January has a certain energy to it.
The holidays are behind everyone. Routines are back. And for the first time in a while, families aren’t just reacting to life — they’re planning it.
That’s exactly why January is the best time to say yes to hosting an exchange student, even though that student won’t arrive until August or September. Families who start now don’t just get ahead of the timeline. They create a better experience from the very beginning.
Clear Heads Make Better Decisions
By January, real life has settled in. School schedules are known. Activities are mapped out. Families have a clear picture of what a normal week actually looks like.
That clarity changes the question from “Could we host?” to “Who would be a great fit for our family?”
Hosting feels realistic. Achievable. Exciting — not overwhelming.
Early Starts Mean Better Matches
January is prime time for choice.
Families who apply early have access to a larger pool of students and the freedom to take their time reviewing profiles. That means paying attention to the details that actually matter: personality, interests, energy level, and how a student might blend into daily family life.
Some families click with a student who loves sports. Others connect with someone who enjoys music, baking, or quiet evenings at home. Those connections are easier to find when there’s no rush — and January offers exactly that.
More Time = Real Relationships
Here’s where starting early really shines.
Families who choose their student in winter or early spring don’t spend months waiting. They start connecting. Messages turn into video calls. Names turn into personalities. Anticipation grows on both sides.
By the time the student arrives, they aren’t a stranger moving in. They’re someone the family already knows — someone who already feels familiar, comfortable, and welcome.
That head start makes arrival day feel less like a first meeting and more like a long-anticipated reunion.
August Comes Faster Than You Think
In January, fall feels far away. But summer fills quickly — vacations, camps, work schedules, school prep.
Families who wait often feel the pressure later. Families who start now feel ready. The decision is already made. The connection is already built. August becomes exciting instead of stressful.
A January Yes Changes Everything
Hosting is a meaningful commitment, but it doesn’t have to be rushed or last-minute. January is the moment when hosting can start thoughtfully, intentionally, and with plenty of time for excitement to grow.
Families who say yes now give themselves the gift of choice, connection, and confidence — long before the plane ever lands.
If hosting has been on your mind, this is the moment to take the next step.
Apply now, choose your student early, and give your future exchange student something priceless: a home that already feels like family.
ICES is ready when you are.
