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Study Abroad

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RalphLauren.
Posts: 710 - Karma: 106
Hello NS

I'm a sophomore in highschool and recently I have been considering taking my first semester of junior year (11th grade) off to spend a year out of country. I still don't know that much about it, where i should go or even if i am going to or not. I also know there are a few different exchange programs and which which ones are the best. would enjoy for some input from fellow NSers who have gone on foreign exchange programs or know of people who have.

Probably going to a spanish speaking country, advise on good places to go to would be awesome


THANKS
Jan 8 2013 1:28AM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11661 - Karma: 24,354
Ive studied a broad, or two
Jan 8 2013 1:29AM
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rareison
Posts: 10263 - Karma: 219
Lost ^
Jan 8 2013 1:31AM
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Smuffy
Posts: 4686 - Karma: 3,408
Eyyy!

While studying abroad, I was able to study a broad or two. Trust me, it's sick. I spent a gap year in Germany with AFS, AFS is really tight. If you need a reliable organization, I can vouch for both AFS and YFU. As for what countries fit what you want, that's something you need to decide for yourself. Also, look in to doing some type of scholarship, I ended up getting one that was Germany specific, and it turned out great. You have a great chance with most scholarships because so few people apply.

Well that was a random jumble of thoughts, but if you have questions don't hesitate to hit me up dooooe
Jan 8 2013 1:33AM
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Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1401 - Karma: 701
I'm leaving for New Zealand/Australia on Jan 31st. I'll be over there for a year, I'm STOKED!!

What I've learned:
- Visas are a bitch
- Give lots of time for a visa
- Make sure you know how to set a up a calling plan
- Give yourself a day in the airport after your international flight to make sure all your luggage makes it

This is the program I used and they have been awesome for so far:

Good luck, it's a lot of work to plan these things, but I'm anticipating this to be one of the best experiences of my life!
Jan 8 2013 1:36AM
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youngdtay
Posts: 3122 - Karma: -112
Same, I also just bought a pair of OP's shoes.
Jan 8 2013 1:39AM
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RalphLauren.
Posts: 710 - Karma: 106
[IMG]http://static2.fjcdn.com/comments/i+see+what+you+did+there+_d5597f17acded4c87204270fbe524d9e.jpeg[/IMG
]


Jan 8 2013 1:57AM
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RalphLauren.
Posts: 710 - Karma: 106
balls ^
Click for larger image
Jan 8 2013 1:58AM
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
spanish speaking country, you say? go to spain. everyone is super chill, no one gives a fuck about anything, and school will be a joke, probably.

and the girls are good looking, but probably won't pay much attention to you since you are an american guy.
Jan 8 2013 8:20AM
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steez_louise
Posts: 112 - Karma: 118
Did a year in Norway with AFS http://www.afs.org/

Very legit... just write on your application that you like snow, mountains, skiing, and living an active lifestyle and you will have the year of your life. I skied well over 100 days that year.

Not to mention Norwegian is super easy to learn (4-5 months to get fluent)
Jan 8 2013 9:40AM
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Smuffy
Posts: 4686 - Karma: 3,408
Hahaha yep, same thing I did. Lucky you though, I only ended up getting 30ish days. Every day was incredible though, the Alps are mind blowing.
Jan 8 2013 9:35PM
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B.Aussie
Posts: 5852 - Karma: 4,531
Where in Aus?
Jan 9 2013 4:00AM
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Hamster.
Posts: 1636 - Karma: 26
I'm currently in germany with Rotary. It hasn't been as much party lifestyle or being popular simply because you are the exchange student as I would have liked, but its not bad. The language and people are pretty stressful, so if you want to relax more, I would suggest going to latin america, but if you like the hip style and really want to challenge yourself, and learn a language that is relevant in our world, Germany is a good bet
Jan 9 2013 6:51AM
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whoa-dere
Posts: 10596 - Karma: 7,103
4-5 months to learn a language???
Jan 9 2013 8:21AM
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grown-ninja
Posts: 3031 - Karma: 175
Did you're bearly 16 if that, finish highschool than take a year off, or do an abroad semester in college, your age is def gonna be a problem
Jan 9 2013 8:42AM
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steez_louise
Posts: 112 - Karma: 118
Don't listen to this kid... I know a lot of people that go their junior year in high school and have a great time. Just try to not go your senior year (can kinda fuck up graduation, getting into college, etc.)

@ Whoa-dere: Norwegian is very similar to English, so yeah.
Jan 9 2013 8:54AM
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Kirklife
Posts: 130 - Karma: 46
Go for it 100%. Not studying abroad is one of my biggest regrets from high school. And you'll probably feel much more a part of the family in a South or Central American country as the cultures there tend to be very friendly and welcoming, but you would for sure also have an amazing time in Spain.
Jan 9 2013 9:32AM
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Capernicus
Posts: 382 - Karma: 218
Hey man,

I studied abroad in college and it was easily the best thing I've done in my life (so far). That's great you are already thinking about going. I had some friends that went abroad in high school and the experiences were mixed. Yes, they got to drink, explore, experience culture....all that fun stuff but it still had a "high school vibe" (if that makes sense). Some of them went again (elsewhere) in college and said the experience was much better. Was it because they were older, "experienced", more mature? Tough to say.

I'd say only go for 1-3 months in high school. Summer would be ideal. The experience would be great to put on your admissions essay as well and would likely set you apart from the majority of applicants. If you can stay on track to graduate and take a semester abroad in high school then definitely go for it.

As others have said:
Organize all the things you need EARLY (passport, VISA, living situation, phone, etc.)
Bring much less than you think you need (like one checked bag max).
Sounds cliche, but be open minded. You're suppose to feel uncomfortable sometimes.
Things will not go as planned; deal with it.
Go single. I'm just going to say it again, "do not be in a relationship when going abroad".

My suggestions:
Go somewhere where it would be extremely difficult to visit again with a bunch of people your own age.

Spanish speaking countries to study in (suggested by friends who have been):
Madrid, Spain (really anywhere in Spain)
Argentina
Chile
Costa Rica
Ecuador

PM me if you want to discuss more.

Jan 9 2013 10:18AM
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grown-ninja
Posts: 3031 - Karma: 175
All im saying is the amount of things you will be able to do will be limited since youre under 18 in many places, why limit your self on such a great experience
Jan 9 2013 10:19AM
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Dlud
Posts: 938 - Karma: 544
I have a similar question I'm just going to post in this thread to avoid clogging the forums. Anyway, does anyone on NS go to an American college in a foreign country? I am taking Arabic at my school right now and could most likely get into either the Texas A&M or the northwestern I'm Qatar. College is still a couple years away, I'm only a sophomore. I was just wondering if anyone had any experience in a situation such as this and what it entails.
Jan 9 2013 10:26AM
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Smuffy
Posts: 4686 - Karma: 3,408
This is a great point. I was 18 throughout my year, and was able to buy/drink hard liquor, stay in clubs after midnight etc and essentially do way more stuff because you're considered an adult. Only disadvantage was that many of my friends were younger because I was placed in a lower grade. But trust me, being 18 in Europe is the shit
Jan 9 2013 1:42PM
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90053
Posts: 2565 - Karma: 3,728
if you go to spain make sure you check the language of the area you go, otherwise you'll end up speaking spanish to catalonians etc., which doesn't make you any friends
Jan 9 2013 1:54PM
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steez_louise
Posts: 112 - Karma: 118
Word. It's comparing apples to oranges though.

*Disclaimer: this is about to get hipster as shit:

Going somewhere in Europe when you're 18 and in college, you're not unique at all. You travel with your "bros" from your college in the states. Therefore, you're gonna end up being less assimilated into the real culture.

High school exchange programs are awesome because you go somewhere and the 16-17 year old locals don't expect American exchange students to be going to their high school. You end up only hanging out with the locals, rather than chilling with your entourage (I hate that word) from ______ state university.

I still keep in really good touch with my Norwegian friends and host family 4 years later.

Not to mention, languages get exponentially harder to learn after age 13, so you gotta get on it asap.


Jan 9 2013 3:13PM
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Smuffy
Posts: 4686 - Karma: 3,408
This is true, but if you do a gap year you get the best of both worlds! Most programs will allow you to do a normal high school exchange up until you're 18. I got chill with all the kids, but also enjoy the luxuries of being an adult.

Example-Get the student discount at food stands, then proceed to buy handles of liquor at the grocery store. Winning
Jan 9 2013 6:10PM
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Hamster.
Posts: 1636 - Karma: 26
same thing here, i can understand totally the guy saying that college is better. Its still got the high school feel to it, and therefore have to deal with asking host families to go out and stuff like that. I'd much rather live on my own (you do that in college) and while im enjoying my year, it could be a lot better if i was more a young adult than a kid, and had friends more around my age.
Jan 10 2013 10:57AM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
my only advice is absolutely DO NOT travel with a group of Americans your age. Don't live with them, and avoid them out of school.

It's nice to have people you have something in common with, but you're going to waste your study abroad experience if you come back with nothing but new American friends.


that and go in college. It'll be much better.
Jan 10 2013 12:07PM
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Wallisch_pl
Posts: 5260 - Karma: 1,022
came here to say this
Jan 10 2013 12:44PM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
forgot, but my other big piece of advice is don't travel excessively when you're there.

I'm not saying don't visit other places at all, but do try to spend some time where you're actually studying. There's a reason you picked that city, so you should actually visit it.


I went to london a few years ago, and only went to France twice to visit family. I went to something like 13 football matches, made good friends through school/going to matches and by the end, knew my way around london just as well as my home cities, and it felt like a second home. I can go back and it feels like I never left.


On the flip side, I know people who traveled a ton, and as a result have seen just a little bit of a bunch of cities, but not enough to have really visited. I mean honestly, what are you gonna do visiting paris, madrid, berlin, rome or any of those cities for a day and half? Hardly worth going.
Jan 10 2013 12:58PM
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SenorVaca
Posts: 246 - Karma: 25
Currently in month 6, I believe, in Costa Rica. Best decision of my life. And fluent after around 4 months. Don't expect to learn anything in school though... PM me with any questions.
Jan 10 2013 4:13PM
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DILLINGER
Posts: 970 - Karma: 1,102
Nice!

I'm currently doing exactly this haha, even with AFS. Also my name is Louis.

Soulmate?
Jan 10 2013 4:17PM
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steez_louise
Posts: 112 - Karma: 118
Ikke værst! Kor bor du a? Går det bra med norsken btw? haha

Prøv å ta deg en tur til Oppdal.... MASSE pudder!

f.eks....

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Jan 10 2013 10:09PM
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Smuffy
Posts: 4686 - Karma: 3,408
How long have you been there? I had the same feeling, but trust me the last few months things will pick up. Your friends will become closer, and you will have more to do. Keep your head up friend!
Jan 11 2013 1:58AM
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