AFS-USA: High School Study Abroad

AFS-USA (formerly the American Field Service), is a leader in intercultural learning and offers international exchange programs in more than 45 countries around the world. We work with high school students who want to attend a semester or year of high school and live with a local family in another country.

By going abroad in high school, you can change your world in ways that are both visible to you personally, and visible to your friends, family, teachers, and future peers and colleagues. Many AFSers say that their experience was “transformational.” They gain new maturity and independence, and develop a better understanding of what their passions and long-term goals are. They also share that they’re better prepared than many of their peers for the college application and interview process.

There are practical benefits to going abroad in high school too, like gaining language fluency, developing critical intercultural communication skills, and forming lifelong connections that span the globe and often last a lifetime.