Organise Your Exchange is a platform that helps you organise your own high school exchange by matching you to an exchange family and providing you step-by-step instructions on how to plan your exchange
Think about where you want to go, what you want to do, and what you want to share with your exchange buddy
Make sure that you are able to organise the exchange you have in mind
Prepare your profile with your family and sign up to Organise Your Exchange by filling out the form
Organise Your Exchange matches you with a family that has a compatible profile
Work together with your host family to organise the two exchanges
Experience an amazing exchange and host your exchange buddy in return
So you’ve heard about Organise Your Exchange somewhere, have found this website, and are wondering how to get started. Maybe you’ve wanted to go on exchange for years, maybe you’ve just started thinking about it, the idea stage is where any OYE exchange starts.
To start, you’ll want to read through this website to get a feeling for how Organise Your Exchange works. If you’re also considering other high school exchange options, we have a section that compares the most common options with an OYE exchange so you can determine which option is right for you.
If you’re reading this as a student, this is also the time to start discussing an exchange with your family if you haven’t already. This website provides all the information you need, whether you are a student, parent, or teacher.
Questions to answer during the orientation stage:
Now that you’ve considered going on an exchange and feel excited to start, it’s time to assess if it’s truly feasible for you.
This stage is about doing some homework. You’ll need to determine whether an exchange is possible given your academic situation, school policies, financial status, and other practical considerations. You can find a full list of factors to check under ‘What to Prepare Before Signing Up‘.
Of course your situation can change unexpectedly. If you’re interested but are not sure yet that you will be able to commit, you can still explore the idea and start the process.
However, by thoroughly checking these prerequisites now, you’ll reduce the risk of disappointment later in the process, after you’ve invested more time and energy. Also keep in mind that Organise Your Exchange is about creating a two-way exchange experience. Once you accept a match with an exchange family, the expectation is that both sides are ready and committed to successfully organising an exchange together.
After completing the orientation and feasibility checks, you’re ready to take the next step: creating your profile. Your profile will be used to find a suitable match, and it will also be shared with your exchange family once a match is confirmed.
To create your profile, simply fill out and submit the form available on this page.
Since crafting your profile requires thought and time, it’s best to work it out gradually in a draft version. You can download or copy this Google Doc containing all the questions to work in.
When writing your profile, keep in mind that:
For more detailed guidance on writing your profile, visit the dedicated page on ‘What to prepare before signing up‘.
Once your profile is approved by OYE, you’ll receive a confirmation email and officially enter the pool of candidates for matching.
Once your profile is approved, OYE will immediately begin searching for compatible matches based on the conditions outlined in your profile.
If a potential match meets most of your criteria but has a minor difference regarding a hard condition (see Stage 3), OYE may contact you to propose the match. You are always free to decline should it not meet your expectations.
When a match is found, OYE will notify both families via email with:
After both families accept the match and complete the payment, Organise Your Exchange will share the full profile of the matched family and provide the resources to help you organise the exchange.
For more information about the matching process, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions.
Finding a match may take some time, especially if you signed up early in the signup period. The signup deadline for an exchange during the ongoing school year is January 31st (e.g., 31/01/25 for the 2024/2025 school year).
You can also set a date beyond which you no longer wish to be matched, in case matching after that date would not leave enough time to properly prepare for the exchange.
If you are participating in OYE Early Access, you can use the service for free. Keep in mind that some processes may be slightly different.
The match is made, and profiles and contact details have been exchanged—now it’s time for you and your exchange family to plan an incredible exchange experience.
To help you get started, OYE provides an Exchange Playbook, which includes:
You and your exchange family are entirely free to decide how to approach planning your exchange, and every situation will be different. Nevertheless, we believe it’s important to keep these two key goals in mind throughout the planning process:
If you're participating in the OYE Early Access, please note that the provided materials are still being refined. We appreciate your feedback and may reach out to you for insights to help improve our service.
The moment you’ve been preparing for has finally arrived. It’s time to pack your bags, travel with your family to the airport or train station, and set off on your adventure.
After travelling solo—perhaps for the first time—you’ll be welcomed at your destination by your exchange family, who will treat you as part of the family during your stay. They will introduce you to their daily lives, share aspects of their culture, and help make this an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.
When it’s time for the inbound exchange, the roles will be reversed. Now, you and your family have the opportunity to share the best of your culture, community, and traditions with your exchange buddy, and create lasting memories together.
Ruben, a 16-year-old from Utrecht, the Netherlands, learns about OYE. He and his family decide to start preparing to sign up. They share the information with Ruben’s school and get permission for him to be absent for two weeks during the 2024/2025 school year. They also ensure they meet all other requirements and start creating their family profile.
Ruben’s mother signs up to OYE with their family profile. They select Morocco and Spain, and would like to organise a 2-week (10 school days) inbound and outbound exchange.
Andrés’ family finds a good deal and books a roundtrip flight from Barcelona to Amsterdam for €220. The families agree to change the dates of the exchange slightly to July 28th to August 12th because these dates have the best flight prices.
Check out the Frequently Asked Questions
OR
Get in touch to ask your question directly
Organise Your Exchange is a platform that allows high school students and their families to organise their own cultural exchange
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2024 Organise Your Exchange
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