Opportunities for US High School Students in Japan

YFU USA is currently accepting applications for one of its most prestigious full-year high school scholarships to Japan, the 2007 Japan-U.S. Mutual Understanding Scholarship Program for the 21st Century (JUMP). During this year long exchange experience, JUMP scholars will live with a Japanese host family and enroll in a local high school.

The application deadline for the scholarship is October 3, 2006 and to qualify each student must fit within the age range of fifteen to eighteen years old.

The American Overseas application is available for download on the YFU website at www.yfu-usa.org. For more information, please call 1-800-TEENAGE to speak with an Admissions Counselor.

Application Deadline and Eligibility Requirements

Early application is encouraged; the completed application must be postmarked by October 3, 2006. Prior language skills are not required. However, applicants must have a strong interest in Japanese culture and language. In addition, they must meet the following minimum requirements:

--Sophomore or junior class standing at the time of application
--Born between 12/1/88 and 1/15/92
--Academic grade point average of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale
--Demonstrated qualities which are essential to intercultural adjustment such as flexibility, open-mindedness, curiosity, tolerance of failure, sense of humor, and ability to adapt to unfamiliar environments
--US citizen

Students are required to depart for Japan in early March 2007, returning early January 2008. The student must pay a $600 tuition contribution; the rest of the tuition is covered by the JUMP scholarship. Personal expenses for passport, visa, and spending money are not included.