Program Options: Rotary Youth Exchange

One high school study abroad option is through Rotary club, which has been doing high school exchanges since 1929. Currently, they have about 9000 high school students studying abroad. If you are unaware of how to contact your local Rotary club, start with the Rotary Youth Exchange home page. Rotary Youth Exchanges are completely run by Rotarian volunteers. Depending on the strength of your local organization, individual experiences with Rotary Youth Exchanges may vary greatly across the USA and abroad.

The Basics

Rotary tries to place your child with 3 families in the same school district over the course of one year.
Cost for one year (2016-2017) was $6000, which included airfare, living expenses, and a small monthly stipend.
Students must pick several top choice destinations and are not guaranteed placement in any of those countries.

The Application Process

Applications for our local club were due in October. Do not underestimate the time it will take for your child to complete this application! In addition to several essays, your child will need to write a letter to their prospective host families, provide pictures showing a spectrum of their activities, get two teacher recommendations, have an official transcript sent, provide a doctor's exam, provide a dentist's exam, provide a copy of his/her passport, sign multiple papers, and complete an interview with the local Rotary representative. Parents also have to write a letter to prospective host families and sign multiple forms. At the end of November, applicants and their parents are invited to attend an informational event, where you can ask questions, meet international students currently studying in America, meet American students who recently returned from studying abroad, and complete an additional interview.

My Overall Impression

Our local Rotary Youth Exchange program is strong. The volunteers are experienced; the events were well-organized, informative, and efficient. Students who have gone abroad through Rotary rave about their experiences, and parents seem satisfied with the organization. The price is the best available, and Rotarians in other countries tend to be professionals and leaders in their communities. Some exchange students appreciated staying with different families; others felt it was disruptive. The acceptance rate is high, and small scholarships may be available.

We had just one issue dealing with the Rotary Youth Exchange -- before applying, we asked if they would accept my daughter if her vaccinations are not complete (if you are unfamiliar with Rotary, one of their goals is the eradication of polio through vaccinations). They said they had no problem with that. She wanted to go to several countries in Europe that do not have mandatory vaccination laws, so we knew that going to school would not be an issue. The Rotary Youth Exchange accepted her into the program and then rejected her when they could not find a placement. If your child is not fully vaccinated (for whatever reason), be aware this may be an issue. I wish they had known that upfront; it would have saved us a lot of time in the application process.