Embassy of the United States Vilnius, Lithuania

This exchange program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with additional funding from private donors, and seeks to bring bright and talented Lithuanian high school students to live for the 2012-13 academic year with an American host family. Students will be based throughout the United States and supported by local coordinators as well as the American Councils national office. 

Eligibility for Application

• Students with good knowledge of English
• Students who have good grades at their Lithuanian high school
• Students with good coping and adaptation skills
• Students currently studying in grade 9
• Students born from July 15, 1995 through July 15, 1997

 Program Features

• Assistance with program recruitment in Lithuania
• Selection in the U.S. by trained experts
• Year-long stay in a host family
• Local coordinators who maintain contact with the student and help resolve issues
• Year-long program in a U.S. high school
• Pre-departure orientation seminar
• Re-entry workshop
• Monthly allowance
• Personal support from American Councils Washington office

American Councils for International Education (American Councils) (www.americancouncils.org), a leader among international non-profit education and research organizations, develops innovative strategies for the improvement of education, training programs, and tools for the advancement of individuals, institutions and societies in the nations of South East Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East, and Asia. American Councils contributes to the development of new perspectives, mutual understanding, and tolerance among peoples. Since its founding in 1974, American Councils has administered dozens of U.S. government-sponsored educational programs that focus on the importance of international education and mutual understanding.

Recruitment Process

American Councils utilizes a structured three-stage recruitment strategy for its year-long high school exchange programs that has been successfully implemented in all of the countries American Councils works in. Through a transparent and merit-based competition, American Councils will recruit a pool of highly-qualified applicants for the program between Lithuania and the United States. Given the start for the 2012-13 academic year, American Councils will work with the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius to identify a small number of target schools in Vilnius to ensure a diverse applicant pool.

Recruitment Rounds

Testing for the program will be held at four locations in Lithuania – Klaipėda, Šiauliai, Kaunas and Vilnius. Participants are strongly encouraged to come to the city nearest their home for testing.

The first round of testing will consist of a short test of the English language level, lasting about 30 min. Students who are invited to the second round of testing the following day in Klaipėda, Kaunas, Šiauliai and Vilnius will be asked to complete three timed essays written in English, as well as a second, more challenging test of English language. The second round of testing will last approximately 3.5 hours.

Successful semi-finalists will be invited for a third round of testing, consisting of essays and interviews, before the end of December. Following interviews, semi-finalists will be asked to complete a full program application that will be considered as part of the selection process.

The testing schedule is as follows:

 October 16-17 – Klaipėda

LCC International University, Kretingos g. 36

October 22-23 – Šiauliai

Didždvaris gymnasium, Vilniaus g. 188

November 12-13 – Kaunas

J. Jablonskis gymnasium, Aušros g. 3

November 19-20 – Vilnius

U.S. Embassy in Vilnius, Akmenų g. 7

Testing at all four locations will begin at 10:00 a.m. on the first day indicated. All students wishing to take part in the program must come at this time. All students must bring with them a form of picture identification (such as a passport), one recent passport-sized photograph, and a pen.

Note: Students testing in Vilnius must register for testing no later than 17:00 on Wednesday, November 17, 2011 by e-mail: kevin.reiling@ehu.lt

Please send your name, date of birth and telephone number. Students will be grouped into blocks of 30, and will be assigned times for when to arrive at the Embassy. All other inquires may be addressed to kevin.reiling@ehu.lt

Selection

The selection process for American Councils' programs takes place in Washington, DC and is expertly managed by American Councils staff with the assistance of trained volunteers and experts in the field of international education.

Host Family Placements   

Because of the different location of each placement, host family placements represent the diversity of the U.S. All local coordinators and host families are screened using a criminal background check service and submit to an application process and an in-home interview.

High School Placements

All students are enrolled in accredited public or private schools. Students will be expected to maintain good grades and to enhance their academic pursuits by exploring a variety of extracurricular activities, including community service, clubs, and leadership activities available through their high schools.

Community Service

In addition to enhancement activities, students participate in community service projects. American Councils participants are required to perform 30 hours of community service over the course of their program.  The students have taken part in a variety of volunteer projects, such as working at the local Boys and Girls Club, working at organizations providing disaster relief, spending time with senior citizens at a nursing home, participating in the Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome, working with children at a day care center, and tutoring.