"Now I have two families and two homes in the world. My host family...loved me as a family member. There are no words to describe the special relationship we have."
-- Donna, AFSer to Argentina.
"The admissions office said studying abroad with AFS helped get me in. They were looking for diversity among students, not just good grades and/or standardized test scores."
-- Heather, AFSer to Italy, on her applying to attend the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
"Do you guys cry every night like a puppy? Well, I cried. It's a whole
new world, with new people, new language, new places, and, mainly, new habits
and lifestyles, so, you might feel like a puppy when it's taken away from his
mom when it's old enough. But, again like a puppy, you get to know your new
place, your new family, and you learn to love them, so much, that when it's time
to go back, you will not want to leave them behind. You will want to have both
of your families living together forever, like I do want." -- Alysson, AFSer from Brazil.
AFS wants to find high school students in our area interested in becoming exchange students!
AFS Exchange Programs
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If you are going to invest your family's time and money in a student exchange organization program, you want it to be the right organization. When your child goes abroad with AFS he or she and your family will be supported by one of the largest and most experienced student exchange organizations in the world.
Year & Semester Programs
Whether you choose an AFS year or semester program, you can be sure of one thing - you're
in for a lot of learning and fun! As a member of a family, school, and community, you'll find out what it means to live, study, and really feel at home in a different country and culture.
While you are sharing in your host family's daily routines, studying your host country's history and culture, and taking part in extracurricular activities, you'll be making new friends, learning the language, and getting more out of life than you ever imagined.
The benefits of the full-year program include having a much longer opportunity to learn the
language, experiencing a full year of your host country's holidays and seasons, and most importantly, deepening friendships. It is the AFS full immersion program.
Whether you choose to stay for a year or a semester, you will never forget the discoveries you make and the relationships you form while living with a host family in another country.
To qualify for an academic year or semester program, you must have a minimum grade point average of 2.8 on a scale of 4.0.
Summer Programs
Imagine ... saving turtles in Brazil ... studying art in Hungary or Sicily ... immersing
yourself in the Japanese language ... working in an orphanage in Ghana, or with needy children in Argentina ... learning to cook Thai desserts ... or rafting in New Zealand. Sound interesting?
Why settle for a summer like every other, when you can have the experience of a lifetime? AFS summers are fun, but they're also challenging, rewarding, and as unique as you are!
Learn about another culture, discover new strengths within yourself, and communicate in another language or dialect as you become a member of your host family and community.
Immerse yourself in a language by speaking with your host family and through formal language instruction.
Enjoy all the benefits of a homestay program plus additional group activities that provide a change of scenery and an opportunity to discover new interests.
Make a difference abroad by actively contributing to your host community through volunteer work. Team Mission participants travel and work together as a group, with an adult American Team Mission Leader. Community Service participants live with host families, or at worksites, while performing community service during the day.
18+ Programs High School Graduates (to 24 years old)
Many students decide to take a break between high school and college, during college, or after college to broaden their experiences, enhance their college and employment applications, or consider alternative study and career choices. If this sounds like you, AFS offers programs in eleven countries that could be just the experience you're looking for. There are Community Service programs and University Study programs, for which you may be able to earn college credit.
As part of an AFS 18+ Community Service program, you'll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in a different culture by actively participating in the work of a community-based organization. You will work with a local organization by offering assistance in whatever capacity might be needed--such as teaching art classes to Brazilian children, working in a hospital or cancer prevention center in Belgium, or helping to preserve the marine turtle in Panama. This is not a program for specialists, but for those who want to learn about another culture through doing. You'll develop new skills and master the language. Part of the contribution AFSers make is sharing something about their own communities and culture with their new friends and host communities.
The AFS 18+ University Study program is perfect for students who would like to continue academic studies and possibly earn college credits. You can attend college in Panama (year program) or Costa Rica (year or semester programs), combining course work with language study while living with a host family. There are also opportunities for participating in community service work, arts, sports, and music clubs and programs.
Belgium
Other Special Programs
After a brief orientation in Brussels, you will attend a month-long French language camp with AFSers from around the world before beginning your community service project Your service experience may include working in a hospital or cancer prevention center, assisting in horse-riding therapy for the disabled, working in a homeless shelter or retirement community, or assisting immigrant children and adults with language training or academic studies. During the last two weeks of your stay you have the option of continuing your service or taking time off
to explore Belgium or other countries, or spending time with your host family
and friends.
Only one AFSer is placed at each project, but you will meet with AFS representatives and other AFS participants, and you'll be supported by local volunteers. You will live with a host family or, if there is communal housing at the work site, you will have the opportunity for occasional weekend homestays.
Community Service Program Summer Departure: early September through early March.
Costa Rica
Other Special Programs
Live with a host family in the San Jose area or in a community no more than 40 minutes away, while you attend either the Universidad Latina (year program) or Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnologia (semester program). You'll receive Spanish language training, and take any of the courses offered by the university, such as Latin-American history, the Costa Rican rainforest, tourism, business, psychology, and more. There will also be field trips and special
activities. AFS-Costa Rica will assist in arranging a community service project for interested students, in addition to the academic program (at an additional cost).
University Year Program Summer Departure: early August through early June.
University Semester Program Winter Departure: early January through mid-July.
University Semester Program Summer Departure: early August through late January.
Ghana
Other Special Programs
Get ready for a challenging semester learning about life in a developing nation, and Ghanaian history and culture, while you perform valuable community service at a children's home or other community organization. AFS-organized orientations will teach you about Ghanaian language, traditional culture, drumming, and dancing. You'll also observe family life, economics, politics, and social life in contemporary Ghana. Because the program is designed for young adults, your project will require you to work independently. Accommodations will either be in housing provided by the community-based organization hosting you, or with a host family.
Community Service Winter Program: early January through late June.
Community Service Summer Program: early August through early January.
Apply Early for Best Program Selection and Scholarship Consideration
Panama
Other Special Programs
Panama offers two opportunities to acquire in-depth intercultural experience and Spanish language immersion. You can attend classes at the University of Panama in Panama City or at universities in other provinces, or participate in a community service program working with needy children or the environment.
At the university, you may register in subjects offered by the faculties of Arts (music, dance, theater, visual arts) and Humanities (Spanish as a second language, history, geography, other languages, sociology, economics). You may also audit classes from other faculties, but not for credit. The university will provide a transcript and course credit to students who maintain full attendance and pass exams. You are expected to do homework, to study, to take exams, and to show a high degree of responsibility toward academic work. Classes meet Monday
through Friday from August to late July, with four-week breaks at Christmas and between semesters. Once you make an effort to get to know your classmates, you will probably join new friends in forming a study group. These groups often organize social outings together and are a great way to meet new friends. You will live with a host family within commuting distance of the university campus.
Would you prefer to spend a semester working in a Panamanian community? Nutre Hogar is a volunteer-based organization that houses children of disadvantaged or indigenous backgrounds for up to six months, providing a balanced diet, medical attention, and the affection needed for their health and normal development. You will help teachers with activities, provide support to the children, assist in administrative tasks, and visit remote areas and families. You will live with a host family within commuting distance of a Nutre Hogar home in Panama City, David, Las Tablas, Santiago, or Penonome.
You may also choose an environmentally focused project, such as working in a national park or at a beach helping in projects geared to the preservation of the marine turtle.
University Year Program Summer Departure: mid/late July through late June.
Semester Community Service Program Summer Departure: mid/late July through early mid-January.
Paraguay
Other Special Programs
After two weeks of intensive language instruction, you will begin work on a community
service project based on your skills, interests, and the needs of your community. You could help in a neighborhood day-care center for underprivileged children, a center for disabled children, or in an institution that provides basic education to young street vendors. Other possible projects include working with an environmental organization, or in a local library or radio station.
You will probably reside in a small town with easy access to the nearest city. Your host family will be pleased to welcome you, and although they may not have all the material comforts and modern conveniences common in the U.S. (washing machines, dishwashers, microwaves, or central air conditioning), you'll find it's all part of a memorable experience.
Participants must have strong Spanish language skills (minimum 2-3 years).
Year Community Service Program Summer Departure: early July through early July.
Semester Community Service Program Winter Departure: mid-February through mid-August.
Semester Community Service Program Summer Departure: early July through early January.
Russia
Other Special Programs
Play a part in history during this time of transition by helping Russian students strengthen English language skills. You will work with a Russian teacher of English, primarily assisting with English language classes, but you'll also have opportunities to participate in history, geography, and other lessons. Schools meet daily from September to May, with various vacations. You'll find that schools are generally smaller than those in the U.S., and classroom work often
includes recitation, in addition to written and oral exams. There will be an AFS volunteer in your school.
You are expected to work full time and participate in the life of your host family and community in central or western Russia, and may also be able to help other community-based organizations in your spare time.
Knowledge of Russian is preferred, but some language instruction and practice will be provided by local AFS volunteers.
Community Service Program Winter Departure: mid-January through late June.
Community Service Program Summer Departure: late August through mid-January.
South Africa
Other Special Programs
WALK-Work And Learn Kanye Kanye (Kanye Kanye is Zulu for "group effort') welcomes your participation in community-based volunteer organizations focusing on challenging issues for youth, women, community development, health, and social welfare. You will begin with a 10-day orientation, including tours of various communities and places of interest, an introduction to the public transportation system, a sampling of traditional foods, an overview of African culture, Zulu language lessons, and safety tips. During your work project, you will reside with a local host family or in accommodations provided by the community service organization. You will also have additional opportunities to experience South African life and to share those experiences with your AFS friends at the end of your stay.
Winter Departure: late January through late June.
Summer Departure: mid-July through mid-December.
Thailand
Other Special Programs
After an arrival orientation in Bangkok, you will take introductory language lessons for two weeks before beginning work in the field of education. You might teach English in a rural elementary school, assist Thai teachers, or help set up a library or other resource center. You will live with a host family in or near the town where the service project is located. Thai volunteers may assist you upon arrival to arrange other projects in agriculture or social services, if your time permits.
Throughout the program, there will be many opportunities for you to meet with fellow AFSers,
such as the mid-stay orientation in Chieng Mai, where an elephant training facility is located; the Loy Kratong festival, one of the biggest celebrations in Thailand; and the end-of-stay session at Pattaya Beach. These will provide a wealth of cultural experiences to discuss with your host family and friends.
Community Service Program Summer Departure: early July through late November.
Apply Early for Best Program Selection and Scholarship Consideration
Program details are subject to change or cancellation. In the case of extraordinary
circumstances, AFS reserves the right to increase the tuition listed and will notify all applicants who are affected. For information on current costs, please contact 1-800-AFS-INFO.
Basic Steps for Applying
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Application. To start the process, just contact 1-800-AFS-INFO to request the Preliminary Application. A $75 fee is required at the time when the application is submitted. We'll then send you your complete application package and AFS T-shirt. A local volunteer will be in contact to assist you with your application and to arrange for an in-home interview. He or she can also speak with you and your parents about fund-raising activities.
Deposit. After your AFS regional office has received your completed application and you are notified that you've been given a Guaranteed Placement in the country of your choice, you can reserve your place with a nonrefundable $500 deposit, which will be applied toward your tuition. This is due within 30 days of notification. If we are unable to provide you with the name of your host family two weeks before your scheduled departure, and you decide to withdraw on that basis, we will be glad to refund your deposit.
Orientation. During the time between your guarantee and your departure, you will be contacted by AFS volunteers about how to prepare for your experience. You will attend an
orientation session with other students who will also soon be AFS Americans Abroad.
Payment. The balance of your tuition is due 45 days before your scheduled departure date. Your invoice will reflect all financial aid and scholarships awarded through the invoice date. In the event that a scholarship is awarded after you have paid your invoice, a refund will be issued.
The costs mentioned are subject to change, so please contact the Information Center at 1-800-AFS-INFO or your local volunteer for confirmation.
AFS accepts applications on a space-available basis. Apply early for best program
selection, and financial aid and scholarship consideration.
Apply Early for Best Program Selection and Scholarship Consideration
Round-trip international travel with the AFS group includes:
- Travel within the AFS host country to the host family and back
- Help in booking U.S. travel (not included) to and from international departure sites: New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., or Miami
- Placement with a carefully selected host family who provides room and board
- Orientations in the U.S. and host country
- Emergency 24-hour telephone numbers in the U.S. and the host country
- AFS staff and volunteers here and abroad who help ensure the best possible experience for each student and family
- Tuition waiver from host school
- Visa information
- Extensive secondary medical coverage (separate cost)
Participants are responsible for costs associated with:
- Travel in the U.S.
- Passport/visa fees
- Any required inoculations
- School uniforms (where applicable)
- Personal spending money
- The cost of optional trips offered by AFS in host countries (which may range from under $100 to over $500) is not included. Students are not required to participate in optional events.
For your convenience, tuition is payable by check, money order, or major credit card.
There is a handling charge for changing international return flights and/or returning
separately from the group.
Merit Scholarships & Financial Aid
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AFS is actively committed to making its programs available to all qualified students, irrespective of their financial ability.
Thanks to local AFS chapters, individual contributors, foundations, and corporations,
AFS provides more than $ 1 million annually in financial aid and merit scholarships to enable qualified high school students and recent graduates to live overseas for a summer, semester, or year. AFS financial aid funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and merit scholarships have application deadlines, so it's wise to apply early.
On average, 40% of U.S. students who go abroad with AFS receive 40% of their tuition through financial aid and merit scholarships.
To qualify for financial aid, candidates must demonstrate strong financial need, a willingness to consider a variety of country placements (i.e., countries outside Western Europe), interest in community service, and/or a strong academic record.
Merit scholarships are awarded to applicants who exemplify the qualities promoted and
valued by AFS. These include but are not limited to academic excellence, strong local involvement on a community level, and a commitment to intercultural learning.
Examples of some of the financial aid and merit scholarships awarded nationally are:
DeWitt-Wallace Scholars Diversity Awards; Awards For Excellence; BMW Scholarships to Germany, offered by the German Ministry of Commerce; Stephen Galattil Scholarships, in honor of the founder of the AFS exchange programs; AFS Family Scholarships, for children of returnees and host families; general aid awarded by regional staff.
Talk to your regional staff about merit scholarships and financial aid for which you
may qualify.
Applying early will allow more time for fundraising within your community. AFS
volunteers help participants raise funds from foundations, organizations, and individuals. Many students have successfully raised funds to cover remaining program costs in enterprising ways. Applicants can request the publication "Financing Your AFS Experience," which includes planning forms, form letters for soliciting funds, successful candidate experiences, and valuable strategies for raising funds. Check the appropriate box on the preliminary
application, or call 1-800-AFS-INFO to request a copy.
Gather the facts. Read this catalog and the program descriptions closely. Consider what
type of programs you might like. Calling 1-800-AFS-INFO will connect you with our Information Center where our staff can answer questions, send you additional information, connect you with recent returnees from the countries you are considering, or arrange to have a volunteer from your area contact you directly.
