Exchange Program????

Question

I want to go to a boarding school in england for a year, but as it is I was wondering if there is some way that I could go by an exchange program. I'm 15 is that to young?

Answer 1

No, it is not too young, although you are really pushing it for many agencies.  If you went at your age I guarantee that you would be the youngest and maybe the only 15- year old. Still, if you are ready to go, go for it!

I am 17 and I went to Chile for year when I was 16. Even at 16 I was the youngest.  Most were 18-19, making good use of that gap year, and a few were 17, maybe one other person was 16 at the beginning of the program. We had one fifteen-year old at the beginning of the program, but she ended up leaving after two months. Usually for these types of programs you have to start applying 6 months to a year in advance , so planning to go for your junior year would be your best chance.

I say it is a very rewarding experience, especially if you are going to a explore a really different culture and learning a different language.

I went through a non-profit organization called Rotary.  Youth exchanges are only one of the things they do, so they in my experience they are not as hands-on as some other private agencies specializing in youth exchange, but they do sponsor half of your trip

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You stay with one to three host families, and I would have had it any other way.  Even if you do not get along so smoothly with one or the either, the experience makes you so much stronger.  If you are having SEVERE problems with a certain family they will of course move you immediately.  You are also required to go to a local high school in the area (me personally, being little fluent in Spanish, goofed on the entire school year except maybe in my English class). Those who were already out of high school did practically nothing in class, although they showed up everyday because it IS a requirement.  Besides, it is a great way to feel like a local and meet students your own age.

There are a lot of youth exchange programs and for a year, the average cost you will find is anywhere between 8,000-11,000 dollars.  With Rotary, I paid 4,300 ( going from California to live in Chile for a year).  I am not sure if Rotary does exchanges in England, I have a feeling that I  heard that somewhere , but it could just be my district. Still, if you are open to any other countries, try You should definitely look up your local Rotary club.  Haven't even heard of them? That's all right; I didn't either. I found them on the internet!

Besides Rotary, I can personally recommend AFS, because my classmate from Chile came to California through this agency and two other friends from Chile are going to Italy and Canada through the agency.

Hope this helped you bit !