Is it merely a cruise party or a real academic program?
I would search CC …
for example:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1068817-semester-at-sea-is-it-worth-it.html
Sounds more like a cruise party.
25% academic, 75% party (that’s being generous). Don’t waste your money.
Are you considering this for your own kid, or inquiring for someone else?
Do they allow high school seniors? It was a college semester in my day. One of my friends did it and loved it. She was a serious student, very quiet. If I remember, she went because there was some trouble at home (divorce?) and she just wanted to get away. She was at least a sophomore when she went, maybe a junior.
I also wouldn’t be letting my kids go if they weren’t 18. One of my daughters did travel to France with a group when she was 16, but there were 3 teachers for 20 kids, plus 2-3 parents went too.
My own. Some friend is interested so mine was mentioning it and I felt he isn’t saying it but wishing he could as well.
From my research, it doesn’t seem very academic but certainly a new experience and a lot of fun. I certainly wouldnt want him to go but it’s better to do my homework in case he asks.
But is he graduating early and using Semester at Sea as his first semester of college? Will they let him register if he’s not attending one of the sponsoring schools?
I don’t know if he even wants it. I just wanted to have some information in case he does.
I thought you had to be a college student to so Semester at Sea.
We had a friend who did it. For her, it was. Fabulous experience. Sure, there was some partying and fun. But she took advantage of the opportunities at each stop they made…saw many wonderful sites. Did some great tours.
But i would not seen a HS student on this trip.
Are you all talking about the same thing? There is the “Semester at Sea” which is studying aboard a cruise ship, and then there is the “SEA Semester” which is studying and crewing aboard a sailing vessel…
I’m sure about the difference. Whichever one takes high schoolers?
If your child does the semester at sea for the second semester of senior year, he/she would have to inform all of the colleges he/she applied to that he/she would not be taking the (presumably rigorous) classes stated on the application but would be going to sea instead. If I remember correctly you and your child are gunning for very competitive colleges so I’m not sure how college admission officers would view such a change.
Why not google for info on these programs? Then you’d know a a name and the requirements. If you don’t know what program he heard of, what can we tell you? You could also ask him. But it’s no tip.
Thank you @lookingforward for your kind and informative input.
Semester at Sea takes gap year students. You don’t have to be enrolled in college, so that’s one possibility.