The general program fees run from $5,000 to $10,000 depending upon the organization, country you travel to and length of stay. That will cover travel, support and orientations, insurance, room and board with a vetted host family. On top of that, you still must pay all your personal expenses such as entertainment, clothes and school fees.

Many organizations have scholarship opportunities. You can check that on their websites. However, scholarship deadlines are usually before Christmas for the next school year.

For a list of organizations certified to operate in the U.S. go to www.csiet.org. Don’t use one not listed! Also, go to your high school counselor for a recommendation. An organization is only as good as its local representatives.

For general information on being an exchange student, check out www.exchangestudentworld.com. That’s a site developed for students by the students who have done it!

Good luck!