Studying abroad is a lifetime experience. AFS Intercultural Programs is a fantastic organization that makes sure you’ll find comfort in stepping out of your comfort zone. Since 1914, AFS (American Field Service) has partnered with over 60 countries to give students the opportunity to live abroad and immerse themselves in a new culture, whether for an entire year or just a semester.
There’s much more to an exchange year than what you see on social media. It involves months of preparation and planning leading up to the actual departure, as well as various orientation days both at home and in the host country. That’s exactly why organizations like AFS exist. They are there to guide and support you throughout the entire process, ensuring that every student has a successful and fulfilling year.
But why should you choose AFS?
Choosing the Right Organization
I am currently a part of the exchange program between AFS USA and AFS Switzerland. I did a lot of research to find out which organization actually fit my goals and hopes, and ultimately, my decision fell on AFS. I had a few other organizations in mind, including Rotary, EF, and YFU, but they didn’t quite fit what I was looking for.
The idea behind Rotary is that you change host families three times over the span of a year to experience different ways of living—this did not appeal to me because I really wanted to build one true home and bond deeply with one family. EF is not supported by my school in Switzerland and didn’t have the best reputation where I am from, which made that decision easy. The choice between AFS and YFU was a bit harder. In the end, I chose AFS because YFU didn’t provide a lot of detailed information about their program, while AFS explained a lot about their history, the study abroad process, and what the program includes. My cousins both went abroad with AFS and had great things to say, which confirmed it was the right fit for me.
Key Takeaway: Pick an organization that aligns with your personal goals and hopes.
The Registration Process
The first step is registration. I signed up a year in advance, which I highly recommend. The earlier you start, the better. It gives you more time to complete all the paperwork, and it gives AFS more time to find a suitable host family in your country of choice.
Nevertheless, it is a lot of work and can get stressful at times. AFS requires a significant amount of documentation and background information to ensure that students are healthy—both mentally and physically—and ready for a year abroad.
Key Takeaway: Apply as early as possible. The earlier, the better!
Medical and Academic Preparations
Before departure, I had to visit the doctor several times to clarify my medical history, get mandatory vaccinations for the U.S., and take various tests to ensure I didn’t have any serious illnesses. They also checked in on my mental health to ensure I was ready for the transition. This sounds like a lot, but looking back, I totally understand why they do it. Healthcare systems are different in every country, and it’s good to know where you stand before you leave home. Luckily, AFS provides travel health insurance in case you need to see a doctor while abroad.
Key Takeaway: Make sure your mental and physical health is stable—healthcare is different and can be complicated in every country.
In addition to the medical aspect, AFS checked my academic background. Learning a new language in a foreign school system can be tough. AFS Switzerland made sure my grades were stable and checked in with some of my teachers for recommendations. They do this because attending school regularly is a strict requirement of the program. Speaking from personal experience, going to school every day helps immensely with learning the local language.
Language and Visas
Language is usually one of the main reasons students want to study abroad, and AFS helps you get the most out of it. Depending on the country, prior language knowledge is required, and the U.S. is one of them. I had to take a two-hour English proficiency test. I thought this was a great step because passing it gave me the confidence that I would actually be able to communicate when I arrived. It sounds strict, but I haven’t heard of a single case where a language barrier prevented someone from going abroad. AFS always works to find a solution.
Key Takeaway: Don’t worry too much about the language—it comes naturally, and you’ll get used to it faster than you think!
Closer to departure, one of the most stressful steps was securing a year-long student visa. This is something you have to handle largely on your own by applying and going to the U.S. Embassy for an interview. There is not much AFS can do to fast-track it—until something goes wrong, which is exactly what happened to me.
Right around the end of May, a government situation caused visa processing to slow down significantly. Luckily, I already had my application submitted and an interview date set. Nobody really knew what this meant for our exchange year, but AFS did an amazing job communicating with us and doing everything they could to find solutions. They discovered that those of us who had already applied could still attend our interviews. However, the embassy tightened restrictions, making the process much harder and longer than usual. I finally received my passport with the approved visa just two weeks before my departure date.
Key Takeaway: Start the visa process as soon as you can—you never know what unexpected delays might occur.
Welcome to Your Host Country
The support doesn’t stop after you leave your home country; what changes is who provides it. This is where the partnership between AFS USA and AFS Switzerland shines. AFS Switzerland helped me from registration all the way to the airport. Once I landed in the U.S., AFS USA took over to ensure I was having a great time.
One fantastic concept AFS USA utilizes is the liaison. A liaison is a local volunteer outside of your host family. Every student gets one, and they act as your “go-to comfort person.” Liaisons meet with the student at least once a month to check in, and they also check in separately with the host family. The idea is to give you an outside perspective and someone to talk to if there are issues or questions you might not feel comfortable bringing up to your host parents. They can also help organize travels or just be a fun person to hang out with when your host family is busy. It is a wonderful system that I think every exchange country should adopt.
Key Takeaway: Keep in touch with your AFS liaison—they are the bridge between you, your host family, and the agency.
Activities and Community
Another thing AFS does incredibly well is organizing activities throughout the year. So far, we’ve attended several camps designed to give us helpful tips, which double as great opportunities to hang out with friends from all over the world. You get a pre-departure orientation at home, followed by three or four orientations in your host country: a welcome orientation, a post-arrival check-in, a mid-year camp, and a final departure orientation.
Beyond the mandatory camps, AFS organizes fun trips to places like Chicago and Madison, as well as local events like ice skating and bowling. They also provide opportunities to volunteer in the community, which I highly recommend doing. Because there are so many activities, you really get to bond with the other exchange students and build lifelong friendships with people from all over the world.
Key Takeaway: Try to bond with other exchange students—you are all going through the same journey, and these relationships can become incredibly strong.
Final Thoughts
Throughout my year here, I have made amazing connections and met incredible people. I’ve seen other students’ situations, heard about their experiences, and navigated my own unique journey. If you are considering stepping out of your comfort zone to experience a completely different culture and lifestyle, I absolutely recommend doing a year abroad with AFS. While no study abroad program is perfect, the balance of support and independence AFS provides makes the experience worth every single challenge.
Key Takeaway: Take the leap and go on the study abroad trip you’re dreaming of—it is entirely worth it!
