ASSIST Today’s scholars. Tomorrow’s leaders. Explore becoming an ASSIST host family 52 Countries • 5,050 Alumni • One Family www.assistscholars.org THE MISSION OF ASSIST ASSIST creates life-changing ASSIST was founded to create opportunities for leading international students of talent and promise to contribute strongly to American opportunities for outstanding independent secondary school communities. ASSIST students are selected with great care from 20 or more countries in Asia, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and Africa through a rigorous national scholarship competition in each country. international scholars to learn from After initial pre-screening by in-country leaders, ASSIST interview teams spend 10 or more weeks overseas interviewing finalists. We seek students 15–18 years of age with impressive academic credentials, strong spoken and written and contribute to the finest American English, engaging personalities, and talents that can be shared in extracurricular programs. independent secondary schools. We shape each ASSIST Class with time-tested, handcrafted methodology. Of the 1,060 students who applied for the Class of 2017/18, 526 were credentialed strongly enough to interview; of those, 160 were selected to receive scholarships (an acceptance rate of 15%). Our Scholars will serve as ambassadors representing 23 countries. For 2017/18, our 81 member schools are investing scholarships totaling U.S. $5.8 million in our students. I consider my host family to be one of the best parts of not only my exchange year, but my life in “the future. I was placed in a beautiful family that gave me the best year I could have wished for. My host family will be one of the warmest memories from this whole experience. I believe a life- long bond was formed: they took me in and treated as a family member and so did I.” GUODA LITHUANIA NICHOLS SCHOOL (NY) Today’s scholars. Tomorrow’s leaders. 3 What host families say about ASSIST Scholars “Our experience was a model of the best experience anyone could have. As the weeks progressed I marveled how we all got along; Larissa’s stay with us was seamless. I honestly felt she had grown up with us as family. We simply merged into a harmonious whole. Recently her parents came and stayed with us for three weeks and once again we were amazed to discover that we had become one large family on two continents. We are very grateful to ASSIST for bringing us together.” The Leach Family, California “Our experience as a host family was extremely gratifying. Our ASSIST student was clearly thoughtfully chosen and was well prepared to spend a year in a foreign culture. All in all, a wonderful experience for her and a wonderful experience for our family. She will be forever in our hearts.” The Reddy Family, Ohio Why choose to host an ASSIST Scholar? “Our family experience was a positive experience and one we hope to indulge in again in the future. Diego will always be a part of our family. No matter the time that passes, Living successfully and happily in the 21st century means becoming a skilled he will always be welcome home and we hope to visit his home in Spain someday. My global citizen – and helping others to do the same. Hosting an ASSIST Scholar middle son really took to Diego and they will forever be friends and brothers. We miss means the following: him already!” The Baker Family, Pennsylvania • Become a citizen of the world without leaving your home. “We have hosted a total of three ASSIST students during our daughter’s high school • It takes a family to help raise global citizens. years. They are Laura from Zaragoza, Spain, Paula from Madrid, Spain, and Lea from • Expose your own kids to a larger world and change your family’s dinner Düsseldorf, Germany. Each student has been absolutely outstanding, and our only conversation. regret is that our daughter has now graduated, so we will not be hosting a fourth.” The Smith Family, California • Who do you think will learn more – you or the student you host? • Be confident knowing you’re hosting a Scholar who’s been closely vetted. “While I was in Germany visiting Philipp’s family, they expressed such profound • You’re not in it alone – ASSIST and your school are ready to help. gratitude to me for having served as a host family because they said without people like me the program was impossible. I hadn’t quite thought of it like that because to me, being a host family was just one of the greatest things that our family ever did.” The Ramirez Family, Texas 4 www.assist-inc.org Today’s scholars. Tomorrow’s leaders. 5 ASSIST Countries 2017/18 Australia Hungary Serbia Austria Italy Slovakia Bulgaria Lithuania Somaliland Cambodia Moldova Spain Croatia Netherlands Sweden Czech Republic New Zealand Turkey Denmark Palestine Vietnam Germany Poland ASSIST Member Schools 2017/18 Albuquerque Academy, NM Indian Springs School, AL Shady Side Academy, PA The Baldwin School, PA Kents Hill School, ME Sidwell Friends School, DC Berkshire School, MA Kimball Union Academy, NH St. Albans School, DC Bryn Mawr School, MD Laguna Blanca School, CA St. Andrew’s School, DE Canterbury School, IN Lancaster Country Day School, PA St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, TX Carolina Day School, NC Laurel School, OH St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School, TN Catlin Gabel School, OR The Lawrenceville School, NJ St. Catherine’s School, VA Chadwick School, CA Linden Hall, PA St. Christopher’s School, VA Chatham Hall, VA The Loomis Chaffee School, CT St. Mark’s School of Texas, TX What are the primary responsibilities Christ School, NC The Masters School, NY St. Paul’s School, NH Culver Academies, IN Maumee Valley Country Day School, OH St. Timothy’s School, MD of a host family? Cushing Academy, MA Mercersburg Academy, PA Stoneleigh-Burnham School, MA Most families instinctively know what is right and proper according to the Darlington School, GA Miss Hall’s School, MA The Stony Brook School, NY circumstances, but families always ask ASSIST about what is expected and for advice on Deerfield Academy, MA North Shore Country Day School, IL Stuart Hall School, VA Episcopal High School, VA Peddie School, NJ Suffield Academy, CT how to maximize their experience with their host child: The Ethel Walker School, CT The Pennington School, NJ The Taft School, CT • Provide the student with a safe, welcoming, and supportive home environment. Foxcroft School, VA Perkiomen School, PA Tower Hill School, DE Friends School-Baltimore, MD Phillips Academy Andover, MA Trinity Preparatory School, FL • Welcome the student as a member of your family and try to integrate him or her Garrison Forest School, MD Phillips Exeter Academy, NH Wasatch Academy, UT Girls Preparatory School, TN Princeton Day School, NJ The Waterford School, UT into all aspects of family life. Greenhill School, TX Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, GA Wayland Academy, WI • Provide room and board for the student and a place to study. All students must have The Gunnery, CT Sage Ridge School, NV Waynflete School, ME Hawken School, OH Saint Andrew’s School, FL Webb School, TN their own bed, and if sharing a room, it should be with a child of the same gender Hebron Academy, ME Salem Academy, NC Westminster School, CT and of a similar age. The Hill School, PA Salisbury School, CT Westtown School, PA The Hockaday School, TX Sandia Preparatory School, NM Woodberry Forest School, VA • Provide transportation to and from the school. The Hotchkiss School, CT Savannah Country Day School, GA Wyoming Seminary, PA • Encourage the sharing of ideas to help your student learn about American culture and to help your family learn about the student’s culture. • Voice concerns and questions regarding the student to the host school’s ASSIST Representative and/or to ASSIST staff. 6 www.assist-inc.org Today’s scholars. Tomorrow’s leaders. 7 During Orientation, students participate in ice-breaking and team-building exercises, travel to Boston (where they walk the Freedom Trail, learn about our nation’s history, and sight-see in Quincy Market), have fun, and use their English skills. A day of classes is designed to orient students to the independent school experience and to answer the many questions they may have about school expectations, living with a host family, rules, managing stress, time management, and making friendships. A highlight of the orientation is a “Traditions of our Cultures” evening in which students share their many talents: singing, dancing, playing instruments and having great fun. What support does ASSIST provide to families? It will not surprise you when we suggest that not every day will follow flawlessly upon the previous one! Intercultural exchange, and opening your home to someone previously unknown to you, will create stress, and you may find yourselves in need of ASSISTance. While the answers may well be found within your family or your school community, please think of ASSIST and the school as your partners throughout the time your student is in your home. The ASSIST Representative at school, as well as administrators and other faculty, will act as resources throughout the hosting period, but you will also be able to call upon ASSIST if you encounter difficulties for which you are unprepared. We have 48 years of organizational experience in the field, and those resources might be helpful to you. Most host family experiences do not require ASSIST’s help, but please know that we stand ready to help if the situation arises! ASSIST Scholars are provided numerous materials to help prepare them for their exchange year, and they also attend a pre-departure orientation in their respective countries.