Boarding school or foreign exchange program?

Study abroad? Student exchange program?

• Have you studied in another country before, whether for a summer or a semester or a year or longer? Did you stay with a family or go to boarding school? What country, and what program did you do it through? How was it - share your experience! Do you have any friends that did a student exchange program? Please explain. Thanks.

• Answer:

  Hi! While I've not studied abroad, I'm currently hosting my 13th exchange student and I lived and worked in Germany for a couple of years. First, it's most important to be committed to your choice of doing this! You must be willing to leave your family and friends at home and enter your life in your new country for your stay. If you are not (and this includes too much computer and phone communication) stay home. You also need to make sure your family and friends realize what you are doing. To keep them updated on your activities, try a blog or other website! Second, you need to find a reputable program. It should be CSIET listed (www.csiet.org). Ask your high school counselor for a recommendation. A program is only as good as its local representatives. Generally, AFS, Aspect, Rotary, YFU are reliable everywhere and ASSE is reliable most places. Rotary is the cheapest but most competitive. Your standard exchange program is home-stay and that is the best as it will fully immerse you into the culture and language. You also develop close, lasting ties with your new family. We keep in touch with 12 of our 13 kids! If you'd like experiences from lots of exchange students, try looking at http://www.exchangestudentworld.com/, which is an online community of past and present exchange students.