FAFSA asking for US high school completion status with international A-levels - no option fits!

Hi there! This is a common confusion for international students. Your A-levels are equivalent to a US high school diploma, so you should select 'high school diploma' on the FAFSA. The system doesn't distinguish between US and international diplomas at this stage. You'll have a chance to note that your education was completed abroad elsewhere in the application or when you submit documentation to your schools.

I actually went through this exact same thing with my International Baccalaureate diploma from Switzerland! I selected 'high school diploma' and didn't have any issues. The colleges I applied to asked for my credential evaluation separately, but the FAFSA itself just needs to know you completed secondary education.

select none of the above. my freind did a levels from india and she got flagged for verification when she put hs diploma. took her 3 months to fix everything and almost lost her finacial aid packet!!!

Select 'high school diploma' - that's the correct answer. The FAFSA isn't concerned with the country where you earned your diploma, just that you have one. I've been helping international students with FAFSA for years, and this is a standard selection for A-level completers. However, be prepared that you might get selected for verification - not because you did anything wrong, but because international students often get flagged for extra review. Have your A-level certificates ready and any official translations if they're not in English.

I've dealt with this situation for years in college financial aid. Select 'high school diploma' - A-levels are equivalent to a diploma for US admission purposes. However, be aware that as an international student, you may face additional challenges with your FAFSA application beyond this question. Have you been able to reach Federal Student Aid to discuss your specific situation? Many international students struggle with getting personalized help. If you're having trouble getting through on the phone, you might want to try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I've recommended it to many of my international students - it helps you get through to an actual FSA agent without the endless wait times. There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

just curious but why r u even filling out fafsa with international credentials? arent u only eligible for federal aid if ur a us citizen or eligible noncitizen? the whole thing is confusing af lol

I'm in almost the same situation but with an IB diploma from Germany. I put 'high school diploma' and got selected for verification. It wasn't a big deal though - I just had to send in my diploma and transcript with an explanation letter. The verification resolved in about 3 weeks and my SAI calculation wasn't affected. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: make sure you're calculating your GPA correctly on the application if they ask for it. The US 4.0 scale is different from how grades work in many other countries, and that caused me some headaches!

One more thing to keep in mind - when you submit your FAFSA, also reach out to the financial aid offices at the schools you're applying to. Let them know about your international education background. Most schools have experience with international credentials and can note your file. This proactive approach can sometimes help avoid verification delays.

Based on the follow-up questions, I want to clarify a few things: 1. For credential evaluations: Many US universities will do this in-house if your A-levels are from a recognized examining board (Cambridge, Edexcel, etc.). Some may require you to use a third-party evaluation service like WES or ECE. Check with each university's international admissions page. 2. For verification preparation: Keep digital copies of ALL your certificates, transcripts, and score reports. Also have documentation of your US citizenship status ready (passport, birth certificate, etc.) since you're a US citizen who studied abroad. 3. For contacting schools: Email them now, don't wait. Explain your situation and ask if they need any additional documentation from you given your international education background.

I went through this exact situation last year with my A-levels from the UK! I was also a US citizen who studied abroad and was super confused about this question. I ended up selecting "high school diploma" after speaking with a FSA representative, and it worked out fine. Just wanted to add that if you do get selected for verification (which I did), make sure you have your A-level certificates scanned and ready to upload. The financial aid office at my university was really helpful - they knew exactly what A-levels were and processed my verification quickly. Don't stress too much about it! The system is designed to handle international credentials from US citizens studying abroad. One tip: when you email your schools, mention that you're a US citizen with international credentials right in the subject line. It helps them route your email to the right person who has experience with these situations.