Glenda Said:

Is it too late to sign up for high school study abroad for 2011?

We Answered:

Hello,
I would imagine it's not too late, although I can only speak for Youth For Understanding. The final application deadline is April 1st, although the sooner you apply the more likely you are to get your first choice of country and program. There are still scholarship opportunities available as well, due in Feb.

www.yfu-usa.org

If we can assist you further in learning more about YFU and your program and scholarship choices please call 800.TEENAGE or admissions@yfu.org.

Jeffrey Said:

What's it like to do a High School study abroad in Italy?

We Answered:

I lived in Spain and France for a year when I was younger. I studied at universities there and lived with a host family. It was honestly the best experience of my life. I learned so much, not just about the languages and culture but about how to survive in the big wide world. It opens up doors and all sorts of possibilities for your future life. As a result, I was never worried about travelling anywhere or doing new things. I now live full time in Italy, and love it.

I spoke very little of the language when I arrived but learned it very quickly - living in the country is the best way to learn. The families were wonderful, spoke very little English but we got by with a dictionary and many gestures!

I was, and you may well be, lonely and homesick at times, but it's worth everything for the confidence it will give you. Italy is a wonderful country and the people are warm and friendly.


Have a look at this website :

http://www.gseabroad.com

which offers a whole package for students like you who want to study abroad, for anything from a month to a year. It offers a really good level of student support for you and, importantly, for your parents as well so that they won't be as worried about you living alone in a foreign country.

You can also apply for financial aid - there's a section on this website that tells you how.

It's worth organising your stay in Italy through an agency like this because if anything goes wrong, they are there to help you. This isn't the only one - just do a Google search for 'study in Italy as a college student' and you will see them all - but it's one of the best. They even provide an international mobile phone for you while you're away!

They offer either Rome or Florence, both of which are amazing cities. Either would be a brilliant place to study; Rome is big and buzzy and there's a lot going on there for young people; Florence is a bit more laid back.


I wish you the very best of luck.

Priscilla Said:

How?? Study Abroad Aid for High School Students?

We Answered:

One thing that might be very helpful is to right a letter letting people in your church, as well as family friends, that you are looking for sponsorship so you can spend some time studying abroad. Before you do this, you will want to find companies you can go with and an approximate cost. Also, see if there are scholarship options through the company you are hoping to go with.
If anything, if you need to get a few extra dollars (as a very last resort) some stores like Sams Club sell fundraiser packs of Candy Bars to raise a few last minute dollars!

Good luck and safe travels. Even if you can't afford to go this year, keep saving up and talking to people so that way you can maybe go the following year.

Brandy Said:

I want to take a high school study abroad...?

We Answered:

I studied through Intrax (intraxstudyabroad.com) and I didn't know a bit of Japanese but I studied in Japan through their program and they taught me Japanese and I learned so much that I was able to get around Japan by myself! It is an amazing program. So you don't necessarily have to learn the langauge before hand with some programs. And learning it while you are in the country is much better than learning it from a book, so try doing a program that will teach you the language while you're there!