Senior Year Abroad

<p>I am currently a Junior in high school and I am looking for an opportunity to experience a cultural immersion that will both enhance my college application and allow me to become completely fluent in a new language *preferably french as I have studied the language for three years now. I currently attend a private school and have all A's and A-'s. I am taking the most rigorous courses available that I am eligible for: French III, Honors Pre-calc, AP Bio, AP Language, AP US, and Piano. I am the president of my class and am involved in several clubs in and outside of school. I don't play sports but I do horseback riding after school each day. I have demonstrated my passion for healthy eating and living through my leadership roles and extracurriculars as well as my passion for the French culture. I recently ran for head of my student body but unfortunately lost the election. </p>

<p>I am looking for a unique experience for my senior year. I would like something inspiring and different. I want my decision to make sense however. My parents are skeptical and do not see a reason for me to leave my current school. </p>

<p>If I visit my prospective colleges this summer, have my current teachers write my college recommendations, and make sure I can take my SAT and subject tests abroad I should be ok scheduling wise right? Aren't there representatives from American schools in France that could interview me for the college interviewing process? </p>

<p>Will studying my senior year abroad give me an advantage? Or would I have a greater advantage by taking a gap year before college and reapplying to schools after that gap year if I do not get in the first time?</p>

<p>Most people do a Junior year abroad -do you really want to miss your Senior year ? I think this is an odd thing to do .</p>

<p>My son went to a HS prep program with a girl who is currently in boarding school in NH. I had lunch with her mom today and was surprised to hear that she’s decided to study abroad in Italy for her Senior year. I didn’t even know schools did this. I don’t think she’ll spend even a day in September at school…but she will return about two weeks before school ends to walk for graduation. Her mom’s not thrilled. I’m sure it’ll be a great experience but all the things she’ll miss…senior year, all the “lasts” with friends, prom…Not worth it in my opinion.</p>

<p>I would put an opportunity to become immersed in a new culture and language and potentially an advantage college admissions wise above prom and “lasts” with friends. My school is not a typical high school anyway and does not have a prom. In fact we are an all girls school although I see how one may be sentimental over these events. </p>

<p>My main concern currently would be the logistics of applying to college abroad and having a good college counselor/being able to be interviewed. </p>

<p>Has anyone changed schools to a school abroad their senior year?</p>

<p>How about a summer abroad before Senior year ?</p>

<p>It might be a bit late, but check your local Rotary Club, if there is one. A friend’s daughter spent her Senior year in Colombia. It didn’t hurt her college apps. in the least.</p>

<p>fauxmaven, most hs students don’t do Junior year abroad. Most hs students don’t study abroad at all.</p>

<p>I would love to do a program with the Rotary club but unfortunately my parents do not like the host family arrangement. The potential school abroad would have to be a boarding school. Preferably a bilingual school so that I could become totally immersed in the language and culture. </p>

<p>Has anyone gone to a bilingual school their senior year? Perhaps I should start a new thread with just this question…</p>

<p>bump 10char</p>