Does anyone know anything about being an exchange student?

elementskater15 · #1 04-30-2006, 10:15 PM

As some of you know, I've become involved with a Thai exchange student from my school. She and I want me to return to Thailand with her and go to her school for a year...and then she wants to return to the States with me and go to college. I've already okayed it with her parents, they offered to be my host family. I've looked into several programs and they are all very expensive. PAX, the program she uses, charges $5000. All the program does is assign you a coordinator that finds you a school and a host family, I've already got both lined up. Does anyone know what I would have to do to get around an exchange student program? All I can think of is registering at her school and getting passports. Any help is greatly appriciated, we are lost when it comes to this stuff.

clawhammer · #2 04-30-2006, 11:03 PM

Find a girl in the states that won't cost $5000.

Nicole8188 · #3 05-01-2006, 12:31 AM

Hard to say. I'm going to spend the whole summer trying to find an exchange program in London for a year. As of right now, the cheapest thing I've found is like, $5500 a semester.

Have you tried going through a school here? Or are you still in high school?

Check online, too. I'll send you some links later. Too tired now.

elementskater15 · #4 05-01-2006, 07:28 AM

I'm still in highschool. I'm thinking that I maybe can enroll in her school after I get passports to her country. I've checked online at several places and requested information, but the sites say to wait for two weeks, I dont have that long to dick around.

drunken monkey · #5 05-01-2006, 10:09 PM

i think you mean visas, not passports.

elementskater15 · #6 05-02-2006, 03:57 PM

Visas, passports...whatever. She is gonna call her school in Thailand and see how I can enroll there. I found out that those programs also give you medical insurance, so I'll need to figure something out about that. I think I can make it happen.....I really hope I can go..

Toksin · #7 05-03-2006, 01:36 AM

One of the dumbest things I ever did was date an exchange student.

Not regretting it, mind you, just realised it was a silly thing to do.

drunken monkey · #8 05-03-2006, 10:54 AM

aren't student exchanges organised between schools?
why are you doing it by yourself?

Toksin · #9 05-03-2006, 06:56 PM

Just talk to the organisation/school and tell them you already have a school/host family set up. If they need to join said organisation (eg like you have to do with Rotary or AFS) then get your girl's parents to join.

thrasher · #10 05-03-2006, 08:32 PM

I won a scholarship funded by congress to study abroad for a year after high school. It was administered through an organization called Youth For Understanding, and everything was fully paid for, didn't have to drop a dime. You should check them out.

elementskater15 · #11 05-03-2006, 10:04 PM

Thanks for the info thrasher...but my GPA is slightly too low for the scholarships...I have a 2.96 and I haven't maintained it this year. I got a call from the AFS organization though, they're sending me some forms to fill out for some financial ade stuff. Even so, I dont need an organization...just a visa. I called her school and found out.

RickwithaTbird · #12 05-04-2006, 04:00 AM

Keep in mind that exchange programs ensure that your credits will be transferable and your diploma will be valid. I'd say you need to make sure it's okay with the college you plan on attending.

(I don't know anything though, I'm just brainstorming)

elementskater15 · #13 05-04-2006, 03:18 PM

We've already varified that her school (its international) is valid in the US and acceptable in most colleges here. This is a real headache....but I really cant think of a better way to spend my senior year

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