YFU USA

In today’s multicultural, interconnected world, things change really fast. The only  way to keep up and to compete globally is to get a global education.

As a Youth For Understanding (YFU) International Exchange student, you’ll gain the knowledge, skills, and insights that will prepare you to be a world player. Every day you will be learning something new – about the culture you’re living in, about the English language you’re speaking, about art, music, literature, religion, trade, politics, and about yourself.

If living in the United States for a year or semester and learning about a totally different culture sounds like your kind of challenge, then it’s time to go global with YFU. You will attend school where you will make friends and learn what life is like for teenagers in the USA. Everywhere you go and everything you do, you’ll learn – from your host family, family, friends, and teachers, from shopkeepers, bank tellers, and bus drivers.

You’ll live with a carefully-selected host family who has volunteered to open their home and their hearts to you, providing you room, board, and a caring home. As an exchange student to the United States you will learn about family life, schools, and religion in the US. You will learn how family members relate to one another and  about their daily schedules. At school you will learn not only academic subjects such as English, history, science, and math, but you will learn about teenage social life, friendship, and extracurricular activities.

YFU looks for students who are flexible, have a spirit of adventure, and who will enjoy the challenge of adapting to new people in a new culture. You must be between the ages of 15 and 18, meet minimum grade requirements, and be in good health.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the YFU High School Program must demonstrate the following in order to be accepted:

	Strong academic record
	English language proficiency
	Motivation to excel in academic or career courses
	Commitment to the host family experience
	Self-responsibility, self-direction, maturity
	Readiness for a cross cultural exchange experience

Candidates applying to the program must generally be between 15 and 18 years of age, demonstrate pride in their culture, and respect for cultural diversity. Applicants take a comprehensive English language test to demonstrate English Language skills, submit personal essays, and take part in face-to face interviews to determine motivation and readiness for both homestay exchange and high school level work.

Program Tuition

The High School Program tuition includes international airfare to a host family, host family placement arrangements, and program orientation and support.

Applying for the YFU High School Program

You can find out more information about living in the United States at libraries, embassies, travel specialists, and from newspapers.

To receive information about the YFU High School program, please contact your YFU National Office.

You may also follow the instructions below to have a YFU representative contact you about the YFU High School Program for students living outside of the United States:

1. Go to Contact Me.

2. Then check: International Students: Contact me about the YFU High School Program.

3. Fill out the form completely and submit it.