Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX)

What is the FLEX Program?

The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program is a U.S. government-sponsored program for secondary school students from Europe and Eurasia. The program provides scholarship funding for students to travel to the United States, attend a US high school for a full academic year, and live with a US host family.

History of the program

In 1992, then-U.S. Senator Bill Bradley cosponsored, together with U.S. Congressman Jim Leach, the historic legislation providing for the FLEX program. Funding was approved by the United States Congress to extend a hand of friendship from the people of the United States of America to the people of the countries of the former Soviet Union, and has since expanded to other countries. FLEX is fully funded by the United States government and administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State. The program provides competitively selected secondary school students with a scholarship to spend a year living in the U.S. with a volunteer host family, attending a U.S. high school to foster understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries around the world.

The FLEX program is supported at the local level by thousands of U.S. citizens and local secondary schools that host, educate, and support students without financial compensation.

Now in its 31th year, the FLEX academic year program has provided scholarships to over 31,000 secondary school students. In most years, between 900 and 1,000 students study in the U.S. on the FLEX program

What does the scholarship provide?

FLEX is free for everyone and covers the following:

  • travel from the home city in Moldova to the host city in the US and back;

  • participation in a pre-departure orientation that includes pre-program preparation;

  • the participant’s stay with an American host family for one academic year;

  • admission to an American high school;

  • medical insurance that covers treatment of illnesses that appear while on the program except for pre-existing conditions and dental care;

  • the monthly stipend that constitutes $200 and allows a student to participate in social life;

  • an additional allowance that constitutes $300 necessary to buy basic school-related items, e.g., school books.

    The program also provides on-program support for the participant during the entire year.

What is NOT provided?

The FLEX scholarship does NOT cover the following costs:

  • Any costs associated with receiving an international passport

  • Personal expenses not covered by the monthly stipend

  • Excess baggage costs, phone bills, or internet use

  • phone calls to Moldova and internet expenses.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants must:

  • Be born between January 1, 2008 and July 15, 2010 (students with disabilities: 15 Feb 2007 – 15 Jul 2010).

  • Be enrolled in and attending a secondary school in the country in which they apply to the program at the time of application; not eligible if graduated;

  • Be a student of the 9th,10th, or 11th grade;

  • Know English;

  • Be a citizen of Moldova;

  • Meet the J-1 visa requirements.

  • Not having stayed in the USA for three (3) months or more during the past five (5) years.

Students may not participate if:

  • he/she does not meet the above criteria;

  • he/she has stayed in the USA for three (3) months or more during the past five (5) years;

  • his/her family ( or member of the family):
    – has applied or is applying to emigrate to the USA;
    – has made plans to emigrate or has already emigrated to the USA.

How does the testing and selection process work?

Students compete in several rounds of online competition. At the semi-finalist stage, students and their parents are invited to attend an informational meeting to learn more about the program. Students then participate in an individual interview with American Councils staff, take a standardized test of English, write proctored essays, and receive the official program application, which is due to American Councils within two weeks.

Selection will be based on merit and demonstrated preparedness for a year-long exchange experience, as evidenced in students’ applications. English-language proficiency is important but not the sole element in the selection. Students also will be required to provide medical evaluations and be certified as medically fit to participate in the program.

The selection process will be completed in spring, and all applicants will receive notification of their status by mid-May. Selected finalists will attend a pre-departure orientation in their home country in June-July and travel to the U.S. in July-August. Students return home the following May-June. FLEX students must return to their home country at the end of the program, on the date assigned by American Councils. The U.S. visa issued for program participants will not be amended or extended beyond the program end date for any reason

Round 1: Open to eligible applicants from August 1 – September 26, 2024. This round includes a preliminary online application and three essay questions that must be submitted within ten days of starting the application.

Round 2: Students will be invited to take an online English test

Round 3: This semi-finalist round will begin in November and include an interview, three more essay questions, the full application, and a comprehensive English test. Students who pass this stage will be invited to participate by the American Councils’ office in their country.

Post-Recruiting:

After applications are received from all candidates, the documents are sent to Washington, DC, for the selection committee to review. The results of the competition are expected in April – May 2025. Once results are released, finalists and alternates prepare the necessary documents for their U.S. visa and school registration. All finalists are required to attend a Pre-Departure Orientation before going to the USA. Finalists selected in the spring of 2025 depart for the United States in August 2025 and return to Moldova in May and June 2026.

 

Program Information

The program application is open from August until September 26

Funded by

The United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

For further information, contact us at: flex.md@americancouncils.org 

Phone number: +373 76007613

Instagram: FLEX Moldova

Facebook: FLEX Moldova

Telegram Channel: FLEX Moldova