For the $6,000 they want, you could pay for a very large portion of a year’s exchange trip. This would have numerous more benefits than the P2P experience, including language and culture immersion. Many colleges and universities offer preferred admissions and sometimes scholarship monies to former exchange students.

Additionally, you would have the advantage of knowing another language, which is VERY valuable in the work force.

Would you have fun on the P2P trip? Undoubtedly. Are there better ways to spend your money? Yes.

Your high school counselor should have information on real exchange programs. Or you can find the organizations certified to operate in the U.S. at www.csiet.org.

The site www.exchangestudentworld.com also has a lot of information. It’s written by exchange students for exchange students.

Good Luck!