How to Become an American Foreign Exchange Student

Being a foreign exchange student is a great way to experience another country.

If you want to travel the world and learn a bit of another country's culture, being a foreign exchange student is probably one of the best ways to accomplish it. You will likely live with a local host family, and the family is your own local tour guide. You can practice the language of the country you are living in with the family, too. By going to school with local students, you will have a chance to see what the local culture is really like and learn things about the country that only a person who lives there would know.

Things You'll Need

• Passport
• Student visa

Instructions

1. Maintain a good grade point average. Exchange programs are usually academic in nature, and they require a minimum GPA in order to participate in their programs. For example, the AFS (formerly American Field Service) foreign exchange program requires participating students to have at least a 2.8 GPA. (See Reference 1)

2. Decide where you would like to live and study. Many countries participate in foreign exchange programs, so you have a wide range of options in choosing where to travel. Consider the language of the countries you are considering. If you already know some of the language in a particular country, you can develop your skills even more. If you want to learn a particular language, choose a country that speaks that language. Remember that living in any foreign country will expose you to different ways of life and help you develop your sense of independence and your leadership skills.

3. Choose a foreign exchange student program. These programs facilitate your trip by connecting you with a local host family, arranging travel, and other necessary details. Talk to other students who have participated in foreign exchange programs and ask their opinions of particular ones. A couple of programs that provide more information about becoming an exchange student are AFS, the Council on Standards for International Education Travel, and International Youth Exchange.

4. Speak with a counselor about your school's study-abroad programs. There are often summer break, and semester- and year-long programs available. Universities and colleges often partner with particular schools abroad to provide classes and exchange programs.

5. Apply to the program you choose. The application process can take a few weeks to complete, depending on the requirements of the exchange program. (See Reference 1) You may be required to submit essays and recommendation letters along with your application. You will also need to apply for a passport and student visa. Your program will help you navigate this process.

References

• AFS

Resources

• AFS
• Council on Standards for International Education Travel
• International Youth Exchange