<p>I thought you had a choice in housing a foreign exchange student. Thats how it is at my school</p>
<p>^ Maybe you don't have too, I just got the impression that for the Rotary's program (thats the one they said) you were supposed to... I'm not really sure!</p>
<p>i know they encourage it though. I havent done it yet, anyway.</p>
<p>Oh, this thing. We have Intercambio(Foreign Exchange) at our school. It's a 2 year program. One year you're in Spain the other year, you're housing someone.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm pretty sure as long as I can do it, I will. I'm not sure how it will affect my rank but I'm sure not too badly. I know I could do it in college, but I really want to try it in HS.
I'm pretty sure in Rotary you don't have to house an exchange student, but it's strongly encouraged. In this program, though, you and the other student exchange at the same time (so it's only one year, not like the one Masterus said).</p>
<p>hey i am sort of in the same position... im probably going to study abroad senior year (rotary too!) instead of doing ib diploma... and studying abroad in high school is way different from studying abroad in college! make sure that your school gives credit though... for a little while i was a wee bit worried i wouldnt graduate at all, which would have been bad</p>
<p>I'm doing it in the summer after the next one.</p>
<p>Try it during the summer or for a couple weeks before you take the plunge for a whole year. I know foreign exchange kids who ended up miserable because they didn't know what they were getting themselves into.</p>
<p>I'd study abroad, just because it'll be a good cultural experience.</p>
<p>Study abroad. No decision. (I've never studied abroad, but I've heard great things)</p>
<p>You should study abroad. I always wanted to study abroad while in high school, but it was too much for my parents to finance. If your parents are willing to fund it, then you should give it a try. As for rank, whether you graduate as valedictorian or salutorian willl not make much of a difference. As long as you have a competitive gpa, high test scores and extracurriculars, not being #1 would not jeopardize your admissions. Studying abroad could actually help you because you're not doing the same thing most people across the nation are doing. But, if graduating as your school's valedictorian really is a concern for you, whether for the prestige or because it means a lot to your parents/yourself, then you can the study abroad plan for college. =D</p>
<p>Also if ur planning on applying to a place that is less prestigious that gives scholarships to vals you may want to keep that in mind. I hope everything works out and don't look back or think twice about the decision that you make!</p>
<p>Sorry to resurrect this topic. I was an exchange student to Chile last year and received a scholarship with Rotary International. I was like 20 in a class of 550 and didn't receive credit in Chile.</p>
<p>I don't care. My experiences were incredible. </p>
<p>In response to a few people. No, your parents do not have to host somebody else. Especially with Rotary. </p>
<p>And no you can't always just do it in college. I know a lot of people who want to do it in college but are not able to with their majors. Do it as a High School student. It is cheaper and it'll change your life forever. You'll be prepared for the college life before your enter.</p>
<p>ANYONE interested in a study abroad should message me.</p>
<p>You didn't get credit??? So did you not try in the school in Chile because you knew this? Was it as hard as say a school in Europe? Did you have to go to highschool for a 5th year or do hardcore Summer school? lol wow I asked a lot of questions...</p>
<p>study abroad....i just got back from portugal. i was recently talking to an advisor from Brown and he said that being a foreign exchange student makes you stand out in the crowd of applicants.</p>
<p>i would say the only downfall is losing study skills and certain aspects of school smarts. i am learning these back the hard way now....</p>
<p>but in the end, going away for a year is totally worth the few cons.</p>
<p>i did AFS Intercultural Programs by the way.....</p>
<p>I agree. I lack all the AP's that everyone has and I am now taking GEOMETRY as a senior. </p>
<p>But it was worth it.</p>
<p>You didn't get credit??? So did you not try in the school in Chile because you knew this? Was it as hard as say a school in Europe? Did you have to go to highschool for a 5th year or do hardcore Summer school? lol wow I asked a lot of questions...</p>
<p>I didn't get credit because when I arrived I didn't understand a thing. So the teachers never graded me.</p>
<p>None of the exchange students that I talked to actually received credit for their year abroad. We all did the work but no one actually graded us.</p>
<p>Don't have to do summer school. I am just basically graduating "early" but not.</p>
<p>I was offered to pay for some grades, though. School is corrupt down there.</p>
<p>Think of it this way... 10 years from now... No one will care that you were valedictorian, it'll just be a title that will be stored in your head. But the memories and experiences you will have and the people you will meet while studying abroad will last a lifetime.</p>
<p>The choice is yours, but let me offer you some advice. If you're choosing either of these based on how colleges will perceive you as a student or just to add something to your list of awards/activities to impress colleges, you have the wrong impression. </p>
<p>Don't choose to study abroad to impress a college. Don't choose to stay at school to become the Valedictorian to impress a college.
Choose either one because it is something that really interests you, will make your life more meaningful, and in the end broaden your horizons. </p>
<p>Colleges want people who choose to do the things they love. Do what you love and in the end it doesn't matter what you did because colleges will get to see who you are. </p>
<p>On that note, I would study abroad because studying to make As isn't really interesting (unless that is what you like to do).</p>