<p>Recently I did a exchange with a high-school in China. It wasn't a frivolous thing, I've wanted to visit China for a very long time and experience the lifestyle, and especially the food. My parents did not pay a single penny, in fact I paid half of the $3000 by myself with money I had saved over the years and I fundraised the other half over the course of 2 years. So basically what I'm asking is will they care at all about this EC? Is it even classified as an EC? I don't know, if anybody had any insight as to what colleges think about Cultural Exchanges that would be great! (I say Cultural Exchange because I do not speak a bit of chinese)</p>
<p>bump im in a similar situation</p>
<p>help some brothas out people!</p>
<p>It sort of depends what kind of an exchange program. For example, colleges like high school semester abroad and LOVE year abroad programs. They realize it’s scary to go to live with foreigners and attend a foreign school when you’re 16/17 years old. They also realize, it takes advanced planning to fit in all the requirements plus your study abroad time off and still graduate in 4 years. </p>
<p>tnoonan, it sounds like your program was shorter than a semester, and it did not involve language study or immersion. So it’s not in the same league as a semester/year abroad, but it certainly counts as an EC. Emphasize the fact that you paid/raised money for it yourself: that shows character and determination, and not that you’re just some rich kid whose daddy paid for a vacation in China and who now wants college recognition for it :)</p>
<p>Thank you for your response katliamom! I planned on emphasizing that point AND the fact that it was a great learning experience because I had to overcome a huge language barrier and lean how to communicate in different ways.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t necessarily emphasize that – after all, most tourists experience the same thing. So maybe write how the experience shaped your academic interests, or in what way it enhanced your understanding of the world, etc.</p>