90 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2025 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT The Role of Guidance Counselors and Regional Education REOs Early and frequent communication with both sending and receiving schools is crucial for a smooth transition and for parents and students to advocate for proper credit assignment and class placement. Working closely with guidance counselors from both schools and understanding their roles is vital. Counselors at the receiving school in the U.S. will review the core subjects (typically math, science, social studies, and language arts) to ensure they align with U.S. standards. They will also assess grades and test results to confirm whether the student has made appropriate progress and demonstrated academic growth. Additionally, they will verify that the sending school is U.S.-accredited or that the transcript and academic records are authenticated by another educational authority to validate the student’s credentials. Guidance counselors also look at attendance records, extracurricular involvement, standardized test scores, and evidence of consistent academic performance. Any evidence of disci- plinary actions is also considered. Earning American Credentials Abroad: The Options for Staying Overseas for College BY LAUREN STEED You’ve grown up abroad, changing schools every few years, and you like that. Maybe you feel ready to take on the world. Your idea of adulting isn’t just learning how to live without your parents scheduling your days; it’s learning to navigate new languages and grocery stores without the security of an American school or diplomatic visa.. Or maybe you’re not interested in spending four years to earn a degree you could in three or spending $200,000 for a degree in the U.S. that could be nearly free overseas. ... Whatever your motivation, you’re considering applying to universities outside the United States. But you’re also worried about taking this road less traveled. And you worry that your international degree might not translate to a career in the United States. There are several ways to enjoy an American university experience abroad while earning U.S.-recognized credentials. The most common option is to study abroad for one year or one semester as part of a U.S. degree program. ... This classic way of experiencing a new culture is easy to plan and offers a soft landing for students who’ve never been abroad. But it’s not cheap: You will still pay American tuition rates. And some Foreign Service kids are ready to go beyond the traditional study abroad format. In deciding what’s right for you, think more about what you want to get out of your college experience, and consider the following. ... • Schools like the American University of Paris (AUP) or John Cabot University in Rome are private universities purposefully created to provide postsecondary American education options outside the United States. ... • At the time of writing, 66 universities outside the U.S. offer degrees in English (or in hostcountry languages) that are accredited by one of the six Council for Higher Education Accreditation-recognized accrediting bodies in the U.S. ... Lauren Steed, PhD, is an independent college consultant with more than 20 years of experience in postsecondary education. A Foreign Service family member, she is the author of College Conversations: 25 Discussions for High School Juniors and Their Families. FROM THE JUNE 2025 FSJ EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT Working closely with guidance counselors from both schools and understanding their roles is vital.
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