Student exchange
USA
Your student exchange in the USA
The USA – the land of unlimited opportunities. Like no other country, this vast country full of contrasts captivates students from all over the world. Vast metropolises, stunning landscapes, and the simple life far from urban areas act like a magnet for young people. There's no better time to experience the American spirit than during your high school student exchange in the USA. The warmth and openness of Americans is a perfect start to ease your transition to a new environment. Learn everything about your student exchange in the USA and the schools offered here and in our free catalog.
The school system in the USA
- The school year in the USA starts between August and September.
- Divided into two semesters.
- You can easily start your student exchange in August or January, which fits well with our school schedule.
- Schools in the USA are all-day and comprehensive schools.
- No classes in groups, but in a course system (similar to the upper secondary school in Germany).
- Experience many unusual subjects and a wide range of sports during your student exchange.
Living in the USA
The school day starts around 8:30 a.m. and ends around 3 p.m. While at lunchtime there is only a small packed lunch or a meal in the school cafeteria, in the evening the entire host family often gathers for a large communal dinner. The American host family will gladly welcome young people on student exchange into their family. Sometimes there will even be an American host sibling or exchange students from another country sharing a room. Many variations are conceivable here. In any case, the host families warmly include their students in their lives and share their country with great pride during the student exchange.
Student exchange USA experience reports
Here you can find experiences about student exchanges in the USA with us.
Lucy's student exchange in Indiana
Wondering what a year abroad is like and what you can experience? Lucy flew to the USA in summer 2021 and is taking us along on her journey. Check her out on YouTube and be inspired! :)
Classic Program
The Classic Program is a 70-year-old student exchange program tied to the J1 visa. It is funded annually by the USA and serves as a cultural exchange. Students first find a host family in whose community they then attend school. Neither the host school nor the host family are paid during the student exchange, making the program significantly more cost-effective. However, for an additional fee, many options are available, such as choosing a state or city. Upon arrival, our partner organization ICES organizes several orientation days. These take place in both New York and Los Angeles to make the students' arrival easier. During these days, young people can explore the city with other international students, overcome jet lag, and receive some tips and tricks to make settling in with the host family and starting school easier. The application deadlines for this student exchange program usually fall in March and October.
Select program
An F1 visa is required for the Select Program. This allows students to choose directly between many schools for their exchange program, entirely according to their wishes and preferences. Whether they choose based on a particular subject, the location of the school, or a particular sport is entirely up to the student. Many schools specialize in specific areas such as theater, music, or sports. This program is designed to accommodate specific needs. Schools participating in this program have a select number of host families in the surrounding area to choose from. Once you've decided on a specific school, the school will find the right host family for your child. Due to the additional school and host family fees required for this student exchange program, the program is more expensive.
KEast Student Exchange USA
CLASSIC – Program
The USA Classic program impresses with its relatively low program costs. In return, there is no choice of school, there are application deadlines, and few requirements for participating students. We would be happy to inform you in person or by phone during a non-binding consultation. You can contact us for this.
here contact.
SELECT – Program
School costs in the USA vary widely. Prices listed include school and host family fees. You can learn more about the exact costs during a free, personal consultation. Contact us for more information.
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