AFS

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3.5 / 10 after 50 Reviews Based on overall, support & value average ratings
Program website: http://www.afsusa.org

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The pros of being a host family are the incredible students. We were sent a very long list of possible students, including summaries and introductions written by the students themselves. We were allowed to choose students who would be a good fit for our family based on their interests, personality, etc. so in that sense, our experience has been wonderful.

The difficulty for us is the very tedious, redundant, unnecessary amount of contact we're required to have with the volunteers. I'm in favor of strict background checks as well as regular contact, and getting the international students together for activities. All that is great. However, the volunteers and liaisons tend to make every "mandatory" activity three times as long as it needs to be, with no real purpose. Every part of training seems to be repeated 3-4 times and if you are a busy family trying to juggle bio kids, an international kid, school, and bringing your student to cultural and tourist attractions, it's easy to get frustrated by the endless, repetitive, lengthy contacts from the various volunteers.

If you're perhaps a part time or stay at home/homeschool family, or looking for a social outlet in addition to hosting, this would be a good fit. If you're a student, I'd look carefully at the family and make sure it's a fit for you as far as you can tell, ahead of time. You're allowed and encouraged to have contact before you arrive, so that's a good time to ensure it will be the experience you hope for. It's also really expensive and they expect students to pay for additional items once they're here, so check into what program will give you the most for your $.

Program:
Location:
Posted: August 10, 2016
Overall:
3
Support:
2
Value:
4
By: familyX
Age:
50

I am writing as a HOST MOM!
We're nearing the end of our year, and I am appalled at the way AFS treats its volunteers, students and host families.

For all of the money that you pay for a program like this, I am shocked at how little the organization actually provides in the way of support.

Over and over again I have watched AFS dump on its volunteers, while neglecting the concerns of the students, host families and birth families.

My host student was placed with me after leaving an ABUSIVE host family. AFS IGNORED the situation until it had escalated so badly that even the school and other concerned parents got involved. We all acted quickly, but AFS doesn't work on weekends, so it took an extra 2 weeks to get the student moved to my home.

AFS does very little to actively provide support for its students when there are problems. Its staff members say things like, "We're trying...", when I know firsthand that nothing has been done (since I work closely with the school). They are slow to respond to calls and emails.

I've been dealing with AFS since January, and I am making sure to let everyone know what they are getting into, if they do business with this organization.

The only reason I didn't give a 1-star for overall or value is that I am guessing that when everything goes right, this might be a good program for some people. But in the event there IS a problem of any kind, don't expect any help or support. You won't get any from anyone with afs.org in their email address. (You might from the overworked volunteers). The people who are paid are too busy selling and marketing the program to actually pay attention to the needs of the participants.

Program:
Location:
Posted: May 25, 2016
Overall:
4
Support:
1
Value:
4
Age:
48

A total nightmare of an experience with this organization. Better screening needs to be done, regulations need to be followed, and the only type of support that host families receive is "damage control". If you want to be used, abused and totally taken advantage of with no support whatsoever with who is sent to your family - go for it. Our family will never forget our experience and the damage it has done on many levels.

Program:
Location:
Posted: May 23, 2016
Overall:
1
Support:
1
Value:
1
By: Leanne
Age:
46

Please, please, please if you are a student considering an exchange with AFS, or have already decided to use AFS, read this.
I'm not some kind of spammer, or someone from another company trying to prevent you from using this company, I'm a student too, who last year went with AFS on a year long exchange to Malaysia.
In hindsight, I understand that Malaysia is an out there, unusual destination, and of course it was not going to be easy, but it wasn't the cultural differences that made my exchange such an awful experience, it was AFS's way of dealing, with pretty much anything, that made it so bad.
This company uses volunteers for practically everything. Your host family, your Chapter Leaders, your co-ordinators, everyone is doing it for free. This, in theory sounds like a lovely idea, but it's not.
I lived with two different host families, and I found that after a month or so of living with a host-family that you do not pay, you become nothing more than a burden to them. The whole concept of letting someone live in your house for free is much worse than what you would expect. For my family, the idea of taking me out and showing me Malaysia became tiring to them, pretty soon they began to resent me, as they had to drive me to places, feed me and let me use their power, for nothing in return.
You might think that this was just a bad host-family, but, after three months I couldn't stand the guilt of living with people who resented me, and I decided to move. But within two months, the exact same thing began to happen.
It's not hard to understand that if a host-family were being paid to take care of a student, they would try their hardest to make it a good, and worthwhile experience for them. It's unfair to dump a stranger on a family who has nothing supporting them but their own goodwill.

Chapter Leaders, the people in charge of looking after you, helping you, and organising various events and social gatherings, are also volunteers. My Chapter Leader, who seemed to be one of the best in the country, according to all other exchange students, was an old woman with a full time job who lived three hours away from me.
She was truly a lovely lady, but she was too busy to ever really organise anything, and often we did not have enough money to do anything worthwhile. In Malaysia especially, it was hard to do anything without someone else organising it for you, over there, and most likely in similar countries, you can't simply go out and do your own thing, hell I couldn't even go for a walk down the street by myself.

I don't want to rant on, but please, please, please if you are reading this, consider another exchange company.
My dad was a very stubborn man, and he would not let me switch to a different company, or to another country, don't let your parents be like mine!!!
It has ruined my life, I feel so silly for wasting so much money and effort on an experience so miserable. PLEASE DON'T GO WITH THIS COMPANY!!

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Location:
Posted: April 27, 2016
Overall:
2
Support:
1
Value:
1
By: whittlep
Age:
17

We are hosting a German student in Ohio through the AFS program. We have found the program to be a hugely enjoyable experience. Our student has become a part of our family and I will consider him a son of mine for life.

The application was straight forward. The interview was prompt and the printed materials were very helpful. We have no problem providing room and board and even pay for other fees on occasion. We took our student to Florida and New York City. He's been a great student at our local high school and played on the soccer team.

The only thing that hasn't happened on a regular basis is the monthly check-ins. Fortunately, we all get along great and we have not had any issues to manage.

I also wonder why the program is so expensive. They have so many volunteers and outside of the flight and visa....where is all of the money going?

I definitely recommend AFS as a vehicle to experience time abroad as a student.

Program:
Location:
Posted: March 29, 2016
Overall:
9
Support:
9
Value:
9
Age:

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