ARE YOU READY FOR ADVENTURE?

 When you step off the airplane as an exchange student in another country, you can:

To get started, complete the Preliminary application form and send it to Milton Rotary's Youth Exchange Officer

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL is an organization of business and professional leaders dedicated to humanitarian service, ethical standards in business and to promoting world understanding and peace through programs like Rotary Youth Exchange.

With more than 28,000 clubs and almost 1.2 million members in 155 different countries, Rotary has, since 1929, built one of the largest and, we think, the best youth exchange programs almost entirely with committed volunteers! If you'd like more information on Rotary, visit the official Rotary International web site at www.rotary.org.

Long Term Exchange Program

U.S.A outbound or foreign inbound students spend a full academic year with one or more host families beginning in late summer. Host parents provide room and meals as well as support and guidance. The host Rotary Club provides a limited monthly spending allowance, counseling, and supervision.

Short Term Exchange Program

In a Summer Cultural Exchange, students spend three to eight weeks in their host country traveling. Exchange varieties include group exchanges, reciprocal hosting, and hosting only are available. Each one provides an excellent opportunity to experience a new culture in a brief period of time.

COMPARE

Many other Exchange Programs are out there. Rotary is much less expensive because Rotary's exchange programs are staffed by Rotary volunteers backed by Rotary's extensive international organization and planning. But Rotary's real advantage is that our supervision and guidance are simply superb! Wherever there is a Rotary Exchange Student, there are local counselors to assist and advise. We take our surrogate parenting responsibilities very seriously! If you're even considering other programs, be sure to compare Rotary!


IN GOOD COMPANY!

Every year, almost 10,000 young people from 66 countries see the world the way it is best seen - from the inside out - through Rotary's Youth Exchange program.  As a Rotary Exchange student, you may learn a new language but you will certainly learn a new way of living - and a great deal about yourself. The people you meet will learn too - about your country, and your culture and ideas. As an unofficial ambassador you will bring the world closer together and make new friends in the process.


COUNTING THE COST

For outbound students, natural parents pay:

 * Application fee, insurance, passport/visa costs, airline travel, clothing, extra spending money, and some trip and tour costs;

 * Orientation and/or processing fees which will vary from district to district and will be explained;

 * Reasonable fee to ESSEX approved travel agency for travel planning services (obtaining visas & providing country specific information);

 * All extra costs for such items as special school trips and activities or optional extensive sight seeing trips around the country (amount dependent on limits set by parents/student).

For inbound students, the Rotary host club pays:

 * All basic costs like school tuition (where applicable), a home and food;
 * Transportation to school and some activities;
 * Approximately $100.00 per month spending money (varies by country).


 INTERVIEW SELECTION

Rotary Youth Exchange is for you if you are a high school student with an out-going, pleasant personality between the ages of 15 1/2 and 18 1/2 who has demonstrated above average academic achievement. Students must also be adaptable and flexible when adjusting to new and unanticipated situations that commonly arise when living in a different culture.

Applications are due and interviews are held at the local club level in the fall. Final selection at district level occurs in the winter. Mailings and concentrated orientation prepare the student and parents for both outbound and inbound experiences. Participants depart in mid-summer and return at the end of the academic year. (Three to eight week summer exchanges are scheduled on a less stringent basis.)

WHERE WILL I GO?

Every effort is made to place students in the country of their preference. Sometimes, however, a host country may not have enough openings available for the number of applicants or an applicant may fail to meet the foreign language proficiency requirements that are applicable to exchanges to certain countries. (See Appendix 2 for more on language restrictions).

The 30 Rotary districts within the ESSEX organization send exchange students each year to virtually every politically stable country in the world including, for example, all European countries, Japan, India, most of the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (Russia and countries of the former Soviet Union), most Central and South American countries, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and many African countries.

SIGN ME UP!

Rotary's Youth Exchange Programs are open to young men and women between the ages of 15 1/2-18 1/2 (19 for summer exchange), and to the sons and daughters of Rotarians and non-Rotarians alike.  Sponsoring Rotary clubs select applicants on the basis of a written application and a personal interview. Visit www.exchangestudent.org for forms and more details.

Please send your completed application to Dr. John Drottar, Youth Exchange Chairman, Milton Rotary Club, 12 Desmond Road, Randolph, MA 02368.  The club will interview applicants prior to March 2, 2007. 


The Milton Rotary club will conduct mandatory personal interviews with students and their parents.  The local club will recommend candidates to be interviewed with their parents by the District 7950 committee, which makes the final selection.


AFTER I RETURN I WILL . . .

Attend the re-entry orientation for students and parents.
Include my exchange information on resumes and university applications.
Share my exchange experiences with family, friends, Rotary, school, and my community.
Complete a short evaluation and comment form if requested by my local Rotary district.

QUESTIONS?  Contact If you have any questions, please contact Dr. John Drottar, Youth Exchange Chairman, Milton Rotary Club at (617) 696-4470 extension 5503.

 Medical Insurance Requirements

All exchange students participating in Rotary ESSEX's short term (4-6 week) and year abroad exchanges are required to purchase one of two major medical insurance policies. This is to insure that you will have at least some health insurance coverage if you experience major medical problems abroad. Even if you have other insurance, you must purchase one of these insurance policies if ESSEX accepts you as an exchange student.

Cost: As of January 1, 2007, the prices for the insurance policies range between $100 and $600 (U.S. dollars), depending on the length of the exchange and the coverage level selected by the student.

Your district chairman or exchange contact will contact you and provide you with details, an application and answer any questions you might have.

The insurance application is available for download on the www.exchangestudent.com website in Adobe Acrobat format. This form contains the pricing information and options.  It also explains the coverages and other riders that may be purchased if you participate in certain types of activities, like scholastic sports programs.  If you have trouble reading it on your computer, you can also obtain a copy from your district chairman.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask your district chair or exchange contact.



Language requirements

Australia:    

 

Academic Requirement:  You must be in the top 10% of your school class.

Austria

 

Language Requirements:


(1) Requires at least two years of German in high school
(2) you should have average grades in German.

Belgium     

 

Language Requirement:

(1) Requires at least two years of French in high school, OR
(2) your agreement that you will take private tutoring to become relatively fluent in French.

 (Note: You will be required to sign a written letter of commitment if you are meeting the language requirement using option #2).

(Note: if you do not meet the French language requirements and you choose Belgium, you will be assigned to a Flemish speaking community, if available).

Age Requirement:
Minimum age is 16½ at time of arrival.

Denmark

 

Academic Requirement:
You should have excellent foreign language ability.
(Note: you will be required to pay an extra language camp fee).

Age Requirement:
You must be between the ages of 16 and 17 years, 11 months at the time of your arrival.


England & British Isles


Academic Requirement:
If English is your primary language, you may not choose England or the British Isles for your exchange unless you are in the top 10% of your class. If your primary language is not English you should be in the upper third of your class.  

Finland

 

Academic Requirement:
You should have excellent foreign language ability.
 (Note: you will be required to pay an extra language camp fee).

Age Requirement:
You must be between the ages of 16 and 18 ¼ at the time of arrival.  

France

 

Language Requirement:
 

(1) Requires at least two years of French in high school, OR
(2) your agreement that you will take private tutoring to become relatively fluent.

 (Note: You will be required to sign a written letter of commitment if you are meeting the language requirement using option #2).

Age Requirement:
Minimum age is 16 at time of arrival.  

Germany

 

Academic Requirement:
At least some knowledge of German is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, but not mandatory.  

New Zealand

 

Academic Requirement:
You must be in the top 10% of your school class.
Age Requirement:
You must be under 17 at time of arrival


Norway

 

Age Requirement:
You must be between the ages of 17 and 18 ½ years at the time of arrival.  

South Africa

 

Academic Requirement:
You must be in the top 10% of your school class.

Spain

 

Academic Requirements:

(1) Requires at least two years of Spanish in high school, and
(2) you have average grades in Spanish.  

Sweden

 

Age Requirement:
You be 16 years old by July 1st of the year you are going abroad.
Note: you will be required to pay an extra language camp fee).

Switzerland

 

Academic Requirements:
(1) Requires at least two years of German in high school, and
(2) you have average grades in German.
Age Requirement:
Minimum age is 17 at time of arrival.  

Canada

 

ESSEX Requirement:
You may only go to Canada if you are from the United States - you will be in the French speaking portions of the country. (Canadians can't choose Canada).  

United States

 

ESSEX Requirement:
Only Canadian students may go to the United States. (Americans can't choose United States).