Understanding the Study Abroad Cycle

Recruitment and Retention Cycle:

Best Practices for Recruitment:

• Acquire AFS marketing materials
• School outreach and presentations
• Email schools and follow up with a call
• Tabling events: School concerts, sporting events, report card pick-up, school conferences, curriculum night, farmers markets, local festivals, college fairs, international fairs
• Post to social media 
• Submit press releases
• Hang AFS flyers around town- libraries, stores, restaurants, coffee houses, etc.
• Coordinate an AFS Info Night - Invite schools, volunteers, and sending leads
• Promote programs to volunteers, host families, communities, organizations, etc.

Best Practices for Preparation:

• Call and offer support to student applicants and their parents (natural families)
• Invite student applicants to local area team events
• Introduce and match returnees to students
• Introduce and match returnees’ parents to applicants’ natural families
• Give AFS swag: local t-shirts, sunglasses, highlighters, etc.
• If your team has NSLI-Y/YES/CB/FOA interviews, please support volunteers

Best Practices for Retention:

• Send the fundraising guide and sponsor an AFSer link to student and natural families
• Offer suggestions on how to raise funds for student’s program
• Support PDO volunteers
• Continue communicating and supporting student applicants and natural parents