Exchange programs allow students to leave their home country and experience a year of high school elsewhere in the world, learning about different cultures and traditions, and gaining a more global perspective. A great number of students come from abroad to participate in exchange programs in the US, and experience what American high schools have to offer.
In this article, we’re going to explore one such program: Assist Scholars. We’ll cover what the program is, who it’s for, how it works, and whether or not participating is a good choice for you. We’ll also cover how participating in exchange programs can improve your chances of college admission for top universities. Let’s get started!
The Assist Scholars Exchange Program
Founded in Germany in 1969, Assist Scholars is a multinational nonprofit organization dedicated to placing international students in exchange programs with private American high schools. They work with students aged 14-18, and have partnered with a significant number of American high schools.
The way it works is that students in one of the countries represented by Assist apply through their country’s program. They are then matched with one of Assist’s partner schools; a collection of top tier independent schools located throughout the US. These schools offer a scholarship to the international students admitted through this program, and Assist has their own scholarships on offer as well. While families must still pay some of the costs associated with the exchange program, there is financial aid available.
The number of students each year is capped for each country, and the application is highly selective. We’ll go through what the application requires in the next section. You can find a full list of the countries Assist is based in here; note that if there is no Assist program in your country, you are unable to apply for this program.
The program lasts a full ten months; the length of an entire US school year. During this time, students stay with a host family who works with the program that lives near the school they are attending. Many of these families host multiple Assist Scholars over the years, and help you experience aspects of American social life outside of just what you find in a school.
How to Apply to Assist Scholars
Applications to the program must be submitted online. When the application opens, and when applications are due, depends on your particular country. Applications from each country are handled individually, with a limited number of spaces for each available.
You must meet these eligibility requirements:
- 14-18 years of age
- Entering 10th or 11th grade (though there are a few limited opportunities for students entering 12th grade)
- Highly proficient in English (this must be demonstrated through a Duolingo test if your primary language is not English)
- Able to study in the US for the entire 10 month span
You must first fill out the online application form. This covers biographical and contact information, and a few short essay questions you must answer. This is not meant to be time consuming, but must be done before you submit additional application materials. You must additionally submit the following as part of your application:
- Three letters of recommendation, from an English teacher math teacher, and a school administrator
- An official transcript from your school
- An applicant photo, and four additional candid photos
If you are selected as a finalist, and your primary language is not English, you will be asked to take the Duolingo proficiency test and submit your score. This test may be taken online, and has very flexible scheduling, allowing you to complete it at a time that works for you. We advise you to do this sooner rather than later. You must have enough English proficiency to be able to function at an English-speaking high school for a year without language support to take part in this program.
Finalists are interviewed in December through February. These interviews take place in-person, and are generally held in your home country. In some cases, these are done virtually. This is the final step of the application process. You will be notified as to your results in January or February, depending on your country.
Once you have been named an Assist Scholar, you will be matched with an independent school in the US. These schools make the final decision on whether or not to admit you for a year, but this is almost never a problem. You do not have any influence over which school you are placed with; while you may state preferences for particular regions, the program will place you with the school they think is the best fit for you.
Affording Assist Scholars
Assist Scholars is a scholarship program generally, with students receiving a scholarship to attend the independent school in the US they are matched with. This may cover some or all of the associated costs. Not all applicants receive a scholarship of this nature, but an overwhelming majority of participants receive some form of financial aid.
There is a fee associated with Assist Scholars itself; this goes to funding the staff and overhead costs for the organization. The group is registered as a nonprofit. This fee depends on your country.
In addition to the Assist fee and the costs associated with the school, you are expected to cover a number of costs that stem from the program yourself. These are:
- The cost of going to the US and back, and attending the Assist orientation there.
- Health and accident insurance. Note that you must purchase health insurance in the US, there is no universal healthcare system in place there.
- Visa application fees.
- Activity fees and expenses charged by the school, such as for books. Not all schools have these, but for some participating in certain extracurriculars incurs an additional fee.
- Money for personal expenses and purchases.
There is some financial aid available to help with these out-of-pocket costs, provided by various donors who support Assist. Financial aid is awarded as part of the admissions process.
Exchange Programs for College Admissions
Attending an exchange program on its own does not increase your chances of acceptance to an American university, nor will it make you count as a domestic student when applying. That said, there are some tangible benefits to doing exchange programs such as this if you are considering attending college in the US.
First, it gives you the chance to experience what living in the US and attending school there is like. This can be a major culture shock for a lot of international students, and not all of them enjoy it. By spending a year in the US attending high school, you can see if the culture and atmosphere is something you enjoy, and would like to experience more of it.
Next, it can enable you to gain a more global perspective, something a lot of colleges like to see. This is not necessary for an application of course, but it can help you stand out, and give you additional material to discuss when you explain why a school in the US is the right choice for you.
Finally, this can be a chance to try coursework not offered in your country. Most high schools offer similar courses and concepts; calculus is the same the world over, but the way schooling is organized can differ a lot, and this can be a novel experience, letting you explore other fields which you may then want to follow up with in college.
Is an Exchange Program Right for You?
This depends in large part on your own academic circumstances, and your goals. If you get easily homesick, or don’t particularly care about studying in the US, then this opportunity is not something you are likely to benefit from at all. If, however, you thrill at new experiences and adventures, then studying abroad on an exchange year in high school can be a great choice for you.
We do want to note that you may or may not be able to earn credit for coursework you take while on an exchange program. This is entirely up to the discretion of your home high school, and you should coordinate closely with your counselors and administrators if you are planning on participating in an exchange program. This will ensure you will graduate on time, or let you know what steps you need to take to ensure classes transfer (if such proves possible).
What these programs are looking for in students is a keen curiosity about other cultures, and a willingness and openness about their own. The point of these programs is to increase global interconnectivity, and to allow people to understand perspectives they otherwise wouldn’t by interacting with people in very different locations and circumstances than they are used to. If this sounds like you, or something you would benefit from, then you should definitely consider signing up for an exchange program.
Final Thoughts
Assist Scholars is not the only exchange program in operation, but it is one of the oldest and most reputable. It is also incredibly popular with independent schools in the US, so if that is the kind of environment you are interested in experiencing (as opposed to a public school), then it is a good option for you. We hope this article has given you a good sense of what this program offers, and how you can go about taking advantage of this opportunity.
High school is a time for exploring and experiencing new things, and gaining a broader understanding of both yourself and the world around you. Exchange programs are a great way to do that, and to see more of the world than you otherwise could. If you’re looking for help arranging your own exchange experience, or exploring any other passion you may have, Ivy Scholars can help. Schedule a free consultation today to learn how our candidacy building program can help you make the most of your time in high school. We’ve helped hundreds of students explore their passions, and are always happy to hear from you.
