Alternative Study Programs
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Participating in an alternative study program, whether abroad or at another school in the US, during your high school years, can be a very exciting and rewarding experience. However, it is not always the right choice for every student.
Experiencing different environments and cultures help us grow as human beings. Traveling expands our horizons and gives us new perspectives. At The Sharon Academy, a central part of our mission is to “awaken students to their immense potential and the difference they can make in the world.” We recognize that a travel experience can support and expand a student’s ability to think broadly and holistically about their role as a change maker.
However, we also recognize that travel can be stressful for many students, given that graduation requirements need to be met. Students who wish to pursue an alternate study program, whether for a semester or a year, need to seriously consider the impact their travel will have on meeting the graduation requirements and on the post-secondary planning process. Leaving for a semester or a year requires considerable planning and work, thus it is important to consider summer programs, vacation travel, or post-graduate travel before committing to a semester or full-year program.
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Learn German while Living in Germany for a Year The CBYX (Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange) is a state-funded exchange program that is open to all High Schoolers. No prior German knowledge is required! Participants meet Congresspeople, get to know major German cities, and spend 10 months with a German host family and community, all while being immersed in the German culture and language. This is also a great way to get into the Foreign service, or merely to expand your horizons. For more information visit: http://www. |
It is essential that all students’ families/guardians who are considering alternate study programs during the school year work closely with TSA to make sure the student’s overall high school and college plans are thoroughly analyzed. Families should fully consider the implications of missing significant school time.
If the program you are looking into means being absent from TSA for a while, please follow the following procedure:
- Begin your planning at least a year before you plan to travel, if possible, researching as many programs as possible.
- Initiate a conversation as soon as possible with the student’s advisor for assistance in looking at the four-year sequence of classes and note which classes will be missed and help make a plan and help you make a decision about what kind of travel experience is most beneficial for each student depending on individual academic needs.
- Meet with the Director of College and Career Advising for guidance in selecting a travel program, and to ensure that the process is properly followed.
- It is important to note that in some cases TSA may not be able to commit to reserving a student’s space after participation in an extended travel program, especially, if there has not been adequate planning and discussion beforehand.
Revised May 2024