Students and parents considering participation in an international high school exchange program often have many questions. Please explore the list of questions below to see if yours are among them!
For Students
What GPA do I need to get into SAGE? The SAGE Program does not have a minimum GPA requirement. We look for academically strong and motivated students who demonstrate maturity, independence, and a strong desire to take part in an international high school exchange program. Your recommendation letters tell us much more about you than your GPA does.
How do I decide which school to apply and go to? All of the schools in the SAGE Global Schools Consortium are excellent choices! All schools have a similar mission, outlook, and philosophy – they just offer different experiences. Probably the biggest difference is their location, the curriculum which they follow, and the extra-curricular activities offered.
Is it possible to go for only one semester? Yes; we recommend that single semester students go for the fall term rather than the spring term so they can be better oriented and start the year with the other new students instead of arriving mid-year. Keep in mind that the longer you stay, the more you get out of your experience. Many single semester SAGE students tell us afterwards that they wished they had stayed the full year.
Can I go for my Senior Year? Yes. All our schools accept seniors, but preferably for the entire academic year. If you go for your senior year, you will graduate with a US equivalent high school diploma. There is a formal graduation ceremony and parents are encouraged to attend when possible.
What do colleges think of the SAGE Program? Going on the SAGE Program will IMPROVE your college admission application. Showing that you have international living experience through one of our high school study abroad programs (versus just travel experience) is always an asset to college admission. This is what a Harvard University student recruiter told us: "When I interview applicants to Harvard, absolutely nothing impresses me as much as international experience. I immediately assume that such students have the mental agility and political awareness that prepare her for study of complex issues. It also suggests that that student can contribute a unique perspective to her classmates, which is something we're always looking for. Put simply, SAGE prepares students to succeed in college."
Click here to see the colleges and universities SAGE Alumni attend.
Will my credits transfer back to my high school in the U.S. or Canada? In almost all cases, yes. All of our schools are fully accredited high schools in the USA, which means that high schools here will recognize the credits you earn on the SAGE Program, and vice-versa. So you never have to worry about “losing” a semester or year while you are away on our high school study abroad programs. In addition, if you take any A.P. or I.B. exams, you may be eligible for college credit, depending on how well you do.
Isn't it difficult to go away for such a long time? ? Yes and no. There is always an initial period of adjustment when you go to another country or school. You may miss your family, friends, and familiar things back home. But at any of the SAGE Global Consortium schools, you will quickly make friends and at the end of the year you will wish you didn’t have to leave!
What happens if I get homesick? Homesickness is totally normal, and you will most likely feel some homesickness during the year. The schools recognize this and provide lots of support. There are plenty of adults whom you can talk to, other students who have been there longer, and lots of activities to get involved in. The best "cure" for homesickness is friendships and activity.
Will I be living with a host family? Not while you are at school. During the academic year, you will be living in the residence halls - either off-campus (in town) or in dorm rooms on campus. At all of the SAGE Global Consortium schools, students either have private rooms or shared rooms with other peers. However, there are opportunities to go “out of boarding” or to live with a host family during school breaks. The school will help make arrangements for this if this is an experience you are interested in.
What happens if I do not get along with my roommate? In most situations, if you do not get along with your roommate, you can switch rooms. This is at the discretion of the residence supervisors though, and you have to at least TRY to work things out.
Will I have my own email account? Yes. You will be given a school email account as soon as you get to the school and you will be able to access your email from a variety of computers around campus.
Should I bring my laptop abroad? Yes, if you have one - most SAGE students take theirs. This is not a requirement, however, as there are plenty of computer terminals on campus and in the residences. Keep in mind that you may not be able to access your email or log on to the internet from your laptop, so laptops are mainly used for word processing, working on school assignments, storing photos, etc.
Will I be able to access my own (Hotmail, Yahoo, etc) email account from the school? Each school has its own internet use policy, but you will have your own school email account which you can use freely. However, you may be able to access your other accounts from internet cafés in the local town on weekends. We encourage the use of your school email address, because it is usually faster and more accessible.
What languages do they speak at the schools? ? English is the most widely spoken language, and all classes are taught in English. Don’t be surprised though, if your roommate speaks Bhutanese or Lao or Swahili. And we hope that you come back with at least a basic understanding of the local language after your time abroad.
What sports do they play? Sports are popular at all of the SAGE Global Consortium schools, and all schools have excellent athletic departments. There are a wide range of sports to choose from, from cross country to tennis to soccer to cricket to basketball. Sports are played both at the intramural level where everyone can participate, as well as at the intervarsity level where you have to demonstrate your ability to play on the school team.
What is the food like? School food varies between local and western cuisine, and is healthy and nutritious. But we find that teenagers like to complain about food, no matter which part of the world they are in, and the SAGE Program is no exception. Many SAGE students like to bring some of their favorite snack foods with them or have their parents send packages from home.
Can I drink the water? Yes – when you are on campus. School water is purified and filtered, and therefore safe to drink. But when you are off campus or traveling domestically, it is best to be careful about the water you drink.
Do I need a passport and visa? Yes. You will need both a passport as well as a valid student visa for the country you are studying in. You need to get your own passport, but the SAGE Program will help you get a student visa.
For Parents
How much does the SAGE program cost?
Please see the Program Details page for current information.
Is financial aid available? Yes. Financial aid is given to families of qualified students who demonstrate financial need. Our aid is need-based, not merit-based. A financial aid application must be submitted along with your application to the SAGE Program, and is available along with the application forms.
Do students come home for vacations? If not, can we come visit our child? Students may choose to come home between semesters, but are certainly not required to. Many students choose to participate in the Winter Tour that several of our schools offer (which lasts for most of the winter break) or do a SAGE volunteer program in the schools’ or a nearby country. Alternatively, parents may wish to visit and travel in the country over the holidays as a way of spending quality time with your child if they are not coming home during break. In addition, parents are welcome to visit your child at the schools at any other time of the year as well.
Can parents and siblings join the Winter Tour? Yes, parents and siblings of SAGE students may join the Winter Tour – or part of it. This is a good way to spend time with your child and see the country at the same time.
Who makes my child’s travel arrangements – SAGE or us? Students are encouraged to travel to their school’s country together since we do not send an escort along. The SAGE office works with a travel agency who makes group arrangements for all students who wish to travel together. If you do not wish to use our agent, you are welcome to make your own travel arrangements for your child.
What kind of travel visa does my child need? All SAGE students need a valid student visa, which is issued by the countries’ embassy or consulate nearest you, and stamped into your child’s current passport. We will assist you in getting this visa by sending a letter of endorsement, but the responsibility to apply for the visa is yours.
What medical facilities do the schools have? All of the SAGE Global Consortium schools have excellent student health centers, and are easily accessible to advanced medical facilities. Student health centers are staffed 24 hours a day by staff nurses and doctors who make regular visits to see student patients. Each country has modern world-class medical facilities which are not far from the schools, should the need arise.
How will I stay in touch with my child? ? Email and phone are definitely the easiest way to stay in touch. Your child will have their own school email account and there is no limit to the amount of email they can send or receive. The dormitories all have phones, and parents often set up weekly phone “dates” with their children.
How long has the SAGE Program been in operation? The SAGE Program has been running high school study abroad programs since 1992. Hundreds of high school students have participated in this unique study abroad program since its inception.
