1. Am I eligible to be a Rotary exchange student?
2. What is the long-term program?
3. What is the short term program?
4. Do I get to choose my country?
5. Do I have to know another language?
6. Will I get school credit for my exchange year?
7. Is there any future advantage to being a Rotary Exchange Student?
8. What if I have problems during my exchange?
9. Do my parents have to host an inbound student?
10. OK, bottom line, what does it cost?
11. How do I apply?
12. What else do I need to know?
13. What if we just want to host an inbound student?
14. What are the responsibilities of a host family?

Am I eligible to be a Rotary exchange student?

The Rotary Youth Exchange program is open to high school students, or those who have just graduated, between the ages of 15 and 18½ on departure. It does not matter whether your parents are members of a Rotary Club - the program is open to children of Rotarians and non-Rotarians alike.

Exchange student candidates must be outgoing, self-confident, friendly, adaptable, and adventurous, willing to learn a foreign language, with above average grades in school. The application form will require you to tell about yourself and your family, and provide references from school teachers and administrators.

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What is the long-term program?

Rotary offers two types of exchanges for high school students. For a truly amazing, life-changing experience, there is nothing like the long-term exchange. Students spend a year in another country, becoming fluent in the language and immersed in the culture, and developing friendships that will last a lifetime.

Participants attend high school, and may or may not get credit back home for courses taken (but colleges often recognize the value of exchange programs, with credit for language ability and greater acceptance rates!). Each student will have up to four (or more) host families through the year, to broaden the experience and see the variations that exist in all cultures.

It takes a very special teen to consider him or herself capable of spending a year abroad, but the rewards and experiences are unlike anything you may ever know again. If you think you can do this, don't let the opportunity pass you by.

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What is the short-term program?

Interested in a taste of the world, and willing to share yours with others? Then the short-term program may be for you. Rotary's short-term exchange program usually takes place during the summer, and brings together paired families from different countries. Typically, you would spend 3-4 weeks overseas with a family that has a son or daughter of approximately the same age. And then, you and your new host sibling would come back to the US for a 3-4 week stay with your family (the order can be reversed, with the foreign student coming here first - whichever works best for the families is fine).

The short-term program does not generally include school attendance, and instead provides its educational experiences through exposure to a new language and culture. Naturally, the friendships that develop often last a long time, with repeat visits a very common occurrence.

For younger students, or perhaps those wanting to sample the experience before committing to the long-term program, Rotary's short-term exchange program can be a good fit. This program is offered by some, but not all, of the member districts in RYE-Florida. Contact your local Rotary club or district to find out more, if you are interested in a short-term exchange.

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Do I get to choose my country?

A very popular question. And the answer is ... yes and no. The countries we exchange with are those we know run top-quality programs, and we re-evaluate them each year. There are a limited number of exchanges available with each country, and we will not overload any country in either direction, inbound or outbound. Therefore, if you're going to spend a year overseas, we ask you to select five preferred countries, and we allow you to refuse any countries that you would not accept an assignment to. The majority of students will get one of their five choices. But remember, flexibility is a vital characteristic for a successful exchange student, and that starts right at the beginning.

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Do I have to know another language?

No, not at all. Naturally, it would help to have some familiarity with the language of the country you go to, but we don't limit the program to those who are already bi-lingual. In fact, one of the great benefits of the program is quickly gaining fluency in another language. Typically, our students become fluent in 3-4 months, even without any previous knowledge of the language! But we strongly recommend that all participants start learning their target language as soon as they are selected for the program. The more of the language you know up front, the better your experience will be.

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Will I get school credit for my exchange year?

This is always a tough question because it varies from school to school and country to country. You should sit down with your school counselors when you apply and when you know what country you are going to for your year. Pre-planning makes a big difference. If you have question contact your Youth Exchange Officer or the District YE Chairman.

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Is there any future advantage to being a Rotary Exchange Student?

Yes! Past history has indicated that having the Rotary Exchange Year on your college application carries more weight in many cases than your GPA, class ranking, or even SAT or ACT score. Colleges are looking for students that are going to successfully complete their studies and graduate. By completing a full year exchange in another culture you are showing them that you have the "right stuff".  Future employers will take similar views of your year's experience, not to mention the benefits of becoming bi-lingual or bi-cultural!

Want to know more about this? We are pleased to refer you to an excellent book entitled The New Global Student: Skip the SAT, Save Thousands on Tuition, and Get a Truly International Education. You can order it through online booksellers such as amazon.com, or learn more at www.mayafrost.com/new-global-student-book.htm.

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What if I have problems during my exchange?

Rotary International and Rotarians in Florida take very seriously our responsibility for the safety and security of all Rotary exchange students, both inbound and outbound. In November, 2006, the Board of Directors of Rotary International adopted the following Statement of Conduct for Working with Youth:

"Rotary International strives to create and maintain a safe environment for all youth who participate in Rotary activities. To the best of their ability, Rotarians, Rotarians’ spouses, partners, and other volunteers must safeguard the children and young people they come in contact with and protect them from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse."

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Do my parents have to host an inbound student?

Parents of long-term outbound students are not required to host. Many, of course, choose to do so, partly because they have an empty room, but also so they can experience some of what their son or daughter is going through. We encourage that, but we also recognize that not all families are able to host. We do ask outbound students and their families to help find host families in their own communities, to accommodate the inbound student that will be hosted by their Rotary Club, and your application form will include a page for providing referrals to potential host families in your area.

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OK, bottom line, what does it cost?

Probably a lot less than you think. You see, Rotarians are all volunteers, so there are no salaries or commissions paid to the people who administer this program. It does cost money, though, to make the arrangements, present the orientations, provide student materials and supplies, etc. And, of course, there's airfare, insurance, and other travel expenses. Here is a breakdown:

You must submit a non-refundable fee with your application in order to be considered for the program. That application fee is $150. If you are accepted, the cost for the program is $4,800 (2013-14). That includes your round trip airfare, Rotary-approved medical insurance, orientations (overseas if required, as well as here), your Rotary blazer, pins, business cards, and other supplies. A schedule is available to spread the payments out over several months. The cost is the same regardless of destination - that way, you can go to the country that you most desire and are best suited for, without comparing airfares. You will be responsible for the cost of obtaining a passport along with a visa for entry into your country (usually $150-$300), additional spending money while you're on exchange, and any optional tours offered through Rotary during or at the end of your year.

Rotary exchange students spending a year abroad are provided with a monthly allowance from their host Rotary club. This is usually the equivalent of between $50 and $100 US, but may vary by location. If you want or need spending money beyond that, it is up to you and your parents to provide it. Of course, you do not have to pay for room and board, school fees, etc.

Almost all students are also required to deposit an Emergency Fund with their host Rotary Club. Usually $300 to $500, this money is there for unexpected expenses (medical, dental, telephone, etc., and, if it is used during the year, it must be replenished by you or your parents. If it is not used, it is returned to you at the end of the year.

To summarize, then, the program costs are the initial application fee, $4,800 (2013-14) in advance of departure (paid on a schedule to be provided), passport and visa fees, an Emergency Fund to be taken with you, whatever additional spending money you and your parents agree on, and, in some countries, a nominal cost for language instruction classes.

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How do I apply?

All applicants must be sponsored by a local Rotary Club and district, so it's important that you make contact with someone in your area. If, however, you don't know a local Rotarian, or if you'd like help in this task, you can certainly complete our inquiry form. We will follow up with you, and refer your inquiry to someone in your area to get you on the right track.

Throughout the state, there will be Rotary Youth Exchange informational meetings in the fall. These meetings are for interested students and their parents, and will provide detailed information for you about the program, the application and interview process, and more.

Once you've made the decision to apply, you can start working on the application forms, which are available here. Consult with Rotary throughout this process, to make sure you're doing things correctly.

Read more about the application process HERE.

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What else do I need to know?

Well, you might want to take a look at the Ten Commandments for Rotary Exchange Students.

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What if we just want to host an inbound student?

Rotary Clubs are always looking for potential host families. If you'd like to enrich your family's experience by bringing in a Rotary exchange student, contact your local Rotary Club, or complete our inquiry form. And thanks so much for your interest!

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What are the responsibilities of a host family?

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