YFU Handbooks 2015 Family Handbook (Study Abroad) | Page 18

ACADEMIC AND FUTURE PLANNING OBLIGATIONS
As your child prepares for his/her exchange experience, one
important consideration is how to receive school credit at
their US high school for overseas class work. Many guidance
counselors encourage their students to participate in
international exchange programs and are willing to help
them obtain school credit, provided they are presented
with all the necessary information. Whether your child
receives credit is in the hands of the local high school so it is
important to discuss this prior to departure as it is entirely
up to them. Any agreement with your child's school should
be in writting and signed beforehand.
YFU’s publication, School Credit Guidelines, is designed
to assist you and your child before, during, and after the
exchange. Contained in the packet are instructions, forms
and a checklist for your child, the US guidance counselor,
and the overseas school administrator to use in determining
the transfer of credit. The suggestions listed within the
packet are based on the experiences of students, teachers,
YFU staff, and volunteers over the past several years. YFU
has found that many students who follow these guidelines
can obtain some school credit. All students will receive
a copy of the School Credit Guidelines and it is available
on the YFU USA website: yfuusa.org/media/Education/
SchoolCreditGuidelines.pdf.
It is also a good idea to check with your child’s high school
about how they wish to deal with issues concerning senior
pictures, measurements for graduation cap and gown, class
rings, etc.

COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS
With your child’s guidance counselor, review all
requirements for taking the SAT, PSAT, ACT and other college
entrance exams. It is usually possible for YFU exchange
students to take these exams while overseas. Your child
should contact the US high school or the College Board
Testing Service at collegeboard.com in order to obtain the
site and date of the test organization in the host country.
Please realize that your child may be living far from the
test site and s/he must be sensitive to the possibility that
travel to the test site may be required. If travel is the case,
accompaniment is necessary and not all host families are
able to accommodate such travel. It is not the responsibility
of the host family or YFU to provide transportation
arrangements or cover expenses related to attending or
taking a college entrance exam while on program.
18 - Study Abroad Family Handbook

The PSAT will have to be taken in the US before or after your
child goes overseas.

REGISTERING FOR THE SELECTIVE SERVICE
If your son turns 18 while overseas, he must register for the
Selective Service within 30 days of his birthday. Registration
can now be done online at sss.gov. Alternatively, your son
can complete and submit the online form before going on
exchange if he is at least 17 years and three months old.
You can also find the paper registration forms at your local
post office. These forms may be completed prior to your
son’s departure and may be turned in by you close to his
birthday.

REGISTERING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE
YFU USA recommends that all American students register
their exchange trip with the US Department of State. By
registering their stay abroad, the US embassy or consulate
in the host country will be able to assist YFU students
if an emergency were to happen. The Department of
State has created a web page that allows Americans to
register their trips before they go and make updates while
on program. Visit the Department of State web page at