Student Housing: Sharing a Flat vs. Staying with a Host Family

Are you soon planning to take advantage of a wonderful opportunity to study abroad? Have you considered your student housing options, or more specifically, have you considered whether you’d prefer to share a flat with other students or perhaps stay with a host family? This can be a complicated decision, as each of these options has advantages and disadvantages to consider. To help you weigh these two student housing options, below we will take a closer look at each of them in a bit more detail, and provide you with some of the information you’ll need to make an informed decision based on your preferences.

Student Housing Options: Sharing a Flat

Studying abroad can be one of the most memorable experiences in a student’s life. Not only will you gain a new perspective on that country’s academia, but you’ll also have the unique opportunity to meet new people and learn their culture.

If you’re like most students, you probably enjoy being surrounded by people your age who possess similar views to your own. You also take pleasure in having a degree of independence from your parents and the university. These feelings are only natural, and definitely among the benefits of sharing a flat with other students. Of course your studies are important, but so too are the people, events and experiences outside of the school setting that will collectively help shape your life.

However, if you do decide to opt for the independence and enjoyment that comes from a sharing flat, you will want to make absolutely certain that the roommate(s) you choose to cohabitate with are at least somewhat compatible to you. Nothing is worse than spending an entire semester or longer with a person or people you’re constantly at odds with or who irritate you, so spend some extra time getting to know your potential roommates before you make any snap or rash decisions to take this step.

There are of course other factors to consider before deciding to share a flat. Some of these include:

Expenses. Sharing a flat can be very expensive, especially as compared to staying with a host family (which is usually free). You’ll also need to consider the income of your roommates so you don’t get stuck paying for more than your fair share of the household expenses.

Lease. Sharing a flat will usually involve signing a lease, so it’s important that you and each of your roommates are in agreement with the lease’s terms.

Other Guests. Are you all in agreement to the idea of one or more roommates having the occasional overnight guest? This may sound like a strange question, but you’d be surprised by how many tensions can arise from situations just like this. That is why it is so important to have a frank discussion about questions such as these, and come to a unified agreement in advance.

Student Housing Options: Staying with a Host Family

9- are essentially resident landlords who often have children who are similar in age to you, the student. This student housing option also has several benefits, along with a few disadvantages. The benefits include:

Cost. Host families usually allow students to stay with them at no cost, and this usually includes meals—a very attractive benefit for many students

Culture and Language.Living with residents of the host country affords you the opportunity to learn the traditions and customs of that region, and perhaps even acquire some new language skills.

No Commitment. When you sign a lease, as would normally be required when sharing a flat, you are committed to that agreement for the entire term. However, if you decide to stay with a host family there is no commitment, so if things aren’t working out you are always free to leave.

Of course there are also some disadvantages to this type of living arrangement, including, perhaps, some limitations on your freedom. As a guest of a host family you will be expected to abide by the rules they’ve established, which in some cases could include a curfew along with other house rules.

So what will you decide? Essentially the decision is a matter of preference, one that, in the end comes down to what’s most important to you. Granted, when sharing a flat you’ll almost certainly have more freedom, but this freedom will come with a fairly hefty price tag, and there’s no guarantee that you and your roommates will be compatible. On the other hand, if you decide to stay with a host family, you’ll probably have a bit less freedom, but your accommodations and meals will be free, and you’ll have many opportunities for cultural enhancement. It can be an agonizing decision, but whatever you decide you can rest assured that the advantages for each of these options almost always outweigh the drawbacks.

School Exchange Programs: Promoting Academic Excellence and Cultural Understanding

School exchange programs give participants from many different countries around the world an all-access pass to study in another country and to discover and explore the wonders of a new culture. The programs became very popular after World War II, and since that time millions of students have had the opportunity to embark on the educational journey of a lifetime, one that fosters a wealth of personal and academic experiences that will never be forgotten.

School Exchange Programs: About the Program, Participants and Host School

School exchanges are programs in which students of a variety of ages have the opportunity to study in a foreign country for a predetermined length of time, usually 10-12 months, or the duration of one school year. The programs are open to high school students, predominantly juniors and seniors, and to students at the university level. There are several countries from around the world that participate in school exchange programs, ranging from countries as far east as China and Japan, to as far west as the United States, Spain and the United Kingdom.

The application process for a school exchange program usually commences one year to 18 months prior to the start of the program. Students are usually required to complete a lengthy application, and will most likely undergo a series of interviews with the program staff to ensure they are a good match for the program. If accepted, they will typically be notified approximately 6 months in advance to their departure, giving them ample time to secure the required travel documents—such as a student visa—make the necessary travel arrangements and arrange for student housing (to be explained later).

When students arrive in their destination country, they will attend a host school, and have the benefit of interacting on a daily basis with their new-found peers. They will learn new teaching and learning methods, make new friends and have plenty of opportunities to share their own experience of living and studying in another country. Students and teachers at the host school will also benefit from the program. They have the opportunity to share a year-long bond with someone who offers a different cultural perspective, a bond where each student brings with them valuable insights and their own unique cultural perspective, allowing both the exchange student and the members of the host school to learn from one another.

School Exchange Programs: Student Housing and Activities

The opportunity to study at a host school is an incredible experience, but academics is only half of what school exchange participants will take away from the program. College-aged exchange students can choose to share an apartment or flat with other students their age, living independently and enjoying the college atmosphere and activities. Some will elect to save money, however, and opt for the same student housing option that is open to secondary students: living with a host family.

Host families, who generally have children roughly the same age as the program participants, are essential to the school exchange program. Not only do they house and feed their international house guests, they support them through by hosting nightly discussions, playing games and helping with homework. On the weekends they all embark upon various cultural events and exciting activities, allowing the exchange student to get a taste for, and fully absorb all the customs, traditions, food, language and fun associated with their host country.

School exchange programs help to promote academic excellence, as well as cultural learning, understanding and tolerance, and those students lucky enough to set off on of these international adventures will have a memorable experience that will help shape their perspective for the rest of their lives.

Student Exchange: The Opportunity of a Lifetime

Are you a secondary or college-level student interested in participating in a student exchange program of some type? Do you need more information on how these programs operate and the various options available? Student exchange programs have been in existence for decades as a means of providing students an opportunity to study abroad and soak in the traditions and customs of another culture. To help you become a bit more familiar with these programs, here we will discuss them in a bit more detail, including some of the specifics associated with the application process and a list of some of the benefits students will receive as program participants.

What Is a Student Exchange Program?

Student exchange is a program in which two or more secondary schools or universities partner together to offer educational opportunities and cultural enhancement for students who wish to study and travel abroad. For example, in a student exchange program between two partner schools in China and the United States, a student in China can elect to study at a school in the United States, while meanwhile an American student will travel abroad and study in the partner Chinese school. These programs are an absolute once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students, not only from an academic standpoint, but as an affordable way to learn the customs, culture and even the language of the host country.

Student exchange programs have been in existence for many years now. They became popular after the Second World War in an effort to promote the understanding and tolerance of other cultures, and since that time, they have evolved and expanded considerably. Currently there are hundreds of potential host nations and schools throughout the world that take part in student exchange, thus bolstering the number of opportunities for students who wish to take advantage of this very unique experience.

Student Exchange Program: The Details

The checklist below highlights some of the details and specifics normally involved with the student exchange program, although certain particulars will vary from program to program:

Application. The application process, which includes a written application and a series of interviews with a designated panel, usually begins one year prior to the scheduled student exchange.

Qualifications. To participate in a student exchange, qualified individuals will have demonstrated success in and out of the classroom and be of high moral character. Also, at the secondary level, students must be between 16-18 years of age.

Costs. Costs will vary depending on the type of student exchange program. At the university level the tuition for these programs is usually provided as part of a scholarship opportunity or federal grant, but at the secondary level these costs are usually absorbed by the participant’s family. Most additional costs revolve around travel and health insurance, as well as other risk management components.

Duration. The duration of student exchange programs can range from 6-24 months, but generally the exchange will span approximately 10 months.

Student Housing. At the secondary school level, housing and meals are usually provided exclusively by host families at no extra cost. This “host family” option is also available for university students, but since these students are of legal age they have many more housing options to choose from, including sharing an off-campus flat or apartment with other students or living on-campus in the residence halls or school dormitories.

Student Exchange: The Benefits

The benefits of student exchange are many, too numerous, in fact, to mention them all here. They include:

Cultural awareness, understanding and acceptance

Language acquisition

Gaining perspective of new teaching and learning methods and modalities

An enhanced interest and appreciation of global issues

Learning independence and attaining maturity

A sense of accomplishment

And many more…

Students who participate in, and successfully complete a student exchange program will return not only as better students, but as better people, with a deeper understanding of cultural issues, tolerance and flexibility

Online Degrees in Nursing: Train to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse

Are you currently stuck in an unfulfilling, low-paying, go-nowhere job? Have you ever considered a rewarding career as a licensed practical nurse, or LPN? The ongoing nursing shortage in this country continues to grow and has prompted many schools and universities to expand their base curriculum to include even more online degrees in nursing, one of which, the Associate Degree in Nursing, can quickly train you to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN). To give you some more background on this program, in this article we will discuss some of the educational and licensing qualifications for a licensed practical nurse, outline some of the primary duties and responsibilities of this position, and show you how this particular online degree in nursing can be the gateway to further career advancement.

Online Degrees in Nursing: Training and Qualifications for an LPN

There are many different types of online degrees in nursing, but the shortest, and certainly one of the most popular, is the Associates Degree in Nursing, a program that will help you meet the requirements of a Licensed Practical Nurse.

After you complete the core general education subjects, which are required for all types of associate degrees, training to become an LPN will typically span one year and will include both classroom study (courses that can be taken online) and supervised clinical practice. While pursuing this online degree in nursing you will learn the basic concepts and subjects that are involved in patient care, including anatomy, physiology, surgical nursing, pediatrics, obstetrics, nutrition and first aid, all of which will prepare you for the nurse’s licensing exam.

Licensure is required for all LPNs, which is really nothing more than a four-part computer-based exam called the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX-PN. This exam will cover topics ranging from maintaining a safe and effective care environment to health promotion and maintenance. Those students who have satisfactorily completed their LPN coursework have a very high rate of passage on this exam.

Online Degrees in Nursing: What Can You Do With an LPN License?

Those who complete the online LPN nursing degree and pass the NCLEX-PN are immediately eligible to begin working with patients, assisting physicians and registered nurses in a variety of care settings, including hospitals and elder care facilities. Duties of an LPN usually include tasks such as recording patients’ vital signs, preparing and administering injections and enemas, dressing wounds and helping patients with their daily hygienic needs, such as dressing and bathing.

With an online degree in nursing you will instantly become very marketable, as the career outlook for LPNs continues to be exceptional, despite the recent economic downturn. There are currently nursing shortages in every state, and qualified nurses are always needed to fill those roles. The salary range for an LPN, while somewhat lower than that of Registered Nurses, is still very competitive, with plenty of room for advancement. In fact, the experience gained working with in these types of care facilities is very valuable, and many LPNs will later go on to complete their Bachelors or Masters Degree in Nursing and become registered nurses with higher salaries and increased responsibility.