Despite Decrease, Germany Still No. 1 Country Sending High School Exchange Students to US

During the last few years, the ratio of German exchange students going to the US has slightly decreased. Compared to the 2003-2004 school year when the ratio of attending students was 8.483, it was “only” 6.746 this year. This is most likely do to the fact that the German school system has changed and is one year shorter now. For this reason it is harder for the students to miss one year of school in Germany.

Most students spent their year abroad in 11^th grade, whereas most of the current students do their exchange during 10^th grade, because they cannot miss 11^th grade anymore. Some might feel too young to stay away for such a long time now and others may just be afraid to miss one year of school, because the subjects being taught are still the same as in the old system and the students simply have to learn everything in a shorter period.

Despite this decrease, Germany is still by far the number one country sending high school students to the US, leaving China in second place with a ratio of 2.253 exchange students this year. But why is this?

In Germany, the USA is very popular. Everyone listens to American music, watches American movies and English is taught beginning in 4^th grade. Also, German TV shows show German students going abroad and experiencing their own “High School Spirit”. The food is different, everything is bigger than in Germany and there is just so much to see! Schools offer much more, like a big variety of extracurricular clubs, sports and performing arts opportunities, which do not really exist in Germany. The girls are excited for all the dances like Homecoming and Prom, but the students in general are just excited to take different subjects than back in Germany, like sewing, a different foreign language or cooking.

Former exchange students come home and tell their friends about their stay and everything they have experienced, which will make their friends want to go too.

It is a great opportunity to improve one’s English skills and also to experience a different culture and lifestyle. Additionally, it has academic and professional benefits - former exchange students will have more opportunities in university to expand on their experiences, as well as in their future careers. 

-- Sarah Wondratschek

Welcome Sarah!

Hi, my name is Sarah and I am 22. I am from Germany and study at the University of Mannheim in my 5^th semester right now. My majors are English literature and German.

Back in Germany I work for an exchange student organization called “HiCo Education”. At HiCo I mostly write high school profiles, translate the application forms for the parents, send and explain the student’s report cards to their parents and work on all the preparations for the student’s prep meeting, which is about a month before the students leave for their exchange program.

I am doing my internship at “Quest International”, because I am very interested in seeing the whole process from the other side, how host families are found and picked, but also how the whole application process is done here. I hope I will learn a lot new and gain experiences.

I used to be an exchange student in 2007 in Ottawa, IL. It was an unforgettable experience and I wouldn’t have done it any different. I met a lot of great people and even do have a second family now, who I visit as often as possible.

Traveling is something that I love and I have been to different countries and experienced different cultures. I am always open to anything new and love going to concerts and festivals. Shopping is something I really love, but not as much as sushi!

I am very excited about spending my summer in San Francisco and working at Quest International!