How do STUDENT EXCHANGE TRIPS work?

Question

How old do you have to be?

Does everyone get the choice do it?

Answer 1

You go there, they come wherever you are!

Answer 2

If you are writing from the U.S. and are a high school student, then my answer pertains to you.

First age. Participants in a foreign exchange program must be between 15 and 18 1/2. Some organizations with "13th year programs" will accept 19 year olds.

Anyone can apply to be an exchange student! You should check with your high school counselor for a program recommendation. Generally, AFS, Aspect, Rotary and YFU are reputable everywhere. Rotary is the cheapest, but most competitive.

The use of the word "exchange" is a bit misleading. It is not a one-on-one exchange where you to to someone's house and their child goes to your house.

What will happen is that the organization you choose will ask you where you want to go. Generally you give them a choice of three countries (city placement is almost NEVER guaranteed). Then once you are placed within a country, the organization finds a host family and school for you.

You will then go and live with that family and attend school -- usually for a semester or an academic year, depending upon what you have selected.

For more information on the experience, check out this on line community: http://www.exchangestudentworld.com/

Answer 3

Talk to your school counselor they would have all the info.  Usually you list 3 places you would like to try and the program tries and finds families in those cities that will host exchange students.  Each trip lasts between 6 months to a full school year.  Then you go their or they come here.