For Students

What is the difference between Gap Year students and regular students on SAGE?
The biggest difference is that as a Gap Year student, you don’t need to graduate. This means that you can take any classes you want – not one English class, one math class, one science class, etc. We do expect you to take a minimum course load and you are required to carry out an independent study project, but beyond that, you are free to be involved in other extra curricular and community service activities.

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.

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How do I decide which of the two schools to apply and go to?
Both Woodstock School and Kodaikanal International School are excellent choices! Both schools have a similar mission, outlook, and philosophy – they just offer different experiences. Probably the biggest difference is their location, and the curriculum which they follow.
Woodstock is located in north India, high in the Himalayan Mountains, while Kodai is a residential school in Kodaikanal, a south Indian town at a similar altitude to Woodstock, but on top of a tropical plateau. Woodstock is in a more secluded environment, while Kodai is in the center of a more populated area. Woodstock offers the AP (Advanced Placement) college placement courses and exams, while Kodai follows the IB (International Baccalaureate) curriculum.

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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.

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 Susan Wennemyr, 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 Woodstock and Kodai graduates attend.

Can I earn college credit while on the SAGE Program?
Yes, potentially. If you take any A.P. (at Woodstock) or I.B. (at Kodai) exams, you may be eligible for college credit, depending on how well you do.

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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 both SAGE schools, you will quickly make friends and at the end of the year you will wish you didn’t have to leave!

Will I be living with a host family?
Not while you are at school. During the academic year, you will be living at a residential school; in Kodaikanal, this means dorm rooms on-or off-campus (in town); at Woodstock, in dorm rooms on campus. At both schools, everyone lives in residence halls 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

Do Gap Year students room together?
No. We would like you to branch out in your friendships and meet as many people as possible. Gap Year students are treated in the residences as if they are seniors, and therefore room with other senior students.

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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 to India?
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 will 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?
At Woodstock: no, not from the school computers. You will have your own school email account which you can use. However, you may be able to access your other accounts from internet cafés in the local town on weekends. At Kodai, you can access Yahoo and Hotmail accounts from school computing centers, but we encourage the use of your school email address, because it is usually faster and more accessible.

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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 Hindi or Tamil from your time in India.

What sports do they play?
Sports are popular at the SAGE schools, and both 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. With many other Indian schools in the area, there are many inter-school sports competitions.

What is the food like?
School food varies between Indian 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.

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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 in India, 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 Indian student visa. You need to get your own passport, but the SAGE Program will help you get an Indian 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. Most students choose to participate in the Winter Tour which lasts for most of the winter break. Parents may choose to join all or part of the Winter Tour as a way of spending quality time with your child over the break if they are not coming home. In addition, parents are welcome to visit your child at the schools at any other time of the year as well.

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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 some of India at the same time.

Who makes my child’s travel arrangements – SAGE or us?
Students are encouraged to travel to India 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 Indian student visa, which is issued by the Indian 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.

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What medical facilities do the schools have?
Both 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. India 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. We have helped several hundred students see India on this unique program since its inception.

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