid.

3. Eligible noncitizen

This is a federal student-aid term. Federal Student Aid says a student must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen to receive federal student aid. The FAFSA instructions list specific qualifying categories and documents. Do not decide this from the word “immigrant” or “international” alone.

The important part: You can be treated one way for college admissions and have a different answer for federal-aid eligibility. Check admissions classification, tuition/residency classification, and FAFSA eligibility separately.
Documents you may hear about

I-94 Arrival/Departure Record. CBP's record of admission/parole. It can show important information about your entry and class of admission. Retrieve your own current I-94 from the official CBP site. Official I-94 →

A-Number. An Alien Registration Number assigned to some noncitizens. FAFSA may ask an eligible noncitizen for an A-Number. Use the number shown on your official immigration records rather than guessing.

Permanent Resident Card (I-551 / Green Card). Proof of lawful permanent resident status. Federal Student Aid lists permanent residents among the general eligible-noncitizen categories.

Employment Authorization Document (EAD). A work-authorization document. Having an EAD by itself does not tell you whether you qualify for federal student aid; check the underlying immigration category and current federal-aid rules.

TPS / parole / asylum / refugee documentation. These are different immigration categories or protections. Do not treat them as interchangeable. For FAFSA, check the exact current eligible-noncitizen rules and the wording on your own documents.

How to check what you may qualify for
  1. Find your actual immigration documents: I-94, Green Card if applicable, USCIS notices, EAD if applicable, passport/visa records, and A-Number if you have one.
  2. Check Federal Student Aid's current citizenship/eligible-noncitizen rules for the FAFSA year you will use.
  3. Ask each college: “For admissions and institutional financial aid, will I be treated as a domestic applicant or international applicant?”
  4. Ask separately how the college determines residency for tuition. Admissions classification and in-state tuition residency are not necessarily the same question.
  5. If federal aid is unavailable, check institutional aid, merit scholarships, CSS Profile requirements and international-student funding.
Official links: start here

Federal Student Aid: FAFSA student steps & citizenship question →   2026–27 FAFSA instructions →   FSA Handbook: citizenship & eligible noncitizens →

Immigration documents: CBP: retrieve I-94 →   USCIS →   USCIS: TPS — Ukraine →   USCIS: Ukraine resources →

College aid for international applicants: EducationUSA: finance your studies →   EducationUSA: find financial aid →   CSS Profile: international students →   CSS Profile participating institutions →

K–12 newcomer rights & support: U.S. Department of Education: equal access regardless of immigration status →   Newcomer Toolkit →   Resources for immigrants, refugees & asylees →

Important: Osvita USA is an education guide, not an immigration-law service. Immigration and financial-aid rules can change. Use official sources for current rules, and for questions about your individual immigration case, speak with a qualified immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative.

Important for Ukrainian families: “International student” for college admissions and “eligible noncitizen” for federal aid are not the same thing. Do not guess based on someone else's status. Check current Federal Student Aid eligibility and the college's own financial-aid page.
Official financial-aid links & what each one is for

FAFSA / Federal Student Aid: Use the official federal site to complete FAFSA and verify current eligibility rules. Federal aid eligibility depends on current rules, including citizenship or eligible-noncitizen status.

Complete / learn about FAFSA →   Federal aid eligibility →   2025–26 FSA Handbook: citizenship & eligible noncitizens →

CSS Profile: Some colleges use this separate College Board form to award their own institutional aid. International applicants may be asked for family income, assets and expenses and can enter amounts in home currency.

CSS Profile →   International applicants →   Fee-waiver rules →

Application fee waivers: College Board and Common App have fee-waiver pathways for eligible students. Not every college follows the same policy, so check the college too.

College Board application fee waivers →   Common App applicant information →

International-student funding: If federal aid is unavailable, look at each college's institutional aid and scholarship rules. EducationUSA also provides international-student funding resources.

EducationUSA: Finance Your Studies →   Find financial-aid opportunities →

Important: Financial-aid forms, eligibility rules, fees and deadlines can change. Treat these links as the current source of truth and verify them for the year you apply.

FAFSACSS Profile
Main purposeFederal aid; information may also be used by states/schoolsInstitutional/nonfederal aid at participating schools
CostFreeMay have a fee; some students qualify for waivers
Every college?Check requirements and eligibilityNo

Before paying an application fee

  • Ask whether you qualify for a Common App or college fee waiver.
  • Check SAT fee-waiver eligibility.
  • Check CSS Profile fee-waiver rules.
  • Ask your counselor — do not skip a college just because you see a fee.

Need-blind vs. need-aware

Need-blind generally means ability to pay is not considered for the population covered by that policy. Need-aware means financial need may be considered. A college can have different policies for domestic and international applicants.

Deadline tracker

Application deadline ≠ financial-aid deadline. Track FAFSA, CSS Profile, scholarships and any international-aid forms separately.

These rules change

FAFSA, CSS Profile, fee waivers, immigration-related eligibility and college policies can change. Always use the current official source for the year you apply.

Official links

Federal Student Aid / FAFSAstudentaid.gov →
CSS ProfileCollege Board →
CSS Profile — International StudentsRead more →
CSS Profile — Fee WaiversCheck rules →
EducationUSA — Financial AidSearch opportunities →
Common App — Fee WaiverOfficial Common App →
College Board / BigFuture — Fee WaiversCheck current rules →

Last reviewed for this prototype: September 2026. Always verify current requirements.

Residency, tuition & immigration status

In-state vs. out-of-state tuition

Public universities often charge different in-state and out-of-state tuition. Residency classification follows state and institution rules, so verify it with each university.

“International student” is not the same as federal-aid status

A college's admissions classification, your immigration status, and whether Federal Student Aid considers you an eligible noncitizen are related but not interchangeable.

Federal Student Aid: citizenship, eligible noncitizens & documents →

If you are unsure, ask the college financial-aid office to review the current rules for your situation.

For parents

American schools may expect students to become increasingly independent: emailing teachers, scheduling counselor meetings, choosing classes, managing deadlines and asking for help.

Learn the parent portal

Know where grades, attendance, missing work and school messages appear.

Know the counselor

Ask about graduation, course registration and college support.

Support independence

Helping does not always mean doing it for your student. Help them learn to communicate and advocate for themselves.

Ask before assuming

Rules differ by school, district, state and college. Verify important decisions directly.

Build my plan

Tell us where you are and get a simple priority list.

School dictionary: English → Українська

These words appear everywhere.

Credit

A unit earned for a course.

Transcript

Official academic record.

Syllabus

Course guide.

Prerequisite

A requirement before another course.

Class rank

Academic standing within a class.

Major / Minor

Main and secondary fields of study.

Waitlist / Deferral

Admissions terms.

Room & Board

Housing and meals.

Official resources worth bookmarking

Use current official sources.

U.S. Department of EducationOfficial site →
Texas Education AgencyOfficial site →
College Board — SAT / AP / BigFutureOfficial site →
ACTOfficial site →
Common AppOfficial site →
Federal Student Aid / FAFSAOfficial site →
CSS ProfileOfficial site →
EducationUSAOfficial site →
DECAOfficial site →
UN Model United NationsOfficial site →

Show a Last verified date for changing information.

Why I made Osvita USA 🇺🇦

Hi! I’m Renata, a Class of 2027 student at Griffin School in Austin, Texas.

I moved to the U.S. from Ukraine because of the war when I was in seventh grade. Starting school here was honestly confusing. I didn’t know what GPA or credits were, how AP classes worked, what activities mattered, or how people even started thinking about college. It felt like everyone else already knew the rules and I was trying to catch up as I went.

That’s why I made Osvita USA. I wanted to put the things I had to learn along the way in one place for other Ukrainian students and families. I’m still a student too, but I hope this makes the system feel a little less confusing and gives you a better idea of what to ask and what to do next.

I hope it makes your start here a little easier.

Made by Renata Shchur.

Tutoring & extra help

For the past few years, I’ve been tutoring Ukrainian students online — both students who are still in Ukraine and students who have moved to the U.S. I offer help with Math and English, whether you need support with schoolwork, want extra practice, or are still adjusting to studying in English.

If you need lessons, have questions, or need help finding a tutor who fits what you’re looking for, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

Connect with me on LinkedIn → Email me →

Connect with Renata

Have a suggestion for Osvita USA or something you wish had been explained when you arrived? You can connect with me on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn — Rienata Shchur →
Ask Osvita USA

Ask about anything covered in this guide. Answers use Osvita USA information; always verify changing rules with the official sources linked on the site.

Ask me a question about school, college, financial aid, immigration-related student classifications, activities, or getting started in the U.S.