Program Options: Youth For Understanding (YFU)

One option for high school study abroad is Youth For Understanding (YFU). YFU began hosting intercultural exchanges in Germany in 1951 as a way to promote healing and understanding after WWII. Since then, over 260,000 students have participated in exchanges in 55 different countries.

The Basics

There is a vast variety of programs (short-term, semester, or year-long) all over the world, some with a specific focus (music, theater, etc.)

Students must be between 15 and 18 years old.

The cost of a one-year program (2016-2017) was $16,000, which included airfare, living expenses, expenses related to attending school, and pre-departure orientation.
Airfare is from assigned "departure cities," and families will need to get their child to and from that departure city.

Proficiency in the desired language is not required; a short language "camp" is provided in-country at the beginning of the program.
Students will live with a host family in most of the programs.

The Application Process

The application process differs greatly depending on if your child is applying for scholarships or not. YFU administers many generous scholarships, including the popular Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) sponsored by the US Department of State. If your child is applying for scholarships, the application is due in early December. If your child is not applying for scholarships, the YFU application is due much later. Do not underestimate the amount of time your child will need to complete this application! In addition to writing several essays and letters, your child will have to provide official transcripts and teacher recommendations, sign multiple forms, upload pictures, provide proof of a recent physical exam, and complete an interview. Interviews are held locally in January, but if you are unable to attend (as we were), you can request a local YFU representative complete the interview.

My Overall Impression

YFU is professionally staffed at their headquarters in Washington DC, and locally staffed by volunteers. Depending on the strength of your local volunteers, your experience with YFU may vary greatly. My daughter was a recipient of the CBYX scholarship, so she chose to travel with YFU in order to take advantage of the fully-funded year in Germany. Unfortunately, I have very little positive to say about the organization and efficiency of YFU; however, the staff at the headquarters is somewhat better than our local volunteers. Communication is often last-minute, events tend to be disorganized, and conflicting information is often provided. If your child is choosing to travel through YFU, your mantra should include the word "flexibility," and you should be prepared with many deep breathing exercises. YFU is also run by volunteers in the host country, so experiences can vary greatly depending on the strength of the volunteers in the hosting country.