How much does the exchange program cost? Answer: The BSCA sponsors a large portion of the exchange program cost. The family of the exchange student is asked to cover a portion of the airfare (in 2019 it was $500) and the BSCA covered the rest. BSCA is a non-profit organization, our ability to keep this exchange cost so low depends on donations and membership dues.
Who is eligible for the BSCA student exchange program? Answer: Any Eastside (Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish, Issaquah, Newcastle and Mercer Island) high school student age 15-17!
When is the application “season” for the BSCA exchange program? Answer: Each year BSCA accepts applications between approximately October-February. Results of the winners are usually announced at the start of March for that summer’s exchange program.
Do the American exchange students need to speak Mandarin, Latvian, Czech or Japanese in order to travel to a Sister City? Answer: Our Sister Cities in Liepaja, Kladno and Hualien have no requirements that our students speak the native language as part of the student exchange. However, it is always recommended to learn a few basic words in the host cities language prior to travel. Our Sister City in Yao requests students to have take at least a year or two in Japanese prior to exchange.
