Can i Study Abroad in 12th grade?

Question

I am from the U.S.A, and sometime (preferably when i go to 12th grade) i want to Study Abroad in Germany.... is this possible? or can i not do it in 12th grade?

Answer 1

It's technically possible, but 12th grade isn't really the best time to do it - you'd have to make sure that you have all of your graduation requirements taken care of; and if you're planning to apply to college during that year, being abroad will make it an awful lot more complicated, especially if you want to do any more standardised testing.

It can be done, but your school may have its own rules and regulations about study abroad, and it's not necessarily a good idea. (It's only potentially a bad idea given the timing, on the whole I think studying abroad is good!)

If you really want to leave it until later, maybe consider doing a summer program, a homestay/intensive language course or something. That one you should be able to fit in either in the summer before 12th grade or after graduation.

Answer 2

Two years ago I studied abroad in Ireland  the first semester of my Senior year. It is very possible to do this, but you need to be able to complete your credits on time. I was able to study abroad  by taking the 4 classes I needed to graduate my second semester, once I came home. Usually American High Schools will not accept the credits you earn abroad, but you may be able to talk to your counselor about possibly taking EOCs to determine if you get credit. Also, do you know German? Most organizations require you to have at least 2 years of German under your belt, and you'll probably have to take a language proficiently test.  If you are going to be a Junior this coming school year, do your research now so that you can turn in your applications on time. The organization that I used (CCI) had a deadline in April for applications so you have a lot of time now. Studying Abroad is expensive as well so looking into various organizations will help you get the best price while still choosing one that is safe. I really liked working with CCI and they helped me out a lot during my stay in Ireland. I hope you end up going because it is a great change to improve your German and also have a great experience that you'll benefit from long after you leave Germany