FAQ
1.The programme only recruit Chinese students?
This is the U.S. government-sponsored international cultural exchange programme, so participants not only the Chinese students, but also dozens of countries with tens of thousands of students participate in this U.S. exchange students programme each year.
2. Is the programme safe and reliable? How to maintain children’s living and study in the United States?
School security: The accepted schools are carefully selected public high schools by the U.S. State Department. The school environment is good, security order is safe. School teachers are responsible for solving and coordinating student’s problems at study and daily life in order to maintain the exchange student has high quality exchange outcome.
Homestay security: Homestay families are carefully selected by the U.S. State Department, most of them have the foreign students reception experience. Family members are easy to get along with in friendly atmosphere. Parents have a high cultural quality and sense of responsibility, they take good care of student's diet and living in the United States.
Regional Representative: The US end has regional representatives at each district, who are responsible for liaison with students, schools, homestay families and other related matters. Regional representatives will call or meet student every month to understand student’s situation and give feedback to parents through China Agency. Student can ask regional representatives whenever he/she has problems.
Overseas Insurance: The organizer will buy accident insurance and medical insurance for student to protect student’s safety in the United States.
3. I decided to let the children participate in the programme, what shall we prepare?
Exchange student application needs some necessary issues, and certain requirements for the children’s ability. So preparation must be carried out as early as possible, one or two years ahead of the application will not be too soon. Let the children prepare in the state of mind, language ability and overall quality. In particular, children with poor English foundation need to improve the English standard, especially listening and speaking ability.
4. General high school students in the United States need to spend about RMB 200,000 - 300,000 per year, why the exchange students programme only needs one third of the cost?
It is because it is government-support programme, J1 visa students attending public high schools in the United States, so they do not need to pay huge tution fee, all the expenses are only 20%-30% of private schools. Chinese students do not have to spend huge sums of money to be able to enjoy a high level of international exchange activitie. F1 private high school exchange students need to pay tuition fee in the United States. However, because EASTWEST’s programme fee, tuition fee and accommodation are 50% lower than the market price, tuition fees and accommodation are even 60-70% lower than the school official website. The payment is not a small amount according to living standard in China, but it is a relatively low cost comparing with the U.S. living standard.  Therefore, the exchange students programme is the most economical among other similar activities.
5. Whether only the top students and students with excellent English will be admitted?
General misconception that only the straight-A students will be admitted, it seems that only the elite can participate in this programme. In fact, this course focuses on cultural exchange, even average students as long as they are interested in experiencing American education, culture and life and meeting friends from different countries can be enrolled in the programme.
6. What is the SLEP test?
SLEP is the acronym of Secondary Level English Proficiency Test, that is, the degree of English proficiency test for the high school students, commonly known as"Little TOEFL ". SLEP result is one important criterion for the U.S. State Department to select public school exchange students. Total of 145 questions, 90 minutes, divided into two parts -  listening and reading, full mark is 67 marks, 46 marks or more is “Pass”. SLEP test is the first and most important part to apply as exchange students.
7. What is the situation of high school education in the United States? What grade should the children study, what do they learn?
U.S. primary and secondary education mainly managed by the state Board of Education and local governments which is divided into public and private. Different systems in different states. It will be a total of twelve years education before going to the university generally. Junior high school is grades 7-8 (equivalent to China's Junior 1 and 2), high school is grades 9-12 (equivalent to China’s junior 3 to high 3), when the students complete the twelfth grades curriculum, students can study two-year associate degree at the Community college, or choose a four-year university to continue learning. Opportunities for students to further their studies in the United States is plenty, students can choose to go to the right course according to their own personal interests, talents, finance and life development.
High school education is from grade 9, equivalent to junior 3 in China. In general situation, when students finish jounior 3 in China, they can study grade 10 (equivalent to the 1st year of high school in China); finish high 1 in China, they can study grade 11 (equivalent to the 2nd year of high school in China); finish high 2, they can study grade 12 (equivalent to the 3rd year of high school in China). This is a general matching principle. However, before admission, the school will give a comprehensive test to each student, then make scientific and reasonable arrangement to allocate grades and courses to students according to the actual situation. Of course, if your child is very excellent, there may be possibility to study in the highest grade. Curriculum is carefully designed, such as mathematics, physics and chemistry courses are in high school, American literature, history and other courses are in the lower grades.
Secondary school year in the United States begins in August or September until the May or June of the following year. Spring semester is from January, the fall is from September. During the school year, there are Easter, Christmas and New Year holidays.
American high school course is divided into compulsory and optional courses, involving a wide range of subjects. Most schools offer courses, including writing and public speaking, American history, English grammar, literature, basic mathematics, science, sociology, leadership, geography, economics and so on. Students can also choose among optional subjects such as art history, biology, calculus, chemistry, computer science, School of Economics, Microeconomics, English Language, English Literature, music theory, physics, the second language (such as Spanish, etc.), statistics Science, art studios, the world's history, etc.
After completing the compulsory and optional courses, students can study college preparatory courses according to their own abilities and interests, that is, AP courses, to lay a solid foundation in order to enter the American first-class universities. American University entrance exams are the SAT and ACT. Most students in China cannot get high scores is due to the education differences between America and China, and poor English proficiency. If you are an high school exchange student in the United States, you will have sufficient advantage.
8. I found the schools and homestay families of the US exchange students programme are in small towns, why? Why not in the bustling metropolis in the United States?
Some parents may think that their children should go to big cities or centre of the city, it’s U.S.A. after all. In fact, this is not conducive to the children's development. First of all, safety. Living in the cities is too bustling and noisy, there are a variety of unstable factors, temptation is greater which will have negative impact on the students’ life. Second, the exchange programme’s goal is to enable students to experience the "real America ", and only staying in the quiet and beautiful small towns can understand the relaxed and harmonious families, rich and wonderful community life.
9. Can I choose the school and homestay family in the United States for my child? What kind of people are those homestay families?
If students have special requirements for areas, schools and homestay families due to exceptional circumstances, they need to apply or entrust us in advance. In general, you cannot select areas, schools and homestay families, these issues are decided by the United States International Cultural Exchange Foundation which will consider all areas and number of submitted applications so that they can make scientific and rational arrangements. Parents no need to worry.
Homestay families participate in the exchange programme have been gone through long-term observation and a rigorous selection. They are typical American middle class, have good educational background, very friendly and humorous, most of their religon is Christianity. The first identity of homestay families is the cultural exchange volunteer, and they are willing to share their culture with foreign students. At the same time, these families have many years of experience in hosting foreign students, they are highly responsible for the children’s daily life. In such environment and atmosphere, exchange students can quickly improve their language skills and have more understanding of American society and culture.
Local regional representatives are designated to provide 24-hour service for each student. If students encounter any problems, regional representatives will always provide assistance. If the exchange student and homestay family have an unpleasant situation, regional representatives will first understand what has gone wrong between students and homestay families. Most of the time is because of misunderstanding caused by different cultures and is usually solved easily.
10. If I have relatives in the United States, can children live in their home? Can parents visit them in U.S. during the exchange period?
Now that you have courage and determination to send you children to live and study in foreign country, we believe that you must have a rational attitude and a mature mind towards your children developing themselves in a foreign country. Students participate in this exchange programme, most of them are single born children and have never left their parents, and now they have to live and study in a foreign country for a year. We fully understand parents’ concerns. However, you need to know there are nearly a thousand personnels in the United States who will help students wholeheartedly.
11. Can children return home during the school holidays?
Students participate in exchange programme hold J-1 visa which is multi-entry visa in a year, but we do not recommend students return home. It is because this will damage the integrity and consistency of the programme, and it is not conducive to the goal of exchange programme.
12. What adaptation will the children experience from departure to return?
Stage One: When parents begin to prepare exchange, the children will be very excited, filled with all kinds of fantasy.
Stage Two: Before departure, the children will feel excited but also a little bit nervous. This feeling will be extended until arrival in the U.S.
Stage Three: American culture and life get started. Problems arise from all aspects. Children are often uncomfortable and even embarrassed.
Stage Four: Adaptation appearently, children's language skill will be gradually improved. They will have the ability to communicate ideas and feelings with others, and thus begin to build up confidence.
Stage Five: Feel lonely in their heart, children may begin to have homesick and miss their family and friends.
Stage Six: Children get used to the local living environment. School, friends, homestay families are no longer their distress.
Stage Seven: Children begin to like American life, they love the homestay family and school. They miss it.
Leave their U.S. parents and friends, a lot of sincere emotion and good feeling stay in their heart forever.
13. When can I apply and go to school?

A. Academic year programme: one academic year (10 months). Ie: Every year, September to next June (fall semester) or January to November each year (spring semester)
B.Semester programme: half academic year (5 months), January to June each year (spring semester)
C.Registration time:
Fall semester enrollment deadline: 1st March every year, collective departure in every September.
Spring semester enrollment a deadline: 1st September every year, collective departure in every January.