Exchange Year in the USA – Become a High School Exchange Student

Are you also dreaming of going on an exchange year to the United States where you will have the chance to experience the American culture for real? As an exchange student, you'll make lots of new friends and experience things you've only dreamed of. Plus, you'll become fluent in English along the way. This is the land of opportunity. Living in the United States for a whole year is an amazing experience. Take the chance!

Our exchange programs in the USA

It's not difficult to see why the USA is by far our most popular destination when it comes to exchange years. In addition to experiencing high school spirit, cheerleaders and the iconic yellow school buses, this is also where you have the greatest opportunity to influence what your exchange year will look like. We have four programs to choose from; Classic, Select, Academic Exchange and Boarding Exchange. Let us know what you want from your exchange year in the US, and we will help you find the right program for you!

Classic - Our most popular exchange program

High School Classic is the exchange program that most of our students choose. It is the perfect program for those who want a genuine experience during their exchange year. Where you end up in the US depends on where we find a school and a suitable host family for you. You can also add preferences for the state or region you want to live in. If we are able to accommodate your request, there will be an additional fee.

Read more about Classic

Decide yourself what your exchange year will look like

By going on an exchange year to the US, you have the opportunity to shape your exchange year to be more to your liking. This means that you can choose where you would like to live and what type of school you want to attend. We work with carefully selected schools that offer high-quality academic studies, in wonderful locations around the country.

High School Select - Our most flexible exchange program
With Select, you get to choose where in the US you would like to live and which school you want to attend. Choose from specific school subjects, sports or other interests that are important to you during your exchange year. You will be staying with a carefully selected host family.

Academic Exchange - High School Select Light
With Academic Exchange, you get to choose whether you want to go to a public or private school and you can choose, for example, a sport, a specific state or a specific subject that you want to study, but we choose the school for you based on your chosen preference. You will be staying with a carefully selected host family.

Boarding Exchange - Attending a US boarding school
Boarding Exchange means that we will place you in one of the 60 different boarding schools that we work with around the country. It also means that you will be staying at the school and not with a host family.

All this is included

Whichever of the four different programs you choose, the following is included:

• Departure month: July-September or January
• Full board in a carefully selected host family or boarding school.
• Materials and departure meetings to prepare you and your parents.
• Round-trip airfare.
• STS Welcome Camp.
• STS backpack.
• STS diploma.
• 24-hour on-call service by phone.
• Personalized service and contact person in both home and host country.

How to become an exchange student in the USA?

To become an exchange student in the USA, you need to follow these steps:

1. Submit an application. The application is not binding.
2. Schedule a free and non-binding interview with us. You are also welcome to attend an informational meeting, where we will explain more about going on an exchange year in the USA.
3. You will be offered a preliminary place in the program, receive our agreement, and pay the application fee. Then you pay for the exchange year according to a predetermined payment plan.
4. The application process begins. This is where you tell us about yourself, provide your previous grades, do a medical exam and more. We are here to offer tips and advice!
5. Now we wait for the decision on admission from the school. During this time, we will also look for a suitable host family that lives near the school you’ve chosen. Final approval is also given from the American school authorities.
6. Visa preparation begins. We’ll let you know when it’s time to apply for a visa and provide you with instructions and the documents you need.
7. Now it's time to attend our departure meeting, where you will receive details on everything you need to know for your exchange year.
8. Time to go!

During your stay, we are always available for you, 24/7! Detailed information about the application process can be found here.

How much does it cost to be an exchange student in the USA?

As an exchange student, there are certain costs that you and your family need to cover. This includes the cost of insurance, visas, toiletries, any trips you want to take, leisure activities and pocket money.

The amount of money needed per month is individual to you, depending on what you want to do and your lifestyle. We recommend having at least 400 USD per month and a buffer of around 800 USD so that you are secure in case of unexpected expenses.

See the full list of additional costs here.

Do you have the right age for High School?

To be an exchange student in the USA through STS, you need to be between 15-18.5 years old at the start of the exchange year.

Most exchange students are placed in high school grades Junior or Senior. The group you are placed in depends on age, grades, English proficiency, and the local school's rules.

Learn more about ages and grades in the American school system below.

The American School System

Elementary school and Middle school cover grades for students between 6-14 years old, corresponding to grades 1-8. High school covers grades 9-12, and students are generally between 14-18 years old. High school students are divided into four groups: Freshmen,Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.

During high school years, students often choose their own courses, including core subjects and electives. School terms in the USA start between August and September and end in May and June. School hours are typically around 37 hours per week.

As an exchange student in the USA, school plays a central role. You have significant freedom in choosing subjects. A couple of subjects, such as English and mathematics, are usually mandatory. In addition to these, there are plenty of fun courses to choose from, called electives.

Together with a school counselor, you create a personalized schedule. American school lessons are often interactive and include practical elements like experiments and workshops.

Being an exchange student in the USA

In the USA, you often engage in school activities after regular classes are over for the day. It can range from sports, art, or music to running the school's TV channel or organizing an event. You can be sure there's something that suits you.

During your exchange year, you'll also experience magical events like Prom Night (the annual school dance) and Homecoming (a reunion for old students), as seen in most high school movies.

Get the true story! Read the real-life stories from our students who have spent their exchange in the USA

What to do in the USA during your free time?

In your free time, you get the chance to explore your new city. Take the opportunity to go bowling with friends, attend an American football game, or why not take part in community service? Regardless of where you are in the USA, there are plenty of exciting things to do and discover.

We at STS also offer several trips for our exchange students in the USA. Do you want to travel to Washington D.C. or Disney World in Florida? With our trips, you have the opportunity to experience more of the country with other exchange students. Which trips you can go on depends on where in the USA you are staying.

Living with a Host Family

When you live with one of our carefully selected host families, you experience a typical American life. They will do their utmost to make you feel like part of the family. You'll participate in various everyday tasks, and they will show you their favorite places. You'll also meet their friends and relatives. Perhaps there will be weekend mornings in the shopping mall, a barbecue with neighbors, or a camping trip with your host siblings. Regardless of what it is, you will have a great time together throughout your year.

If you want to go with our Select program, contact us for more exact price information as the choice of school and location determines the price. But expect prices from $ 40,950 and up. For Boarding Exchange, the price is from $ 39,250 and up. For Academic Exchange, the price is from $ 40,950 and up.

Price list Classic

The price for an exchange year with our Classic program varies depending on how long you choose to be away and any options. Please see below the starting prices for our Classic program.

Please contact us if you are interested in a shorter program than 5 months. In most cases, it is possible to arrange.