Hello,
I’m currently a ninth grader, and have been traveling all my life. Currently I have been looking into study abroad either my sophomore or junior year, but leaning more towards sophomore. I either want to go to France, Germany, or Japan though I keep coming to a single problem. From anyone who has done a program that lead them to study abroad I was wondering, how did you get your high school credits? I was hoping to do my spring semester with AFS or ASSE, but that would require me to miss my last 2 1/2 months of school, meaning I wouldn’t get my credits for the year of high school. I was then thinking about doing a whole school year abroad but I don’t know if I would be able to get credits, and come back the next year to my high school and know what I need to. I hope this made sense, and if anyone could help it would be much appreciated.
Also I apologize for any spelling mistakes, there are quite a lot.
My daughter studied in Spain for a semester when she was in 10th grade. She went through CIEE, an excellent organization. CIEE worked with her school in Spain to send records of her classes and grades to her regular high school. She did receive credit for the classes she took over there. She had to make up a health class - she did that online during the following summer. It was an amazing experience for her! I think you should go for it. 
My friend did SYA (school year abroad) China her junior year and loved it. They have a SYA France too. I’m not sure exactly how she got her credits, but she graduated on time and it as Georgetown now, so it all worked out. Just so you know, though, this is an immersive program, and you would have to have completed French 2 level by time you go.
One daughter studied abroad in high school, and we also hosted two exchange students (not at the same time). This was all arranged through her high school. It was an exceptionally positive experience. Her high school credits all went onto her normal high school transcript which was all that she needed to send to universities. The universities didn’t seem to mind that the classes that she took while on exchange all showed up as pass/fail grades (all pass of course).
I personally felt more comfortable with my daughter going away to university knowing that she had already gone even further away, for a shorter period of time, when in high school. I suspect that she probably felt the same way.
My daughter was very good at the language that was used where she went. However, you can probably find schools in France, Germany, or Japan that teach in English. If you don’t have a strong second language and can’t find a school in these countries that teach in English, then you could of course go on exchange to an English speaking country.
I think immersive language experience is the best reason to spend a year abroad, and it can be a great experience. You should, however, check with your high school beforehand to find out what will happen with the credits. You may want to strategize on how to use your summers to address any holes. It’s smart of you to be thinking about this early for that reason alone. I know students who have returned senior year to a pile of nasty surprises as a result of not having anticipated some of these issues.
You could also do a gap year after you graduate. Not your plan a, but worth keeping in your back pocket!
I just came back from SYA France. I did it my junior year and it was one of the most intriguing and challenging experiences ever!
PM me at any time if you want to know anything about SYA.
Congratulations @Quiches. It surely was very challenging, mind broadening, and incredible. All the students I know who went on a year abroad came back, not changed, but somehow themselves, times 100.
Thank you so much @MYOS1634 ! It was surely incredible but also very multi-faceted and definitely not all sunshine and roses (like others seem to think). It was a unique experience that I still won’t trade for the world (despite its challenges).
It might help OP if you told some stories, like, a challenge and how you conquered it .
DD is thinking of it in Spain next year so yes - would be very interested in hearing an example of a challenge and how you overcame it?
Check out SYA (School Year Abroad). They let you travel to Italy, France, China, or Spain. The application is due pretty soon, so if you’re interested, do it ASAP. Apply for sophomore year (and def not junior year)
@memeqween101 why not apply for SYA for junior year?
@mclmom I think the culture shock was the biggest challenge for my daughter in Spain. CIEE did a good job of orienting the kids, but it was still hard. CIEE warned the kids that they might think their host parents had marital problems because they shout at each other so often! D said that was definitely true. And she used to get annoyed for me calling her down to supper in a loud tone of voice, but when she came back, she said, “Wow, you don’t yell at all, Mom, compared to my host mother!”
The other thing to be aware of is that your child will go through culture shock all over again after coming back to the US! For one thing, my D felt kind of guilty at Americans’ standard of living - our houses are so much bigger than the typical Spanish apartment! It took her awhile to readjust.
She’s going to study in Italy next fall and said she said her experiences in Spain will really help her be prepared. She’s still very happy she went over there, even though it was hard at times.
My daughter is also thinking of Spain for her Junior year of High School next year. I would be interested in knowing which agency you have chosen, if you have already. Perhaps we should put the girls in touch with each other?
I was an AFS student to Spain 20 years ago—I know a long time but AFS was great. My host family was fantastic. I have also heard YFU is great. My brother did a summer program with YFU to Japan and had a good experience.
My sister did the EF International Language Campuses program in Madrid, Spain and was able to get credit to transfer back to her school. She found it was also really helpful to talk to her guidance counselor and vice principal about getting the approval. At the end of the day, they should see this is a great opportunity for you. With her EF program she was able to improve her Spanish tremendously, intern, and travel to Morocco!
It depends on your school and the organization that you go through. I applied this fall to study abroad for next year and my school told me that I would get no credits for study abroad unless I went to an IB school wherein I would only get pass/fail credits. I would suggest working with the counselors at your home school to see what works for them. You might be able to take some classes on line to help finish up required credits but, I would work it out sooner rather than later.