I really want to study abroad in France, Switzerland, or Belgium with the Rotary Exchange because it’s the cheapest and one of the best exchange programs. It’s just that I’m not sure if I can get in. My freshman year was great, and I only had a few B’s, but this year, my grades are horrible. Mostly C’s and D’s. I also failed chemistry. 
I’m really upset because I’d love to study abroad in a francophone country during my senior year, but my horrible grades are probably holding me back.
I’ll try my best to get good grades during my junior year. Maybe, it will help my chances. I really want to become fluent in French, and I have a bunch of French penpals. I’ll be going to stay with one of them this summer, which I’m really looking forward to. Maybe, this can help me too? Idk, but I’m just so upset I can’t believe I’ve screwed myself over like this.
Could I still get accepted into rotary exchange even with my terrible grades???
No one but your local Rotary can tell you, and I suppose it may depend on who else is applying. But it’s quite possible that a Rotary exchange may not be in the cards for you. In which case, focus on doing as well as you can in your junior and senior year with the goal of going to a good college. There are many amazing study abroad programs for college students, and more affordable summer options as well. Good luck!
You should maybe look into other types of HS exchanges, too. i don’t know if programs like YFU have a GPA requirement, but you could check. College programs usually have a GPA requirement also (although of course only your college GPA counts).
My daughter’s BFF applied for a Rotary exchange. She did not have good grades at all, and wasn’t accepted. I think it would have been a terrible program for her because she wasn’t self motivated to attend school and get good grades. Just wanting to live somewhere else does not cut it.
You have to examine why your grades weren’t good. Why did you fail chemistry? Why did you get D’s in some classes? To be successful on an exchange program requires a lot of self motivation and to live in another country as a 17 year old take some skill too. If you can explain why your grades are not tops, explain how you will be successful on the program, you may have a chance but it will be tough.
It´s not the cheapest way.
Enrolling directly into a foreign university study abroad program for foreigners is the cheapest way to study abroad.
Here´s a fall semester in France for around $1,500. Housing can cost as little as $300 a month.
http://www.cheapstudyabroad.org/cheap-study-abroad-in-france-aix-marseille-iii-fall-semester-1350-euros/
You don´t have to have a min. gpa.
Some more:
Less than $2,000 for tuition
http://www.cheapstudyabroad.org/cheap-study-abroad-semester-in-france-french-language-and-culture-universite-stendhal-grenoble-1785-euros/
About $2,000 for tution at the Sorbonne in Paris
http://www.cheapstudyabroad.org/courses-programs-abroad/4451/study-abroad-paris-france-winter-semester-sorbonne-1880-euros
Hope this helps!