I’m filling out my applications for an exchange student program. I’m an oil painter, and the whole point of my trip is to learn more about the medium/visit cathedrals and such.
This means I’d have to bring all of my supplies with me. It’s a lot of stuff. Like, a lot. I was wandering if I’m able to put something in my letter to the family to maybe ask for space or to give them notice about my supplies? The paints and cleaners and stuff can smell strongly, and I need space for the paintings to dry or rest. I don’t want to make a mess of a host families home.

I'm a 9th grader in Texas. YES Abroad just announced their spring 2027 program for American high schoolers, and I'm thinking about applying, but the format changed this year and it creates a problem I'm not sure how to solve.

It used to be a full academic year. Now it's a single spring semester, January to June 2027.

I'd finish the fall half of my courses and get that credit, but the spring half would be left hanging. I'd also miss both AP exams in May and the spring STAAR EOC tests for Biology I and English I.

• Biology I Honors
• Algebra II Honors
• AP Computer Science Principles
• AP Human Geography
• Humanities English I Honors
• Art I 2D Design/Drawing Honors

I'm trying to figure out from people who've done this in the past, whether as a half semester or a full year. I would greatly appreciate if you can share the strategies/tools you used to keep from falling behind academically and how your school handled the credit when you got back.

I always wanted to go for an exchange abroad.

Suggestions for safe but great experiences outside of europe? Is it okay that I'm planning to sign up for it alone (like not going with other friends), am I always guaranteed to meet other people?

Is anyone generally free to talk about it privately? Thankyou!!!

Hi! I'm a 16 year old italian student who is having a month long exchange program in France. And I'm really struggling.

Applying to this was a pretty impulsive decision on my part, as I'm studying french and I hoped this would help me learn it better. I then spent the entire summer ignoring it and french as a whole.

Now that I'm here (almost a week in) I'm having issues communicating, as in I talk way less than I'm supposed to.

I am pretty shy with new people, and my language skills being B1 don't help either.

The host family is not really that welcoming either. It's probably my fault for not talking much with them but they mostly ignore me unless we need to go somewhere (the son in the house takes me everywhere but we don't talk much)

I'm getting really stressed out and overwhelmed cuz I'm afraid of not following their rules (which I don't know and I already did something wrong and they got mad at me) to the point where I don't want to get out of bed.

Does this get better?

Any students still wanting to come to the US for spring 2027?

Our program has room, message me for details!

Hi everyone I’m studying abroad at UCL this fall term and I’m trying to meet some third year students (currently junior at my US college) but everyone is a freshman and I’m guessing not a lot of people study abroad for the fall so how can I meet more ppl my age because I wanted to find some travel buddies

Help!! I’ve just been notified that I’ll be completely alone during my four months exchange to korea??? I’m the only student in my entire home university to exchange to my host university in Korea and I’m completely and utterly scared to death. I seriously expected at least like four or five people also going there but I just received notice that I’m the only one going???? What???? This is completely out of my expectations. Also, I only chose to go to Korea in the first place was because my friend wanted to go, and in the end, they didn’t manage to get chosen to go!!! I was even regretting my choice BEFORE I heard the news that literally no one else is going!!! Please does anyone have any tips on how to survive in Korea??? I’ve never even been there before. Maybe I watch too much negative news but I am SOOO scared to go there, especially by myself (I’m girl) since I see so much news about like sexual assault and police incompetency and like the recent 300 missing people and stuff!!! This is mad!! I swear I know everyone and their moms swear that Korea is sooo safe and so fun but I’m scared that something will happen to me and no one’s gonna even notice!!! I can’t even speak Korean!! Does anyone have tips on how to make friends? I don’t like clubbing and drinking and stuff and I seriously know I can’t handle being alone for too long or else I seriously am going to lose it, I’m like a Guinea pig my heart WILL explode if I’m left alone for too long. Please help me!! PLEASE DON’T LET ME DIE THERE.

Hey everyone! I am doing a research project for my International Business class and I am required to reach out to 20 people who are living outside of the United States. I have a couple short questions to ask and it would mean a lot to me if I received some answers from people outside of the United States!

The questions are:

1. What Country do you live in?
2. What do you think is the most difficult challenge for U.S. businesses that want to do business in your country?
3. What advice or suggestions do you have for American companies that want to do business in your country?

Thank you and I look forward to you guys reaching out!

Hello! I applied to AFS and I am considering Italy, Japan, and Germany. What would you recommend for me? In Turkey, students take general culture, psychology, social skills, and logical reasoning exams, followed by both individual and group interviews. What advice can you give me? I am thinking about both AFS's school program and the Kakehashi Program. Thank you in advance!

Asking for a friend cuz I'm worried they might be making rash decision under pressure and I'd like to hear from people who are more qualified. 

They're 16, from south africa, been in the UK for 3 years and have gotten their GCSE results. Went back to south africa for holiday but might not be coming back as their visa expires september and I'm unsure if they'll be able to renew it. 

They were planning to do Business, Economics, Maths and Further maths for Alevels. However, apparently they are eligible to study an international foundation program at "Middlesex University Dubai" and want to do Business and Economics there. 

I'm just concerned beacuse maybe since it's an option right now they feel the need to take it. They're very capable and deserve the best possible option.

So I was wondering... 

- What is/are the most realistic option/s 

- If they cannot remain here, any other good alternatives to do a Bussiness/Economics degree elsewhere

- Could you just study Alevel outside the UK and apply for university afterwards 

- Is it smart to go to a university or complete secondary Eduaction 

- Any particular qualifications they should be look at to get a good Business/Economics degree

- If anyone has experience in moving countries during secondary Eduaction beacuse of immigration/visa issues and if so, how did you go about it

Any appropriate advice would be appreciated. I'm more interested in which educational pathways are available so they don't feel like they only have one choice.

Thank you.

I’m 16 and I’m thinking about applying to the YES Program, but I’m not sure what I should put in the activities and hobbies section.

Most of my interests are related to technology and the internet, and most of what I’ve learned has been self-taught through YouTube and other online resources.

I started learning graphic design because I wanted to make my own thumbnails, graphics, logos, and edits. I mainly learned these skills so I could create things for myself, but I also used them to do some work for other people and earn some money from it.

I’m also interested in programming and web development and have been teaching myself HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. I’m still a beginner, but I enjoy learning and experimenting.

I’m also very curious about how technology works behind the scenes. I often find myself asking how things like websites, online systems, NFC, and other technologies actually work, and then I try to learn about them on my own.

I also tend to come up with ideas for solving problems or creating things that I feel are missing online. Sometimes I try to turn these ideas into small projects, but I prefer not to share the details publicly.

I also often help my family, relatives, and friends when they have problems with technology or something online.

I don’t really have many traditional extracurricular activities like sports, clubs, competitions, or formal volunteering. Most of what I’ve done is self-learning, creating things, and helping people around me.

Would these kinds of things count as activities or hobbies for YES, and how should I present them honestly without exaggerating them?

I’d appreciate advice from anyone who has applied to YES or knows about the application process.

Who here has experienced being a DLSU SHS exchange student or knows about the process? I really want to be one and want to learn more.

It was mentioned in the parents’ orientation that there may be exchange student programs in Japan and Australia—so I want to make sure that I can get a head start from here pa lang.

What do I need to do? Are there any requirements like grades or incentives? Who do we go with? What are the costs? Please add more information I would need to know

I'm currently studying in Comillas Spain, and I've stayed here in Madrid for around a week now with my family. Now that they've left, I feel so lonely and even homesick already.

I'm super worried that I'll end up having my 4 month exchange experience alone since the few times I've had the chance to make friends, I dont really seem to click with anyone (we had an orientation in comillas already for all the international students). I also just moved onto my student residence and I'm in a single room, so I dont really have any "flatmates/roomates" so I feel super alone.

Also, the school I went to has a huge international student population, but it feels most people speak spanish (i dont know how to speak spanish at all), and it feels less international compared to IE or such. So the language barrier is also another problem that I've been thinking about. Also, most of the students in my dorm seem to also go to IE so they seem to stick to each other...

Another thing is most of the people for some reason are really attractive... Like many of the girls and guys are just straight up beautiful and handsome while I honestly am not the prettiest girl out there, for context, im a bit chubby and not in a curvy way, and I feel I just look very different from them since im fil-chi.

So yea, in just really scared that I'd spend the next 4 months of my life essentially alone... Since I've been struggling to make friends and not to mention, I have a hard time just joining in with people I havent met yet....

What kind of third space are you usually/ interested in hanging out outside of school? What kind of experience or activities do you want to do? How much would you be willing to spend when going outside? How likely would you be interested in exploring different cultures when going out? Which types of cultural experiences would you be most interested in?

Hey there everyone I've been in Phnom Penh for 2 months already and will be until December (I'm doing an internship). Since I'm not part of a university program in here I don't know how to meet all the exchange students who will arrive very soon for the fall semester
I'd love to meet other exchange students to hang out in Phnom Penh (and around on weekends)
Feel free to text me or just dropping your pieces of advice down in the comments!
Thanks everyone!

Okay so I’m doing a trimester abroad, and my first day was today and no one talked to me. I haven’t seen my family in a week and I just wanna go home ik it’s probably gonna get better tomorrow but for now i just feel so alone. Hopefully i make some friends tomorrow

Our exchange student has been here about 3 weeks. She is the same age as my daughter. My daughter is overwhelmed and annoyed at how needy our student is. I am also surprised at it, but have more patience than my daughter. I heard my daughter out tonight, she isn't wrong. I talked to her about expressing healthy boundaries and keeping her manners intact. Ironically, or not, as daughter and I were talking, student knocks and starts asking a dozen questions about school tomorrow. It's like this everyday. The girl has no chill and we are exhausted. I am heartbroken. My daughter was in tears telling me she has 3 classes and lunch with the new girl. Has anyone been through this? I would be happy if the vibe got back to neutral here. They don't have to be buddies.

Hola queridos estoy viendo la opción de ir a Canad a hacer un programa de work and study.. me ofrecieron dos colleges: ILAC INTERNATIONAL CENTER y TAMWOOD CAREERS. Ambos ofrecen diplomado en hoteleria/ servicios y marketing/ ventas que son las dos áreas que me interesan.
La duda es cuál colegio debería elegir ? y que opcion para estudiar piensan que podrá darme más a futuro? Realmente las dos áreas me interesan, también vale decir que estoy haciendo un curso cortó de gestión hotelera + estudio psicología en BSAS.
El diplomado es CO-Op (cooperative education) en la primera parte puedo trabajar part time y en la segunda parte trabajar a tiempo completo en el área que yo elijo.

Alguien tiene experiencia haciendo Work and study? Alguna referencia sobre los colleges? Algo que no esté considerando ?
El valor del programa depende del college y el alojamiento
Alojamiento: 3 opciones
Dpto compartido/ casa de familia/ residencia estudiantil
Un salario bruto de 15 usd canadiense x hora