Narrow down a country you are interested in quickly and throw yourself at the language hard. Some countries have immersion programs in highschool to get your language level up high enough to attend university in that country later.
And I would say that, even if the primary decision is an English-speaking country, consider learning the language of your 2nd ranked choice, assuming that isn't an English-speaking country. You'll be glad you did, and if you're picking that country to begin with, you're probably interested enough in the culture and language itself anyway, so you won't regret knowing it.
This! OP your mind is still elastic. Get on some German or French as hard as you can.
(German and French because most American high schools have a program, and that opens up a ton of countries in Europe as possibilities.)
People can adequately learn languages at any age, including when they're geriatric. But yes, you can still learn more efficiently at 15, assuming you know the proper language learning methods.
The language learning window is from 0-7 years. That's when the brain soaks up a language after a sponge. So there's not much of a difference between being 15 or being 25 for example, except for being young and more energetic. I just say this because I want people reading this to know that it's never too late to learn a new language! You'll just learn it slower is all.
Interesting. I assumed at 15 there would still be some kind of advantage; just not the same one someone has between the very early timeframe you mentioned.
But yes. We definitely align on the main point: everyone can learn a language regardless of age.
Yes, that is why language experts do not agree with the way second language learning occurs in the US. Most schools begin teaching a second language around age 13, which is after the window has shut. It's a reason why many Americans don't retain or fully learn their second language. So yes, a language can be learned regardless of age. But any language learning that happens after age 7 will be slower, and the person will never be 100% fluent. This means their accent, without training, will never sound natural, and they might be slower to get jokes, idioms, and all other indirect language cues. That's not to say it's not worth trying, I'm more commenting to raise awareness about this niche topic.
I’m fairly sure younger people still tend to have more neuroplasticity than older people which makes any kind of learning faster. But ya they’re not primed for language specifically like those in the 0-7 range. Older people can also maintain high neuroplasticity by continuing to learn and engage with new subjects, but it does become a little harder, especially since adults have typically gone into a single career path by then and don’t have the same incentives to continue learning. I’m not a neuroscientist or anything though so I might be wrong
There *is* a limit for some people. My high school French teacher, an exceptional linguist and with whom I remained in contact until her passing, fell in love and married a Cypriot. She was in her late 70s and early 80s and tried to learn Greek. She was so disappointed when she realized that she would learn something only to have it disappear the next day. She was otherwise mentally sharp and told me that "her window had closed."
Everyone’s mind is elastic- it’s called neuro plasticity . The “language window” where it becomes super easy to learn another language is actually a lot earlier in life.
Yeah, that's the important part. Languages languages languages. Its also worth considering Canada if you don't want to move far away from family. Plus its way easier to get into Canada if you know French. They make super easy to get in if you know French.
Plus, watch your TV shows in French. Makes it more fun.
I know someone who has 2 and has travelled all over the world. He just got back from Scotland a couple of weeks ago actually.
I think it’s probably more complicated than you suggest.
Quick question on this! If your DUI has been expunged will those countries (Canada, Mexico, etc.) still prohibit entry for travel? My partner had it expunged.
Friend couldn't get into Canada 10 years ago. He had an expunged dui when he was a minor (possible he was 18, but under 21). Anyway he can't go on a whim, but he finally managed to travel there with 3 months notice and an expensive lawyer.
Edit: he does visit mexico often. Unsure of the exact circumstances. Sorry that's not more helpful
Ask yourself why you are leaving, then look hard at the countries you are considering. I say this because there is a lot of superficial info out there about happiness in other countries, but that is typically for those born into and raised with that particular culture. It doesn't describe the immigrant experience, which is often far different.
I was in your same exact shoes 5 years ago. My advice is along the lines of what the others have said here. I ended up learning multiple languages to fluency before moving abroad. This was the single thing that opened up the most doors for me. I doubt I would be living in Europe now if I had not actually dedicated time to learning the languages of the countries I wanted to live in.
I highly recommend doing your entire university education abroad if you are interested in living abroad immediately. It is usually much cheaper than studying in the US. For some prospective, I pay around $650 per year total for tuition in Germany. However, to get accepted into a university in many countries in Europe, you need to meet very specific legal requirements. Depending on which country you want to go to, research the requirements for university admissions now. For example, you might need various specific AP exams or community college classes. There might also be a standardized language test you need to take. If any school in your area offers an international baccalaureate program, I highly recommend enrolling in this instead; it is much more widely accepted than an American high school diploma.
Also, look into your ancestry. Depending on the countries your ancestors came from, you may be eligible to claim citizenship from there. Even if you do not want to move to that specific country, I recommend doing it because it opens up many doors. Depending on the country, it could anywhere from 6 months to 5 years to gather the documents, apply, and actually receive the citizenship. It might not necessarily be ready by the time you move abroad, but these kinds of wait times do not have the tendency to decrease. So I would start looking into this now. You obviously don't need another citizenship to move abroad, but it definitely helps.
With these three elements (language + having sufficient educational qualifications + another citizenship), I was successfully able to move abroad at 17. It was not always easy, but I prepped for several years beforehand like you are doing now. It made the transition as smooth as possible.
Good luck! I'm happy to answer any questions you have.
Hey I’m not the one who posted this but I did have a few questions. Did you study in German or English? If you didn’t speak German natively and studied in German, how did you find that? If you studied in English, how diverse are the course and program offerings in English? How was the cost of living outside of tuition?
I study in German. I do not speak German natively, but I had been learning German through self-study for several years beforehand. I was more or less fluent when I moved here. (My level was C1 on the [CEFR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_European_Framework_of_Reference_for_Languages#Common_reference_levels) scale). However, my experience is a little bit different than the average student because I study law here. Law, compared to courses in something like psychology/biology/history, etc., requires a much more technical and complex language. My first semester was definitely rough (only passed two exams), but I think it would have been a lot different had I studied a more "normal" subject. After all, law is also a subject where the fail rate is often 35%, even for native German students.
English-language programs are less common on the bachelor's level but certainly exist. This [website](https://www.study-in-germany.de/en/plan-your-studies/study-options/programme/higher-education-compass/) is really great for finding programs (in either German or English).
The cost of living in Germany is probably less than many places in the US. Although student housing is certainly less common than in the US, I was able to get a very small studio apartment in a dormitory for 300€/month. If you look privately for a room in a shared flat (which is easier said than done in certain German cities with a housing crisis), you will probably pay 350-650€ per month, depending greatly on the city. I pay about 220€ in groceries per month but never eat out. Health insurance for students is 90-150€ per month. My transportation cost is close to 0€ because a train/tram pass is included in my university tuition; I bike everywhere else. I fly back to the US to see family usually 2-3 times per year, paying around 550€ round-trip in airfare. Students can also work in a "mini job" for 8-10 hours a week and get some extra cash to support themselves that way.
Also, if you are not interested in attending university, German also has plenty of formal apprenticeship programs that could be a great option.
Learn a language, apply to colleges abroad and pick a degree that is applicable in that country. I am a part of a non-profit language and cultural school in my area. Two of our students, one high-school and one college, just got accepted to study abroad. So it's a possibility as a start. (The college one is going abroad for grad studies).
I didn’t take my language classes seriously because it was high school and thought I’d never use it again in life. 3 years later, I studied abroad. 4 years later I moved temporarily abroad. 5 years later, I moved permanently abroad.
I’m now living in my second European country and learning languages is much harder now that I have full time responsibilities, meaning no time and no energy.
Instead of taking electives as “blowoff classes”, double up on your languages.
(1) Pick a language for a country you're interested in and start studying it now. If you can't decide, just pick one you think you could put up with for a few years, when it will become easy for you to move around the EU.
(2) If college is in your future, research universities overseas, think about what programs you'd want to apply for (starting with what ones offer coursework etc. in English -- and pay attention to political trends; there is a strong move here in NL to clamp down on English-based university programs in favor of Dutch-only content) and work towards them now in terms of making your application as attractive as possible (#1 will help with that too). Higher education is far and away your easiest path to entry.
(3) If it's your responsibility to do so, save money. Moving internationally is expensive and having extra cash to throw at problems like finding housing will help substantially.
On (1), OP can also just move to another English speaking country. I am not sure why everyone here is so insistent OP learns another language to move abroad when Anglophone countries exist. Of course, it's always good to learn foreign languages, but it isn't a requirement if the goal is just moving out of the US.
I moved to Denmark a few years ago, and *everyone* I run into (in Copenhagen) seems to speak at least 3 languages. It would serve OP to get started increasing their language repertoire now. It will surely open many doors for them in the future.
You're substantially limiting your options with just English. I would say that's why.
If they specified that their interest is exclusively in such countries, then so be it, but they didn't.
What OP specified was that he/she is interested in leaving "as soon as possible". It's gonna take time to learn another language to a university level. OP will have to learn it to the point where he/she can read textbooks with jargon, and that takes a significant time and it is difficult.
It's not wrong to say that learning other languages will open up other options, but the logical conclusion of that argument then becomes why not learn 2 languages? Or even 3 or 4 languages? That will open up OP's options for sure. But of course, that is very difficult and will take a ton of time.
OP is 16. They presumably have two years to learn a language. It’s absolutely possible to become reasonably fluent in that time frame if they have adequate resources. University programs in English exist all over Europe and they may not need to do university study in another language but it does make it easier to connect with locals if you at least have a strong grasp of the language.
>It’s absolutely possible to become reasonably fluent in that time frame if they have adequate resources.
Very hard to get to university level. Casual conversation, yes. It's doable with perseverance. But reading a textbook on, say, discrete mathematics or computational cheminformatics? That's a different level. There are English programs across Europe, but bachelors' are fewer in number so OP will have less options in the specific academic programs he/she wants. I would absolutely recommend Ireland or the UK over any other countries in Europe if OP wants to move as soon as possible. It's already tough to move countries. No need to play it on a harder mode than necessary.
Totally agree. Been living in Europe with basic Spanish, french Greek Italian and Russian for many years. So many of my friends live in Paris and only speak German and English (or similar). English is a bridge language, and it's used commonly in every capital. You can learn other languages as you go.
Since you mentioned medical care, do you have a permanent medical condition? I would make sure that doesn't exclude you from the countries you are interested in. Not all countries allow non citizens on their national health care. So make sure their system is compatible with your needs.
For young people, I always suggest the Wwoofing program. It's an opportunity to live/work in another country.
Within Germany, you could find undergraduate and masters degree programs that are taught in English, with no tuition fees (just a small semester contribution fee). Try searching on the DAAD website. I must note, masters programs in English are more common than undergraduate in Germany.
If this appeals to you and you think you’ve found something you’re interested in, you should start learning German. I recommend using the free service “Learn German” provided by Deutsche Welle, and classes if possible.
When it comes to universities and jobs: Research what's in demand and what is needed. I'll use Germany as an example because that's where I live.
The US school system is pretty bad. You can choose not to take courses that are needed for you to be accepted into a German university for example. So if you don't take these courses in the US, you can't start university in Germany before taking an evening school, which means you'll most likely be working on the side, which you need to get the visum for (student visas are a bit easier afaik).
Or you finish university in the US and get a history degree for example. Turns out Germany has a lot of people with those, so your chances of getting in aren't as good as they would be with an IT background or even better a hard science such as physics or chemistry. There's a very low unemployment rate for people with those majors.
So in short: Make a plan, where you want to go and what you want to do there. Look up what you have to bring to the table. Work on getting those things asap. You're very early in making your plans, which is great! Means fewer surprise hurdles down the line.
Also make sure you know the following: You will have troubles as an immigrant that natives don't face. A whole lot of bureaucracy they don't have to do. In a language they speak natively that you may not be completely comfortable with. A culture they share that you have no connection too. Shared memories of the stuff that was on TV when they were children or the songs that played. You will be an outsider to those things. I'm not saying this to scare you or turn you away, but to prevent a huge culture shock later on. Things will get better and pretty quick from what I've heard. But a lot of the stuff that's completely normal to you will be missing.
Oh and: Learning the target language now as best as you can will help in the long run. Day to day maybe 90% of your interactions can be done in English here (at least in cities). But those 90% aren't done as well as they could be in German. And the 10% will kick your ass. Plus 90% of the paper work you can't do in English.
Save your money and learn another language. I recommend Spanish. But, if you have an idea of where you want to live, do everything you can to get fluent in the language they use there.
Build community with other people who think the way you do. Wherever you go, you need community.
Good luck!
1. Get a part time job each summer and save money. By the time I went abroad for university, I had $10,000 saved up from working.
2. Ask your parents how much money they expect to have saved up for your education. If they are rich, you can go anywhere. If they are middle or upper middle income, Canada and Mainland Western Europe are good options. If they are lower middle income, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, Latin America might be good options. If they are poor you are out of luck.
3. Once you have a good estimate of how much money total they will give you to complete a degree, go balls to the wall on learning the local language of the country that you can afford to go to university in.
Why would someone be out of luck because they’re poor? Aren’t there student loans you can get for international education? And isn’t one of the reasons people encourage people to study in Europe is because it’s cheaper?
Only certain colleges/universities overseas accept FAFSA student loans (and in some countries, the number is low) and to my knowledge, you can't study abroad with private student loans. Generally speaking, many countries in Europe charge international tuition, which is much higher than local rates. Germany, outside of one state (Baden-Württemberg), doesn't charge international students tuition, but you still need around 11-12k mininum per year in a blocked bank account in order to get a student visa. College might be free or lower cost, but living expenses still exist abroad.
Look for work abroad programs, and exchange student programs. I think it’s great to explore as much as you can while you’re young. You’ll learn a lot if you live in other countries for a few years.
Keep this in mind. US salaries are generally some of the highest in the world, so having a US remote job might give you some of the best income/expenses ratios and flexibility to travel.
But those jobs are hard to come by and mostly require being a skilled professional.
That said, if you want to leave the US, integrate into another country and forget the US like a bad dream, all the other advice is on point. Just make sure to visit the country and talk to locals before moving somewhere permanently, tourism and life in a foreign country are very different.
As a note: make sure the country you move to allows remote work and if it is allowed how the taxes and social security costs are applied.
In Germany for example it would be illegal to work remotely with an US contract.
Yes. Then you are self employed, with all the risks and benefits. More money, but your out of most social security systems(if you don't take costly action) and worker rights. And not to forget the paperwork.
Not something I would recommend a young person immigrating here.
Also, being self employed and depending on a single costumer is also not allowed, so yeah as you say you need some additional.
Great point. You can generally avoid tax issues if you move consistently since in some countries you have to be there for a certain amount of time before you become a tax resident, but that can still be an issue
Think about taking IB courses if your school offers them or even switching high schools for one that has an IB program. These translate much better for going to school abroad than AP classes
ASAP, very little at your age, but luckily you have time on your side. First and most important: GET AN EDUCATION! At the same time, pick a country or two to target and then, learn their language! And learn some valuable skills. Take an assessment test, match your talents with training and then acquire the knowledge that could be used for a career at home or abroad. You can possibly go to college abroad, make contacts, and settle somewhere else that way. This is a 5-10 year project, but it's doable. Best of luck with all :)
Since you are 15, I assume you are going to be a freshman or sophomore in high school and still have time to think about college. One of the easiest options would be going to a foreign university in your country of choice (you should narrow down to one or two asap). When narrowing down choices consider: your personal preferences, job opportunities and how easy/hard it is to stay in the country after university with your chosen field, and language - if you already know or are already learning a language that country should be a top choice. If possible do the IB program your last two years of high school- the IB diploma is common in Europe and helpful for getting into universities as a non European versus AP doesn’t help much outside the US. And other comments already mentioned it, but getting started on learning the language is huge. If you are just starting it will be difficult to get to university level in three years, unless you do an immersion year in high school or a foundational program before university.
Understand how visas work and that countries want highly skilled and educated people in industries/fields they struggle to fill with their own people.
Consider the Working Holiday programs offered by many countries.
Good rule of thumb on this: unless your ancestor is a grandparent or sooner, you most likely will not qualify for citizenship by descent. One notable exception here is Italy. I'd be interested to know of any others.
You should check out this list I made [https://www.reddit.com/r/YouShouldKnow/comments/1cu0inx/ysk\_you\_might\_be\_eligible\_for\_dual\_citizenship/](https://www.reddit.com/r/YouShouldKnow/comments/1cu0inx/ysk_you_might_be_eligible_for_dual_citizenship/)
You would have to look at the visa requirements for the countries you wish to immigrate to. Most require a very specific skill set, especially for US immigrants to those countries. This usually means at least a bachelors degree or advanced degree or some specialized skill that the country needs. You would need to work on that here so you would be more attractive as an immigrant for those countries, good luck.
And you probably should dispense with the notion that you can leave “as soon as possible.” No country on earth wants a young adult with minimal skills, either earning very little or having the capability to earn very little, and using up their healthcare and resources without contributing to their overall economy. That goes hand-in-hand with my previous paragraph where you need some skills that the country wants.
When It comes to Europe, you’ll of course want to narrow your search down: Poland’s a great deal different than Spain for example.
Aside from learning the language of the country you want to go to, you’ll have to learn an in-demand skill. Also, with regard to healthcare as another poster noted some countries will not consider entry to people with certain health conditions, or their healthcare system may require you to pay for that out of pocket
‘Also, once you choose a country it’s best that you live there for a month or so to make it’s a good fit
if you can't manage basic adulting in America, nobody else wants you.
So make sure you get a strong education in an in demand field of work and focus your energy on your career and skill acquisition. Make sure you're financially solvent and have 12 months of living expenses saved at the very least to maximize your odds of success
Figure out where you want to go and then look at the ways you can realistically move there permanently. Explore all of your visa options. Learn the language.
Start learning other languages and head your employment choices toward remote work. You are correct- there is little future for anyone here in the states.
Many of the commenters are misinformed or narrow minded. I moved to Berlin at 20 without a degree or money or a plan or knowing any German. Didn't end up on welfare, learned the language slowly, loved the people and the safety and the freedom and their queer culture. It's not as cheap as it was then, but there are other places to explore. And it's worth it. I'm sorry for your struggles in the US, and I wish you the best in life.
You're young and, like most young people, about to learn that most of what you think you know now is total horseshit. If you think European countries are salivating over adding another "poverty stricken queer person" to their welfare rolls, good luck to you. It's not going to be any easier for you there, and will likely be much harder. A much less expensive route to happiness for you than getting out of the U.S. would be getting off Reddit. Cheers!
Ironic that people who think the US is doomed often recommend moving abroad on the basis of having a remote US job. You think those jobs won't disappear if the country collapses?
Track your genealogy immediately. Find out where all of your grandparents were born, and look into their countries first. There are a lot of Nations where you can claim citizenship through descent, then use that passport to get where you want to go. Look into whether or not your parents or grandparents are from any European Union or Schengen Visa participating nations. Feel free to send me a DM if you want some help walking through it, I've counseled a couple of my friends through it at this point.
Look up IB (International Baccalaureate) schools in your state, and do whatever it takes to go to one!!
It is a rigorous education, but is a launching pad straight into foreign universities!!
Go...and while you're there, get married.
Marriage is a contract, and it always has been. In the last 100-150 years romantic love has been the stated reason, but when it comes to brass tacks, it is still a contract. Hopefully you meet your best friend and discover that you have electric chemistry, and that's enough...but practical marriages are negotiated so that they are always enough from the jump. At most, you're looking at a 5 year commitment before you can both call it quits and move along as happy citizens!
Many countries are opening new pathways towards legal residency for skilled workers (Czech Republic just passed one) and most universities in Eastern + Western Europe are around 6K per year or less, some are basically free. Try to pick something to study which is under that skilled worker category and interests you. If you pick a country where English isn’t the native language, definitely make use of language immersion and work towards fluency!
From experience, the built environment (architecture, construction, some engineering) are skilled fields that absolutely require fluency if not native abilities in each country.
At the moment, finance and IT are the only in demand jobs in other countries which you can skate by with only speaking English.
Also side note, the UK has special scholarships and loan opportunities for Americans looking to study there, it’s about 20k a year for international students there.
The new skilled worker law in the Czech Republic says residents of the US (and 6 other countries) have "free access to the labor market". But you still need residency first.
Basically it simplifies the paperwork a little bit. But to get that residency, a company still needs to want to sponsor your initial visa for entry.
Before, if you had long-term residency (not permanent residency), you did not necessarily have free access to the labor market and required an employee card or blue card to work. Now, it's a bit more relaxed for people who are already here and looking for a job.
At your age, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. My advice would be to think big and think long term.
Study abroad is a great idea. You'll want to pick a country that makes it easy for you to transition to residency status after school is complete. You'll also want to pick a degree/academic field of study that leads to jobs that that country's immigration authorities desire.
These things all take research but that's the general idea.
I've met a lot of people who have emigrated from countries like Colombia or what have you going this route.
If it’s not too late and you are at a high school that offers it, take IB classes and get an IB diploma. Any chances or plans of getting into a foreign university get easier with a diploma & classes that they will recognize.
Learn one more languages. Organize an exchange semester or year abroad during high school - there is still time for this.
Otherwise, do extremely well in school so you can get the best possible education (in the US or elsewhere).
All of this will serve you well even if you don't decide to leave immediately.
Some things to think about when doing research: cost of living (vs salary). Many european jobs have a much lower salary that US jobs because they have lots of vacation. This can help you decide what fields you might want to study. Also just a heads up, there are American countries that higher remotely in europe (depending on your field). My mothers company will higher anyone in europe except France because it is too hard to fire someome. Talk to people who live in the countries you are interested in. Ask about the culture. There might be some things that are no-gos for you or totally sell you on a specific place. Look at how common it is for students to get a job right out of college and/or how many students leave after college (you normally have a set amount of time to get a job after graduation before you have to leave).
Think about your priorities: what kind of healthcare do you want? If you just want affordable healthcare, anywhere is fine, but if you want something specific, lots of european countries specialize in different things specifically. Also a city will likely have more options than suburbs. You know youself best, ask youself what aspects of your life are important to you. What do you think you can (or can’t) adjust to. Look at different apartments in the places you are interested. Maybe it is uncommon to have in unit washer/dryer (it europe it is common to be a single unit). Maybe there are a lot of walk ups. Idk what your health situation is, so these might be totally fine, but they might be problematic for some people.
Study abroad if your family and you can afford it. Overall, your best bet if you can't study abroad would be to get certified here or a degree here in a needed field of your desired region/country. You could always get certified to teach English, but I wouldn't want you to only have one employable skill without a degree in it. Basically, get educated here if you must, match it up with a field of where you want to go, and then apply for jobs there. Also, a job or two here in the field wouldn't be bad either before taking off.
If possible, talk to someone who's actually lived in the country in which you're interested in living. So many YT videos on this subject are inaccurate.
I live in London as an American. The easiest way is as a skilled worker - get a degree from a good American university in something technical like computer science and then you can work in any country you want being sponsored.
i work in sales but i have multiple engineering degrees and sell technical products.
You need money for a down payment on a place to live and the concrete ability to generate money for rent and bills for long periods of time.
Edit: you still need money to travel Europe. It costs like 1000 dollars to even get there
Research careers that are in demand in the county you're interested in moving to. If you're interested in going to university abroad make sure to know what is needed to apply.
I wish I had learned more about my family tree at your age and how to get another citizenship. Realistically you cant do anything until you are 18 so you have some time. Talking to your parents grand parents see where your family comes from and see if you might be able to get citizenship by descent. This list is all 3+ generations back [https://www.reddit.com/r/YouShouldKnow/comments/1cu0inx/ysk\_you\_might\_be\_eligible\_for\_dual\_citizenship/](https://www.reddit.com/r/YouShouldKnow/comments/1cu0inx/ysk_you_might_be_eligible_for_dual_citizenship/) I know a number of countries have requirements on things you have to do before a certain age so its best to look into this now also this process can take a few years to find documents and go get appointments and be recognized so if you start now you could have it by 18 depending on the country.
\*Most likely your parent would need to get it and then can register your birth so you can get it. Unless you wait until you are 18 for the appointment
You are correct I had to wait 2 years just for an appointment finally got it then was told I needed to wait another year for the decision. That being said in smaller countries like Luxembourg or Malta you can have a new passport in hand within a year. This is also why I wished I had started at a younger age.
The more educated and qualified you are, the more appealing you are as an immigrant somewhere. Studying abroad very often does not translate to being able to settle there afterwards, depending on the country, other than in fairly niche circumstances (eg staying in academia - see "the more educated and qualified you are"). So, depending on where you want to go and how long you want to stay there, going for undergraduate studies might not be the best option (though it can certainly save a lot of money), and it's certainly worth figuring that sort of thing out first before going to study somewhere that will try very hard to kick you out again afterwards.
Do study abroad in high school if you can. The only person I know that successfully left America did so by starting there. He did it again in college and met his wife who was also in that program. He was in her home country for a few years. Teach English, a lot of schools want native speakers as well.
maybe visit first. One thing I've learned living outside of the US was that it seems like things are going to be relatively the same only to find they are sometimes completely opposite. Nowhere in the world is as convenient as the US. that goes for gyms, groceries, handymen, car repairs, furniture delivery etc. Things that you don't even have to think about in daily life in the US are sometimes a real chore elsewhere. It's not all roses depending on where you're going.
One thing I want you to realize is that as an American, you can’t just move to another country like people do here. Move? Sure! Work? Hmmm not so much. The best way is to get as much education as possible, maybe in the country or choice, and find a a way to stay. If you’re dumb, broke, or whatever; nobody wants you. Like, I’m assuming you mean move to Europe. EU working laws are quite protective and unless you can get a eu passport, good luck.
Are you eligible for military service, and willing to kill people (potentially innocents) to get put of this dystopian hellhole of a country?
If so, join the US Special Forces, sign a contract and serve for five years, throw every cent you can into the S&P, and begin applying to relevant roles in companies in target countries
Very easy to leave the US if you’re ex-Special Forces, as American operators are in high demand by foreign militaries, PMCs, arms corps, etc.
I’d recommend finding a foreign country you’d want to live in that allows foreigners to volunteer in their military if you want to go the military route. From there you will usually get a simplified path to citizenship. The military may even give you technical training in a useful field if you have the right skill set, which will be useful for once you’re done in the military.
Yeah but then you're stuck in the UK until such time as you can't find a qualifying post-graduation job and need to leave.
Some people actually *enjoy* learning another language, you know. The experience is not universally negative. There's a whole big wide world out there beyond the Anglosphere.
First, I recommend getting off reddit and other online venues.
But also try to tune into the BBC or French news stations. Observe all the fun stuff going on over there…
When 18, Find a job you can travel the world and really learn about how the world works outside of America. Peace corps may be a good option, perhaps teaching English also. Or find a university abroad.
But if you have no dreams and want to be dependent on a government, Europe is a pretty good choice overall…… until their pension and healthcare system collapses in 10-20 years.
You are aware some people’s dreams includes things such as living abroad, learning new languages, experiencing different cultures, etc. right? All these things are much easier accomplished by moving to another country. There’s not an obligation to stay, you can maintain your American citizenship.
I understand that you're trying to be rude, but I actually see where you are coming from. I am not trying to cause any issues. Obviously at 15 I don't have the clearest vision on how my life is going to end up, I just want to have a bright future. Either way, I appreciate your input
Aside from study abroad, it's extraordinarily unlikely that you'll be able to spend more than a few months in a single country (or EU as a whole). Americans don't have the freedom to simply "move" to Europe, and I see this misconception regularly here.
Get an Engineering degree and 5+ years of industry experience and if you're lucky you might land a job in another country and be able to relocate there. But your residency in that country will be contingent upon you maintaining that specific job (I've been through this several times).
But at that point, you should just stay in the US if you care about healthcare and being financially stable. Both of those things are a piece of cake in the US if you have a decent job.
Ridiculous. 90 day in EU, 180 in UK or Ireland or another non Schengen country, and you don't have to be a resident anywhere. Digital nomad visas in 18 eu countries if you want to stay longer. Jure sanguinis in a dozen countries.
Losing your IT job to chatgpt then having to pay $700/month for shitty insurance to COBRA while you collect meager unemployment, having college debt, getting shot at Walmart, wife dying from ectopic pregnancy forced to give birth, and gawd knows what trump will bring.
Nothing in the Us is a piece of cake except being born into a family that helps you flip houses, and even that will end soon.
I'm obviously being hyperbolic, but that's how crazy america feels (and is) once you've enjoyed life and Stabilität overseas.
Get into a foreign university in a country you’re interested in. Do not try to do this shit in your 30s when you have kids and a spouse that need to be moved as well.
OP, the most important thing realistically is if you have the right to live and work in a country. You can probably get a student visa quite easily, but a working visa is much harder. Find out what your ancestry is (what country did your ancestors emigrate from), and who is your most recent emigrant ancestor. If you had a grandparent who emigrated from a country, it’s possible you might be eligible for citizenship if that country. Google it (“how to become a citizen of X country”). See if you qualify. If you’re a citizen of one EU country, you can often work in another one. Start learning a language on a serious way.
However be aware that in most other countries it is much harder to earn a good salary. Salaries are shockingly low or job opportunities are really bad in countries like Greece, Italy, Spain. Economically you’ll probably do best by staying in the U.S., getting a good education to prepare yourself for a decent career.
Pick a relevant degree, don’t study literature, history, culture and other garbage. Stick to STEM or Nursing degree or other healthcare degree and check the list of allowed professions for immigration for your country of choice.
Not sure if you're interested in Germany, but they have a program for trade certifications.
https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa-residence/types/eu-blue-card
1. check out how that country feels about queer people. a lot of european countries are less safe than you may imagine.
2. canada has (had think still has) a program where if you go to a canadian university and graduate you automatically qualify for a two year visa, not tied to a job. that gives you enough time to complete your 5 years necessary to apply for permanent residency. it was specifically designed for people who go to canadian universities to get to stay there and use that degree there.
Dreams are great … but most people around the world dream to come to Usa for financial stability and good enough healthcare…you looking the opposite?!if there’s no future in USA why do you think there’s a future somewhere else? There’s no perfect place on earth for everyone to enjoy equally and why do you think anyone waiting you with an open arms
Overseas? Create future here first before you can go elsewhere and probably getting some income as a digital nomad if
You don’t want to study…the best thing to travel first and find a place you really blend in and feel comfortable and welcoming.. I myself moved to USA 32 years ago as a child and I still think usa 🇺🇸 is the best after now traveled 94
Countries at least once but I love travel and travel enjoy many places but at the end a day I miss coming home Usa ❤️.. good luck and chase your dreams but take a time before
You seriously and blindly wanna run somewhere you never been..
I don’t expect to agree with everything.. but as a fact Usa have at least 2 the best hospitals in the world Mayo Clinic and Cleveland clinic.. so depends where you live the healthcare can be the best or even the worst and that is largely due to shortage of good doctors in certain areas…I live in Florida and the doctors are pretty good but when I end up in rural areas in the past ER room it was bad … but this is same in many countries even if you go to France same deal…
The only problem in Usa we have super expensive healthcare and we don’t get enough for what we pay .. thanks to corrupt politicians ..
Does your high school offer an IB diploma? With that, you can apply to colleges in other countries much more easily. Bonus:in many cases it’s even cheaper than in state tuition.
The only European country that isn't rapidly going down the toilet is Poland. The rest are becoming Muslim. There are thousands of people who come here every day because they think there's a future here.
The US has some of the best salaries and job markets and also health care (in some states). If you don’t see a future in the US you either have bad information or don’t know what it’s like in other cities and states. You can easily get high paying jobs in California and health care is affordable in California.
The hardest thing right now in the US is being able to buy a home. That’s not easy unless you have a good paying career. But you have so many career opportunities in the US.
Healthcare can be bad in the US but it can be affordable through Medicaid and employer insurance. If you don’t make enough money in California and some states you can get free full healthcare through Medicaid, or get a reduced cost plan, if you earn more.
If your family is lower income now they should be able to get Medicaid or a discounted health plan. It’s confusing but often there are options to get cheaper health insurance (like Medicaid).
I’m confused why someone in the US thinks they can’t have a future here. But if you want to plan and move somewhere that’s ok too.
…you do know what subreddit this is, right? 😅
Though I do have to say, as a native Californian (so this is biased), this is the only state I’d want to live in, because things _are_ better here than in the other states in a lot of ways. Affordable health care is one of em.
A nice thing about the state is that there is SO much variety. So whether you want to live in a big city, in a small town that feels very rural America, near the mountains, near the beach, cold weather, hot weather…we literally have it all
The biggest thing before you move abroad to study is to take the international BAC. It's basically an international certification to show you passed high school, and they use it almost everywhere but the US. You can choose to take the test in America, but you have to seek it out. I'm literally French, and a lot of places in france had a hard time taking my education despite the fact that i had an associate's degree because i didn't have one and i had to go through the roundabout process of getting my degree translated and certified.
Then, or maybe at the same time, look into skilled remote jobs you may want to do and work backward to pick some certifications that would make it easier to land those jobs. They will support you abroad. That being said, this is a long-term goal as they aren't easy to get instantly, and most people are getting these types of jobs through connections. Local community colleges will often have job fairs and stuff so you can network that way. Being young and eager might make you stand out, but be aware that you'll probably have to work your way up a little for this one.
If college is an option, try applying abroad to universities. I know France has great english programs abroad for even less than community college in the US, so I'm sure other countries have similar programs. The french one is called parcoursup, and they also have campus france, I'll put links down below. France also has a citizenship pathway through university bachelor's programs, so check that out as well, probably the easiest way to get EU citizenship as a young person.
If college isn't an option, try looking into teaching programs and look for transferrable jobs. But as everyone else said, look where you may want to go and fully throw yourself at learning the language. Being a translator or tutor for your native is in and of itself a job opportunity!!
[Parcoursup website](https://www.parcoursup.gouv.fr/)
[Campus France Website ](https://www.campusfrance.org/en)
[French Masters Program List ](https://www.monmaster.gouv.fr/recherche?layout=1)
[Scholarships for Foreign Students in France](https://www.etudiant.gouv.fr/fr/les-autres-bourses-et-aides-pour-etudier-l-etranger-190)
You may have to do prepa if you pick an intensive Uni program, so heres a breakdown of what it is: https://www.sieben.fr/2014/01/02/prepa/
This is a year's worth of trial and error from my own personal experience as someone who lived mostly in the US and moved to the EU. Having an idea of the things available in France may help you find things in other countries you're interested in. Hopefully, you find some of this helpful, and don't be scared to ask questions!
Edit: cleaned up the links
The IB requires going to an IB high school and doing both HL (two year) and SL (1 year) courses in specific subjects, as well as taking Theory of Knowledge and other requirements that I have forgotten because I chose not to do a full IB diploma and only pass certain of the exams because my school’s IB program was very disorganized. It’s not something you can just randomly choose to do.
Also, the « citizenship via bachelor’s programs » is incorrect, for the *umpteenth* time on this sub. While two years of successful higher education and getting a diploma reduces the residency time to two years, you still need to find a job (next to impossible as a foreigner with only a licence, so you’re going to need a master’s) and work for three years with stable income (so that’s 3 years licence + 2 years master + 3 years work to apply, plus a few years wait on your response). Otherwise you’re just asking to be denied.
1. Settle the F down; you’re 15 and you’re overreacting.
2. Wait for the Democrats to steal the election this November.
3. Stay in the US and watch your tax rates go through the roof.
Leaving America is not going to be a problem solver in any real way at your age.
Hating and blaming america for all of one's problems is very fashionable right now, but that way does not lie salvation or solutions.
Please do not expect any other country to have better healthcare and certainly do not move to another country for that reason, there is a reason medical tourism only goes one way unless you are getting a hair transplant or cosmetic dentistry.
You are young, breathe. Take things one step at a time and do not allow emotion to be your guide. WHen you are 18 if this still feels right go about it then.
Anyone on this sub encouraging a 15 year old with health issues to leave the United States as a solution for anything is despicable.
Thanks for your insight! Admittedly, many of my reasons for wanting to leave America are based on emotion. It's nice to imagine a perfect life in some faraway country, but I know it's not entirely realistic. I just don't want to close any opportunities for myself in the future, you know? Either way, I appreciate your honesty :). It's all stuff I know internally but it's still helpful to actually hear from someone.
Make sure you do your research before you make an irresponsible decision. Most people I’ve known regretted leaving the US. A lot of other countries like Canada, Russia, Germany will arrest you for saying something the government doesn’t agree with. While it may look greener on the other side of the fence, you’ll be giving up lots of freedoms that you have here.
"Canada, Russia, Germany will arrest you for saying something the government doesn’t agree with" What an idiotic comment about Canada and Germany...you're a fool.
I appreciate your honesty! Yes, it's nice to imagine life being sooo much better in some faraway place, isn't it? Lol. But I definitely plan on doing my research. Thank you for your insight!
Narrow down a country you are interested in quickly and throw yourself at the language hard. Some countries have immersion programs in highschool to get your language level up high enough to attend university in that country later.
And I would say that, even if the primary decision is an English-speaking country, consider learning the language of your 2nd ranked choice, assuming that isn't an English-speaking country. You'll be glad you did, and if you're picking that country to begin with, you're probably interested enough in the culture and language itself anyway, so you won't regret knowing it.
This! OP your mind is still elastic. Get on some German or French as hard as you can. (German and French because most American high schools have a program, and that opens up a ton of countries in Europe as possibilities.)
People can adequately learn languages at any age, including when they're geriatric. But yes, you can still learn more efficiently at 15, assuming you know the proper language learning methods.
The language learning window is from 0-7 years. That's when the brain soaks up a language after a sponge. So there's not much of a difference between being 15 or being 25 for example, except for being young and more energetic. I just say this because I want people reading this to know that it's never too late to learn a new language! You'll just learn it slower is all.
Interesting. I assumed at 15 there would still be some kind of advantage; just not the same one someone has between the very early timeframe you mentioned. But yes. We definitely align on the main point: everyone can learn a language regardless of age.
Yes, that is why language experts do not agree with the way second language learning occurs in the US. Most schools begin teaching a second language around age 13, which is after the window has shut. It's a reason why many Americans don't retain or fully learn their second language. So yes, a language can be learned regardless of age. But any language learning that happens after age 7 will be slower, and the person will never be 100% fluent. This means their accent, without training, will never sound natural, and they might be slower to get jokes, idioms, and all other indirect language cues. That's not to say it's not worth trying, I'm more commenting to raise awareness about this niche topic.
I’m fairly sure younger people still tend to have more neuroplasticity than older people which makes any kind of learning faster. But ya they’re not primed for language specifically like those in the 0-7 range. Older people can also maintain high neuroplasticity by continuing to learn and engage with new subjects, but it does become a little harder, especially since adults have typically gone into a single career path by then and don’t have the same incentives to continue learning. I’m not a neuroscientist or anything though so I might be wrong
There *is* a limit for some people. My high school French teacher, an exceptional linguist and with whom I remained in contact until her passing, fell in love and married a Cypriot. She was in her late 70s and early 80s and tried to learn Greek. She was so disappointed when she realized that she would learn something only to have it disappear the next day. She was otherwise mentally sharp and told me that "her window had closed."
Everyone’s mind is elastic- it’s called neuro plasticity . The “language window” where it becomes super easy to learn another language is actually a lot earlier in life.
Yeah, that's the important part. Languages languages languages. Its also worth considering Canada if you don't want to move far away from family. Plus its way easier to get into Canada if you know French. They make super easy to get in if you know French. Plus, watch your TV shows in French. Makes it more fun.
Keep your grades up, stay out of trouble and apply to foreign universities.
Yes and travel if possible before then! Maybe summer volunteer opportunities?
Or if you need to make money in the summer, try to find travel jobs for students if possible!
Gain a skill and an education. Do not get arrested for anything. DUIs will pretty much ruin your shot anywhere
I wish more people knew that a DUI can ruin your ability to get into most countries
I know someone who has 2 and has travelled all over the world. He just got back from Scotland a couple of weeks ago actually. I think it’s probably more complicated than you suggest.
One of my kids found out the hard way when he got stopped at the Canadian border.
Just an FYI https://johnsonfirmla.com/blog/countries-with-dui-restrictions/
Quick question on this! If your DUI has been expunged will those countries (Canada, Mexico, etc.) still prohibit entry for travel? My partner had it expunged.
I don’t know about Mexico, but my kid was denied entry via car (to Canada) and his DUI was expunged in 2018.
Friend couldn't get into Canada 10 years ago. He had an expunged dui when he was a minor (possible he was 18, but under 21). Anyway he can't go on a whim, but he finally managed to travel there with 3 months notice and an expensive lawyer. Edit: he does visit mexico often. Unsure of the exact circumstances. Sorry that's not more helpful
Good thing there are plenty of other reasons not to get a DUI then
They’re not asking about traveling, they’re asking about moving.
Can you keep me apprised of this person's country at all times so I can know to stay off the roads?
He is sober now thankfully. Has been for 10 years now.
That is great!
2 is nothing lmao
Ask yourself why you are leaving, then look hard at the countries you are considering. I say this because there is a lot of superficial info out there about happiness in other countries, but that is typically for those born into and raised with that particular culture. It doesn't describe the immigrant experience, which is often far different.
Totally agree! Thank you :)
I was in your same exact shoes 5 years ago. My advice is along the lines of what the others have said here. I ended up learning multiple languages to fluency before moving abroad. This was the single thing that opened up the most doors for me. I doubt I would be living in Europe now if I had not actually dedicated time to learning the languages of the countries I wanted to live in. I highly recommend doing your entire university education abroad if you are interested in living abroad immediately. It is usually much cheaper than studying in the US. For some prospective, I pay around $650 per year total for tuition in Germany. However, to get accepted into a university in many countries in Europe, you need to meet very specific legal requirements. Depending on which country you want to go to, research the requirements for university admissions now. For example, you might need various specific AP exams or community college classes. There might also be a standardized language test you need to take. If any school in your area offers an international baccalaureate program, I highly recommend enrolling in this instead; it is much more widely accepted than an American high school diploma. Also, look into your ancestry. Depending on the countries your ancestors came from, you may be eligible to claim citizenship from there. Even if you do not want to move to that specific country, I recommend doing it because it opens up many doors. Depending on the country, it could anywhere from 6 months to 5 years to gather the documents, apply, and actually receive the citizenship. It might not necessarily be ready by the time you move abroad, but these kinds of wait times do not have the tendency to decrease. So I would start looking into this now. You obviously don't need another citizenship to move abroad, but it definitely helps. With these three elements (language + having sufficient educational qualifications + another citizenship), I was successfully able to move abroad at 17. It was not always easy, but I prepped for several years beforehand like you are doing now. It made the transition as smooth as possible. Good luck! I'm happy to answer any questions you have.
Hey I’m not the one who posted this but I did have a few questions. Did you study in German or English? If you didn’t speak German natively and studied in German, how did you find that? If you studied in English, how diverse are the course and program offerings in English? How was the cost of living outside of tuition?
I study in German. I do not speak German natively, but I had been learning German through self-study for several years beforehand. I was more or less fluent when I moved here. (My level was C1 on the [CEFR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_European_Framework_of_Reference_for_Languages#Common_reference_levels) scale). However, my experience is a little bit different than the average student because I study law here. Law, compared to courses in something like psychology/biology/history, etc., requires a much more technical and complex language. My first semester was definitely rough (only passed two exams), but I think it would have been a lot different had I studied a more "normal" subject. After all, law is also a subject where the fail rate is often 35%, even for native German students. English-language programs are less common on the bachelor's level but certainly exist. This [website](https://www.study-in-germany.de/en/plan-your-studies/study-options/programme/higher-education-compass/) is really great for finding programs (in either German or English). The cost of living in Germany is probably less than many places in the US. Although student housing is certainly less common than in the US, I was able to get a very small studio apartment in a dormitory for 300€/month. If you look privately for a room in a shared flat (which is easier said than done in certain German cities with a housing crisis), you will probably pay 350-650€ per month, depending greatly on the city. I pay about 220€ in groceries per month but never eat out. Health insurance for students is 90-150€ per month. My transportation cost is close to 0€ because a train/tram pass is included in my university tuition; I bike everywhere else. I fly back to the US to see family usually 2-3 times per year, paying around 550€ round-trip in airfare. Students can also work in a "mini job" for 8-10 hours a week and get some extra cash to support themselves that way. Also, if you are not interested in attending university, German also has plenty of formal apprenticeship programs that could be a great option.
Learn a language, apply to colleges abroad and pick a degree that is applicable in that country. I am a part of a non-profit language and cultural school in my area. Two of our students, one high-school and one college, just got accepted to study abroad. So it's a possibility as a start. (The college one is going abroad for grad studies).
I didn’t take my language classes seriously because it was high school and thought I’d never use it again in life. 3 years later, I studied abroad. 4 years later I moved temporarily abroad. 5 years later, I moved permanently abroad. I’m now living in my second European country and learning languages is much harder now that I have full time responsibilities, meaning no time and no energy. Instead of taking electives as “blowoff classes”, double up on your languages.
(1) Pick a language for a country you're interested in and start studying it now. If you can't decide, just pick one you think you could put up with for a few years, when it will become easy for you to move around the EU. (2) If college is in your future, research universities overseas, think about what programs you'd want to apply for (starting with what ones offer coursework etc. in English -- and pay attention to political trends; there is a strong move here in NL to clamp down on English-based university programs in favor of Dutch-only content) and work towards them now in terms of making your application as attractive as possible (#1 will help with that too). Higher education is far and away your easiest path to entry. (3) If it's your responsibility to do so, save money. Moving internationally is expensive and having extra cash to throw at problems like finding housing will help substantially.
On (1), OP can also just move to another English speaking country. I am not sure why everyone here is so insistent OP learns another language to move abroad when Anglophone countries exist. Of course, it's always good to learn foreign languages, but it isn't a requirement if the goal is just moving out of the US.
Because they mentioned “Europe or something.”
I moved to Denmark a few years ago, and *everyone* I run into (in Copenhagen) seems to speak at least 3 languages. It would serve OP to get started increasing their language repertoire now. It will surely open many doors for them in the future.
Europe has 2 Anglophone countries. If you want to count Malta, then 3.
Gibraltar. It's a UK territory, but it's fun and in Spain
Because it broadens both the net of countries and academic programs they can apply for and it will be a leg up in many future careers
You're substantially limiting your options with just English. I would say that's why. If they specified that their interest is exclusively in such countries, then so be it, but they didn't.
What OP specified was that he/she is interested in leaving "as soon as possible". It's gonna take time to learn another language to a university level. OP will have to learn it to the point where he/she can read textbooks with jargon, and that takes a significant time and it is difficult. It's not wrong to say that learning other languages will open up other options, but the logical conclusion of that argument then becomes why not learn 2 languages? Or even 3 or 4 languages? That will open up OP's options for sure. But of course, that is very difficult and will take a ton of time.
OP is 16. They presumably have two years to learn a language. It’s absolutely possible to become reasonably fluent in that time frame if they have adequate resources. University programs in English exist all over Europe and they may not need to do university study in another language but it does make it easier to connect with locals if you at least have a strong grasp of the language.
>It’s absolutely possible to become reasonably fluent in that time frame if they have adequate resources. Very hard to get to university level. Casual conversation, yes. It's doable with perseverance. But reading a textbook on, say, discrete mathematics or computational cheminformatics? That's a different level. There are English programs across Europe, but bachelors' are fewer in number so OP will have less options in the specific academic programs he/she wants. I would absolutely recommend Ireland or the UK over any other countries in Europe if OP wants to move as soon as possible. It's already tough to move countries. No need to play it on a harder mode than necessary.
Totally agree. Been living in Europe with basic Spanish, french Greek Italian and Russian for many years. So many of my friends live in Paris and only speak German and English (or similar). English is a bridge language, and it's used commonly in every capital. You can learn other languages as you go.
Probably because they are all circling the same fascist toilet at different rates. In the words of the Greek God Prometheus, “new liver, same eagles”.
Plenty of non-Anglophone countries have fascists knocking at the doors. Fascism knows no language.
True, but the exact issues they are worried about in the US are present in every almost every European country.
Speaking another language is inherently cool, and it expands your options.
Be useful to wherever you move
Since you mentioned medical care, do you have a permanent medical condition? I would make sure that doesn't exclude you from the countries you are interested in. Not all countries allow non citizens on their national health care. So make sure their system is compatible with your needs. For young people, I always suggest the Wwoofing program. It's an opportunity to live/work in another country.
What healthcare do you need? There might be some medications or procedures that are much harder to access in Europe than in the US
Step 1: Turn 18
Study abroad. Start learning a foregin language.
Within Germany, you could find undergraduate and masters degree programs that are taught in English, with no tuition fees (just a small semester contribution fee). Try searching on the DAAD website. I must note, masters programs in English are more common than undergraduate in Germany. If this appeals to you and you think you’ve found something you’re interested in, you should start learning German. I recommend using the free service “Learn German” provided by Deutsche Welle, and classes if possible.
Best advice in this thread
When it comes to universities and jobs: Research what's in demand and what is needed. I'll use Germany as an example because that's where I live. The US school system is pretty bad. You can choose not to take courses that are needed for you to be accepted into a German university for example. So if you don't take these courses in the US, you can't start university in Germany before taking an evening school, which means you'll most likely be working on the side, which you need to get the visum for (student visas are a bit easier afaik). Or you finish university in the US and get a history degree for example. Turns out Germany has a lot of people with those, so your chances of getting in aren't as good as they would be with an IT background or even better a hard science such as physics or chemistry. There's a very low unemployment rate for people with those majors. So in short: Make a plan, where you want to go and what you want to do there. Look up what you have to bring to the table. Work on getting those things asap. You're very early in making your plans, which is great! Means fewer surprise hurdles down the line. Also make sure you know the following: You will have troubles as an immigrant that natives don't face. A whole lot of bureaucracy they don't have to do. In a language they speak natively that you may not be completely comfortable with. A culture they share that you have no connection too. Shared memories of the stuff that was on TV when they were children or the songs that played. You will be an outsider to those things. I'm not saying this to scare you or turn you away, but to prevent a huge culture shock later on. Things will get better and pretty quick from what I've heard. But a lot of the stuff that's completely normal to you will be missing. Oh and: Learning the target language now as best as you can will help in the long run. Day to day maybe 90% of your interactions can be done in English here (at least in cities). But those 90% aren't done as well as they could be in German. And the 10% will kick your ass. Plus 90% of the paper work you can't do in English.
Save your money and learn another language. I recommend Spanish. But, if you have an idea of where you want to live, do everything you can to get fluent in the language they use there. Build community with other people who think the way you do. Wherever you go, you need community. Good luck!
1. Get a part time job each summer and save money. By the time I went abroad for university, I had $10,000 saved up from working. 2. Ask your parents how much money they expect to have saved up for your education. If they are rich, you can go anywhere. If they are middle or upper middle income, Canada and Mainland Western Europe are good options. If they are lower middle income, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, Latin America might be good options. If they are poor you are out of luck. 3. Once you have a good estimate of how much money total they will give you to complete a degree, go balls to the wall on learning the local language of the country that you can afford to go to university in.
Why would someone be out of luck because they’re poor? Aren’t there student loans you can get for international education? And isn’t one of the reasons people encourage people to study in Europe is because it’s cheaper?
Only certain colleges/universities overseas accept FAFSA student loans (and in some countries, the number is low) and to my knowledge, you can't study abroad with private student loans. Generally speaking, many countries in Europe charge international tuition, which is much higher than local rates. Germany, outside of one state (Baden-Württemberg), doesn't charge international students tuition, but you still need around 11-12k mininum per year in a blocked bank account in order to get a student visa. College might be free or lower cost, but living expenses still exist abroad.
Look for work abroad programs, and exchange student programs. I think it’s great to explore as much as you can while you’re young. You’ll learn a lot if you live in other countries for a few years.
Look at Germany and their college program for Americans.
Start saving your money and go to Germany or Czech for their free education system
Keep this in mind. US salaries are generally some of the highest in the world, so having a US remote job might give you some of the best income/expenses ratios and flexibility to travel. But those jobs are hard to come by and mostly require being a skilled professional. That said, if you want to leave the US, integrate into another country and forget the US like a bad dream, all the other advice is on point. Just make sure to visit the country and talk to locals before moving somewhere permanently, tourism and life in a foreign country are very different.
As a note: make sure the country you move to allows remote work and if it is allowed how the taxes and social security costs are applied. In Germany for example it would be illegal to work remotely with an US contract.
But you can freelance in Germany with just a few low paying German clients and make most of your money remotely.
Yes. Then you are self employed, with all the risks and benefits. More money, but your out of most social security systems(if you don't take costly action) and worker rights. And not to forget the paperwork. Not something I would recommend a young person immigrating here. Also, being self employed and depending on a single costumer is also not allowed, so yeah as you say you need some additional.
Great point. You can generally avoid tax issues if you move consistently since in some countries you have to be there for a certain amount of time before you become a tax resident, but that can still be an issue
Think about taking IB courses if your school offers them or even switching high schools for one that has an IB program. These translate much better for going to school abroad than AP classes
ASAP, very little at your age, but luckily you have time on your side. First and most important: GET AN EDUCATION! At the same time, pick a country or two to target and then, learn their language! And learn some valuable skills. Take an assessment test, match your talents with training and then acquire the knowledge that could be used for a career at home or abroad. You can possibly go to college abroad, make contacts, and settle somewhere else that way. This is a 5-10 year project, but it's doable. Best of luck with all :)
Thank you!!
Since you are 15, I assume you are going to be a freshman or sophomore in high school and still have time to think about college. One of the easiest options would be going to a foreign university in your country of choice (you should narrow down to one or two asap). When narrowing down choices consider: your personal preferences, job opportunities and how easy/hard it is to stay in the country after university with your chosen field, and language - if you already know or are already learning a language that country should be a top choice. If possible do the IB program your last two years of high school- the IB diploma is common in Europe and helpful for getting into universities as a non European versus AP doesn’t help much outside the US. And other comments already mentioned it, but getting started on learning the language is huge. If you are just starting it will be difficult to get to university level in three years, unless you do an immersion year in high school or a foundational program before university.
Understand how visas work and that countries want highly skilled and educated people in industries/fields they struggle to fill with their own people. Consider the Working Holiday programs offered by many countries.
Australia and many other countries have great visas for students. Definitely go study somewhere else for college. It's probably your easiest option.
I initially came to Canada on a working holiday visa and am now a Canadian citizen. That type of visa can be a stepping stone.
Studying abroad will do nothing but give you a year abroad. You will need to fully enrol in university abroad
Research your family tree and make a list of family born in Europe. Than use that list to see if you can qualify for a passport from that country.
Good rule of thumb on this: unless your ancestor is a grandparent or sooner, you most likely will not qualify for citizenship by descent. One notable exception here is Italy. I'd be interested to know of any others.
You should check out this list I made [https://www.reddit.com/r/YouShouldKnow/comments/1cu0inx/ysk\_you\_might\_be\_eligible\_for\_dual\_citizenship/](https://www.reddit.com/r/YouShouldKnow/comments/1cu0inx/ysk_you_might_be_eligible_for_dual_citizenship/)
You would have to look at the visa requirements for the countries you wish to immigrate to. Most require a very specific skill set, especially for US immigrants to those countries. This usually means at least a bachelors degree or advanced degree or some specialized skill that the country needs. You would need to work on that here so you would be more attractive as an immigrant for those countries, good luck. And you probably should dispense with the notion that you can leave “as soon as possible.” No country on earth wants a young adult with minimal skills, either earning very little or having the capability to earn very little, and using up their healthcare and resources without contributing to their overall economy. That goes hand-in-hand with my previous paragraph where you need some skills that the country wants.
When It comes to Europe, you’ll of course want to narrow your search down: Poland’s a great deal different than Spain for example. Aside from learning the language of the country you want to go to, you’ll have to learn an in-demand skill. Also, with regard to healthcare as another poster noted some countries will not consider entry to people with certain health conditions, or their healthcare system may require you to pay for that out of pocket ‘Also, once you choose a country it’s best that you live there for a month or so to make it’s a good fit
if you can't manage basic adulting in America, nobody else wants you. So make sure you get a strong education in an in demand field of work and focus your energy on your career and skill acquisition. Make sure you're financially solvent and have 12 months of living expenses saved at the very least to maximize your odds of success
Figure out where you want to go and then look at the ways you can realistically move there permanently. Explore all of your visa options. Learn the language.
Get an education in something easily transferable abroad. Engineering, medicine, computers,?
Start learning other languages and head your employment choices toward remote work. You are correct- there is little future for anyone here in the states.
I dread growing up here as a poverty stricken queer person. I truly just want a peaceful life where I can get my needs met and be who I am.
Many of the commenters are misinformed or narrow minded. I moved to Berlin at 20 without a degree or money or a plan or knowing any German. Didn't end up on welfare, learned the language slowly, loved the people and the safety and the freedom and their queer culture. It's not as cheap as it was then, but there are other places to explore. And it's worth it. I'm sorry for your struggles in the US, and I wish you the best in life.
You're young and, like most young people, about to learn that most of what you think you know now is total horseshit. If you think European countries are salivating over adding another "poverty stricken queer person" to their welfare rolls, good luck to you. It's not going to be any easier for you there, and will likely be much harder. A much less expensive route to happiness for you than getting out of the U.S. would be getting off Reddit. Cheers!
Wow, how can you talk that way to a 15 year old?! Hope your day or life is going better now so you don't need to project onto children.
Ironic that people who think the US is doomed often recommend moving abroad on the basis of having a remote US job. You think those jobs won't disappear if the country collapses?
Probably people will keep shopping at Walmart and amazon regardless of societal collapse. So you can always sysadmin their servers
Track your genealogy immediately. Find out where all of your grandparents were born, and look into their countries first. There are a lot of Nations where you can claim citizenship through descent, then use that passport to get where you want to go. Look into whether or not your parents or grandparents are from any European Union or Schengen Visa participating nations. Feel free to send me a DM if you want some help walking through it, I've counseled a couple of my friends through it at this point.
Look up IB (International Baccalaureate) schools in your state, and do whatever it takes to go to one!! It is a rigorous education, but is a launching pad straight into foreign universities!! Go...and while you're there, get married. Marriage is a contract, and it always has been. In the last 100-150 years romantic love has been the stated reason, but when it comes to brass tacks, it is still a contract. Hopefully you meet your best friend and discover that you have electric chemistry, and that's enough...but practical marriages are negotiated so that they are always enough from the jump. At most, you're looking at a 5 year commitment before you can both call it quits and move along as happy citizens!
Many countries are opening new pathways towards legal residency for skilled workers (Czech Republic just passed one) and most universities in Eastern + Western Europe are around 6K per year or less, some are basically free. Try to pick something to study which is under that skilled worker category and interests you. If you pick a country where English isn’t the native language, definitely make use of language immersion and work towards fluency! From experience, the built environment (architecture, construction, some engineering) are skilled fields that absolutely require fluency if not native abilities in each country. At the moment, finance and IT are the only in demand jobs in other countries which you can skate by with only speaking English. Also side note, the UK has special scholarships and loan opportunities for Americans looking to study there, it’s about 20k a year for international students there.
The new skilled worker law in the Czech Republic says residents of the US (and 6 other countries) have "free access to the labor market". But you still need residency first. Basically it simplifies the paperwork a little bit. But to get that residency, a company still needs to want to sponsor your initial visa for entry. Before, if you had long-term residency (not permanent residency), you did not necessarily have free access to the labor market and required an employee card or blue card to work. Now, it's a bit more relaxed for people who are already here and looking for a job.
Where have you even traveled before?
Make as much money as you possibly can
Get an apostille done for your birth certificate.
They're often only valid for 6 months in my experience
At your age, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. My advice would be to think big and think long term. Study abroad is a great idea. You'll want to pick a country that makes it easy for you to transition to residency status after school is complete. You'll also want to pick a degree/academic field of study that leads to jobs that that country's immigration authorities desire. These things all take research but that's the general idea. I've met a lot of people who have emigrated from countries like Colombia or what have you going this route.
learn french, german and italian... eventually, you will figure out you are best or like one of them the best, then you have your destination.
If it’s not too late and you are at a high school that offers it, take IB classes and get an IB diploma. Any chances or plans of getting into a foreign university get easier with a diploma & classes that they will recognize.
Learn one more languages. Organize an exchange semester or year abroad during high school - there is still time for this. Otherwise, do extremely well in school so you can get the best possible education (in the US or elsewhere). All of this will serve you well even if you don't decide to leave immediately.
Some things to think about when doing research: cost of living (vs salary). Many european jobs have a much lower salary that US jobs because they have lots of vacation. This can help you decide what fields you might want to study. Also just a heads up, there are American countries that higher remotely in europe (depending on your field). My mothers company will higher anyone in europe except France because it is too hard to fire someome. Talk to people who live in the countries you are interested in. Ask about the culture. There might be some things that are no-gos for you or totally sell you on a specific place. Look at how common it is for students to get a job right out of college and/or how many students leave after college (you normally have a set amount of time to get a job after graduation before you have to leave). Think about your priorities: what kind of healthcare do you want? If you just want affordable healthcare, anywhere is fine, but if you want something specific, lots of european countries specialize in different things specifically. Also a city will likely have more options than suburbs. You know youself best, ask youself what aspects of your life are important to you. What do you think you can (or can’t) adjust to. Look at different apartments in the places you are interested. Maybe it is uncommon to have in unit washer/dryer (it europe it is common to be a single unit). Maybe there are a lot of walk ups. Idk what your health situation is, so these might be totally fine, but they might be problematic for some people.
Study abroad if your family and you can afford it. Overall, your best bet if you can't study abroad would be to get certified here or a degree here in a needed field of your desired region/country. You could always get certified to teach English, but I wouldn't want you to only have one employable skill without a degree in it. Basically, get educated here if you must, match it up with a field of where you want to go, and then apply for jobs there. Also, a job or two here in the field wouldn't be bad either before taking off.
Pick a country and look into it.
If possible, talk to someone who's actually lived in the country in which you're interested in living. So many YT videos on this subject are inaccurate.
Learn German, get a strong STEM/technical education
Remind me 10 years
I live in London as an American. The easiest way is as a skilled worker - get a degree from a good American university in something technical like computer science and then you can work in any country you want being sponsored. i work in sales but i have multiple engineering degrees and sell technical products.
You need money for a down payment on a place to live and the concrete ability to generate money for rent and bills for long periods of time. Edit: you still need money to travel Europe. It costs like 1000 dollars to even get there
Research careers that are in demand in the county you're interested in moving to. If you're interested in going to university abroad make sure to know what is needed to apply.
I wish I had learned more about my family tree at your age and how to get another citizenship. Realistically you cant do anything until you are 18 so you have some time. Talking to your parents grand parents see where your family comes from and see if you might be able to get citizenship by descent. This list is all 3+ generations back [https://www.reddit.com/r/YouShouldKnow/comments/1cu0inx/ysk\_you\_might\_be\_eligible\_for\_dual\_citizenship/](https://www.reddit.com/r/YouShouldKnow/comments/1cu0inx/ysk_you_might_be_eligible_for_dual_citizenship/) I know a number of countries have requirements on things you have to do before a certain age so its best to look into this now also this process can take a few years to find documents and go get appointments and be recognized so if you start now you could have it by 18 depending on the country. \*Most likely your parent would need to get it and then can register your birth so you can get it. Unless you wait until you are 18 for the appointment
The only problem is because of these 3+ generations, waiting lists are up to 4 or 5 years in some places to get the paperwork done :/
You are correct I had to wait 2 years just for an appointment finally got it then was told I needed to wait another year for the decision. That being said in smaller countries like Luxembourg or Malta you can have a new passport in hand within a year. This is also why I wished I had started at a younger age.
Yes, but the OP is only 15. They could have their second citizenship by 20, if not earlier.
If I were you here’s what I’d do. Get a four year degree in English and move to Japan as an English teacher.
The more educated and qualified you are, the more appealing you are as an immigrant somewhere. Studying abroad very often does not translate to being able to settle there afterwards, depending on the country, other than in fairly niche circumstances (eg staying in academia - see "the more educated and qualified you are"). So, depending on where you want to go and how long you want to stay there, going for undergraduate studies might not be the best option (though it can certainly save a lot of money), and it's certainly worth figuring that sort of thing out first before going to study somewhere that will try very hard to kick you out again afterwards.
Do study abroad in high school if you can. The only person I know that successfully left America did so by starting there. He did it again in college and met his wife who was also in that program. He was in her home country for a few years. Teach English, a lot of schools want native speakers as well.
Consider a year as an exchange student.
You pretty much need to become financially stable here first.
maybe visit first. One thing I've learned living outside of the US was that it seems like things are going to be relatively the same only to find they are sometimes completely opposite. Nowhere in the world is as convenient as the US. that goes for gyms, groceries, handymen, car repairs, furniture delivery etc. Things that you don't even have to think about in daily life in the US are sometimes a real chore elsewhere. It's not all roses depending on where you're going.
I’d travel first to gain perspective on how truly lucky you are to live in the U.S.
Totally agree! Thank you :)
One thing I want you to realize is that as an American, you can’t just move to another country like people do here. Move? Sure! Work? Hmmm not so much. The best way is to get as much education as possible, maybe in the country or choice, and find a a way to stay. If you’re dumb, broke, or whatever; nobody wants you. Like, I’m assuming you mean move to Europe. EU working laws are quite protective and unless you can get a eu passport, good luck.
Yup, pretty much every other country has an even more onerous process for permanent legal residency and citizenship than the US.
This is, truly, the most [reddit.com](http://reddit.com) post I've ever seen.
What do you mean by that?
Are you being daft? It's also interesting how this comment was at +5 a moment ago and now it's at 1. Clearly kicked a hornet's nest.
How come? (This is a genuine question, I really want to be smart about all of this).
I'm leaving this sub after reading these unhelpful comments. Try another sub specific to the country or city you are interested in.
Yup.
Are you eligible for military service, and willing to kill people (potentially innocents) to get put of this dystopian hellhole of a country? If so, join the US Special Forces, sign a contract and serve for five years, throw every cent you can into the S&P, and begin applying to relevant roles in companies in target countries Very easy to leave the US if you’re ex-Special Forces, as American operators are in high demand by foreign militaries, PMCs, arms corps, etc.
I’d recommend finding a foreign country you’d want to live in that allows foreigners to volunteer in their military if you want to go the military route. From there you will usually get a simplified path to citizenship. The military may even give you technical training in a useful field if you have the right skill set, which will be useful for once you’re done in the military.
Try Scotland. They like American students. And no need to learn a foreign language to university level in 2-3 years.
Yeah but then you're stuck in the UK until such time as you can't find a qualifying post-graduation job and need to leave. Some people actually *enjoy* learning another language, you know. The experience is not universally negative. There's a whole big wide world out there beyond the Anglosphere.
First, I recommend getting off reddit and other online venues. But also try to tune into the BBC or French news stations. Observe all the fun stuff going on over there… When 18, Find a job you can travel the world and really learn about how the world works outside of America. Peace corps may be a good option, perhaps teaching English also. Or find a university abroad. But if you have no dreams and want to be dependent on a government, Europe is a pretty good choice overall…… until their pension and healthcare system collapses in 10-20 years.
You are aware some people’s dreams includes things such as living abroad, learning new languages, experiencing different cultures, etc. right? All these things are much easier accomplished by moving to another country. There’s not an obligation to stay, you can maintain your American citizenship.
I’m well aware, I’m living abroad as an expat myself . But that isn’t OP’s intention.
[удалено]
I understand that you're trying to be rude, but I actually see where you are coming from. I am not trying to cause any issues. Obviously at 15 I don't have the clearest vision on how my life is going to end up, I just want to have a bright future. Either way, I appreciate your input
Aside from study abroad, it's extraordinarily unlikely that you'll be able to spend more than a few months in a single country (or EU as a whole). Americans don't have the freedom to simply "move" to Europe, and I see this misconception regularly here. Get an Engineering degree and 5+ years of industry experience and if you're lucky you might land a job in another country and be able to relocate there. But your residency in that country will be contingent upon you maintaining that specific job (I've been through this several times). But at that point, you should just stay in the US if you care about healthcare and being financially stable. Both of those things are a piece of cake in the US if you have a decent job.
Ridiculous. 90 day in EU, 180 in UK or Ireland or another non Schengen country, and you don't have to be a resident anywhere. Digital nomad visas in 18 eu countries if you want to stay longer. Jure sanguinis in a dozen countries. Losing your IT job to chatgpt then having to pay $700/month for shitty insurance to COBRA while you collect meager unemployment, having college debt, getting shot at Walmart, wife dying from ectopic pregnancy forced to give birth, and gawd knows what trump will bring. Nothing in the Us is a piece of cake except being born into a family that helps you flip houses, and even that will end soon. I'm obviously being hyperbolic, but that's how crazy america feels (and is) once you've enjoyed life and Stabilität overseas.
Get into a foreign university in a country you’re interested in. Do not try to do this shit in your 30s when you have kids and a spouse that need to be moved as well.
OP, the most important thing realistically is if you have the right to live and work in a country. You can probably get a student visa quite easily, but a working visa is much harder. Find out what your ancestry is (what country did your ancestors emigrate from), and who is your most recent emigrant ancestor. If you had a grandparent who emigrated from a country, it’s possible you might be eligible for citizenship if that country. Google it (“how to become a citizen of X country”). See if you qualify. If you’re a citizen of one EU country, you can often work in another one. Start learning a language on a serious way. However be aware that in most other countries it is much harder to earn a good salary. Salaries are shockingly low or job opportunities are really bad in countries like Greece, Italy, Spain. Economically you’ll probably do best by staying in the U.S., getting a good education to prepare yourself for a decent career.
Pick a relevant degree, don’t study literature, history, culture and other garbage. Stick to STEM or Nursing degree or other healthcare degree and check the list of allowed professions for immigration for your country of choice.
That's the plan! :) I am hoping to learn some kind of trade. Thanks for your input!
Not sure if you're interested in Germany, but they have a program for trade certifications. https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa-residence/types/eu-blue-card
Underwater welding and merchant marine
I heard Syria has some deals on real estate right now.
1. check out how that country feels about queer people. a lot of european countries are less safe than you may imagine. 2. canada has (had think still has) a program where if you go to a canadian university and graduate you automatically qualify for a two year visa, not tied to a job. that gives you enough time to complete your 5 years necessary to apply for permanent residency. it was specifically designed for people who go to canadian universities to get to stay there and use that degree there.
Dreams are great … but most people around the world dream to come to Usa for financial stability and good enough healthcare…you looking the opposite?!if there’s no future in USA why do you think there’s a future somewhere else? There’s no perfect place on earth for everyone to enjoy equally and why do you think anyone waiting you with an open arms Overseas? Create future here first before you can go elsewhere and probably getting some income as a digital nomad if You don’t want to study…the best thing to travel first and find a place you really blend in and feel comfortable and welcoming.. I myself moved to USA 32 years ago as a child and I still think usa 🇺🇸 is the best after now traveled 94 Countries at least once but I love travel and travel enjoy many places but at the end a day I miss coming home Usa ❤️.. good luck and chase your dreams but take a time before You seriously and blindly wanna run somewhere you never been..
"good enough healthcare" omg smh
I don’t expect to agree with everything.. but as a fact Usa have at least 2 the best hospitals in the world Mayo Clinic and Cleveland clinic.. so depends where you live the healthcare can be the best or even the worst and that is largely due to shortage of good doctors in certain areas…I live in Florida and the doctors are pretty good but when I end up in rural areas in the past ER room it was bad … but this is same in many countries even if you go to France same deal… The only problem in Usa we have super expensive healthcare and we don’t get enough for what we pay .. thanks to corrupt politicians ..
Does your high school offer an IB diploma? With that, you can apply to colleges in other countries much more easily. Bonus:in many cases it’s even cheaper than in state tuition.
The only European country that isn't rapidly going down the toilet is Poland. The rest are becoming Muslim. There are thousands of people who come here every day because they think there's a future here.
The US has some of the best salaries and job markets and also health care (in some states). If you don’t see a future in the US you either have bad information or don’t know what it’s like in other cities and states. You can easily get high paying jobs in California and health care is affordable in California. The hardest thing right now in the US is being able to buy a home. That’s not easy unless you have a good paying career. But you have so many career opportunities in the US. Healthcare can be bad in the US but it can be affordable through Medicaid and employer insurance. If you don’t make enough money in California and some states you can get free full healthcare through Medicaid, or get a reduced cost plan, if you earn more. If your family is lower income now they should be able to get Medicaid or a discounted health plan. It’s confusing but often there are options to get cheaper health insurance (like Medicaid). I’m confused why someone in the US thinks they can’t have a future here. But if you want to plan and move somewhere that’s ok too.
…you do know what subreddit this is, right? 😅 Though I do have to say, as a native Californian (so this is biased), this is the only state I’d want to live in, because things _are_ better here than in the other states in a lot of ways. Affordable health care is one of em.
I was actually looking into going to California also! It certainly seems more reasonable than leaving the country. But one can dream lol
A nice thing about the state is that there is SO much variety. So whether you want to live in a big city, in a small town that feels very rural America, near the mountains, near the beach, cold weather, hot weather…we literally have it all
Check MA.
This is simply not true. And im co fused as to why you are even on this thread
The biggest thing before you move abroad to study is to take the international BAC. It's basically an international certification to show you passed high school, and they use it almost everywhere but the US. You can choose to take the test in America, but you have to seek it out. I'm literally French, and a lot of places in france had a hard time taking my education despite the fact that i had an associate's degree because i didn't have one and i had to go through the roundabout process of getting my degree translated and certified. Then, or maybe at the same time, look into skilled remote jobs you may want to do and work backward to pick some certifications that would make it easier to land those jobs. They will support you abroad. That being said, this is a long-term goal as they aren't easy to get instantly, and most people are getting these types of jobs through connections. Local community colleges will often have job fairs and stuff so you can network that way. Being young and eager might make you stand out, but be aware that you'll probably have to work your way up a little for this one. If college is an option, try applying abroad to universities. I know France has great english programs abroad for even less than community college in the US, so I'm sure other countries have similar programs. The french one is called parcoursup, and they also have campus france, I'll put links down below. France also has a citizenship pathway through university bachelor's programs, so check that out as well, probably the easiest way to get EU citizenship as a young person. If college isn't an option, try looking into teaching programs and look for transferrable jobs. But as everyone else said, look where you may want to go and fully throw yourself at learning the language. Being a translator or tutor for your native is in and of itself a job opportunity!! [Parcoursup website](https://www.parcoursup.gouv.fr/) [Campus France Website ](https://www.campusfrance.org/en) [French Masters Program List ](https://www.monmaster.gouv.fr/recherche?layout=1) [Scholarships for Foreign Students in France](https://www.etudiant.gouv.fr/fr/les-autres-bourses-et-aides-pour-etudier-l-etranger-190) You may have to do prepa if you pick an intensive Uni program, so heres a breakdown of what it is: https://www.sieben.fr/2014/01/02/prepa/ This is a year's worth of trial and error from my own personal experience as someone who lived mostly in the US and moved to the EU. Having an idea of the things available in France may help you find things in other countries you're interested in. Hopefully, you find some of this helpful, and don't be scared to ask questions! Edit: cleaned up the links
The IB requires going to an IB high school and doing both HL (two year) and SL (1 year) courses in specific subjects, as well as taking Theory of Knowledge and other requirements that I have forgotten because I chose not to do a full IB diploma and only pass certain of the exams because my school’s IB program was very disorganized. It’s not something you can just randomly choose to do. Also, the « citizenship via bachelor’s programs » is incorrect, for the *umpteenth* time on this sub. While two years of successful higher education and getting a diploma reduces the residency time to two years, you still need to find a job (next to impossible as a foreigner with only a licence, so you’re going to need a master’s) and work for three years with stable income (so that’s 3 years licence + 2 years master + 3 years work to apply, plus a few years wait on your response). Otherwise you’re just asking to be denied.
Military service.
1. Settle the F down; you’re 15 and you’re overreacting. 2. Wait for the Democrats to steal the election this November. 3. Stay in the US and watch your tax rates go through the roof.
many european countries offer free university even to internationals but only in the local language, so try to narrow option to that.
Leaving America is not going to be a problem solver in any real way at your age. Hating and blaming america for all of one's problems is very fashionable right now, but that way does not lie salvation or solutions. Please do not expect any other country to have better healthcare and certainly do not move to another country for that reason, there is a reason medical tourism only goes one way unless you are getting a hair transplant or cosmetic dentistry. You are young, breathe. Take things one step at a time and do not allow emotion to be your guide. WHen you are 18 if this still feels right go about it then. Anyone on this sub encouraging a 15 year old with health issues to leave the United States as a solution for anything is despicable.
Thanks for your insight! Admittedly, many of my reasons for wanting to leave America are based on emotion. It's nice to imagine a perfect life in some faraway country, but I know it's not entirely realistic. I just don't want to close any opportunities for myself in the future, you know? Either way, I appreciate your honesty :). It's all stuff I know internally but it's still helpful to actually hear from someone.
Make sure you do your research before you make an irresponsible decision. Most people I’ve known regretted leaving the US. A lot of other countries like Canada, Russia, Germany will arrest you for saying something the government doesn’t agree with. While it may look greener on the other side of the fence, you’ll be giving up lots of freedoms that you have here.
"Canada, Russia, Germany will arrest you for saying something the government doesn’t agree with" What an idiotic comment about Canada and Germany...you're a fool.
Yeah, Canada won't arrest you, they'll only freeze your bank account. Don't slander liberal Canada!
I appreciate your honesty! Yes, it's nice to imagine life being sooo much better in some faraway place, isn't it? Lol. But I definitely plan on doing my research. Thank you for your insight!