Foreign exchange (for high school): summer, semester, or year?

Question

I am a freshmen in high school, and I would like to participate in a foreign exchange to Austria possibly next year (but most of the application deadlines have already passed, I think) or my junior year.

I've always wanted to be a foreign exchange student but I don't know how long would be perfect.

I was thinking summer (as I don't have to stay away from my family that long and it doesn't affect my education here), but part of my wanting to be an exchange student since I was little was the idea of participating in school activities in another country and interacting socially with other people my age.

So.. semester or year? I know people who have gone for a year and they said that it was a life-changing experience, that it was hard because it was so long but that's what made it all worth it. But I'm worried about what it will do to my education here.

What should I do?

Any tips, suggestions, would be highly appreciated.

Answer 1

Ok I realize everyone is different, but I would always recommend a year.  

I was an AFSer to Sweden during my junior year - all of my credits transferred with me BUT every school is different, so your best bet is talking to a guidance counselor at your school to find out what their official policy is.

In my "professional opinion" as an former exchange student - a semester is NOT long enough to gain language fluency and really get "stuck in" to the culture you're visiting.  Snobbery is uncool but I'll ashamedly admit that the kids I know who also did a year abroad look down on kids who only did a semester as "lightweights."  

There's no question, a summer abroad would probably be fun & a great life experience - but if you really want language fluency and a trip that will probably profoundly affect the rest of your life (hopefully not in the scary bad way that poor kid who went to Egypt had happen to him, yikes!!!) go for a year! :))))  

(Also, I know somebody who lived in Austria and they absolutely loved it there:))

Answer 2

well u'll still get education there, if you go for a school year you will GO to school...what's the big deal?

Answer 3

Yeah, Missing gave really great information.

Last Friday, my school had exchange students from AFS come. There were students from Germany, Thailand, Austria, Italy, Columbia, Japan, etc, come visit .

I would have to say...

a year. Just because Going a semester to Austria, and then coming BACK to whereever you are, catching up in school would be a bit tricky.

Answer 4

"Missing" gave you some excellent advice!

The most important long-term benefit from an exchange is language immersion! A summer or semester just doesn't do it if you haven't got pretty decent language skills before you go. Also, if you are looking to go to Austria, you'll find a lot less English is spoken there than in Germany! So, while that will help you with your German skills, it will also make participation a bit harder. So, you'll need that extra semester!

Your school should accept most of your credits. You may have to double up on an English course or history/government course (or perhaps take one as correspondence). However, most schools will definitely give you foreign language, social studies and independent study credit for your exchange and often math and science, depending upon what you take in Austria.

Your junior year would be better than next year anyway. It will give you more time to prepare (buy Rosetta Stone for language training) and that extra year will make a big difference in your maturity!

Good luck and have fun!