Exchanges:
March Break + a week,
4th Marking Period,
and Summer

These exchanges allow our students to explore different national, school, and academic cultures, and often involve homestays with students that have been to Hotchkiss on exchange.

Students can participate in a nine- to 10-week academic exchange during the fourth marking period, or for a shorter exchange to certain schools for March Break plus a week. Students going during the fourth marking period receive a full year’s credit for work done through the third marking period, and structures are in place to ensure that they are ready for their Hotchkiss courses in September.

Please note:
Exchanges offer the opportunity to learn in ways that are not possible in Lakeville, but the academic program at our partner schools can differ greatly from Hotchkiss’, and so students should not expect to continue the same course of study as is offered in Lakeville.

The Academic Office will have conversations with all students looking to go on exchange for the 4th marking period. They will:

1. Review all current courses

2. Take a look at the proposed courses from the host school

3. Have a discussion with each student about their hoped-for courses in the following year, and look at what might be possible following an exchange during the fourth marking period. For example, it would not be possible for someone to try and take the "fly lab" course senior year without having had biology in the junior year. 

4. We will share relevant course outlines and curriculum with the host school to aid them in placing the student in classes while on exchange. 

5. At the conclusion of the exchange, we will send the student placement exams for math and foreign language (if relevant) so that we can get a sense for what independent work the student may need to do over the summer in order to be ready to return to Hotchkiss.

Application Deadline:
December 1, 2026 by 10:00 p.m. 

Before starting the on-line application, you should have the following materials and information ready to complete steps 1, 2, and 3 below: 

1. Basic information for you and your parents/legal guardians (addresses, phone numbers, email addresses)

2. Responses to the following:

   • Academic achievements and honors 

   • Community service activities and interests

   • Co-curricular activities 

   • Activities and interests outside of school

   • Offices held at school 

   • Travel abroad (location, length of travel or stay, year of travel)

3. Response to the following essay question:
   Please provide a statement of interest that discusses why you would like to go on exchange. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

   • What you hope to contribute to the community that you join on exchange

   • What appeals to you about the specific school to which you would like to go on exchange

   • What you hope to bring back to Hotchkiss from your exchange experience

4. Send this feedback form link to your current floor faculty member or dorm head, and ask them to complete it by the appropriate deadline.

5. Send this feedback form link to your advisor and ask them to complete it by the appropriate deadline.

6. If you are applying for an exchange where you would be immersed in the language you study, here Send this feedback form link to your current language teacher and ask them to complete it by the appropriate deadline.

7. Send this DIFFERENT link to to the peer who will be writing for you, and ask them to complete it by the appropriate deadline.

Notes:

1. All feedback forms will be kept confidential and will not be available to the applicants.

2. We will print your current and past Hotchkiss grade reports, including the most recent teacher comments, and include them in your application. 

Ready to apply?

Application for March Break, 4th Marking Period, and Summer 2027 exchanges.