<p>My daughter and I both got an Invitation today for People to People. (I’m not in high school.)
Sometimes when I sign up for things online, I change the spelling of my name a little. My invitation is spelled the way I spelled it on the Fast web scholarship search site.</p>
<p>This program (P to P) is very expensive. I know people who went. They had a great time. But the participants consist many who can’t even get “advanced” in the standardized tests. So my judgment is that it’s good but far from being selective and an honor. I was debating whether to go. Looking at the price and the people being selected, I’m glad I didn’t. (sorry no offence to those who did it in cc. I’m sure there were great people.)</p>
<p>I don’t know about P2P seeing as I’ve never gone.
However NYLSC is not a joke, it might cost alot, but there is good reason for that. I went and all the people I’ve talked to that went have said it was a great experience. It really bothers me that people who have never gone form opinions and then present those opinions as fact. I think it does look good on a college application since you can earn college credit, at least at the national level, but that is not why I went.
You can PM me for more information if you want.</p>
<p>a good thing to do when various activities say you can earn college credit is to contact colleges and ask them if they actually do. sometimes you have to pay for credit through the program with no guarantee the credit will transfer where you are going. so take some time to research it a little…not saying the programs aren’t interesting and fun but beware of paying for credit you may not be able to use.</p>
<p>I got a letter form P2P and it seemed a bit generic. I posted something on Facebook asking friends about it, and there are people in the bottom half of my class (of 800) that got the letter. It’s a joke.</p>
<p>Agreed. It’s a cool opportunity, but nothing special and certainly not worth the price. It makes me cringe to think of all the families who put out that kind of money thinking it will boost their kid’s chance of admissions to Harvard, etc.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss something like P2P. My cousin, who had been to India a few times, went on the P2P trip to Australia/New Zealand before his senior year and was able to draw on his experiences to write his Common App essay. And it got him into HYPS. While the colleges may not have appreciated the P2P program, he was able to pull something from it that they did appreciate.</p>
<p>probobly more than a p2p experience got him in. more likely excellent grades,sat scores plus his amazing essay using his experience with p2p.</p>
<p>I have heard great things about P2P and NYLSC. People that I personally know have gone on both, had a great experience.
I wouldn’t rule out any program if you look interested–they are not scams. Although they may not be “prestigious”, what’s impressive to colleges from what I have heard is pursuing things that look interesting. Fundraise, get sponsors, etc, but don’t rule it out solely on the basis that “its not prestigious”.</p>
<p>exactly! a fun trip but if you have money and a pulse you can go</p>
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<p>Very true - he was a great student as well. But I think people place too much emphasis on “prestige” (how will a college view this) instead of looking at the other applications of the experience.</p>
<p>Agreed that all you need is a pulse. S of a coworker is going on People to People this summer, and he is ranked dead last (literally) in his high school class. Doesn’t mean a student couldn’t get a lot out of the trip, and it might give some good fodder for essays. But colleges will not look at the participation itself as prestigious.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say P2P is all for rich kids, my brother went on several of these trips and in order to fund it my family had several fund raisers going door to door seeing if anyone wanted to donate money.</p>
<p>Almost always we ended up with a tab that was actually affordable. :P</p>
<p>I know two people in my school who went to P2P. They are good girls but academically they’re both not strong.</p>
<p>My D went to France, Italy, and England with P2P her freshman year of high school and had a wonderful time. She still talks about it to this day, and she’s a senior now about to graduate. I think it made her see that there’s more to this world than just our little corner and all the opportunities that are available and also how handy it is to know a foreign language. She’s had five years of French starting in middle school. </p>
<p>It was expensive, but we thought it would be a good experience for her and do not regret it. I still look at those pictures and say, wow, she was at the Eiffel Tower, the Coliseum, the Sistene Chapel, the Leaning Tower of Piza, etc., places which I have never been, and feel that we gave her a gift. Now she wants to travel the world and see more and learn more. I believe it was worth it.</p>
<p>exactly! if you want a great trip, well chaperoned with people they help you become friends with that is a great thing. it is also great if you choose to make the experience part of a college essay. it’s just not a ‘tip’ etc or selective etc</p>
<p>Oh, and she is in the top of her class, graduating with honors, and has been accepted to four schools for Music Major, Vocal Performance with scholarships. So I would say she has more than a pulse.</p>
<p>First, it’s pretty well known (at least in my school) that these programs really aren’t that selective - if at all.</p>
<p>And I’ll throw in my experience as someone who went on P2P - and really didn’t like it. I, too, consider it a joke.</p>
<p>When I went, it was to France, Italy, and Greece. </p>
<p>My main gripe with it was how inauthentic it was. When we were in Rome, surrounded by the many little restaurants, where did we eat? McDonald’s. Same thing in Paris. The whole time I just felt like we were observing the countries, not experiencing them. And there’s definitely a difference.</p>
<p>However, to give you background, I had been to Italy before (I have family there). I had gone on P2P on this trip to go with a friend. Also, I haven’t really ever been a fan of tour-group travel - you just aren’t able to experience a country. I’d save traveling the world for while studying abroad in college.</p>
<p>I can say that the other people I know in my area who’ve gone on P2P trips to Australia and China have the same opinions of the program as mine.</p>
<p>All of this said, however, if it is one’s absolutely ONLY (and I emphasize only) way of visiting another continent prior to college, do it. Seeing the world first-hand is the only way to really understand it.</p>
<p>ooh. I got back from NYLSC about a week ago. I thought it was awesome. We learned about conflict resolution and working together and that sort. I learned a lot. It was a great experience. It was i BIT tiring. Breakfast was at 8 and we had workshops until our curfew at 10. The 4 days seemed like a week.</p>
<p>Well, I went on a P2P trip a couple years ago, and while perhaps not the ideal way to travel, it was definitely an eye-opening experience. I certainly also wouldn’t call it a joke, especially to the tune of $6500. Quite an expensive joke if you ask me. While I was able to afford the trip due to fundraising and parents who realized the validity of the organization, I do not consider myself well-to-do my any means. To be honest, the trip definitely varies from group to group, chaperon to chaperon, and quality of local guides. I do admit, as a boy from Montana, the wonders of Europe were quite astounding.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, this is not a program to pad your resume or help you with college/prep school apps. Like others have said before, it is widely known that most students are eligible to apply, and in my high school of 1600, about 300 were asked to apply. However, this is a great opportunity to see the world with a group of peers. I was a little offended by people calling this program a joke, or saying it is a last resort for poor kids to see the world. I would agree with neither. We had a great time in some of the most fascinating places on Earth. Quality, I think so.</p>