13year old ? student exchange to Japan/Italy ?
Can i go to Japan or Italy at the age of 13 ( im 14 soon ) i REALLY want to go on a student exchange program can anyone help please ? What would i have to do to go on one , how much money on average etc etc And give me some links pleasee... Thanks ^_^
Other - Europe - 1 Answers
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May I suggest YFU (Youth For Understanding)? I am a 5-time host mom and volunteer with. 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. The main website has a ton of information! This year they have programs to Japan but not Italy. I know they have had programs to Italy in the past, so they may be re-instated - I don't know. 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. Note: you will need to be 15 before you can go. Being an exchange student requires a certain level of maturity that people under 15 usually don't have. The process would be (more or less) as follows: a) Gather info and talk to your parents, teachers, and school counselor. b) Apply for the program and/or a scholarship. (Online, over the phone, by fax or mail, etc.) You will need to choose your country and length of stay. (YFU offers programs to 39 countries this year, only 9 of which require that you study it's language before you go.) c) After the organization reviews your file, participate in an in-person interview. This is to make sure you were honest and accurate on your application and to make sure you're placed with the appropriate host family. d) Pay for the program. e) After you get a host family, correspond with them. (Not officially required, just something I think is an extremely good idea.) f) Go and work hard and enjoy. g) Come home and share your experience. The cost depends on where you go and for how long. Summer programs will generally be $6500 to $8000. Semester and year programs will be $8000 to $11000. The largest costs are getting you there and back and training the volunteers that you'll be relying upon when your there. These costs don't change much if you're there for a summer versus a year. Check out the website - it should answer most (if not all) of your questions (even ones you haven't thought of yet). Good luck to you no matter what you choose.
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