Boarding school or foreign exchange program?

How can I participate in foreign exchange even if my school doesn't have that program? (High School)?

• I live in Puerto Rico right now, I was raised in California for 6 years, so my English is fluent enough for the US. My high school doesn't have that program, I want to finish High over there because I am completely dissatisfied with the poor education levels here. I have been in CA public schools, so I know how it is. My mom can't take me there because her sons father lives here, but she might not mind (MUCH) if I somehow went to study over there myself. I only want to study in Public schools because to me private are worthless, you don't really learn, you just pay for your grades. Even if it was a boarding school, how can I do this, or is there any high school in the US that can help me on this? Thanks for reading, -Lucian

• Answer:

  Your school does not have to participate in a high school exchange program in order for you to spend a year abroad ( a year only). There are many independent agencies that arrange cultural exchanges for high school teens , for a price. You live with a host family (or two) and go to the local (almost always public) high school in their area. You would have to speak with your counselor in your high school in Puerto Rico and see if they are willing to consider accepting the classes and grades you will take in the U.S or abroad as part of your curriculum. I am from California, L.A area, and while you are right that many public schools are good enough, there are many that are not, including the public high school in my area. And while I hated attending private high school , I must admit the learning environment i had...tenia nada que ver con el colegio publico de mi ciudad. I would suggest looking into an organization called Rotary; a club that does a variety of things for the communities of their area but also sponsers and regulates a youth exchange program that is not talked about nor advertised much, because they have more than enough students. I do not know if this exists in Puerto Rico, but it exists in dozens of countries, and it is the agency i went through to go to Chile. They should sponser you half way, making the program fee so much cheaper than other private agencies that specialize just in youth exchange. My program fee back in 2007 was... 4300 dollars, i believe. Everything included..the flight..the school.. visas, the arrangements, etc. but of course then came the rotary trips and that can cost a lot (but most are optional). I believe this was the base price for every exchange, regardless of the country you were going to. If you want to leave in September, you have to start the process at the very very latest, january of that same year, although in other countries i hear it is probably a lot more competitive and you should start the process a whole year before. An agency I know people from Chile had gone through is AFS. With private agencies, you can expect to spend 9-11 thousand for a year abroad. Puerto rico is technically apart of the U.S, so ...i'm not sure if you will find foreign exchange programs to the U.S, but it's worth a try! If not, why not look into Canada? Although you are only granted a year with these programs ( i dont know if you want to study more than 1 year abroad) if you are really smart about this, and very lucky as well, a youth exchange program will give you the opportunity to get your foot in the door... Perhaps you will get a host family who likes you very much, and who will be willing to sponser you and help you come back to complete another year abroad even when the program has ended. I do warn you though...youth exchange programs can be a bit sloppy, and the idea is to experience teenage life and is not so much about the quality of education. For example, students often get thrown into highschools in the middle of the school year (because school years vary in different countries), without the proper materials, in random classes, without recieving proper or official grades, etc. But as you are fluent in English, perhaps less of this will happen. Also beware that some programs will obligate you to have a foreign student to come and live in your home while you are abroad ( in california, noone had to come to my home, but in chile, every house each exchange student was in, the family had a child abroad ). There are many more agencies to choose from so don't just look at these two sites. Good luck , I know how it feels to be in a position like yours. :)