how to write essay for flex

Student Exchange Program (Flex) Essay Topics [2024]

Participating in a student exchange program is a perfect opportunity to visit different countries during your college years. You can discover more about other cultures and learn a new language or two. If you have a chance to take part in such a foreign exchange, don’t miss it.

Keep in mind that hundreds of other people can apply to the same Flex program as you. And an outstanding student exchange essay will increase your chance to win this trip to a foreign country. And we have Flex program essay topics for this purpose.

So, let Custom Writing Service explain to you several things about Flex essays and offer some ideas to write about.

• 🔄 The Gist of Exchange Essays
• ✈️ Flex Essay Topics

🏛️ Cultural Exchange Essay Topics

🧳 exchange student essay ideas, 🌎 why go on exchange: essay topics, 🔗 references, 🔄 the gist of student exchange essays.

Actually, what you will have to deal with is a mere statement of purpose. The main question you need to answer is “Why do you want to go on exchange?”

The following information should be included in a good student exchange essay:

• Provide some information about yourself. Briefly tell about your interests, classes you take (especially language classes), your plans, etc.
• Explain how this trip will help you achieve future goals.
• Demonstrate your awareness of the culture and history of the country you want to visit.

✈️ Flex Essay Topics to Write About

Flex round 2 essay topics usually revolve around your personal experiences. They prompt you to reflect on important events in your life or describe epiphanies you’ve had. Here are some examples of such topics:

• Justice should prevail! A sense of justice and duty has always come first to you. As you stand up for your rights in high school, you want to continue to do the same for other people. Does this describe you? Then write an essay about it!
• Time to make a difference. Challenging times require active initiative. The more ambitious goals a person sets for themselves, the higher the chance to achieve them and contribute to history.
• Pursuing your true self. Finding a suitable place in life can sometimes lead to fascinating discoveries. This process often turns into a psychological journey, during which you can realize the fascination of life and understand your dreams.
• Eleventh meter. Eleven meters or twelve yards is the distance that separates the player and the goalkeeper during a penalty shootout. There is only a little space between you and the ball, and one single hit can change your future. Describe it in a personal essay.
• Six strings. Melodic guitar picks with a fire crackling in the background create a unique atmosphere. This magic permeates everything around, creating many new impressions and ideas. Did you have a similar experience?
• Pencil, eraser, and paper. These three simple items are in every student’s pencil case. However, with a little imagination, they become tools for creating beautiful artwork that brings joy to others’ hearts. And what does inspiration mean to you?
• Pachelbel’s Canon in D. Pachelbel’s Canon is not a very complex piece, yet it contributed dramatically to classical music’s popularization. Once heard, the melody can inspire one to study music professionally. How does it make you feel? 
• A skein of red yarn. A single red thread stretched across the wall can be a space for creative discovery. In this case, a small piece of yarn can take on a genuinely fateful meaning.
• Catching dreams. The dreamcatcher initially came from Native Americans, who used it for ritual purposes. With the right amount of effort, it can attract good dreams. In a Flex essay, you can write about the importance of dreams in your life.
• Favorite plush toy. Almost everyone had a favorite toy that was bringing comfort and peace. With age, the need for comfort and a sense of calmness does not disappear. What helps you feel it throughout your life?
• The benefits of roleplaying. Tabletop RPGs are not just a fun way to let the imagination run wild. Living in a different role, acting out a distinct personality helps people understand themselves better.
• Ready player one. Computer games help you relax and expand your horizons by teaching you a lot of useful skills. What did video games teach you? For example, it can be about making difficult decisions and having to face the consequences.
• Hello, World! One of the very first and simplest programs that almost any novice programmer writes is Hello World. As with programming, the journey in foreign exchange sometimes begins with a small step.
• The Wind Rises. Watching animated films is traditionally considered a child’s activity. However, this is not always true. Many animations raise serious topics about life in a harsh world in which the wind of change grows stronger day by day. Describe your experience of watching an animated movie with a profound meaning.
• A moment in time. Life is fleeting, and many people fail to seize the moment. In this case, photography can come to the rescue, perpetuating a split second in life for transferring it into the future. And what is photography to you?
• How to translate knowledge into the future
• The transition from theory to experience
• Turning habits into a lifestyle
• Writing my own life
• Your letter into the future
• The importance of education
• Benefits of doing sports
• Planning through painting
• Life colors
• Enrolling in college
• Winning a race
• Composing your symphony
• A stage performance you took part in
• Final dance at high school
• Graduation day
• Programming my future
• Finding truth in TV programs
• Do ghosts exist?
• Visiting a library
• Finding uniqueness in the mundane

A cultural exchange essay describes the experiences of students and volunteers visiting other countries. For many, an opportunity to dive into another country is a motivation to study abroad. An essay on any of these topics can help you win a Flex scholarship:

• What is cultural exchange? Despite the prevalence of this concept, there are many misunderstandings regarding foreign exchange. For the best cultural exchange student experience, it is necessary to understand its essential qualities and characteristics. Explore them in your essay!
• Enjoyable trading of ideas. The cultural exchange is not the same as cultural appropriation. Both parties can have fun sharing ideas and knowledge. Describe how to carry out this kind of exchange.

• Responsible volunteering. Cultural exchange is not just about moving to another place and communicating with people around you. The process must be responsible and benefit not only the visitor but also those living in the place of exchange.
• No to personal gain, yes to equality in exchange. For an all-encompassing cultural exchange, it’s not enough for a student just to absorb knowledge. They should also leave something of equal value in return. Give examples of what it can be.
• International and cross-cultural connections. Participation in cultural exchange programs not only lets you learn a lot of new things. Volunteers also have a unique opportunity to acquire international and intercultural ties, making friends around the world. A week-long experience can thus become life-changing.
• Diversity of the projects. One of the best things about cultural exchange is the limitless possibilities. Volunteers can find a cultural environment that interests them anywhere: from African deserts to exotic islands. And what are your personal goals in foreign exchange?
• Cultural immersion. One of the unique features of cultural exchange programs is the process itself. The volunteer is not an observer; instead, they are completely immersed in the culture. Think about the advantages of such immersion.
• Broadening your horizons. Traveling between countries and diving into another culture is more than just a vacation. It’s an expansion of horizons, a change in one’s worldview through the prism of new cultural knowledge.
• Volunteering community. In addition to gaining connections with residents of other countries, a participant in such projects becomes part of a vast international network of volunteers. Such relationships can help you reach new heights and achieve your goals.
• Plan, adapt, communicate. In addition to gaining knowledge and contacts, cultural exchange programs help develop useful skills. Planning, adaptation, and communication are three key processes in a volunteer’s life.
• Motivation to study abroad
• Advantages of non-profit volunteering
• The subject of cultural exchange in the US
• Intertwining backgrounds, stories, and lifestyles
• Diving into the cultural diversity
• From a visitor to a lifelong friend
• Closing the culture gap
• Advantages of learning languages from natives
• Assessing art and culture by living it
• Attending festivals for education
• Turning a field trip into a cultural experience
• Anthropology and archaeology abroad
• Innovative international internships
• Cross-cultural communities cooperation
• Living and working in the heart of culture
• Assessing true cultural representation
• Learning about the importance of representation
• Social networking through travel
• What social media doesn’t show about cultures
• Enriched knowledge, renewed outlook, stronger bonds

Do you want to join an exchange program? Or maybe you came back from one and want to report your experiences? Try these topics!

• An interview with exchange students. You can write an essay about international students visiting your high school or college. Ask them these questions: how can you become a volunteer? How does it work?
• Why use exchange programs? In such programs, living in a completely different place is combined with adaptation and habituation. Explore how these processes can facilitate learning.
• What to choose: a brief course or a long journey? An exchange trip can take different lengths. Each option has its advantages, so you should consider all of them before making a decision. Explain why you choose a specific program in your letter of intent.
• Costs and prices. Student exchange programs are rarely free. Even with university funding, students have to pay hundreds of dollars. For example, you need to obtain many papers, such as insurance and visas.
• New place, new school, new friends. Moving to another country can be very stressful. At the same time, this is an excellent opportunity to make new connections and friends. Is it a good motivation to study abroad?
• Immersive local experience. Even if the student stays in a new location only for a couple of weeks, the experience is very different from a simple vacation. What makes it unique?

• Welcome to the host family! During their visit, exchange students often stay with a local family. But what does living with another family mean? What difficulties does it bring, and how do you adapt to it?
• Live with locals—live like a local. Staying in the same place with the natives leads to the adoption of certain habits through their example. It’s one of the benefits of exchange studies: exploring a culture from an every-day, usually unknown side.
• Challenges and rewards of foreign exchange. Being in an unfamiliar country is a test of willpower, stress resistance, and learning ability. However, overcoming these challenges helps to develop new skills, from languages to personal traits. Enumerate them in your essay.
• Struggles and disadvantages. For all its merits, exchange courses can, at times, be too difficult for some students. The most fundamental problem is homesickness. What other difficulties can students experience?
• Obtaining foreign scholarship
• Brand new world
• Learning from the locals
• Assessing new viewpoint
• Why choosing a semester-long journey?
• Winter tour or summer voyage?
• Talking to locals as a way to access culture
• Immersion, sightseeing, or both?
• How to improve language skills through a host family
• Insights on customs and traditions
• Studying abroad to build confidence
• Adapting to stressful environments
• Studying in a foreign language
• Exchange programs and personal growth
• How to deal with homesickness
• Withstanding culture shock
• Expectations vs. reality
• Finding a suitable program
• Preparing for the trip
• Earning money while abroad

If you want to explore the advantages of studying abroad, this section is for you. Choose any of these topics for your essay about the benefits of student exchange:

• Nature and environment exploration. What distinguishes study abroad from vacation is the level of cultural involvement. It includes not only being in society but also appreciating the nature of a foreign country.
• New cultural lenses. Living in another country helps you to look in a new way at your homeland. It includes both the perspective of one’s country through the eyes of foreigners and new cultural insights.
• Professional and personal growth. Studying in another country allows acquiring new professional skills and growing as a person. It’s partly facilitated by broadening one’s horizons and partly by maturing in unfamiliar conditions.
• New learning opportunities. Some countries are distinguished by a significant focus on specific sciences. That’s why some disciplines are better studied in particular countries, making exchange studies even more useful.
• Traveling around the world. Exchange studies allow seeing and visiting a new country. However, travel doesn’t have to be limited to this. From one country you can go to neighboring communities and keep exploring the other side of the world.
• Active social networking. Connecting with new people allows you to build many social connections. Even after returning home, communication can be maintained through social media or letters.
• Maturing through gaining independence. Living in another country puts a person in a more independent situation than what they are used to. Consequently, such trips have a huge potential for helping you gain independence.
• Difference between a house and a hotel. Staying in a hotel while on vacation is a different experience than living in an ordinary home. For many people, an exchange study is a chance to try residing in a new place, gaining invaluable experience.
• Getting closer to bilingualism. The best way to learn a language is by talking to native speakers. Studying abroad provides a unique chance to improve speech and reading skills.
• Getting out of your comfort zone. Most of the exchange students are young. This means that huge horizons are open for them in terms of learning about the world around them, and exchange studies provide a chance to grasp this knowledge.
• How to familiarize yourself with a new culture
• Experiencing local day-to-day life
• Can you learn a new way of life from the locals?
• Studying abroad to work abroad: is it worth it?
• The benefits of foreign scholarships
• Differences and similarities between the countries you lived in
• Building professional skills by expanding social connections
• Lesser-known foreign exchange opportunities
• Learn more about yourself by living in a new environment
• Shared experiences and memories of exchange students
• The opportunity of a lifetime
• Gaining new insights
• Old stories, new narrator
• Walking through the streets of history
• Amplifying your adaptability to unfamiliar conditions
• Exploring career possibilities abroad
• The transition from a visitor to a citizen
• Difference between tourism and volunteering
• Calculated profits and unexpected perks
• Motivate yourself through challenges

As one of the most common academic papers, essays may seem easy to write. And with our helpful writing tips, you can definitely succeed in writing an impressive student exchange essay. But if you feel stuck, don’t hesitate to look for professional writing help online.

Our custom written essays are well-structured, professional, and in-depth. To get your A+ paper on any topic, just place an order with our custom writing service, purchase the essay using any available payment method (including PayPal), and receive your custom paper right in your inbox!

Learn more on this topic:

• ESL Resources for Students
• English as a Second Language Learning Materials
• Benefits of Learning a Second Language
• Best Free Language Learning Websites and Apps
• Guide to English Phonetic System
• LPI Essay Samples: An Effective Way to Prepare for the Test
• Essay on Benefits Of Student Exchange Programs
• Writing Your Motivation Letter for Studies Abroad
• An Exchange Student at 17
• Application For A Student Exchange Program Essay example
• Example of letter of motivation
• How Cultural Exchange Enhances Your Experience: Globalteer
• Cultural Exchange & Immersion: Projects Abroad US
• 8 Reasons Why You Should Go on Exchange: Her Campus
• 10 Reasons Why Every Student Should Study Abroad: Go Overseas
• Student Exchange Programs: EF Foreign Exchange
• Why Participate?: Exchange Programs: US Department of State
• Exchange Student Testimonials: Queen’s University
• Exchange Programs: AFS
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How do I become a FLEX finalist?

In 2018, I successfully qualified for the FLEX exchange program, which sends high school students from the former Soviet Union and Eurasia to study for one academic year in an American high school for free, and provides a scholarship and living in a carefully selected host family. Since the program's inception, more than 28,000 students have received scholarships and gone on exchange for a year.

Facts about the program: 

The FLEX program is organized by the American Councils for International Education, which selects students, arranges flights, etc.

The scholarship covers everything related to flight, living in America, living with a host family, going to an American school, health insurance, and participating in local community events. There are three stages of the selection process, which include an English test, essay writing, an interview with a native speaker, and completing a questionnaire.

The results of the selection process are announced in late spring by calling the participants, they leave at the end of July to early September and come back in May/June of the following year.

Match the grade level and certain age criteria (there are differences depending on the country). For example, Kazakh applicants need to be in 8th, 9th, 10th grade, or the first year of college/lyceum at the end of 9th grade and have a birth date between January 1, 2003, and July 15, 2005.

I Tour 

On the first round of FLEX, each participant takes a 15-minute English test. Excellent English is not the main selection criterion, but each participant must have at least a basic knowledge of the language. You do not need an application to participate in the first round. It is enough to come on the test writing day and get the necessary participant registration form. You only need to bring your ID/passport/birth certificate, «Consent to Process Personal Data» (can be found on the official program website), a 3 by 4 photo, and a pen. If you want to take textbooks, dictionaries, and the like with you, you can use them only before you write the test. Taking out these materials, phones, or cribs during the test is strictly prohibited and is punishable by the removal of the participant from the classroom - automatic expulsion from the program. Tips for the first round: 

Start with text.

No uncolored answers.

First, answer the easier questions.

Check answers if there is time left.

Second Round

The second round consists of writing 3 essays in English in 35 minutes. A list of official essay topics can be found on the website . To prepare for the 2nd round, you need to find someone who knows you well, and together with him/her briefly answers each question. That way, if any of the topics you come across on the actual round, you will already know what to answer. It is also advisable to choose about 3 topics from the list and write an essay on them in English for a while so that you understand how you should distribute them on the day of the competition. While writing the essay, you should not touch the topic of politics, religion, breaking the law, and the like, or write that you only want to go to the United States for food or travel. At the same time, it is important to show that you have qualities such as independence, responsibility, an open mind, and communication skills.

Third round 

The third round is a two-day selection process. The first day is an essay and language test, the second day is a group game and an interview. You are also given a questionnaire to fill out 2-3 weeks in advance and mail to the American Councils' office in your country.

In the 3rd round, you write 2 essays in 45 minutes. The topics, writing rules, and tips remain the same as in the 2nd round. The only difference is that more of the essay topics will focus on why exactly you should be an exchange student. That's why you need to go over the main goals of the program, such as cultural exchange and improving the relationship between the United States and the participating countries, and write in your essay how you can make them a reality. SLEP consists of 2 sections (listening and reading), each section consists of 75 questions that take 45 minutes to answer. Some tips to prepare: watch TV shows in English, listen to audiobooks or podcasts, read books or magazines, and review basic grammar.

The next stage of the selection process is a team game of 5-6 people in which you must show your leadership skills. The topic of the game can be anything from staging a skit or debate to surviving on a desert island. The game is overseen by two representatives from the American Councils, who take notes at the same time and interview each participant individually. During the game, it pays to be yourself, be polite, and not interrupt other participants.

Interviews or interviews are conducted to get to know the participant better. Some of the questions are in English, while the rest are in Russian or the participant's native language. Just like essays, the questions are structured to understand you from a psychological point of view and how you will behave in certain situations. Very often, they can be confusing to a semifinalist, but it's important to stay calm and analyze your answers in the same way you would in an essay.

After passing all stages of the selection process, the participant is given a few weeks to complete a questionnaire that includes information about the semifinalist's grades and health, a host family letter, and additional information about the participant. Participants will find out their status in late April or early May by phone call.

Aelita Khusnutdinova

FLEX 2018 finalist

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