American Students
and their Parents.
Change Your Life,
Change the World.
The Learning Adventure of a Lifetime
“My exchange
experience helped
me see a new
perspective on the world. Now I look
forward to each new day as an adventure.”
—Emily, Spain Summer
Program Alumna
Deciding to study abroad means you are ready to embark on a journey of discovery that will last a lifetime. A Youth For Understanding USA (YFU) study abroad program is an experience that will immerse you in the lives, culture and community of a family in one of 40 countries around the globe. It is an opportunity for US high school students and recent graduates to not only learn a new language, but to experience – in a year, semester or a summer program – what life is really like in another part of the world. YFU provides an experience that will forever change how you think of yourself and your view of our global community.
Why Choose a YFU Exchange Program?
When you choose YFU, you choose an international community of organizations that have more than fifty years of worldwide exchange experience. YFU is here to help you every step of the way—guide you through the application, interview, and selection process; arrange your travel; provide additional insurance resources, if needed; and guide you in how to arrange for school credit for your time abroad.
The homestay is at the heart of the YFU experience. You will live with a carefully selected host family who has offered to open their home and hearts to you—providing room, board and a caring home. You will attend school on an academic program and make new friends who will help you understand the culture of the country you are experiencing in a way no tourist trip could match.
You will attend a pre-departure orientation before you leave so you can talk to and hear from staff and volunteers, many of whom are YFU alumni. YFU staff and volunteers ensure you are supported throughout your exchange experience. YFU representatives will be available to assist with your travel needs, welcome you warmly when you arrive; and provide you with the information, logistics, and anything else you need to get from the airport to your host family. After you settle in, most academic programs offer another orientation about the YFU experience in your host country.
Join YFU in the adventure of a lifetime. You’ll discover the experience to be a powerful engine for personal growth and discovery that will influence your perception of yourself, the world and the international community we share.
How will a YFU exchange program benefit you?
Inevitably, someone will ask you why you want to go on an exchange program. It is one of the biggest decisions you will make in your life. The reasons to study abroad are varied and differ for everyone, but some common ones include:
- Increase fluency in another language.
- Meet new people and forge lifelong friendships.
- Love of travel and the personal enjoyment of new experiences.
- Desire the college advantage: preferred college admissions and scholarships to participating universities across the United States.
- Learn how to interact with people from different backgrounds and cultures by sharing their lives.
- Gain a global perspective and be ready to meet the challenges of the future, as a person and as a leader.
- Enhance global career opportunities.
