<p>I've recently been accepted into an exchange program (Rotary) in Austria. I would spend my senior year of high school there. Would it help me or hurt me with admissions? On one hand, it's a unique experience; on the other, I won't be able to take all the AP classes I would otherwise enroll in. Anybody know what colleges will think of this?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance</p>
<p>Your unique experience in Austria will differentiate you from the millions of kids with AP classes. It also demonstrates maturity, flexibility, a sense of adventure, openness to other cultures, and intellectual curiousity-all desirable qualities that top schools are seeking. Don't worry about the AP classes you will be missing-you can take the college level courses in college.</p>
<p>I have to disagree with the last post and I've had specific conversations about this with top college counselors. At average colleges I would agree with the above. At top colleges applicants who've done study abroad are a dime a dozen. Especially in Europe.</p>
<p>The advice we were given for DS, who had his heart set on an ivy, was to do a summer study abroad but to stay in HS during the academic year to focus on tough classes and leadership positions.</p>
<p>Study abroad is a fabulous opportunity. You have to weigh that with what your college goals are and whether you will have those opportunities in college. DS choose a college where he will be able to do 3 different programs abroad, so between that and summer programs, he can still have many great experiences abroad.</p>
<p>There's another recent thread on this, search 'SYA'.</p>
<p>I envy you, I applied for Rotary Youth Exchange as a 2nd senior year, but was denied.</p>
<p>DO THE STUDY ABROAD! Go to Austria!</p>
<p>I am also studying abroad in high school (junior year though, this year!) I'm in France. My college counselors have assured me that studying abroad, especially for a full year, can distinguish you from the rest of the applicant pool. While hmom5 says "studying abroad is a dime a dozen"...AP classes are even more so. EVERYONE applying to HYPS has tons of APs, not everyone has a year in a foreign country. Studying abroad is a unique experience that will change your life and if you're already a good student, enhance your college application. But don't go just because of that! Go for the opportunity to broaden your horizons and experience a new culture. You won't regret it, trust me.</p>
<p>The study abroad that most college counselors dismiss is the 5 weeks in x-country of your choice which proves only that your parents have a lot of money and you were willing to leave the comforts of home for a few weeks. The result is often a lot of boring college essays about how I went to country x, struggled with the culture/language/food, but finally learned that we are all brothers under the skin. What you are doing is entirely different and I'm sure will result in tremendous personal growth, completely apart from any impact on your applications to college. Don't miss out! Extended study abroad is life-changing in a way that another AP or two or three isn't.</p>
<p>I was an exchange student in Ecuador, and without my year abroad I probably wouldnt have been able to write my awesome essay. Also, it seems to me that stupid rich kids that go abroad for a few weeks, always come off as just that, while smart driven kids that live abroad for a year apear as smart driven kids.</p>
<p>Not to diss Europe or anything, but you have to rep the third world...so much more hardcore than Europe.</p>
<p>Thanks everybody. I think I'm probably going to go; if it hurts me getting into colleges, so be it. Plus, I'm hoping it will highlight my interest in German; I'm in German IV honors, president of German club, now studying in a German speaking country, etc. If anyone else has any input on this I'd love to hear it.</p>
<p>I would suggest that you use summer programs for anything you'll miss while away. If you won't be getting advanced math or science or anything else on your program, take these things at commnity college before and after.</p>
<p>Congrats mcscruff, have an awesome time in Austria!</p>
<p>Thanks! I just know if I didn't take this opportunity I'd spend the rest of my life beating myself up for it.</p>
<p>It's not so much where you go to college, but what you do with your life! </p>
<p>Go to Austria!(I'm so jealous!) You will never regret it! College Ad Coms do know the difference between a competitive year-long low-cost cultural immersion/exchange program such as Rotary and the summer programs that are really only open to those who can afford to pay. </p>
<p>My daughter also spent a year abroad in South America with Rotary. She's now fluent in a 2nd language (even gets paid to teach it) and definitely feels that the experience, which gave her very vivid and poetic images for her essay, allowed her to be admitted to her reach school. I think she knows at least 2 other former Rotary students at her school as well.</p>