I want to go on an international student exchange.?
I live in Australia, and I would reeeeallllyyy like to go on a student exchange to somewhere french-speaking, like Belgium, Switzerland or France. I have looked on the internet and found a company called WEP and I've tried to convince my mum about the idea. She is all for it EXCEPT that she doesn't want me to mess up other school yeârs, be away for tooo long or do it with a company she doesn't trust or have any kind of recoard. I really want to do this, but... Mums... So, Does anybody know of anykind of record the WEP may have or be able to recommend a better company for an Aussie. Also, any idea how long would be a good idea??? And where. Oh, at the moment I'm 13 and a half... I'm a forward planner... Help!!! Thnx!
Studying Abroad - 1 Answers
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13 and a half is a good time to start thinking about going on exchange! I am a 5-time host mom and volunteer with Youth For Understanding (YFU) in the USA. YFU, AFS, and Rotary are frequently called "the big 3" when it comes to exchanges - long histories and good reputations. 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 59 years and has learned how to make exchanges successful. Which ever program you choose, make sure they are listed with the Council for Standards on International Educational Travel (csiet.org). They routinely audit programs for quality. I checked the CSIET list for WEP and did not find it. I can't tell you to not choose them, but you will need to do more investigation on your own. If I may, I would like to suggest checking out YFU. I just took a quick look at the YFU Australia website and they have done a really good job of expanding it. YFU does have programs to Belgium (French and Dutch speaking), Switzerland (French and German speaking), and France. One note: All three of those programs require students from the USA to have 2 years of French study in order to participate in the year programs. The YFU Australia made that notation for France; it is most likely the same for Belgium and Switzerland (you'll have to contact your local office). It's only natural for mothers to worry - they are responsible for you. The YFU website has a whole section for parents. I did happen to notice that France has a shorter program (I did not notice if Belgium or Switzerland did or not). Personally, I would suggest going for the full school year. You'll get a fuller experience and the price is usually the same. But that is just my own opinion. Regarding "messing up" your schooling - you'll have to check with your school to see what you'll need to do in order to "keep on track". It is not unusual for a student to not have any credit from an exchange year applied to their 'normal' school. It really depends on your school and what you do while away. Good luck to you no matter what you choose!!
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