STS Foundation is pleased to offer American High School Students ages 15-18, the opportunity to live and study overseas. By embracing an opportunity to live and study abroad, you will not only acquire important language skills, but gain a new perspective on America's role in the global community. Studying abroad offers you a tremendous opportunity to meet new friends and experience life from a whole new perspective!

Experience life through a caring host family

What all of our programs have in common is the fact that you will have the opportunity to live with a carefully selected and screened host family. With the help of our foreign partners, STS Foundation strives to match our students with quality, caring volunteer families who share similar interests with the student they will host. Since these families agree to welcome you on a voluntary basis, we can assure that families are genuinely interested in sharing their culture with an international student. Many of our host families have already sent their son/daughter to the United States and are familiar with the program.

The STS Foundation Support System

During your time abroad, you will be provided a support system made up of STS Representatives at the local level who will assist you with your adjustment period, help answer questions, work with you on problems and encourage you throughout this challenging experience. These representatives are trained and have experience working with teenagers. Your local STS Representative will contact you, your host family and school on a regular basis to ensure everything is going smoothly. You will be provided opportunities to travel. Most of our STS partners arrange group trips (not included in the program price) during the year to ensure you have the opportunity to see other parts of the host country.

Preparing for Your Adventure

STS Foundation is with you every step of the way. Before you depart the United States, you will have been interviewed by a STS Representative. We will discuss with you in great detail your motivation for studying abroad and what to expect during your year. We set up an orientation meeting via phone or in person before departure. We also provide you with pertinent information about your host country. We are here to answer any questions you may have. You will also receive an in-depth orientation from the STS Office overseas.

Student Qualifications

Our programs are designed for high school students between the ages of 15 and 18 years old. We ask that you complete your study abroad before you have graduated from high school. You must have maintained at least a B average in your American High School. You must also demonstrate a genuine interest in becoming and American ambassador. You are required to submit an official transcript from your High School, letters of recommendation and an essay discussing your reasons for studying abroad.

Many of our destination countries require that you have at least 2 years formal training in their language. These countries are: France, Germany, Italy and Austria. Other countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and the Netherlands, have no language requirements!

How to Apply

Carefully read through the following section of options and select the program you feel you are most suited for. Enclosed you will find a pre-application form to fill out and submit to the STS Foundation National Office. There is a non-refundable $75.00 application fee, so it is important that you are very serious about the program. When we receive your pre-application, we will call you and discuss your decision and then send you an official application. The applications are quite extensive and require some work on your behalf. We ask that you complete the application in as timely manner as possible. The sooner you submit the application, the sooner we can process it and send it to our foreign partners.

Your application will go through two stages. It will first be screened by the STS Foundation Office in the United States. It will then be forwarded to our foreign partners for review. Once we receive an acceptance letter from them, we will notify you as soon as possible.

It is important to note that we have limited spaces in each country. This is why we ask that you select 3 top choices of destination countries. We can not guarantee your first country of choice, but will work very hard to ensure one of your top three selections is met.

Programs we Currently Offer

Academic Programs that DO NOT Require Previous Language Training

Immersion is the best way to learn a foreign language and culture. Learning a foreign language in an American High School has its limitations. By living, studying and breathing a foreign culture, your learning experience is greatly accelerated. Being a part of a host family adds to this acquisition.

You can study in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and the Netherlands without having prior language training. The only necessary requirement to study in these countries is that you demonstrate a strong willingness to learn the language. In the beginning of your stay, you will sometimes be able to submit your school work in English. Then, as you start to progress with the language, you should make efforts to start working in the target language. Students must be highly motivated and open-minded. Teachers and pupils are very patient when working with American students. They welcome the opportunity to have international students to broaden their classes' horizons.

Application deadline for the year and semester programs that start in August is April 15. Application deadline for the winter semester program is October 15. The program cost is $7,000/year* $5,950/semester.*

If You Have Studied a Foreign Language?

If you have at least 2 years experience studying a language in the United States and you want to perfect your skills, you can choose to spend and academic year or semester in the following countries: FRANCE, ITALY, GERMANY and AUSTRIA. These countries expect that you will begin the year actually working in their language. It is necessary to have strong fundamental knowledge of the language. The program applications deadlines and fees are the same as the above-mentioned program.

Study in another English-Speaking Country

We also offer opportunities for you to study in the following English-speaking countries: New Zealand and South Africa. The semester and year programs begin at the end of January. The semester program finishes in mid-June and the year program finishes in mid-November. Please be advised that there are very limited spots in New Zealand. We do, however, have a greater number of opportunities for you to experience the very lively and diverse culture of South Africa. The Application deadline is September 30 for both the semester and the year programs. The program fee is $7,000/year* and $5,950/semester.*

* The program fee includes:

• Mandatory student health insurance
• Placement arrangements with a quality host family. This includes screening, interviewing the family and references, as well as a home inspection.
• Placement arrangements with a local high school. STS obtains written school acceptance that assures each student a spot in a local high school. (Excludes summer program).
• Supervision throughout the year by an experienced local STS Representative who is available to the student at all times. The Area Representative is required to provide monthly contact with the student and host family.
• Orientation before departure from the USA and after arrival in the host country.
• Textbooks for compulsory subjects.

The program fee DOES NOT include:

• Airfare
• Personal spending money
• Passport and Visa costs
• Pre-Application fee

Earn a $200.00 Scholarship towards any of these programs by agreeing to host an STS Foundation exchange student during the 2005-2006 school year. Please call 1.800.522.4678 to learn about hosting!

Payment Plan

$500 Application deposit is due at the time of submitting the student application ($250.00 is refundable if you cancel). Final payment is due 10 days before the student's departure date. Payments will be invoiced by STS Foundation.

Please call STS Foundation to set up a payment plan that suits your needs. 1.800.522.4677.

STS Foundation is headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ. We are a not-for-profit organization dedicated to intercultural exchange.

PLEASE RETURN THE FOLLOWING PRE-APPLICATION FORM TO THE NATIONAL OFFICE

STS FOUNDATION PROGRAM PRE-APPLICATION

I am interested in applying for a high school year abroad in: (Please indicate 1st, 2nd, & 3rd country choice.)

Name: __________________________________________________________Sex: f / m

Street Address____________________________________________________________

City: _______________________________________State:____ Zip: __________________

Telephone: (_______) _______-____________ Date of birth _____________________

Name of school: __________________________________________________________

School Address: ___________________________________________________________

Telephone: (_______) _____________________________I am currently in grade: ______

I want to spend a school year abroad because:

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Date ______/______/______

________________________________________________________________________
Applicant signature

________________________________________________________________________
Name of Applicant

________________________________________________________________________
Parent or Guardian signature

________________________________________________________________________
Name of the Parent or Guardian

Please send this pre-application along with the $75 non-refundable pre-application fee and an official school transcript to:

STS Foundation,
Outbound Programs
6946 E 2nd St.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251.

(Check or Money Order payable to STS Foundation, only please. DO NOT SEND CASH!)