As the school year comes to an end, many students will be looking for ways to fill their free time over the summer. For some, that means finding new hobbies at home or working a summer job. For seniors, they may be looking for internships that can help them better prepare for college. One opportunity that combines travel, learning, and experiencing new cultures is the CIEE High School Study Abroad program.
Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) is a nonprofit study abroad exchange organization. Not only does CIEE offer summer study abroad programs throughout 40 countries, but they also have “First Year Abroad” for freshmen in college and “Gap Year Abroad” programs for those who do not want to start college right after high school. Students can study many different subjects in different parts of the world. Some studies include Fashion Design and Culture in Paris, France, Engineering and Automotive in Berlin, Germany, Chinese Language and Culture in Shanghai, China, and Leadership and Service in Public Health in Gaborone, Botswana. The exchange program allows students to gain new skills through hands-on learning, improve language fluency, and “get real-world experience in a topic of your choice.” (CIEE Website).
Another benefit of participating in the CIEE High School summer program is the personal growth students experience. Traveling to a new place with an unfamiliar culture challenges students to become more independent and gain social skills. Statistics on the CIEE website show that 87 percent of students became more confident due to the experience.
The high school study abroad doesn’t just offer fun, it also offers one essential thing that every college student works for: college credit. Students are able to earn 12-14 credits by just participating in the hands-on labs and experiences. These credits can be taken back to your home country and fulfill undergraduate requirements needed in most U.S. colleges. Many language programs such as Chinese Language and Culture, Korean Language and Culture, and German Language and Culture offer college credit and homestay.
