u/Prudent_Crow_3749

hello everyone I just wanna ask cuz ik a lot of people here are American.

im currently 14, and im moving to America for my dad's new job so im going into freshman year in August, after being at a private school in the UK.

im not gonna doxx myself or anything but im going to a private all boys school in MA so I think experiences will be similar.

is there anything I need to know or be prepared for about American schools? im actually terrified ngl. the American accent lowkey grates on me so bad and I know the curriculum is easier over there so im gonna be repeating a lot of content.

I have placement exams in two weeks to see where I am knowledge wise and yeah I know very little about American schools.

this move was NOT my choice 😕 I wanted to board at my current school and come for holidays here but my dad wouldn't let me so here we are.

please just tell me about your experience at American schools and if anyone has been in my position before pls talk to me lmao

I'm aware every school is probably going to be different, and I don't want to be too specific about the school I'm going to, but it is private, has a high percentage of graduates going into ivy league unis, and I know the main academic track is taking APs.

Some general personal information (nothing too specific)

I'm coming from one year of GCSE study, as we pick our options earlier than most schools and study them for 3 years, instead of two. I was going to take maths a year early (this might not be relevant to people who have no idea what GCSEs are)

My predicted grade for maths is a 9 (A* - top grade, and I was allowed to take a further maths qualification that covered kinematics, differentiation, integration, and a bit more complex algebra

I'm annoyed to be moving to APs because GCSEs then A-Levels would probably get me further, and our move was not my decision, but I'd like any advice.

Questions:

What classes am I likely able to take, and will it just be repetition of GCSE content that I already know, especially for maths?

How many classes are freshmen usually allowed to take, and is there a process I need to take to get around this?

Is there a step before APs? like I've heard of Honour classes, but in the UK, they are not a thing, and I have no idea.

I have a meeting with the counsellor and headteacher of my school later this month, but we are still in the UK, and I can't ask them these things yet.

Any discussion/advice is appreciated.

I'm joking (sorta) but I suck at source questions even with my text to speech device. I always miss something and it's just hard for me lmao.

Does only 1 question get marked if you answer two questions or could I theoretically get marks for both? (i am like half joking)

was in my p2 philosophy yesterday morning and there was a guy next to me sitting business and he had like 4 or 5 COVERED post it notes he kept pulling out of his pocket.

we're in the word processing room so its smaller and we only had one invigilator who stayed on the opposite side of the room. it was crazy cuz he baso had them out the entire exam. he was sat right next to me and sharing them with the girl the other side.

I actually think I saw him eat one or two as he left BUT IDK. I just couldnt believe it. im not a snitch and we weren't even sitting the same subject it just made me laugh