High School Abroad Program – Ages 15-18

A high school abroad program is the best investment you can make in your future right now. Whether you choose to spend three months, a semester or an entire academic year abroad you will gain:

• Fluency in another language and culture
• Greater maturity and independence
• Lifelong international friendships
• An international perspective and broader world view
• A competitive edge over your peers on college and job applications

During your program abroad, you will live with a host family, attend a local high school, and experience daily life in the country of your choice. CCI offers a limited number of scholarships for its High School Abroad Program.

Why choose CCI for your High School Abroad program?

• Experience: CCI has been a leader in cultural exchange for more than 20 years.
• Choice: High school abroad programs in 18 countries worldwide.
• Flexible programs: More semester and three month program options make studying abroad more practical and affordable
  
• Support: Friendly and experienced counselors provide expert guidance throughout the process, from choosing the best program for you to helping you get the most out of your time abroad. A local counselor and 24 hour emergency support are available to you in your host community throughout your program.
• Additional services such as language tutoring and exciting excursions are offered in many destinations.

I have recently come back from my exchange program in Asti, Italy for a semester. I wanted to let you all know how much that experience has changed my life and how much I appreciate all you did for me in making my dream of living in Italy a reality.  -Caitlin Jefko, High School Abroad participant in Italy Read more about Caitlin's experience

Living with a Host Family
For decades, the cross-cultural homestay has been considered the best educational vehicle for the development of real international understanding. Students accepted to CCI's High School Abroad Program have profound opportunities for cultural immersion by living with a well-screened host family while attending a local high school abroad.

Host families are volunteer families with the exception of Ireland, Australia, Ecuador, New Zealand and Spain, where families receive a small remuneration to offset the expense of hosting. Each host family agrees to provide its international "son or daughter" with meals and his or her own bed. Just as in the U.S., every family is different. You may share a room with a host sibling or have your own room. You may have younger, older or no host siblings. Both parents may work or your host mother may work in the home. Many host families have hosted participants from a number of different countries over the years. For others, hosting is a first time experience. As you can see, host families represent all walks of life. Host families do not want or expect a "boarder," but rather a new friend and family member. They look forward to welcoming you into their family!

School Enrollment
We will enroll you in a public high school abroad and documentation of school work done overseas will be provided. You are responsible for coordinating any transfer of credits from your high school abroad to your high school in the U.S. If you have questions or difficulties, our staff may be able to assist you in this process. Please note that we can not guarantee that your American school will accept your studies abroad as credit. You should see your guidance counselor to determine what credits you might need to take outside of your studies abroad to ensure that you graduate high school on time.

Support of Local Representative
Sometimes called a local representative or a counselor, there will be an adult outside of your host family who will support you throughout your stay abroad. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact your local representative. He or she is there for you!

Host Country Orientation
Before you depart the U.S., you will need to learn as much as possible about the customs and culture of the country where you will be living. This will enable you to settle in more easily within your host family and community. Upon acceptance to the program, we will send you orientation, culture shock, and host country information, so that you can familiarize yourself with your destination. CCI’s National Office or local staff will also provide you with a thorough orientation before your departure. You should also read as much as possible about your host country and practice your language skills as much as you can!

Visa and Travel Arrangements
Upon acceptance to the program, we will notify you of your arrival city, travel dates, and any travel arrangements that need to be made, along with your host family information. Flight arrangements are the responsibility of the participant, as well as applying for a passport or visa. We will provide a general guideline of what you need to do in order to apply for your visa, but you should refer to the Embassy's website for exact instructions, as they are the final authority on all entry requirements.

Family Visits
Family members or friends are welcome to visit the program participant in their host country once their program with CCI is complete.

Visiting home or receiving visits from home during the course of a program like this is extremely disruptive to the program of the student. Such visits very often cause the student to feel homesickness afterward, and to go through the challenging adjustment period experienced at the beginning of the program again after the visit. These reactions to visits are hard on both program participants and host families. Because we truly wish for all of our program participants and host families to have positive experiences, we seek to minimize activities that threaten to detract from the positive experience meant to take place between program participant and host family such as visits to or from home.

As such receiving visits from friends or family during your program is not allowed.

Application Requirements
Applicants must have an interest in other cultures and be willing to participate as fully as possible in the host country's culture and language, in school, and in host family activities. Other desirable characteristics include: flexibility, curiosity, motivation, and a good sense of humor. When applying for CCI’s High School Abroad Program, you should have studied the language of the host country, have a good academic record and be in good mental and physical health. In addition:

• Applicants must be between 15 and 18 years.
• Applicants should possess a high school cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 / 4.0.
• For non-English speaking countries, good foreign language ability is required. Transcripts must indicate a minimum of a 3.0 language GPA or better over the past two years.
• Recommendations and extra-curricular activities will also assist in determining acceptance.

Program Length
Programs are available for approximately 3, 5 or 10 months.

Program Includes

• Placement in a carefully selected host family with board
• Enrollment in a high school abroad
• Pre-departure and post-arrival orientation information
• Support of a local representative
• Transfers to and from the local airport or bus/train station nearest the homestay
• Supervision and counseling throughout the application process and during your program abroad
• Full accident and health insurance

Program Does Not Include

• Personal items and holiday travel, telephone use at host family, spending money
• Public transportation to and from school, if necessary
• School expenses such as books, paper supplies, uniforms, or lunch at school
• Passport and visa application fees
• International and domestic travel to/from host community

Deadlines
Applicants should submit their applications prior to the deadlines below:
Fall Semester Departures:
Argentina: March 1
Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Ecuador, New Zealand, Spain, Taiwan: March 15
Netherlands and Japan: April 1
All other countries: April 15
Spring Semester Departures:
Netherlands and Japan: September 1
All countries: September 15