Expert: Susie Watts - 12/28/2009

Question
Hello
My husband and I are both US citizens, I am born in Oklahoma, and lived most of my life with my parents in Saudi Arabia. I married a Syrian Man who Got the US Citizenship through me (by marriage).
Then in October 1995, I gave birth to twin girls who are also US citizens because I am citizen by birth, and my husband by marriage...
I had them study in English medium schools, they are now in the 9th grade...
So I am starting to search for options concerning their Universities,,,
They are are US citizens who never lived there, the only went to Disney World when they were 5 years old to attend the Millennium.
Since they have not studied in American schools, but they are Americans ! do they need an entrance exam?
How would they be considered speaking English as their first language (which is true) they think, eat, write and live more American.
Also I know that University Tuition are different for Non-Citizens and Citizens and Residents.
Can I establish for them a residency in for example Las Vegas,NV  where my mother lives by taking them there to issue a drivers license 1 year before they are in the age to go to collage?
Do they need to have their High school diploma (like homeschooling)from an accredited American High school to be residents of Nevada to get the privilege of a cheaper Tuition to go to Collage or University?
Is there a way to homeschool them outside the USA for the 12th grade and enroll them in an accredited Distance learning program to earn an American high school Diploma, would this be better for them?
I really need to know step by step what and how to choose the best for them, I know that living in Las Vegas is very cheap as my mom tells me, and Tuition's for the Universities in Reno And Las Vegas are ones of the lowest in the USA.
One more question please, as I search the web I come across the word Tuition and cost of credit hour for a subject for example math $150 per hour, is it that "Tuition" is a one time payment to enroll to a certain collage? what does it include? and also, the cost of a credit hour is multiplied by the number of hours enrolled for that semester to get the total cost.
I hope you can help me understand the system,
if not,
could you please direct me how to get the info I need.
Thank you,  

Answer
I am a college consultant and work with many high school students helping them with the college search and application process.  However, you have quite a few questions which require some research in order to answer them accurately.  I do need to charge for my time in order to help you.
A few short answers.  Your girls will not need to take any tests until their junior year of high school.  That is when they should take the SAT and ACT test.  Right now they need to be studying their high school subjects and doing the best they can.  Universities have gotten a lot stricter about tuition requirements and residency.  A driver's license may not be sufficient.  Some schools charge by the credit hour, others have a tuition fee based on a minimum and maximum number of classes a student takes.  


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