Anonymous wrote:You’re getting a lot of advice here from people who don’t really know and are just speculating. If you’re worried about its effect on college admissions, reach out to the college counselor before making the final decision. My sense (but it’s just that) is that, as 7:09 says it will help differentiate her from all the kids taking the same classes who look the same on paper.

A lot of college counselors don't know either, especially if they work at a school where kids don't normally study abroad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I studied abroad junior yr many years ago and would do it again in a heartbeat, but I do think it worked against me in college admissions ( “study” abroad is not really about the studying and) and when I applied to college fall if my senior year it was essentially just on the strength of my transcript /ECs from freshman/sophomore year. My dd spent senior year abroad which was a risky move but ended up not hurting her at all. She was also in Asia on one of the State Dept funded programs if you have any questions happy to answer. In general I think study abroad a mixed bag for admissions - Les’s demonstrated rigor, chosen immersive challenge. Only you and your kid know how to strike that balance.

OP here. It is one of the state department funded programs that DD is considering. Some kids doing the program are using it as a true gap year and are graduating a year later than expected from high school. DD doesn’t like that idea, but wouldn’t have to decide on it until she got back from being abroad. I agree that study abroad is a mixed bag for admissions.

PP here - good luck supporting her and making this decision! I will say it’s a pretty incredible opportunity to have a fully funded year abroad like this, and although my DD had a lot of challenges ( some we anticipated, some could not have known would happen) and there were some things that I wish had gone differently in her host country it’s a very well resourced program and ultimately a huge growth experience that she and we are so glad she had.

Anonymous wrote:I studied abroad junior yr many years ago and would do it again in a heartbeat, but I do think it worked against me in college admissions ( “study” abroad is not really about the studying and) and when I applied to college fall if my senior year it was essentially just on the strength of my transcript /ECs from freshman/sophomore year. My dd spent senior year abroad which was a risky move but ended up not hurting her at all. She was also in Asia on one of the State Dept funded programs if you have any questions happy to answer. In general I think study abroad a mixed bag for admissions - Les’s demonstrated rigor, chosen immersive challenge. Only you and your kid know how to strike that balance.

OP here. It is one of the state department funded programs that DD is considering. Some kids doing the program are using it as a true gap year and are graduating a year later than expected from high school. DD doesn’t like that idea, but wouldn’t have to decide on it until she got back from being abroad. I agree that study abroad is a mixed bag for admissions.

My sense is also that anything that makes you look unique and like you have a “passion” for something is helpful. The counselors all say that the schools are looking for kids with a passion. If this is something she had to apply for and got a scholarship for (rather than just parents paying to send her away) my gut is that it will help. But I agree with PP that it is worth her doing some sat ot act prep to really knock that out of the park to show that she can handle the rigorous classes. And maybe a summer school class for something that she won’t be able to take abroad. My guess is that the math classes will be good in Asia but maybe science college level over the summer. I assume she already took AP US History?

You’re getting a lot of advice here from people who don’t really know and are just speculating. If you’re worried about its effect on college admissions, reach out to the college counselor before making the final decision. My sense (but it’s just that) is that, as 7:09 says it will help differentiate her from all the kids taking the same classes who look the same on paper.

I studied abroad junior yr many years ago and would do it again in a heartbeat, but I do think it worked against me in college admissions ( “study” abroad is not really about the studying and) and when I applied to college fall if my senior year it was essentially just on the strength of my transcript /ECs from freshman/sophomore year. My dd spent senior year abroad which was a risky move but ended up not hurting her at all. She was also in Asia on one of the State Dept funded programs if you have any questions happy to answer. In general I think study abroad a mixed bag for admissions - Les’s demonstrated rigor, chosen immersive challenge. Only you and your kid know how to strike that balance.

Also, she will come back home more mature and will better handle her college decisions, without succumbing to the local craze.

Of course, if she wants to, let her go! In the great scheme of things she will value and remember her year abroad forever, who will care about AP classes?

Anonymous wrote:Parent of current junior here…
That seems like a risky move to me, she needs to have a rigorous, academic set of classes junior year to be competitive. She must be a bright and motivated kid….there will be tons of opportunities for her to do study abroad when she is in college

Or she could actually be smart and not paper smart. Therefore not worry about it because she will be fine in life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She’ll be gone forever in 2 years anyway! Why would you do this?

+1
I came to say this.
You get 18 years and then it's over.

To those who say this. Would you tell your high school student they can’t take this scholarship that they earned?

Can she do summer school? I did this many moons ago...twice, actually. I did a second program my senior year in a different country learning a different language. I was able to test early out of state required exams and do summer school for courses I wouldn't be able to take abroad that required seat time. I took my SATs and ACTs at the American schools in country.

Anonymous wrote:She’ll be gone forever in 2 years anyway! Why would you do this?

+1
I came to say this.
You get 18 years and then it's over.

It will help her more than it will hurt her when it comes to college admissions. Do NOT have her do dual enrollment, that’s crazy. Studying abroad in high school is not like studying abroad in college- much more focus on living with the host family and integrating as a family member, going to a school where she may be the only foreigner, etc.

It will make her more interesting to admissions officers than the hoards of identical applicants all taking the same APs.

My kid did an SAT prep class the summer before junior year and did his one and done SAT test then PSAT (resulting in becoming a NMSF). Maybe you want to get the SAT out of the way while she's still studying here.

She’ll be gone forever in 2 years anyway! Why would you do this?