<p>I am considering a study abroad program during my senior year. In my US school I have take a bunch of AP courses and I heard that I would need to take the courses offered at the foreign high school of placement. The options look great except I am not sure how college admissions view the course selections, since they will be regular courses and not the same level of rigor of AP courses. </p>
<p>Also does being overseas impact any scholarship opportunities etc?</p>
<p>Anyone have some experience in this area or like to share some advice - I appreciate it!!</p>
<p>Selective colleges highly value the study abroad experience, especially if you do it for the entire year. As long as you meet your high school graduation requirements, and college entrance requirements it doesn't matter what kind of courses you take while you're overseas. What matters to colleges is the experience itself. They realize it takes maturity, a certain amount of courage/confidence to face living abroad, usually with a family you've never met before, and immersing yourself in a foreign language/culture. I've talked to dozens of people who've done study abroad and without exception they say it's a life-changing adventure. Go for it. You'll never regret it, and the colleges you apply to will respect it. Many schools think of it as the ultimate extra curricular activity.</p>
<p>My son considered this and was advised against it (by his very experienced counselor at a very top prep school) because he was aiming for top colleges. These programs have become very common, it's not at all unusual for top colleges to have lots of applicants who have done programs. The programs are seen at many high schools as a more fun way to spend junior or senior year rather than taking stressful classes. She explained to my son that he would have to "defend" the decision to go, meaning that it would have to have a strong tie to his activities and future plans. Otherwise, his program would look weak compared to that of his classmates. He ended up doing a summer program and choosing a college where he could do several study abroad programs.</p>
<p>Counselor said it could be a plus at a few schools/programs such as Georgetown FSP.</p>
<p>Funny -- I know a kid who spent a year in Holland for his year abroad experience. That was the main subject of conversation in his interviews at the Ivies: why Holland, was it hard to learn Dutch (he became fluent), what did he like best (the whole 'green' aspect of european life) what he liked least (knee-jerk anti-Americanism). He got into a couple of the Ivies, but in the end chose Stanford where the subject of his essay was also on the Dutch experience. </p>
<p>-- In other words: for many students study abroad is a door opener.</p>