Exchange programs of a month or less are unlikely to have many of the positive outcomes of more extended intercultural experiences. Worse, very short exchange programs (VSPs) may even have some undesirable outcomes. Positive outcomes not attainable through VSPs are: (1) development of long-lasting positive relationships and attitudes toward the people of the host culture; (2) change, to some extent, in the identity of the reference groups thought of as one's own; and (3) development of an intercultural perspective. One potential undesirable outcome of VSPs is that pre-conceived views and prejudicial attitudes can be strengthened. Another undesirable outcome is that participants are more likely to attribute the behavior of others to personal traits rather than to situational factors. Thus, participants return home with what they think is a well-founded set of opinions about why their hosts act in the way they do, but actually these opinions are based on incomplete or erroneous information. Because the quality of an intercultural exchange experience is directly related to the quantity of time involved, VSP sponsorship should be avoided. (RM)