What to Expect

You’ll be placed in a reputable, well-established public or private high school where you’ll attend classes in the local language and follow the local curriculum. Walking in the shoes of a typical teen, you’ll quickly become part of the local community. 

You may be the only American at the school, but you’ll make new friends and build relationships before you know it. Our alumni consistently tell us it didn’t take long to find a group of friends and bond with people they’ll stay in touch with for a lifetime. You’ll be the envy of your American buddies as you take on a high school experience you’ll cherish forever!

A carefully vetted homestay family, interested in welcoming a foreign student into their home, is matched with each student. The homestay family is at the heart of any exchange, so finding the right placement for you is our priority. You and your natural family will have a chance to communicate with the homestay by phone or email prior to departure.

What will daily life be like? It depends on the country. In Spain, breakfast is likely a light course of toast with olive oil. In Japan, it might be an onigiri (a rice ball stuffed with fish, meat, or seaweed). In France, you’ll have a long lunch, followed by a leisurely break eating pastries in the park, followed by afternoon classes until 6 p.m. You might find yourself learning traditional dancing in Ireland, playing competitive football (soccer) in the U.K., or biking the cobblestoned streets of Denmark!

After school, your evenings will offer the chance to spend time with new friends or at your homestay enjoying dinner, conversation, and the rhythms of the daily routine.

Through these experiences, you’ll build a home away from home and develop relationships that endure long after finishing your High School Semester Abroad program. You’ll also come away with advanced language skills, an impressive display of initiative and independence for your college applications, and the kind of intercultural proficiency valuable in today’s global economy.

Live and breathe the local culture every day of the week. Discover your host town and region inside and out with your new local family and friends. After school, join in optional extracurricular sports and activities. On weekends, take part in organized daytrips and excursions to hike, bike, and explore historic landmarks, cultural attractions, and places of unforgettable natural beauty.