YES Canada Student Exchange Program Information

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Let YES Canada help you open the door to a world of opportunities.

Embark on a student exchange today!

A Short Background

To give you a bit of background on the company, Youth Educational Services Inc. (YES Canada) has its roots in a close partnership with MLI (Muskoka Language International). MLI has over 15 years experience providing education in Canada to international students. YES Canada grew from a demand from Canadian students and families to travel abroad.

Sharing the same ownership, we have been able to utilize strong existing relationships with global partners to create a solid infrastructure and support system to provide students with a safe opportunity to study abroad over the past five years.

The YES Canada high school exchange program provides flexible options to suit every student and family. A student could participate in a reciprocal high school exchange, hosting a student in their home and also travelling abroad or they could opt to participate in a one-way exchange travelling to their country of choice.

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Participate!in!a!Student!Exchange!with!YES!Canada!to!one!of!over!15!countries:

Program Dates and Application Deadlines

March 1st – April 1st for a September program start date

August 1st – September 1st for a January program start date.

Some deadlines differ as the school year is not the standard Canadian schedule. Check our website for specific deadlines www.youthedservices.ca or inquire at [email protected]

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Australia) Denmark) Holland) Japan) Spain)Austria) England) Hungary) Norway) Sweden)Brazil) France) Ireland) Poland) Switzerland)Costa)Rica) Germany) Italy) Scotland) )

The Application Process Eligibility and Requirements Student applicants are required to meet the following expectations:

• Students between 14 & 18 years of age. • Students must have appropriate motives, commitment and maturity. This will be

demonstrated through the essay portion of the full application. • The student's parents/guardian must support the application. • The student must be enrolled in their own school district during the academic

calendar year of the proposed exchange. • The student must have an appropriate academic grade level and the ability to

maintain this grade. We will evaluate each application on a case by case basis, however we generally look for a B average.

• Financial resources to manage the YES Canada Program Fees To apply we require you to submit a preliminary application. This application reserves a place on the program and notes your interest. Upon receipt of the preliminary application you will be supplied with the full application. The Full Application The full application requires the following: (some differences apply depending on the country of choice). - Basic information/personal profile about yourself and family - Academic transcripts for three years - Medical history form - A letter to your host family - A letter from your parents to your host family - A photo collage

- A $500 non-refundable deposit is required upon submission of the full application package. Post Submission Process After submitting the full application the process advances as follows:

1.) YES Canada will schedule an informal interview to get to know you, discuss the program and your expectations.

2.) A post-interview conditional acceptance will be granted upon the assessment and approval of the YES Canada team. You will be notified of this at the conclusion of your interview and via email.

3.) Your application will be sent to our partners for review and full acceptance. During this time, YES Canada may request additional documentation from you at the request of our partners.

4.) A full acceptance notice will be granted on approval from our partners abroad, converting your conditional post-interview acceptance to a full program acceptance. An invoice will be issued along with your acceptance letter. At this time YES Canada will provide you with the exchange program communication schedule to advise you of when regular communication will occur.

5.) A welcome letter will be sent and you will become a member of the Student Exchange Cohort. At this point in the process YES Canada will be in regular communication with you discussing the details of your exchange.!

Program Details

Support available in the host country

While on exchange students are designated a local area rep/coordinator who is their contact while abroad. The local area rep speaks English and is available 24/7 for the student. A 24/7 emergency phone line is available to students should they require assistance.

To help students settle in a local orientation is conducted by the local area rep to familiarize the student with the area.

There is a strong support structure in place to help the student adapt to a new country, language and living away from home.

Host Family Selection Process

Host families in each area are screened and interviewed by the local area coordinator/our partners abroad. A home interview is conducted with all family members and residents in the home over the age of 18 (or age of majority in the country). A home inspection is conducted to ensure it is a safe and comfortable environment.

Host family profiles along with photos will be sent to the Canadian students and families before they go abroad. This gives the student and parents here in Canada a chance to get to know the family abroad before sending their son or daughter.

Language Requirements

The language requirement varies from country to country. Generally we ask that students have a year of language experience, however some countries have no language requirement such as Brazil, the UK and Australia.

Academics

The exchange program does not guarantee the receipt of academic credit. It is designed as a cultural exchange. Since each school board/school and principal have different rules on academic credit from exchange programs it is the responsibility of the student to devise an academic plan that works for them. You must consult with your school and guidance counselors about this to determine what credits you can be granted. We recommend a combination of distance/online studies, summer school before and after the exchange and/or creating an IEP (independent education plan) for the exchange year.

Visa

While YES Canada will provide students with the necessary documentation for the exchange (host family profile, foreign school acceptance and insurance documents where necessary), it is required that the student and parents prepare and submit the visa application.

Pricing

Pricing varies for each student exchange program dependent on the duration and country of choice.

The program rate includes:

• School Registration • Host Family Placement • Comprehensive Travel Insurance • Orientation (in Toronto/Ottawa/ or via Skype and in selected destination) • Monitoring and 24 hour Support • On ground transportation to and from airport in selected destination

Additional fees and that you would be responsible for include:

• Airfare (While the airfare is not included in our pricing, we can help you find the best deal and recommend travel sites)

• Visa Fees (if required) • School supplies, uniforms (if required), cafeteria lunch (if required) or extra-

curricular activity fees • Personal Spending money while abroad • Transportation to and from school for some students, dependent on where the

host family is located. Some students are required to take a bus or train, while other walk or bike to school. This is dependent on where the host family is located.

• Any cancellation, change or program addition fees as issued by YES or the partner organization

Hosting Scholarships

To determine if a student is eligible for a hosting scholarship we would first determine if there is an international student who requires a host in the specific area/city.

The family would then undergo the host family screening process to qualify as a host family (home interview, inspection, criminal reference check). Canadian students who are travelling abroad and wish to host an incoming international student are given priority for hosting.

There are academic and competitive scholarships available throughout the year in specific cities and areas. Please inquire with a YES Canada representative about current scholarships.

Program referral discounts of $250 are available to students/families that refer another student to the YES Canada program.

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Explore your student exchange options with YES Canada.

Reserve your place now!

YES Canada

Suite 2110

439 University Ave.

Toronto ON

M5G 1Y8

416-623-6220 ext.403

www.youthedservices.ca

[email protected]