<p>I got this thing from Collegeboard which they call "People to People". Apparently next year whoever participates will be traveling to China, which seems pretty cool, especially since I love to travel. I was wondering if anyone had heard of the program, and whether or not it gives a boost to an application. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>it's fun, but it doesn't mean anything for you application. if you have to pay to do something, it's no major achievement (there are a few exceptions, but people to people isn't one of them)</p>
<p>yeah i'm apart of this program. Its great, i went to china in 2006 for their 50 yr anniversary and to Australia. plus you can get college credit and it looks good on your college application.</p>
<p>Is it an honor to be selected for it, or is it like NSLC and things like that?</p>
<p>how'd you get the invitation from collegeboard?</p>
<p>I don't know, I just did. I got it in the mail.</p>
<p>people to people is basically a worthless program and won't count at all to your college app
maybe this is different because it's from CB but like MBP said, if you have to pay, it's worthless and it's just a moneymaking scheme
some people say that colleges look down on people who pay because they "fall for it" but i think it's mostly neutral</p>
<p>From what I know a teacher nominates you</p>
<p>yeah I basically equate it w/ a who's who award. If they make you pay for it its worthless.</p>
<p>The program is pretty clear: some people get the letter because they're nominated by teachers, community leaders, or past program participants. Others get the letter because they're on a list of high scorers on standardized tests. (OP, I think my D got the same letter you did; it wasn't from College Board, it was from People to People and it said in the first paragraph that she was getting the letter because she was on a list "provided by College Board" of people who had "distinguished academic records" or something like that, which I took to mean People to People bought a list of people who scored high on College Board tests, in her case the PSAT which she took as a HS sophomore).</p>
<p>The letter is written to make it sound like a great honor to be selected. What they don't tell you in the letter is that it's basically a student travel program that you have to pay for, generally in the range of $4,000 to $6,000 per trip, possibly higher now due to fuel surcharges and the weak dollar. IMO, student travel can be a great thing. It can be fun, it can expand you horizons, it can even be truly educational. But I wouldn't expect it to help much on your college applications. Basically it's the same thing as a school trip, a worthwhile thing to do if you have the money perhaps, but colleges aren't going to be all that impressed. People to People will say otherwise, that it's only a select few who are chosen; but as best I can tell, their selection criteria aren't rigorous or transparent, so I just don't think it will impress college adcoms.</p>
<p>I seriously doubt it is through "nominations"...there was that really famous case where they sent it to the mother of a child that died like 16 years ago, right?</p>
<p>That said, it isn't a "bad" program. Just treat it as a vacation.</p>
<p>yeah i think i heard somewhere that they sent it to a cat or something? lmao maybe not but whatevs</p>
<p>People to People does solicit nominations from teachers, but that is definitely not their sole source for their mailing list. People to People has been discussed many, many, many times on these boards - do a search.</p>
<p>Bottom line: P to P is an expensive travel opportunity of varying educational quality. This program is not considered an honor nor a hook on a college application.</p>
<p>It may have value as a means of going abroad for a student who would have no other way of going on such an organized trip, assuming they did have access to the $$ or a way to raise the funds.</p>
<p>But to impress colleges? Um, no.</p>
<p>PtP has to have a LOT of "nominations" to get enough kids for these trips.</p>
<p>My son just got a letter and I could have sworn it said Japan, not China. Maybe there are multiple trips.</p>
<p>^ There are definitely multiple trips. My D's letter which arrived this week said England and France. It said she'd be traveling with other students from our area.</p>
<p>It's a cool opportunity to go to China (or Australia or any of the other places they go). But yes, it's about as selective as NSLC--as in, not at all. It won't boost an app.</p>
<p>I would just like to make something clear: It is an honor to be chosen as a Student ambassador. Despite who gets the letters (which People to People has stated they recieve the names from nominations and honors listings) you must got through interviews, recommendations letters, and an application process that includes an essay in order to be considered as an ambassador. I am from New York City and usually at the orientation meetings there are upwards of 200 people there, wanting to travel but only 40 students max. will receive the opportunity. When I was chosen to travel with a group of 36 students my first time to Australia it was an honor because those 36 were chosen from a pool of 300. The whole thing about because you pay for it, it has no value is BS. Some of the greatest honors require in the long run payment (Its an honor to get accepted into a top private institution but you have to pay for it, does that undermine the honor of it?). Plus the fact that there are numerous scholarships and fundraiser opportunities believe me I should know I have done the programs for seven years. When I was coming up with my college app. I was proud to put down I was selected as a Student Ambassador. P2P is not any mere student travel program, i had the opportunity to meet a member of the British Parliament, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, and other foreign dignitaries, and I have done some of the most amazing things I could have never imagined like climb a 300 foot cliff in New Zealand. When I sat down with the director of admissions for interviews at many of the top institutions like Yale, Haverford, Georgetown, they were all impressed with my experience with People to People. (I was accepted to all of them). Yea, People to People has had its problems but no program is perfect, and People to People otherwise has good track record. I am a student at Haverford, and i attribute all of my success to my experiences with People to People. The program was truly life changing and I just had to respond to this tread because it hurt me so bad to read some of the things that have been said. Truly if you receive the opportunity to do People to People go for it! and if a poor kid from NYC can do it anyone can.</p>
<p>this should be moved to summer programs thread, since its about summer camp</p>
<p>Thanks raul 001, I agree with you 100%. My miiddle school teacher first nominated me and I felt honored that he singled me out. I traveled with P2P while in middle school to Washington DC and in high school to New Zealand, Australia and Japan. Yes, the program is in fact expensive and may be offered to more students then advertised however, my experience was very enriching and EDUCATIONAL. It also aided me in my AP History studies. The majority of the students that I traveled with were top in their class which only added to the intellectual stimulation. In addition to having an interview, providing an essay and recommendations, all participants are required to attend 6 weeks of informative meetings.
So, although it may not “boost” ones college admissions chances it sure enhanced my knowledge of how other cultures live and enabled me to write better supplemental admission essays.<br>
allivy, it may not be considered “an honor” as selection is in other so called exclusive programs but it certainly was an honor to have such incredible experiences and meet so many great people.</p>
<p>Further, it is NOT merely a summer camp!</p>
<p>I guess everyone’s experience is different depending where you come from. I am one of the unfortunate ones that had to deal with cliquey drama while on a 4week treck across Europe. I am serious most of the kids, unfortunately, took it more as a summer vacation; therefore the atmosphere did not feel as “scholarly” as I thought the program would be. Same goes for JSA, some ppl. see it as a joke, but luckily my peers were just as interested into debating politics and world issues as I was; therefore JSA was my summer well spent. So it depends on who you share your experience with. MsBC and raul0011, I am happy that you were able to have a great experience, unfortunately mine wasn’t one to be desired.</p>