What do you study in senior high school?

If I want to study abroad in high school, would it be good to push my senior year back and graduate 1 yr late?

• If I push my graduation year back so I have a year of studying abroad between my high school junior year and my high school senior year, how would that be taken by colleges? I want to apply to some of the top colleges like Brown, Rice, University of Chicago, Cornell, and Stanford, and I know colleges like Stanford encourage a diverse culture and students with study abroad experience as long as the impact isn't cliche but profound. But I was wondering if taking 5 yrs to complete high school, one being in a foreign country, would be taken the wrong way by these colleges? I am taking several AP classes and have a very strong GPA. Should I pursue this? I also plan to try and contact these colleges, but I just wanted the opinions of those who might know also.

• Answer:

  You should be able to study abroad and graduate on time if you plan early enough. Meet with your guidance counselor to map out your graduation requirements and figure out how studying abroad will fit into your graduation requirements and timing. Studying abroad before you apply for colleges will allow you to draw upon your experiences in your application essays and interviews, and will help define and inform your college and major selection. In an applicant pool already inundated with impressive SAT scores, perfect grades, an abundance of AP classes, and stellar extracurricular activities, students with advanced foreign language skills and international cross-cultural experience definitely stand out in the college admissions process. Participation on a foreign exchange program signals to colleges and universities that you have already taken positive risks and stepped outside your comfort zone in order to push yourself academically and personally, and are likely to continue to do so throughout your undergraduate career; as this is something that admissions committees look for when evaluating your application, colleges and universities therefore look at students who have studied abroad very favorably. Furthermore, studying abroad would enable you to personally witness and experience other cultures, languages, and mindsets, giving you a toolkit with which to define and inform your professional and personal goals. This means that studying abroad will not only help you get into the college of your choice, it will also make you better informed when selecting your major and career path. I would encourage you to contact the universities that you are interested in and ask them how they feel about students who study abroad in high school. Over all, I think you will find it to be a major asset to your application. AYUSA Study Abroad is one company that offers a number of high-quality high school exchange programs in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. They have some advice on discussing studying abroad with your school and family on their website (see link below), and their program advisors can also give you more advice if you call 1-800-579-1709.