[Harold]

In my school, the counselor handles such requests. Most legitimate programs make sure that your credit requirements are handled correctly.

If you don't mind, I'd like to recommend some other programs.

- YFU - Known for specializing in Japan and Germany trips. Offers summer, semester, and year. Many full and partial scholarships are given out to pay for the trip. I'm going with this program this summer.
- AFS - Much like YFU, but not specialized. However, they do offer the same program lengths above and can be payed by scholarship or through fundraising.
- Rotary Exchange - I don't know much about this program, but it's very popular and many foreign exchange students go through it every year. I haven't heard any bad about it. However, if you go on a year, they do switch your host families around a few times from what I've heard.
- ASSE - I haven't heard much about this program to be honest

A google search of the abbreviations should return results on each program

Money may or not be the problem here. I had a job last year, and I'm using my money that was left in the bank from it to pay for my trip. I got a partial scholarship, which only requires me to pay $2,000.00. I think the hardest part about going on exchange isn't the money but getting your parent's permission. It took me a good 2 months to get a %100 yes.

Also, one last tip. Registration for going this year is too late. However, registration for next year's programs (2009 summer, semester, and '09-'10 year) have not even started. It would be to your best interests to have everything laid out by this August. Registration usually starts in September and most year programs stop accepting applications late October.