HIGH SCHOOL in the USA
Cultural Exchange program
YOUR NEW ADVENTURE STARTS HERE
Becoming an exchange student is a complete cultural experience. Living with a carefully selected local family in a safe home, you will enjoy many opportunities to explore your community with your host family and the friends you make at school. On the weekend, imagine eating out at a local restaurant with your friends or walking a local nature trail with your host family. Living in the USA will allow you to get to know Americans and their country from the inside. What an amazing opportunity to experience the American dream.
The amazing thing about studying abroad is that the experience is different for everyone. What you get out of an international exchange is unique to you:
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Discover and develop personal strengths like self-reliance, resourcefulness and confidence
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Gain a new, global perspective and gain a sense of social responsibility
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Increase proficiency in another language
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Meet remarkable people and build lifelong friendships
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Build better decision making, problem-solving and conflict resolution skills
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Develop independence of thought and adaptability in dealing with the unexpected
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Gain a real advantage on college applications
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Enhance global career opportunities
Every HIGH SCHOOL IN THE USA student will have a genuine American high school experience, live with a caring host family, and benefit from an industry-leading support.
Adventure
Develop your cultural openness, your maturity, your independence, your ability to adapt, your ability to solve problems, your sense of leadership, your self-confidence, and so much more.
FriendshipS
You will make friends with other American teenagers. Social life may be different from your home city, but you’ll be able to make rich friendships with local students that are fun and supportive.
HOME IN THE USA
You will gain a second family, your family away from home. As an exchange student, you will not only learn English, but you will also become familiar with the culture, and traditions of your host country.
BE GLOBAL READY
Students often use their exchange year as a stepping stone to further their studies abroad, gain a competitive advantage at university, and start an international career.
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PROGAM OVERVIEW
With an extended network across the US, we have the scope and experience to offer authentic, immersive ways for young travelers to study and live in the USA. We offer an ALL-IN-ONE package to facilitate and enhance the experience for the participants and their families
Selected Host Family
Host families are volunteers and who have gone through our extensive application and selection process. They provide room,board and basic transportation.
School Enrollement
Participating High Schools are carefully handpicked by our experienced expert staff to ensure it provides the educational op- portunities and support to succeed.
local Mentor
These experts will be guiding you through the application process and preparing you for the departure. Once in the USA, they will act as the second layer of support after your host.
pre-departure training
HSUSA leads the student exchange industry in helping students prepare for their exchange helping them understand the challenges of assimilating to a new culture.
Visa APPLICATION SUPPORT
As an official designated visa sponsor by the US Department of State, we will issue & provide documents & guidance you need to get through the J-1 visa application process.
TRAVEL
The program Tuition fee includes your flight to the USA and back from your closest local international airport through our partner travel agency.
MEDICAL INSURANCE
HSUSA provides an extensive health insurance for all High School USA students customized to the unique needs of international exchange students.
PROGRAM ORIENTATION
Every High School USA student has the opportunity to join us in your new home communities for our orientation to get a full intro to life in the U.S.
ARE YOU
ELIGIBLE ?
At HIGH SCHOOL in the USA, We carefully select candidates in our program, simply to ensure each participants experience a great personal experience
We consider English ability, academic performance, maturity, flexibility, and willingness to adapt to a new culture in our selection process. We look at the “whole picture” for each applicant and select those students whom we believe can successfully navigate an academic exchange year in the U.S. while being away from family and friends back home.
* Be between 14 and 18 years of age when you arrive in the USA
* Be in good academic standing
* Be enrolled in a secondary school when you apply and not completed high school before you arrive
* Successfully completed HSUSA's 'Two Thumbs Up' Cultural Assimilation Modules
DID YOU KNOW?
The U.S. is the FOURTH LARGEST COUNTRY BY AREA IN THE WORLD — only China, Canada, and Russia are larger.
The U.S. is made of FIFTY STATES ( each with its own lifestyle, & government): 1 federal district & 14 territories
The U.S. is the THIRD MOST POPULOUS COUNTRY IN THE WORLD — after China, & India with 330 million inhabitants
The Continental U.S. spans OVER FIVE TIME ZONES— with additional time zones in Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the various Islands
Lake Superior is the LARGEST OF THE GREAT LAKES — and is considered the largest freshwater lake by area in the world
YOUR HEALTH & SAFETY ARE OUR
TOP PRIORITY!
The health, safety, and well-being of our students are our top priority. Through our 3-layer support system, a coordinated effort between our regional teams, HSUSA office staff, and host families, we ensure every student is safe during their time in the U.S.A.
LAYER 1- THE HOST FAMILY:
We exceed the host family selection requirements of the U.S. Department of State with a very strict vetting process for our host families. The process includes extended interviews with several members of our leadership team, background check as well as several referrals from esteemed members of the community.
HSUSA selects open-minded, welcoming families who wish to invite a new member into their family and share cultures. We consider the relationship between a student and host family to be the most important of your exchange year as they become your second family. They will be there at each and every moment of your exchange year and will be your first point of contact while in the U.S.A.
LAYER 2- THE LOCAL COORDINATOR:
The Local Coordinators also are subject to a very scrupulous selection process. We absolutely want to be certain of the staff we work with and ensure top-quality support for you or your children. In the same way as host families, they do go through an extended screening process as well as need to present strong referrals from respected members of the industry.
Our Local Coordinator is highly trained in intercultural communication, mediation, and support, and will be a mentor and friend to you. They are available 24/7. The Local Coordinator will welcome the students to the host community, introduce them to the host family, and complete regular supervision reports for the parents at home.
LAYER 3- OUR DEDICATED SUPPORT STAFF:
Our experienced support team in Nashville, TN is available by phone to support all program participants in the event of an emergency from the time you or your child step foot on a plane to their day-to-day experience in the U.S.A.
They all went through qualified support training to provide all participants with the best support they need to live a top experience with HIGH SCHOOL in the USA.
BONUS:
JOIN OUR L.E.A.D. PROGRAM FOR FREE!
It takes more than classroom knowledge alone to achieve our goals in life.
For over 150 years, our sister company, Southwestern Advantage, has trained college students on the principles of leadership and community impact. These principles are now being shared with students through a nationwide community called LE∆D.
LE∆D is a program designed to help young people gain the skills and character they need to achieve their goals in life. The program spotlights life skills, emotional intelligence, academics, and making a difference in the community — preparing students for success both before and after graduation.
6 MONTHS PROGRAM FREE ACCESS
STEP-BY-STEP, WE ARE GUIDING
YOU AL THE WAY!
From your initial request for further information to the very first moment you set foot in the USA (and beyond!), our experienced staff will be guiding you all the way to you step-by-step.
Here is a quick summary of each step with you, the future participant on the left, and we, at HSUSA, on the right!
TESTIMONIALS
Hind M
From Morocco >
Central High School
Phoenix (AZ)
'I really enjoyed my time with my host family who totally became a second family to me. I had new brothers and sisters and I felt totally part of the family. I am also so grateful to our Local Coordinator who was regularly in touch and check upon me! It made me and my family so relieved to know the organization was looking after us so well. This experienced changed my life!’
Manon E
From France >
Fluvana County High School
Fluvana (VA)
'Today, I am a Project Manager in a leading worldwide shipping company based in France. Thanks to my exchange year, I gained maturity and confidence. I am now managing different teams from all over the world. I am 25 and already lived in 5 cities in 3 different countries. That exchange year made me the person I am today, and I am so grateful for that.’
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Adea G
From Kosovo >
Deer Valley High School
Phoenix (AZ)
'Being an exchange student back in 2012, has led me to embark on a personal growth journey. It was one of the most life-changing experience. It made me brave, courageous and motivated to take new opportunities in life. Linda, our local coordinator was always ready to help and assist me in every difficult situation I faced. I will always be thankful to Linda and the team.’
Georgi D
From Bulgaria >
Orange County School
Orange (CA)
'I didn't really know what to expect upon my arrival in America. Emotions totally took over but it was so worth it!. I was picked up by my amazing host family. Their smile and welcome committee totally reassured and the rest is history... I do recommend spending a year in high school in the USA: it is unique, rewarding and character-building. ’
Because it sometimes makes more sense to hear it all from some of our former participants!
WHERE ARE OUR CURRENT PARTICIPAMTS?
Check this out! This interactive map gives you an instant look at where our former participants lived and studied. We also added in the extracurricular activities so you can see what your HIGH SCHOOL in the USA experience might look like!
Yellow pins represent small towns; Green pins represent medium/large town or city; Blue pins are for big cities
Purple flags show states where we currently have a Local Coordinator*; Purple balloons show states where we are expanding this year,
Click on a pin to see more info about a specific placement/place. If you scroll down, you will also have access to photos of the town and the local high school!
* Local Coordinators are HSUSA staff who will be the point of liaison between you and your host family.
BASIC PROGRAM QUESTIONS