INTRODUCTION
Spend the rest of your life telling stories that begin with, “When I lived in the U.S…”
There’s perhaps no more unique culture than America. And perhaps no greater opportunity than spending a year living and studying there. So why just think about doing it?
Being an exchange student in the United States means you’ll live with an American family, study at an American high school, and spend your days doing, you know, American things. And you’ll come away with stories that will take a lifetime to re–tell.
Maybe some days, you’ll be riding one of those signature yellow school buses. Maybe you’ll be celebrating your first Thanksgiving dinner with your host family. Maybe you’ll just be hanging around a mall, surrounded by newfound friends, laughing at the very stupidest of things.
We say “maybe” because, truth be told, every student’s exchange year is different.
And that’s what makes it perfect.
ONE COUNTRY. COUNTLESS STORIES.
At first, you’ll be “that new kid from Norway.”
It’s true. On day one of your exchange year in America, everyone will know you as “that kid from Norway.” By day 30, who knows… maybe you’ll be “that really funny kid,” “that amazing chess player,” or just “that great photographer on the yearbook team.”
You’ll jump into new classes, join clubs you didn’t expect, and find friends who started out as total strangers. You probably have ideas about what your exchange year will be like — but here’s the truth: it’ll be completely different from whatever you picture. And that’s exactly the point.
Somewhere in the middle of it all, you’ll realize you’re changing. More open. More curious. More you.
You’ll arrive nervous — and leave confident. You’ll get lost (literally or otherwise) — and learn how to find your way. You’ll say “see you later” to people who were strangers and became something more.
This isn’t just a year in the U.S. It’s a crash course in growing up, in figuring things out, in becoming the kind of person who can thrive anywhere. It’s the year that changes every year after.
It’s hard to watch them go. Harder to hold them back.
Choosing to send your child abroad isn’t a small decision — it’s brave. You’re giving them the chance to grow in ways that don’t happen at home. To build confidence. To navigate the unfamiliar. To come back changed — in the best possible way.
But bravery shouldn’t mean blind trust. You want to know they’ll be safe, supported, and surrounded by people who care. That’s why every EF host family goes through a careful screening process — including background checks, reference checks, personal interviews, and a home visit. It’s not just about having a spare room. It’s about opening up the right kind of home.
Before they go, your child won’t just pack a suitcase. They’ll take part in a step-by-step prep program that covers everything from culture shock to how to handle homesickness. And once they arrive, they’ll have a local EF Coordinator nearby and a full-time support team in Boston and Denver — ready if anything comes up.
This experience is about growth, yes — but with a net beneath it. Because the hardest part is letting them go. The best part is watching who they become when they come back.
DEPART P REPARED
RETURN S T RONGER
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BOSTON
EF VERIFIED FAMILY
BACKGROUND CHECK
REFERENCE CHECK
IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS
HOME VISITS
EF HELPLINE
STRUCTURE
Yes, it’s your exchange year. But it’s also your host family’s.
It’s called “exchange” for a reason. When you spend a year in America living with a host family, everyone benefits. EF’s host families come in all shapes and sizes — and they volunteer to share their homes because they’re as curious about your culture as you are about theirs. So just know: as you learn about America, you won’t be the only one learning.
You won’t feel like a guest for long. You’ll slip right in — a sibling at the dinner table, an extra hand on grocery runs, a spot saved on the couch for movie nights. You’ll lend a hand in the kitchen, help flip burgers in the backyard, or laugh together baking cookies way past bedtime.
Host families might be single parents, retirees, big families, or no kids at all — but the one thing they share is they chose this. They want you there.
When you look back, you’ll remember the big stuff — your first barbecue, a family road trip, a holiday you’d never celebrated before. But what really sticks is the everyday stuff. The inside jokes. The late-night kitchen talks. The first dinner that turns into a thousand comfortable ones. A second version of home — and people who’ll probably cry when you leave.
More happens here than you think.
An American high school isn’t just a place where you study. It’s where things happen.
You’ll take classes that mix core subjects with electives you might never have tried—photography, psychology, theater, or maybe even culinary arts. You’ll see teachers who coach sports teams or run student clubs, who want you to speak up and be part of the conversation.
Your days might start with a yellow school bus and end with football games, spirit weeks, or just hanging out with new friends in the cafeteria.
American schools aren’t about fitting in—they’re about finding your place. So go out for the school play. Try out for soccer. Join yearbook or debate or robotics or chess. You never know what might stick.
And whether your school is big or small, rural or suburban — what matters is that it becomes yours.
Not everything
will go as planned. Pretty much like the rest of life.
There will be moments when things don’t go perfectly. You might feel homesick. You might struggle with the language. You might not click with someone right away. That’s not failure — that’s the experience. And after more than 100,000 exchanges since 1979, there’s not much we haven’t seen. The important part? We don’t just prepare you — we show up when you need us.
Unlike other programs, EF doesn’t hand you off to partner agencies or third parties. We handle every detail ourselves — from screening host families to doing check-ins to solving problems on the ground. Every student has a local coordinator who knows the program well and is there to support you locally whenever you need it.
One thing we’ve learned over the years: the visa you choose matters too. We choose to sponsor students on the J–1 Exchange Visitor Visa, part of the U.S. Department of State’s BridgeUSA program, because it comes with 34 pages of regulations for safety, quality, and real cultural exchange — compared to the more common F–1 visa, which has zero.
Real life is unpredictable. That’s why real support matters.
Exchange Student Host Family
High School
NEXT STEPS
Thinking about an exchangew year means you’re already open to the idea of change. That’s the first step. Now it’s time to take the next one.
Want to talk it through? Book a free consultation with someone from the EF team — we’ve helped students and their parents explore this decision more times than we can count, and we’re here to help you figure out if it’s right for you too.
Prefer to hear stories from students who’ve already been there? Join one of our info events. You’ll meet former exchange students, get your questions answered, and see what it’s really like.
Scan to check latest prices and availability. ef.com/highschool/program-cost-and-options
Learn more at jlvisa.state.gov
