<p>After suffering from planning out my summer too late, I'm going to start early on planning next year's summer. I don't know how many of you have gone to Governor's school over the summer. I heard it's really wonderful and looks good on apps because you have to apply to get it. But I'm also really interested in interning or volunteering (I haven't decided yet) abroad. I found this awesome program that lets you do that for a number of weeks. Which one do you think would be better? I may be able to squeeze both in during the summer, but the times may overlap and I can only do one. Thanks!</p>
<p>Which state's Governor's school are you referring to?</p>
<p>well, it's kinda unpredictable because you have to apply and get in first.</p>
<p>i went to nj gov school for int'l studies this summer.
and i have gone abroad w/ my school's exchange program to england last yr.
they were both amazing experiences but hands down, gov school was far better. and it looks SPECTACULAR on your apps.</p>
<p>volunteering and working you can do after gov school finishes.</p>
<p>I would say Governor's School. I went and it was awesome. You can go abroad any time, but if it's how it is in my state, you only have this summer for Governor's School.</p>
<p>I agree that Governor's School is the one time opportunity. Going abroad can be done later</p>
<p>Getting into GS, atleast here in NJ, is very competitive and not a sure thing</p>
<p>I agree... here in TN we recieved 7 hours college credit, making it much more competetive. I attended and found it to be a growing and excellent experience, even if it wasn't always fun. With GS, your limited to the years you can attend (only two). The volunteering can be done at other times, and while also a growing experience, I would assume GS would look better on an application. And while admirable, some might percieve volunteering abroad done as a more "fun" thing to do. If you can get accepted, I would choose GS. However, if you can fit in both... definitely do that. At the very least it would be something exciting for you. I've always wanted to visit other countries and have not yet gotten the oppertunity. While I wouldn't trade GS for it, I would trade several other experiences to do so. Best of luck!</p>
<p>I <3 Governor's School.</p>
<p>governors school looks really good on apps. if possible, do both</p>
<p>My daughter went to Governor's School this summer, loved every minute of it, & wouldn't have traded the experience for anything! My vote is for Gov. School.</p>
<p>I'm another NJGSISer and I guess I'll share an anecdote...
I went to the Harvard-Yale-Duke-Georgetown-sponsored college fair, and one of the adcoms replied to the question "What helps you get in?" with "Something unique. For example, if you were accepted into Governor's School..."
You can imagine my euphoria.</p>
<p>What was the program that you found? In my experience, interning is MUCH more boring; I've interned in a lab, and GS was much more social and engaging than any experience I had in the lab.</p>
<p>Oh yeah! At my school's college fair there was a girl who had just graduated from Yale in 2005. I asked her what helped her get in, and she said NJ Governor's School (she went to the Sciences one). NO JOKE.</p>
<p>Btw I'm an NJGSE '06er. I feel bad that GSIS was cut short this year... must've sucked big time. :</p>
<p>NJ Governor's school is definitely an amazing experience and wonderful opportunity. However, please be aware that at the present time the funding for this program has been cut from the State budget. This year's GS was originally cancelled due to the budget cuts and was only restored due to the generosity of private and corporate donors. The fate of next year's program is very uncertain. There's talk of continuing it but charging tuition or just dropping the program altogether. My advise would be to pursue both plans unless you find that they conflict. Then, keep a careful eye on what's happening with GS.</p>
<p>I attended NJGSIS as well, and yes, it looks AMAZING on college applications (i was at the georgetown-duke-harvard-penn thing as well and i too was ecstatic when the duke woman said that about gov school) but don't do it just for the prestige. especially next year, when you'll have to pay $3000+ for the experience, i don't think it'll be worth it. pm me if you want more info on my personal experience - which a lot of people shared, to some extent - at gov school</p>
<p>yea i attended NJGSIS as well... fun times</p>
<p>Wow... you guys have like a whole network on here, haha.</p>
<p>I attended TN Governors School for Sciences. I don't really have anything to add to this thread because I agree w/ everyone else that the OP should do GS, but I couldn't resist the chance to express my appreciation for the GS program. Vandyhopeful, which school did you attend and what year?</p>