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High School in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is an ideal place to study abroad in high school, with its wide range of cultural influences, beautiful tropical weather, and natural wonders.

Study Abroad in the Dominican Republic

Explore everything the Dominican Republic has to offer by living with a host family and experiencing a warm, colorful way of life. Discover the highest mountain and deepest valley in the Caribbean, as well as rainforests, deserts, and white sand beaches! The Dominican Republic boasts a strong industry of ecotourism and provides many opportunities to connect with nature through hiking, birdwatching, and exploring national parks.

Dominicans are welcoming people with a great sense of humor who are happy to share all the things they consider to be “muy dominicano.” They are proud of their heritage and are welcoming to those who want to visit and learn more about the things that mean most to them – which is often family! As a former Spanish colony, you’ll find traits of traditional Spanish culture are still present on the island, often with a twist. African and Taíno cultural influences are still prevalent throughout Dominican culture as well. You’ll find a wide range of foods incorporated into meals, as recipes in the Dominican Republic are known for their dynamic flavors, reflecting the rich history of the island.

Things to Know

Dominican culture is a mixture of European, African, and Taíno cultural elements. This is most apparent in Dominican food, family structure, religion, and music. Dominican people are generally warm, friendly, and direct. You’ll find people you encounter to be very expressive, speaking loudly and quickly in conversation with strong body language and facial expressions. In Dominican culture, people generally prefer to stand close to one another while speaking – eye contact is also important in Dominican culture to show interest and demonstrate trust.

Dominicans are very fond of dancing to merengue and bachata. Merengue is the musical genre most often associated with the Dominican Republic and has been part of the Dominican musical repertoire since the mid-19th century. Dominicans often go out to dance or organize parties in their homes, where dancing is the main activity. Baseball is the most popular sport and a unifying force for the country – the Dominican Republic is home to some of the world’s best players!

What's included in your experience

  • Airfare

Eligibility

Graduates Eligible? Yes, high school graduates are eligible to participate.
Minimum GPA 2.5
Age Range (at program start) 15 years and 5 months to 18 years and 5 months
Language Skills Spanish A1 – At some schools they can take Spanish courses as part of their academics curriculum.

Based on differences in culture, strict government regulation of medications, and other local customs, it has been our experience that not all of our international AFS partners are able to support students with certain diagnoses, including but not limited to, severe allergies, strict dietary restrictions, ADD/ADHD, and those currently taking or who have taken psychotropic medications and/or received counseling for mental/psychological issues within the past year. If this applies to you, please get in touch with an AFS Study Abroad Specialist early so that we can determine the right experience for you.

Your Journey to the Dominican Republic

AFS-USA will coordinate and share your international travel with you. You will need to coordinate your own travel to the point of international departure. From there, your journey in Dominican Republic will begin when you land, where you’ll be met by staff, volunteers and meet your fellow AFSers from around the world. Shortly after arrival, you will attend an arrival orientation and get a crash course on Dominican culture, living with a host family, safety, and support structures.

Dominican Republic_Host Family

Your Accommodations

Meeting Your Host Family

All exchange students will live with host families in different cities located all over the country: the countryside, in the mountains, near beaches, in small towns, or in bigger cities like the capital. Families may seem more conservative than you’re used to in the U.S., but you can expect your family to be extremely caring and protective of you and your host siblings! Dominican families are often tight knit, so your social life will likely be centered on family or a small group of your host siblings’ friends. It’s common to find multiple generations living in the same home and showing respect for elders is important. Following house rules and discussing your plans with your host parents will be an important part of building a good relationship with them.

Dominican Republic_Daily Life

Daily Life

Dominican teenagers devote much of their time during the week to homework. In Dominican culture, teenagers are encouraged to develop a strong work ethic and to become frugal and independent. A large emphasis is placed on education as a way of attaining these attributes. On weekends, you’ll find that your peers enjoy getting together with friends, going to movies or dancing, relaxing in local cafes, attending sporting events, or just hanging out in the town square.

Dominican Republic_School

Your High School in the Dominican Republic

High school in the Dominican Republic is in session from August to June, 7:45 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. You will be attending a public or private school and Dominican students are required to wear uniform. Depending on where you’re placed, there may be limited extracurricular activities at school, so it’ll be important to be proactive and find these activities in your community outside of school. You can try things like sports (such as baseball, football, volleyball and basketball) or art classes (guitar, dancing, painting, chorus). These activities are a great way to make friends and engage with your host community!

Dominican Republic_Food

Foods You'll Encounter

In the Dominican Republic, you’ll find a wide range of foods incorporated into meals, such as meat, seafood, grains, vegetables, and corn, which is native to the island. When you arrive, you may be served first at meals as a gesture of hospitality. You can expect to share dishes that incorporate rice, beans, plantains, and many other delicious local foods prepared by your host family.

A traditional Dominican breakfast or dinner dish is called mangú, a savory puree often made of mashed plantains. For lunch, Dominicans often eat la Bandera Dominicana (the Dominican Flag) which consists of white rice, bean stew (black, red or white) and meat. You’ll also find seasonal fruits like pawpaw (papaya), mango, passion fruit, guineps (a small, round fruit with jelly-like flesh), and guava! In Dominican culture, bananas and plantains are eaten all throughout the year.

Available Scholarships

We believe that studying abroad should not be contingent on personal finances. When you apply, we work with you to understand your family’s needs and match you with available scholarships and aid. 100% of accepted applicants with demonstrated need receive funds.

Learn More

What's Included

  • 75+ years of experience delivering high-quality programs through a worldwide network of 30,000 dedicated volunteers
  • Accommodations with a vetted host family
  • Round-trip international airfare for the designated program dates
  • School enrollment fees
  • Worldwide, 24-hour emergency assistance
  • Access to an in-country support team and network, as well as our Participant Support Department based here in the U.S.
  • Orientations and intercultural education before and during your program
  • International secondary medical travel coverage
  • Visa support and guidance
  • Inclusion in a worldwide returnee and alumni network of over 1,000,000 people

Visa Info

Do I need a visa/residence permit for Dominican Republic? Yes
How do I apply for the visa? (By mail, In-person, In host country) In-person / By mail
Visa/Residence Permit Process Difficulty Level (Easy, Average, Complex) Average
Estimated Visa/Residence Permit Expenses
($ – $$$)		 $$$
Frequently Asked Visa Questions Visit our general visa FAQ page for more information.
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Returning Home

“Life-changing” is hard to describe, yet it’s nearly always the first thing that AFSers say when asked about their experience abroad. “Transformed” is another one. When you return home from your study abroad in the Dominican Republic, you’ll bring with you a sense of accomplishment unlike any other. You’ll have gained maturity and independence, discovered new passions, and developed the confidence and resilience to accomplish anything you set out to do.

That transformation isn’t only visible to you, though – others see it as well. AFSers gain critical skills for college and careers. Second language fluency, intercultural competence, creativity, and critical reasoning will help you succeed, whatever path you take. “Life-changing” means it’s only the beginning. It’s not just an adventure abroad; it’s a whole new reality. The perspectives and personal connections you gained will stay with you and likely draw you back to the second home you found in the Dominican Republic.

In fact, our alumni reviews have made AFS one of the top-rated organizations in the study abroad industry.