What is the best high school study abroad program?

Benefits of study abroad program for high school students?

• I have been nominated by my school to be a part of a study abroad program after finishing my Junior year of high school in June 2009. It sounds very interesting to me, and of course i would have to convince my parents to let me go. What are the benefits of study abroad programs, particularly for college? thank you for your time!

• Answer:

  I studied abroad in Spain in June 2008, the summer after my sophomore year. I went to the University of Salamanca for 2 weeks. (Short time, I know, but that was just a little part of the fabulous 3 1/2 week-long trip!) I had the most amazing experience of my life. I really stepped outside of my box, too. I hate to admit it, but I was always a little snobby. I never, in a million years, would have thought myself to be someone who would stay with a host family... and like it. Love it, actually. It really made me more down to earth. However, I was fortunate enough to have my best friend of about 12 years on the same trip as me, living in the same home. I found out more things about myself during that time than possibly in my entire life. I found out what I really love, what really annoys me, and what I want to do with my future. I found out I'm fascinated by foreign languages, particularly "romance languages" such as Spanish (of course), French, and Portuguese. When I returned home mid-summer, I immediately went to my school's registrar and changed my schedule for my junior year. I dropped psychology, and signed up for first year French. Of course, I am still taking Spanish, too, as I hope to be fluent someday! (Getting close!) This is kind of broad--but I learned a lot of things in my classes at the university about Spanish culture and history and European and Spanish geography. You also might discover that you aren't quite as picky of an eater as you may have thought, and wanting to be polite to the host family can sometimes completely numb your taste buds. I've always known that traveling is probably my favorite thing to do. However, I never thought I'd go to somewhere like Spain. I've always just liked to travel to different beaches (been to 14 Caribbean islands, many places in Mexico many times, and Hawaii a couple of times.) Now I am so open to going to other places. Like I'd love more than anything to go to South America, Australia, Japan, etc., and of course, more of Europe! Thus, my mind has been made up that I will major in international business. I am hoping to study abroad in Spain for an academic year of college, and maybe a semester in France as well. We'll have to wait and see, though! Now, convincing your parents. I suppose... you could show them this! Ok, just kidding. Well, my parents paid for my entire trip. It was about $4500, which included multiple destinations in Spain and a weekend in Lisbon, Portugal. They also gave me money for some meals that weren't included. They told me I had to save all of my own souvenir money, so I saved $1000 on my own from working at a local Chinese restaurant. The trip was, in a sense, priceless, though. I got way more out of it than the $5500 put into it. I learned so much about the world and myself. My older sister went on a trip to Europe through school also, but she didn't go to a university or anything like that. My parents do everything pretty equally, so basically, she got a Europe trip in high school, I got a Europe trip in high school. I brought home the Spain information, and they thought about it for about a week, and they decided I could go! Benefits for college, though... hmm. Besides the fact that you may get some college elective credits from classes you take abroad, well, honestly, studying abroad probably isn't going to be the deciding factor of accepted or rejected. It does look nice on your application, though. Shows you are fairly well-rounded and know about other parts of the world. But I mean, don't study abroad so you can write "Summer Abroad Program 2009" on your app. Study abroad to have an unforgettable life experience. Study abroad to learn something about yourself and others. Study abroad because you WANT to. Good luck! I really hope you decide to study abroad!