<p>Who here has participated in or has experience with high school study abroad programs, and if you have, could you please tell me about your experiences? I really want to go on one (and have for the past YEAR) but my mother is pretty resistent to the idea.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sya.org%5B/url%5D">www.sya.org</a></p>
<p>Great program. I haven't done it myself but my classmates who have come back raving about it. It really depends which country you study in (the Spain one is a pretty big program, for instance; the China one is more intimate). This one has a more academic focus. There are other programs with different emphases. I assume you want the traditional, language study abroad. Even then though you have to decide: do you want a homestay (full cultural immersion, host family) or living in a university with other exchange students? Focus on language or culture, volunteering, environment, etc.? Full year or one semester? Can you get credit at your school for it? Visit the website for more information, testimonials, etc. Other well-known programs:</p>
<p>American Field Service Intercultural Programs (AFS): <a href="http://www.usa.afs.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.usa.afs.org/</a></p>
<p>Academic Programs International: <a href="http://www.academicintl.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.academicintl.com/</a></p>