Can You Study Abroad in High School?

If you’re wondering if you can study abroad in high school, we’ll cut to the chase—you absolutely can! The only thing cooler than making it into the yearbook photos is making it into two yearbooks. That, and maybe taking a casual theater class field trip to The Globe, hashtagging in a foreign language, or munching on fresh baguettes for lunch.

The world is huge. Where will you go first?

Studying abroad in high school offers all this and more. Create the ultimate teenage memories, expand as a person, and try some avant-garde fashions, all while paving the way for college and job acceptance letters, an international academic network, and new levels of cool.

High school years are fundamental to our growth, which also makes it the perfect time to take a glimpse of the world at large and find some inspiration for future endeavors.

With travel becoming more accessible and every new generation becoming more independent, the average study abroad age is decreasing while study abroad percentages in general are increasing. This is one bandwagon you do wanna hop onto!

Can you study abroad in high school?

Yes, you can absolutely study abroad in high school! With so many colleges advertising their own study abroad programs and stressing the importance of global footprints and inclusion, hop one beat ahead by gaining all the benefits of international experience before you even make it to your dorm.

As long as you meet all scholastic requirements and get parental permission, high school study abroad programs are waiting for you with open arms and colorful passport stamps. You’ll be in good company; there are many providers that specialize in high school programs, and who make sure that your first formal international experience is easy, safe, educational, fun, and enthralling enough to want a repeat.

Does studying abroad in high school help you get into college?

You’ll come home with tons of new IG photos AND an impressive addition to your college applications.

While good grades, extracurricular activities, and volunteer experiences are important, nothing replaces the prestigious package of high school study abroad. It’s basically an entire semester of language immersion, cultural extracurricular activities, social skill development, and all the leadership opportunities. In other words, it’s a surefire way to stand out among the thousands of other applicants!

Even more than helping you get into college though, studying abroad in high school helps you thrive in college. Cross-cultural understanding gained abroad will help you interact with the diversity of a college campus, while personal growth harvested in Morocco means that you not only know a few key phrases in Arabic, but also how to make your bed and brew proper tea. Talk about a unique icebreaker at freshman orientation!

How to study abroad in high school

Parents, teachers, and other scholastic resources make signing up for a semester abroad a cakewalk; reach out with any questions or concerns you may have! Exact steps necessary to study abroad vary between schools and programs, but here’s a general breakdown of how to study abroad in high school:

1. Decide when you want to study abroad

Any time is a good time to study abroad, however some time frames might be more accessible. High school study abroad programs usually last for one semester, but there are also trimester and academic year options.

Junior and sophomore years are popular options, as you have already transitioned into high school and are not yet too frantic with college applications. Think about the time slot and duration that works best for your own schedule.

2. Decide where you want to study abroad

Europe? Asia? Central America? It all comes down to your interests and goals.

Any place is a good place to study abroad, but some countries might be more beneficial than others. Some questions to ask yourself include:

• Do I want to stay in an English-speaking country or do I want to immerse myself in a new language?
• How is the climate when I go?
• What are the current political/pandemic restrictions?
• What kind of visa do I need?

If there is an extracurricular activity that you enjoy or a college major that you already decided on, does your country offer opportunities to stay involved with this? Culinary geeks might want to go to Paris, rather than rural Brazil—while conservationists might opt for the latter.

3. Talk to Mom & Dad

More likely than not, parental units are supportive of seeing their little chickling take flight and conquer the world. If they are not convinced, may we suggest sending them a link to this article or putting together a professional PowerPoint presentation?

READ MORE: How to Talk to Your Parents About Going Abroad Right Now

4. Talk to your guidance counselor

Set up a meeting to chat with the school counselor about what study abroad options are available to you. You’ll need to check that you qualify grade- and attendance-wise, as well as discuss how international class credits can transfer back home.

5. Apply

Soon enough you’ll be having an adventure like never before!

Once you decide which program works best for you, get a head start on application practice by filling out the study abroad form. Be sure to attach all necessary materials (school transcripts, payment fees, passport scans, etc.) and make sure that you have a valid passport!

6. Research financial aid

Look into what scholarship or financial relief options are available (also helpful to present this info to parents when initially asking about study abroad) and apply like crazy. Fundraiser options also exist: cookie sales and FundMyTravel are a couple of suggestions.

KEEP READING: How to Do High School Abroad in 8 Easy Steps

10 reasons to study abroad in high school

1. It’s fun

English III’s library day may not be your definition of a thrilling time, but when it involves a metro ride and la bibliothèque nationale de France, things get a bit more exciting.

Even the simplest activities become opportunities for adventure when studying abroad—and that’s just talking about school hours. Just imagine lunch breaks along the canals of Amsterdam or grabbing fresh jiaozi at the street corner vendor!

2. It looks good on your college application

Since repetition is a great learning tool, let’s say it again: colleges LOVE study abroad experience! It’ll show that you’re just a bit ahead of your fellow applicants when it comes to things like global perspective and independence.

3. It looks good on your job resume

If you’re intentional with your experience, it’ll pay off in the long run.

Along similar lines, employers really appreciate international experience among young candidates. It shows strength, a willingness to take chances, higher levels of maturity, and broader approaches to problem-solving—which are all very helpful traits in the workplace.

4. You grow up

Everyone leaves their parents’ nest eventually and studying abroad is a taste of that independence, alongside a fast-track to spreading wings and soaring to new heights. Navigating a foreign world leads to higher levels of confidence, self-reliance, and social skills.

5. You belong to an international community

Studying abroad in high school opens the door to a lifelong network of personal and professional acquaintances all around the world. Program coordinators, the scholastic crew, and fellow classmates expand your community to global levels. Plus, you’ll have a free place to crash in Berlin when going to visit Hans from biology class!

6. You find a second home

Spending extended time in Tokyo or Lima means that you leave a little piece of your heart there, as well as take away a new sense of belonging (and an oversized bag of souvenirs). High school bonds last a long time, as long as you’re willing to nurture them.

7. You learn a new language

International study basically translates to foreign language credits. There’s not even any reason to stress over verb conjugations charts because you’ll have a host brother to chat with all day en español.

8. Now is a good time

Life only gets more busy after high school.

Before college commitments, job contracts, serious relationships, and all those other responsibilities show up, explore the world and yourself. Enjoy the freedom of teenage years and take advantage of all the chances to mingle, connect, and learn outside of the box.

9. Perspectives change

Studying abroad opens your mind to new realities, forms of communications, problem solving strategies, and opinions. Whether you realize how much you appreciate your weird family back home or discover that you actually want to study archeology in ancient Egypt, the entire world expands and glows in different colors.

10. Support systems are superb

High school study abroad programs are a great balance of discovering independence abroad and having a dedicated group of professionals taking care of you. Program coordinators, host families, and a new group of friends are there to answer any questions you may have—which means that you’ll never find yourself in Copacabana without a beach buddy or in London without a warm dinner.

Talk to our FREE Online Advisor & get matched with 5 high school study abroad programs

Ready to see the world? You don’t have to wait!

With (D) all of the above reasons behind studying abroad in high school, it shouldn’t be difficult to convince yourself (or your parents) to spend a creative semester or two abroad before college.

The world is large, the potential friends are many, and the street food stands are plenty, so why postpone international scholastic travel? Take your World History hour outside the classroom, become a TikTok star, and prepare yourself for the ultimate homecoming experience afterwards!

Explore ALL High School Study Abroad Programs on GoAbroad.com