Become an Exchange Student

Become an Exchange Student

Study in the U.S.A.

Interested in experiencing life as a high school student in America? Join our community—become an exchange student!

Since 1981, Academic Year in America (AYA) has connected over 35,000 high school exchange students with welcoming host families and high schools in the U.S. Coming from more than 30 countries around the world, our exchange students build international friendships, immerse themselves in American culture, and share their culture with others.

Why Become an Exchange Student in the U.S.?

There are many benefits to living in the U.S. with an American host family for a semester or school year while you attend a local high school!

When you become an exchange student with AYA, you get to:

Experience authentic American culture—beyond what you’ve seen in movies or read in books

Live with an American family and attend a U.S. high school

Make lifelong friends with your host family, classmates, and other community members

Improve your English language proficiency

Create meaningful memories that will stay with you forever

Apply Now

From Coast to Coast, AYA Students Find Their Place

AYA places exchange students with host families across the United States, primarily in smaller towns and rural areas. Whether your placement is in a suburban neighborhood outside of a big city or in the countryside, you’ll get to genuinely experience American life and immerse yourself in a close-knit community.

While you can’t choose your exact location, you’ll discover the U.S. in an authentic way—wherever you’re placed.

Life at a U.S. High School

Your experience as an exchange student at a U.S. high school will be full of new connections, fun, and learning. All homestay communities selected for AYA programs have schools that meet our high academic standards and provide a valuable educational experience. Schools vary in size and style, but each offers unique opportunities for growth and development.

Classes & Academics

Your courses will be tailored to your background and interests, with support from your school counselor to ensure the right level and mix of subjects.

Extracurricular Activities

Join the fun beyond the classroom—sports, cheer, band, debate, art clubs, community service, and more. You’ll make new friends and develop key skills!

Everyday School Life

Experience American high school traditions—lockers, pep rallies, dances, and spirit weeks—while taking a full course load and embracing new challenges.

Lasting Connections

Beyond academics, the heart of your exchange lies in the friendships and warm connections you’ll carry with you long after the program ends.

I met a lot of nice people at my high school … School in America is a lot different than school in Germany. One of the things I like is the close relationship between teacher and student. I also enjoy the big variety of classes you can take. My time as an exchange student is giving me a lot of different experiences. I am learning and growing daily and improving my English is just one part of it. I appreciate the chance to do all this.

– Jana, an exchange student from Germany

Your American Host Family

Every host family is different, but they all share some things in common: an enthusiasm for cultural exchange, a commitment to welcoming you into their home, and providing a caring, nurturing environment for you to live and explore American life.

Host families may include families with young children or children your age, retired couples, single-parent families, and more—there is no “typical” host family.

AYA host families are:

Carefully selected to ensure a safe, supportive, and welcoming home

Ready to include you as a true family member—joining meals, activities, holidays, and special moments

Committed to guiding you through both the privileges and responsibilities of their family life

“[My host family has] changed the way I think and communicate, making me compassionate to others… I love our dinner conversations where we frequently discuss different elements of American culture. I also share about my Armenian culture which they enjoy hearing about. Trips and adventures with lots of fun follow these conversations. There, I get to experience the American culture in different states and see how it is in those other perspectives.”

“My host family is my [inspiration]. They are amazing and cordial people. We have a lot in common and support each other every day. I like everything about them! … My host family and I visit various fascinating events, take adorable pictures, play board games, cook delightful dinners together… I am grateful to my incredible [host] parents… They are amazing because they are my favorite people, they are amazing because they are my second family.”

“By the time I landed in the US, I knew that I had found a new part of my family on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, and that they were waiting for me with open hearts and fully accepting the fact that I am from a different galaxy. The host parents and my four siblings welcomed me at the airport with a huge poster saying ‘Welcome to America’ in Polish. In front of the house there was an American and a Polish flag. They did a lot of big and small things to make me feel at home with them.”

Host Family Responsibilities: What Does a Host Family Provide?

Your host family will be responsible for:

Welcoming you into their home as a member of the family and encouraging you to participate in family life.
Providing you with your own bed—either in your own bedroom or one you share with a family member of the same sex and age—and a place to study.
Providing you with meals (except lunch on school days).
Encouraging the exchange of ideas and providing you with exposure to the cultural and social environment of the home and neighborhood.
Providing the care and understanding a young person needs to enjoy a successful stay in America.

Support You Can Count On: Your Local Coordinator

AYA Local Coordinators (LCs) are an important part of your exchange year. They live within 60 miles of your host family and are there to support you and answer any questions or resolve any issues you may encounter during your program. They’ll check in with you regularly, invite you to cluster meetings and group activities with other exchange students in the area, and help you transition into American life.

Local Coordinators are responsible for:

Screening, interviewing, and selecting your host family

Providing your host family with a pre-arrival orientation

Working with your American high school

Supervising and supporting you and your host family, visiting you monthly

Submitting bi-monthly reports about your progress to our national office

Providing emergency assistance to you and your family, if needed

How to Apply—Find Your Partner

To become an AYA exchange student, you must apply through one of our trusted overseas partners in your home country. AYA has many partners in countries around the world, including:

Armenia	France	Moldova	Sweden
Austria	Germany	Mongolia	Switzerland
Azerbaijan	Greece	Montenegro	Tajikistan
Belgium	Hungary	Poland	Thailand
Brazil	Italy	Republic of Georgia	Turkmenistan
China	Kazakhstan	Romania	Ukraine
Czech Republic	Kyrgyzstan	Serbia	Uzbekistan
Ecuador	Latvia	Slovakia
Estonia	Luxembourg	Spain

World Map of AYA Student Home Countries.

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AYA Exchange Student Experiences

Interested in what it’s really like to be an AYA exchange student? Browse our student videos and blogs below.

Student Spotlight: Emilia from Poland Hosted in Tennessee

Meet Robin From France, Hosted in Virginia

German Exchange Student Emilie's Year in North Carolina

Start Your Exchange Student Journey

Submit your information below to access our list of overseas partners around the world and start the process of applying to become a high school exchange student in the United States with AYA!