Summer Abroad Programs For High School Students: Answering Common Questions

Over ten years ago, I had the privilege to study abroad one summer in Vienna, Austria. My reason for traveling was primarily for the educational experience, but since I was with a group of close friends, it made the experience very enjoyable. Here are five reasons that many people travel abroad to study.

EXPAND YOUR EDUCATION As I said, this was my number one reason to go to Vienna. I wanted to learn from a vocal coach that was highly regarded in her field. Many students can experience a greater education by traveling to study under, or by the side of, a great teacher, or be a part of a top-notch program. If you are looking to further your high school resume, studying abroad helps.

PERFECT A LANGUAGE If you are studying a foreign language, you may want to travel to a country that speaks the language you are learning. Immersing yourself in the culture, and having daily practice speaking the language you are learning is a great way to master the art of speaking a second language.

SEE THE WORLD More programs are becoming available to have an "experience" abroad, rather than a formal, institutional study. At www.amerispan.net you can find a program that will take you to South Africa for the summer to volunteer, and a program that will take you to Thailand to care for, and ride, horses. If you've always wanted to see a particular part of the world, these specialized programs are a great way to go.

EXPERIENCE A DIFFERENT CULTURE It's intriguing to learn what other cultures are like. Traveling abroad, and staying a while in a new location, gives you a broader perspective on life. When you experience a new culture, you get to appreciate new foods, new ways to dress, new climates, and new traditions. You also may gain a greater love of your own country, and also recognize there is more to the world than the small sphere where you live.

Here are three companies helping high school students make their dreams of studying overseas possible.

CCI EXCHANGE

• A general age range for this company's programs is to be 15-18 years old.
• They have high school programs in 18 countries.
• They've been around over 20 years.
• They have 24 hour emergency support.
• The require students to have a 2.75/4.0 grade point average.
• If the student is going to a Non-English speaking country the student needs to have a cummulative language grade of 3.0 over 2 years.
• Recommendations are required and past participation with extra-curricular activities is looked well upon.
• You can find them at www.cci-exchange.com

EDUCULTURE

• Minimum age of 15 for this company's programs.
• 2 years of language study completed prior to application.
• Teacher Recommendations.
• They offer programs to 3 countries (France, Spain and Costa Rica).
• You can travel for a few weeks up to a few months.
• A low cost program is $3,695 and a high cost program is $7,395.
• You can find them at www.educulture.org

AYUSA

• They offer four week summer programs to High School Students.
• They run programs in 8 different countries.
• The most inexpensive program is $5,995 to Switzerland or China and the most expensive program is $7,585 to Japan.
• They offer scholarships and have a page of fundraising ideas on their website.
• You can find them at www.ayusa.org