Council for Educational Travel, USA

• Council for Educational Travel, USA (CETUSA) is a not-for-profit international student exchange organization coordinating exchange experiences for high school students, university students and young professionals. CETUSA is a US Department of State Exchange Visitor (J-1 visa) sponsor organization.
• The mission of CETUSA is "to encourage a lifelong journey of global peace and understanding" for the students, host families and communities that are part of the exchange experience.
• Founded in 1995 by Rick Anaya and Terry Watson in San Clemente, California, CETUSA has coordinated exchanges for over 80,000 students. Those students and the communities where they live are forever impacted by the opportunity to understand and respect what makes each culture unique.
• Programs with CETUSA include:

○ a semester or yearlong high school exchange with host family placement,

○ an outbound program where high school students in the USA can study abroad,

○ the American Cultural Experience (ACE) High School Prep summer program housed on a university campus,

○ a training program for young professionals and

○ an internship program for university students.

• Each program has specific eligibility requirements with the opportunity to live in cities and towns across the United States.
• CETUSA has offices in San Clemente, California; Bellingham, Washington; and Grand Rapids, Michigan with community coordinators located in the communities where the students are placed.
• CETUSA's management team has many years of experience in the student exchange field as well as a personal commitment to the CETUSA mission that they live every day.

○ Terry Watson, Chairman of the Board, has devoted more than 30 years of his professional life to this mission. In addition to hosting and placing exchange students, he founded a short-term program and administered programs for what was once the largest homestay organization in the United States.

○ Kim Carter, Executive Director, has lived abroad and is very passionate about our mission. Kim began working with CETUSA in 2014 and brings an extensive background in organizational development and communications.

○ Lisa Turnwall, High School Program Director, and her family hosted their first high school student in 1981. Lisa began her career in student exchange in 2006 after a number of years in the corporate world and succeeded her mother, Peg Spoelstra, as Program Director in 2015

○ Kevin Watson, Director of the Trainee and Internship Programs, lived and taught English for several years in China and has worked in the international student exchange field for more than 20 years. Kevin took over the Training & Internship Programs in 2012.

• CETUSA is granted full listing in the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) Advisory List, and is a member of the World Youth Student and Educational Travel Confederation (WYSTC), the WYSE Work Abroad Association and IEE's Generation Study Abroad initiative.

• Year: Students cannot be younger than 14.5 nor older than 18.5 years at the start of the program, which is either August 15 or January 15. Students for the fall program must be 14.5 years old before August 15th. Students for the January program must be 14.5 years old before January 15th.

• Minimum 3 years of learning English: Students must have a minimum of 3 years of English language learning behind them in their previous schooling;
• Eligible Grade Levels: Đaci moraju biti I, II, III, IV  godina srednje škole kao i učenici VIII razreda osnovne škole. Ne mogu da diplomiraju pre početka programa;
• Average education: 3 + in the current year (must not be a grade 1 or 2 in the current year). We are looking for good and exemplary students. It is necessary to attach grades from the previous 3 years and to translate the list of grades (certificate) into English.
• English: 6 or better (scores from 1-10)
• ELTIS: The minimum required is a passed ELTIS test with 215 points or more
• Mental/Emotional Health: We cannot accept students with the following health problems: ADD, ADHD, Bi-Polar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Depression, Eating Disorder, etc.
• Allergy: Takođe ne možemo da primamo na program učenike koji imaju ozbiljne alergološke probleme kao ni one koji imaju astmu. Ovakva oboljenja nisu pokrivena osiguranjem koje se obezbeđuje učenicima na programu.
• Vaccinations: Students must receive the following core vaccinations before starting the program:

4 doses of Polio - the last dose must be in the fourth year or after the fourth year;

4 doses of DTaP;

1 dose of Tdap - the last dose must be within 5 years from the date of the end of the program;

2 doses of MMR – the first dose must be on or after the first birthday;

2 doses of Varicella – the first dose must be on or after the first birthday. If the student had chicken pox, he must state the month/year when he had it. 1 dose each for Hep A and Hep B;

1 dose for meningococcal (meningitis) – the first dose must be after the age of 11 (ACW4Y only).

Tuberculosis test – must be done within 1 year of the program start date.

Hepatitis B vaccine

NOTE: If students do not have all vaccinations prior to arrival, they must receive the missing vaccinations. The students bear the costs of this. Our insurance in the USA does not cover the cost of vaccinations.

The school year abroad is a continuation and upgrade of the students' regular education. In addition to attending school, students have the opportunity to learn a foreign language and gain international experience. A high school exchange is a challenging, very fun and very specific experience. A student who spends ten months in a foreign country is not a guest or a tourist, but a member of a new family and a new environment. Such programs encourage maturation, independence and open numerous possibilities.

All program participants during their stay abroad have full and continuous support from our partner organization and their local coordinators, who live in the immediate vicinity of the students.

An investment for a lifetime

Participation in the program is an investment for a lifetime. For the largest number of students, the program influenced their choice of faculty and profession. The participants of the program are visibly different from their peers in that they have already proven themselves to be successful in new and unfamiliar circumstances.

What does a student get by participating in the High school USA program?

• He will improve his foreign language
• They will learn to apply their knowledge practically
• He will see himself and the world from a new perspective
• They will measure their abilities in a different environment and become more independent
• They will meet new friends
• He will gain a completely new life experience

Program price:  $9400 + $95 prijave na program for the school year, ($8400 + $95 prijave na program for one semester). The price includes tuition, accommodation and food in the host family)

Additional costs: visa costs (185$ application + 220$ SEVIS), mandatory health insurance (1195$ for the whole year and 695$ for one semester), plane ticket, personal expenses and teaching material.

Selection of region or country (optional): The candidate has the right to choose the region or country in which to reside and if the requested region or country is obtained, an additional payment is made:

• $400,00 Regional Preference Fee
• $600.00 State preferences: Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa , Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Arizona, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois.
• $800,00 New York, New Jersey, Florida
• $1000,00 Alaska
• $1200,00 California, Hawaii
  

INDEPENDENT FINDING OF A HOST FAMILY

If you have friends in the USA who would meet the criteria and conditions of the HSP program, are willing to provide you with free accommodation and food during your stay in the USA and are willing to cooperate with our Sponsor Agency / THERE IS A POSSIBILITY TO FIND YOURSELF A HOST FAMILY.

A family to spend time with They MUST NOT to be related to you. Friends, on the other hand, come into play.

The price of the program is the same because the sponsoring agencies invest the same, perhaps even greater, effort and working hours in the realization of the entire program, and the candidate will stay with a family he has known before.

Application for the program is made: until 31.03.2027. for the next school year - start je od avgusta 2027. or until 30.09.2026. for the half year from januara 2026.

The number of places is limited and these deadlines can be shorter if the places are filled before the specified dates.

Program steps:

1. Information interview with a representative of American Adventure (the interview is scheduled the day before the desired date);
2. The candidate must come with one parent to hear details about the program;
3. Nakon razgovora kandidat se odlučuje da li želi da učestvuje na programu. Ukoliko je odgovor potvrdan, potpisuje se Ugovor o pružanju usluga sa agencijom American Adventure DOO i po potpisivanju ugovora se uplaćuje trošak prijave od $95 i avans za program od 2000$;
4. You will receive forms to fill in as a list of documentation that the candidate is required to fill in/collect within 5 working days. American Adventure DOO provides assistance when filling out the form.
5. Upon confirmation by the Sponsoring Agency that the candidate has been admitted to the program and that the forms have been filled out adequately, the procedure for finding a family (HOST FAMILY) is entered;
6. The procedure of finding a family can last from 3 weeks to several months. It sometimes happens that the family meets in August for the beginning of the school year in August. In any case, obtaining a family must be completed by September 5 if the departure is in August or until December 31 for departures in January.
7. After finding a host family and a school in the USA, about which the students and their parents will be notified via e-mail address or after the verification and approval of the host family by the sponsoring agency from the USA (self program) - the parents of the students are obliged to pay the second installment of the program ( for the school year $6100,00, for one semester $5100,00)
8. SEVIS costs ($220,00) of the program are paid after finding the Host Family and the school in the USA / Parents are obliged to pay the costs of the SEVIS program within 5 working days from the day of receiving the notice of finding the Host Family or the completion of the verification and approval of the Host Family by the Sponsoring Agency from USA (self program);
9. After finding a Host Family and a school in the USA, about which the students and their parents will be notified via e-mail address from or after the verification and approval of the Host Family by the Sponsoring Agency from the USA (self program) - Parents are obliged to pay the costs of medical insurance in amount of $1195,00 (for the whole school year) / $695,00 for one semester for the student within 5 working days from the date of receipt of the notification.
10. If the student and his parents decide to choose the region or country where the student will reside, the parents are obliged within 5 working days from the day of receiving the notification to pay the subsequent cost for obtaining the selected region or country.
11. After the arrival of the necessary documentation from the USA, which is required for the student to apply for a J1 visa (DS 2019) - Parents are obliged to pay the third installment of the program in the amount of $1300,00 within 5 working days from the date of receipt of the notification of the arrival of the documentation;
12. Within 2 working days from the arrival of the necessary documentation for the visa, parents are obliged to pay the costs of the embassy in the amount of $185,00 according to the instructions of the Service Provider;
13. The student goes to an interview for a visa at the Embassy / American Adventure DOO provides a complete visa service 
14. He reserves a flight ticket according to his placement to the nearest international airport. American Adventure DOO mediates when buying an airline ticket.
15. The student leaves for the trip 5 days before the start of school.

American Adventure doo DOES NOT GUARANTEE OBTAINING A VISA, BECAUSE IT IS THE DISCRETIONARY RIGHT OF EACH EMBASSY TO APPROVE OR REJECT A VISA TO AN INDIVIDUAL.

The government prejudices that they are American schools easy, but they are only differently. The advantage of the American school system is that it provides students with choice and alternatives, so that everyone can find themselves, develop and be educated according to their talents and needs. The emphasis is on application of theoretical knowledge in practice. The American system envisages the possibility of choosing subjects that the student chooses with the help of a school counselor. The school year, depending on the country, starts from the end of July to the middle of September.

In addition to compulsory school attendance, students are involved in sports, social and extracurricular activities where they have the opportunity to show off their talents.

In order to successfully complete the school year, it is necessary to constantly study and engage in school activities throughout the school year.

Extracurricular activities (sports, music, acting, cooperation with the school newspaper, choir, business club, etc.) represent a very important segment in the American education system. They are organized by the school after classes and it is very important to actively participate in them.

It is important to note that the largest number of American schools, at the end of the successfully completed last grade, issue a certificate of completion to the participants of the program. Issuing a high school diploma is not a common occurrence.

Sports are very important to American society. We hope that you will take every opportunity to play the sport you love or to try sports that are not popular in Europe (American football or baseball, golf). If you play sports in your country and want to continue training in America, this is usually not a problem, but it may happen that the sport you train is not available at the school that enrolled you. No one will stop you from training what you want. In addition to all of the above, we must add that if anyone wants to participate in sports activities, play for the school or just train, they must undergo a mandatory medical examination that is not included in the program's medical insurance and the cost of that examination will be paid by the candidate himself.

Unlike our schools, the American system implies a smaller number of subjects per semester, but a similar number of subjects during one school year as here. American schools are similar to our high schools in terms of subjects, but in addition to general subjects, you can find subjects in the field of art (from singing in a choir, playing an instrument, participating in drama, musicals, through sculpture, to film production), economics, law and the like . The only thing you definitely won't find in American high schools are subjects in the field of medicine and medical sciences. School rules are completely different from our rules. First, there is no class teacher. Each student is taken care of by a "counselor", who will also help you to choose appropriate subjects before the start of school. During each semester, as a foreign student, you can choose subjects according to your interest. You should know that no one will warn you that the subject you are taking is not adequate for your class, therefore always ask to attend subjects that are adequate and correspond to the level of teaching you would have in Serbia. You can choose between 6-8 subjects per semester. In the last 15 years, American schools rarely and less often issue diplomas to foreign students (graduates), so if you are finishing your last year in America, be aware that the school reserves the right not to issue you a Diploma. Usually the reason is very rational, you did most of your schooling in Serbia, so it is logical that your school is the one that should issue you the Diploma. This applies not only to students from Serbia, but also to students from all countries of the world. If the school does not issue a diploma, which is the case in 90% cases, what is certain is that you will receive a certificate with grades for that year. In that case, it is very important that you attend adequate subjects for the 12th grade (i.e. subjects for the 4th year of high school), that the school issues you a certificate at the end of the year that it does not issue diplomas to foreign students, but that you have completed the 12th grade ( or if you are not enrolled in an adequate class, that you attended subjects from the 12th grade, which is possible in America for exchange students) and that you can apply to any faculty in the USA, or that you bring a passed SAT instead of a Diploma or the GED test. Each student is responsible for choosing a subject, and it is the discretion of each school to decide which class to enroll a student in. At the end of the school year, each student is responsible for bringing original documents to the country for certification. All documents must have an APOSTILLE - stamp obtained from the local Home Office. Without this seal, our Ministry will not consider certificates and diplomas for nostrification.

APOSTILLE VALIDATION AND VERIFICATION SERVICES WITH STAMP

The sponsoring agency can provide services to students in completing the necessary documentation required by the Ministry of Education for certification. Fees for these services are paid directly to the Sponsoring Agency.

AS NOSTRIFICATION IS PERFORMED BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, THESE RULES MAY CHANGE. AMERICAN ADVENTURE DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE CANDIDATE WILL RECEIVE A DIPLOMA OR GRADUATION DECISION UPON RETURN FROM AMERICA, THEREFORE, WE ASK CANDIDATES TO INFORM THEM ABOUT EVERYTHING ON THE WEBSITE OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION IN TIME AND BEFORE THE RETURN FROM AMERICA.

http://www.mpn.gov.rs/enicnaric-srbija/

The sponsoring agency also does not guarantee that candidates will receive a diploma, but if the school does issue a diploma (although no one can have a request to be placed in the school that issues the diploma, nor will the sponsoring agency report this to the family or the candidate), it may happen that the school has special rules for foreign students and that some subjects, if not all, are compulsory according to the school curriculum. In that case, the student is obliged to take the subjects that are mandatory for obtaining a diploma, because otherwise he will have to take the matriculation exam when he returns to the country, unlike his peers to whom the American school does not issue a diploma, and who have proof of it. Every certificate and documentation brought from abroad is submitted with accompanying documentation to the Ministry of Education as prescribed by the Ministry, and nostrification and consideration of the application for nostrification is done for all documents separately, so it is impossible to predict whether the matriculation exam will be recognized or not. According to the reciprocity of school recognition between our country and America, there should not be any problems for continuing education if the documentation is complete. In addition to regular classes, the school offers students a number of other activities. Our advice is that students get involved in the activities they are engaged in or in the activities they want to try, because that way they will make new friends easier and faster. Most often, the school lends books to every student who will return them at the end of the semester. Each student will also receive their own book cassette and will have access to all the opportunities in the school that are offered to other students. It often happens that our students can pay for lunch at school. Although this option is optional, we highly recommend it because it is a cooked meal and most Americans use it. It is not the family's obligation to cover this cost for you, but it is possible that the children in your family have already paid for this meal. If you want, pay it for yourself. It is about 3 dollars. Some schools charge for the loan of books and laptops and you should have about 300$ set aside for that. Special subjects that require additional material or special material for work may burden the candidate financially, because each candidate (ie the natural parents of the candidate) is obliged to bear the costs of school supplies that are not available on loan at that school. Most students will have organized transportation to school on the yellow school buses you've probably seen in the movies. If you live in a part of town or a small place where the bus does not go, or if you live near a school, you will be offered another form of transportation.

The sponsoring agency, which is also the organizer of the program, very carefully selects American families interested in accepting a foreign student into their home. When choosing a family, care is taken to ensure that the family meets all the requirements for the admission of foreign students provided by the program. Special attention is paid to the interests of both family members and foreign students.

American families participating in this program are aware of the value of cultural exchange and are motivated to help the foreign student adapt to the American way of life as easily as possible.

Families can be families with one or both parents, with children (the same age as the student they welcome into their home or younger) or without children. One family can accommodate two students at the same time ("double placement"). In that case, the students must be from different countries.

Host families are full of enthusiasm and want their children or themselves to learn about other peoples and cultures as well as to share their culture and way of life with a new member, and above all they love children. Because of all this, every student is expected to respect his family and try to adapt as soon as possible to the new rules of the house where he is staying. Your family will in turn provide you with an open heart and support throughout your stay. You will be expected to spend your free time together after finishing your school duties, as well as to perform minor duties within the family (tidying up the room, your belongings, helping around the house, etc.) after all, no more than what the members themselves do. You will certainly have the opportunity to show what you know, to explain to them how we live, to prepare a national dish or similar. The family will want to know about your country and will help you understand theirs. The families themselves are located all over America, mostly in smaller cities and towns in rural areas, but there is the possibility of being placed in larger cities as well. Our advice is that you don't even choose the location of your stay (there is an option to choose a specific area or even a country for an additional fee), but it is much more important to find a family that you will fit into the easiest. The families are checked, they are checked by the staff of the Sponsoring Agency with which we cooperate. Each family must have referrals from the community in which they live to participate in the program. The family must also have the basic financial conditions to receive a child from another country. The cultural differences between the two countries are huge, so our advice is that whenever you have a dilemma, talk to your family, because that is the easiest way to overcome misunderstandings. Each candidate is obliged to respect the rules of the family that apply to other children or generally apply to the household. It is also important to note that most American families are religious and that you are expected to respect their order when it comes to the church, ie. to go to church with them on days when they go too. Of course, going to church is not mandatory.

CHANGE OF THE FAMILY 

The family cannot be changed without objective reasons. Regardless of race, economic status, family religion, this program is intended for those who can accept all differences between people. Consequently, if you feel that you would not be able to accept large differences, do not even apply for the program.

The local coordinator is a person who, during the duration of the program, provides support to both the student, the American family and the school, so that the process of adapting to each other, as well as the student to a new environment and a different way of life, goes as smoothly as possible.

The local coordinator is in charge of solving any problems that may arise in the family or school during the duration of the program. His task is to contact the student, the family and the school at least once a month, and usually several times a month, to check if everything is okay.

Each program participant has a free contact phone available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for emergency calls and providing additional support when needed.

The role of the local coordinator is primarily to find a suitable family for the child participating in the program. The coordinator is the person who first of all inspected the family before your arrival and established that they have valid recommendations for participation in the program. After that, the coordinator is in charge of explaining his role upon the arrival of the child and holding an orientation meeting in which he will explain to the candidate what the representative does and remind the student of his rights and obligations. The local coordinator is the person who is the furthest hour or two away from the family and the student and constantly monitors the student's integration into the family and the school. Each representative is trained and has extensive experience in working with exchange students. It is of great importance that your attitude towards your surroundings is correct, honest and open. The only way to overcome a problem is through a representative (if you can't talk about it with your family). Talking to your friends, relatives and even parents sometimes simply cannot solve the problem, and their advice can worsen relationships. It often happens that when students discuss any problem with people who are not involved in the program, the situation gets complicated. To avoid this, first sit down and talk with the American family, then if you can't solve the problem together, consult the local coordinator. They are here to help you and to find the best possible solution together with you. Local coordinators are there to help with potential problems, but you also have to take responsibility, because only you can make your stay successful.

OUR TEAM IN THE USA INCLUDES 30 REGIONAL COORDINATORS AND 400 LOCAL COORDINATORS. LOCAL COORDINATORS ARE NO MORE THAN 60 MILES FROM OUR CANDIDATES.

                                +                                   

1. Administrative support from representatives of American Adventure DOO, consultations, assistance in filling out forms, collecting documents and applying for a USA J1 visa;
2. Handbook with tips for participating in the program intended for students;
3. Orientation program intended for students and parents before going to the program;
4. Transfer on arrival and departure to the USA;
5. Boarding and lodging with an American family and attending an American high school;
6. Support from the local coordinator during the stay in the USA;
7. Help, support and advice to students and parents from representatives of American Adventure DOO, as well as American Sponsor agencies during their stay in the USA;

INSURANCE

Every family in Serbia is responsible for the health of their child and before enrolling a child in the program, they must consider whether this program can endanger his/her health in any way. Also, the Sponsoring Agency from the USA, based on the health record filled out by each child's doctor, can decide not to admit the candidate to the program if it considers that the health condition is such that it may be endangered by this program. As we mentioned, every student is insured according to the laws that apply to this program. The insurance does not include dental diseases, hereditary diseases, vision correction, preventive medical measures... It also does not include medicines, physical therapy and the like. Participation is mandatory in America and is paid from 50-250$, and examinations related to the student's sports activities are also paid separately. All those who play sports must pay for sports injury insurance on the spot because it is not included in the insurance price.

THE PICK-PICKEL

Parents of each candidate are obliged to provide pocket money for their child during the stay. This pocket money is necessary for notebooks and accessories, personal hygiene, going out, excursions, trips or even additional food (if, for example, the student likes to eat more, and the family has different habits, and the candidate wants to supplement his meals - he can certainly do so from his pocket money, and cannot ask the family to supplement their habits). Pocket money must be between 300-350$ per month. Upon arrival in America, each candidate will go to the bank with his family and open his account. The student's natural parents can pay pocket money to that account, and the candidate can withdraw money in the amount he needs. When starting the program, the student should bring at least 2 pocket money with him. Never keep the money in the family account. Students may not borrow money from their families and must pay their own telephone and personal expenses.

TRAVELS

During the program, the student is prohibited from traveling outside the host family or with a representative. Therefore, independent travel, visits of natural parents are not allowed during the stay in America. The student also cannot return to Serbia or leave America during the vacation. Therefore, trips are only allowed with the family (although the family is not obliged to pay for the student's accommodation) if the student wants to go on the trip and can afford it if the family does not pay for it. The student can also choose to go on one of the offered trips organized by the Sponsoring Agency, accompanied by a coordinator (optional - paid for separately) or on a trip organized by the school.

High school INFORMATOR