Which foreign exchange program is safe and reliable?
I want to be a foreign exchange student my sophomore year (during the summer) and I want to go to Korea or (mainland) China or Taiwan. My parents are skeptical about letting my live with strangers, and I've checked out a few of the "top" program sites but I'm not sure about which program to pick. Which program has the best reputation and is the safest? Also what are some of the requirements for being an exchange student? Also is it possible to get scholarships for it?
Studying Abroad - 2 Answers
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not mexico
2 :
My answer to this question starts out the same way my answer to your last question starts, so you can skip the next two paragraphs if you remember that answer. YFU (Youth For Understanding), AFS, and Rotary are frequently called "the big 3" when it comes to exchanges - long histories and good reputations, although a few others are making their way up that list. Please forgive my bias towards YFU - it's the one that I have direct experience with (I am a 5-time host mom and volunteer). I am gaining indirect experience by corresponding with former students. When I have asked exchange students why they chose YFU, I get the following answers: (1) YFU gave them more bang for their buck and/or (2) someone they knew and trusted recommended YFU. 95% of the fees collected by YFU go for direct program costs (airline tickets, support in hosting country, etc.). YFU has been around for almost 60 years and has learned how to make exchanges successful. If you choose another organization, please make sure that it is is listed with the Council for Standards on International Educational Travel (csiet.org). They routinely audit programs for quality. While it is possible that a good organization is not listed with them, it is less likely and I would advise doing more research on anyone that is not listed with them. (All the above was in my answer to your previous question.) Who has the best reputation? That depends on who you ask. Generally speaking, you should be just fine with any of the above. Who is the safest? Again, you should be fine with any of the above. The selection of organizations going to Taiwan is a little limited, but YFU does have programs to Korea or China. Some of the 'official' requirements for being an exchange student are: generally good physical and mental health (if you have an allergy to something, that's fine, but do make sure to put it on any application); at least 15 yrs old (some countries won't take anyone who will be over 18.5 while on exchange); good grades; teacher recommendation; the ability to get a passport and visa; and a few other things that are so minor that I can't think of them at the moment. Some of the 'unofficial' requirements: the ability to laugh at yourself; the willingness to adapt; the willingness to accept someone else as your family; etc. There are competitive scholarships available. Again, I can only speak for YFU, but in a typical year, about 500 American students will go overseas with YFU and about 300 of them will have full or partial scholarships. Check out the website for more information. If I may make a suggestion, I would recommend that your parents check out the website and/or talk with a staff member/volunteer/former exchange student/parent of a former exchange student. All host parents will have a screening process they go through. (And trust me, as long as everyone (especially you) has their heart in the right place, the host family will not be a stranger for long! I hope this helps. Again, good luck to you no matter what you choose!
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