<p>Should I do a year abroad for my junior year of high school? I was accepted, but I'm not sure if I should go On one hand, I'm really excited for my classes next year, and I'm planning some interesting extracurriculars. On the other hand, a year abroad would be such an amazing experience, I'd love to be fluent in Chinese, and I don't have any particularly interesting extracurriculars right now, so it might set my college application apart? Do you think it's worthwhile? </p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>It sounds fascinating. Why *wouldn’t *you do it? Heck if it meant delaying your HS grad a year, I’d still do it.</p>
<p>It’s a great opportunity and one I wished I personally had in high school. Would be great to experience different cultures and become inspired from seeing new things! Heck, it might change your vision of the world or your future decisions! Go for it!</p>
<p>definitely go! I went on exchange sophemore year, best experience of my life hands down</p>
<p>My daughter did SYA for junior year - but not to the China program. I will say it was one of the best experiences in her life and she Skypes her host family or former classmates to stay fluent. But it really depends on what you want to get out of it. The first months of language adjustment were hard and awkward for her. By the end, she was fluent and is still has discussions with her host mom on Facebook (and so am I thanks to translation programs).</p>
<p>I’m a college interviewer and my opinion is that a student who spent a year abroad and that can talk about the experience in depth (versus treats it like a giant vacation) stands out when all other factors are equal. Don’t do it because you think it will make you more interesting to an Adcom. Do it because it interests YOU. That will show loud in clear in your interviews.</p>
<p>I’m just not sure, because if I go, although it won’t delay my graduation, it will hamper my schedule, and force me to take significantly less APs and honors(6ish versus 10ish). Finally, by taking a year abroad, I destroy any chances of leadership roles in clubs and activities that I have a very good chance of being head of senior year. If I don’t have any leadership roles, will the colleges acknowledge that it is due to the year I spent abroad? Thank you!</p>
<p>Also, what will it do to my GPA? My freshman year GPA was not as good as I would’ve liked, and although this year has improved it, Junior and Senior year are theoretically going to bolster it greatly. If I do the year abroad, will my grades in China average with my GPA from my home school?</p>
<p>I think that taking a school year abroad in China would definitely set you apart from other applicants at any school you decide to apply to. It shows that you’re extremely passionate about your interests and not just trying to make yourself look good to college admissions. I say you should go for it, it sounds like a once in a lifetime experience. I’m not exactly sure how the GPA system works for studying a year abroad but you shouldn’t let the anxiety of college admissions interfere with what you’re passionate about. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Listen to ExieMITAlum. </p>
<p>Lots of kids spend a year abroad. That by itself isn’t going to set you apart. What will set you apart is what you learn from the experience. Colleges only care about “leadership” because they want to see evidence of independence, initiative and achievement. All of those can happen in a year abroad.</p>
<p>That said, you will likely have lots of chances to spend a year abroad in college or later. Don’t feel like you are passing up a once-in-a lifetime opportunity if you decide to stay here, but for heaven’s sake, don’t make the decision based on how it’s going to impact your college acceptances.</p>