<p>I've been looking for a decent, but somewhat cheap way to travel the world. I want to do this program called SYA, but it's pretty expensive, though I think I have a decent shot or getting picked to go(you have to apply). If not, I'm thinking about doing something over the summer through YFU or Rotary. And even if do something while I'm a junior, I still may want to study abroad as a gap year, I'm going to apply for Congress-Bundestag, it would be sweet to see a different part of the world. </p>
<p>Now, how much would this help? I'm not stupid, but I'm not a valedictorian, brainy whiz kid that's working on the cure for cancer right now. Right now my W GPA is like 4.1 and UW 3.75-3.8ish, havent taken SAT/ACT yet, but I think I can get a 32 on the ACT, even if I need to work at it. Decent EC's, but nothing that will knock your socks off, Eagle Scout, Catholic Schools for Peace and Justice, School ambassador, coordinate games for my parish's picnic, volunteer a lot, track, model UN, Ad Altare Dei Boy Scout religious award. </p>
<p>I plan on writing my essay about being in a military family for part of my life(dad has retired now) and living in NYC during 9/11.</p>
<p>honestly, I don't know if it will help you any. My sister did foreign exchange for one year at France and it actually deterred her graduation because she had to re-enroll junior year for lack of credits.</p>
<p>Yeah, thats what I'm worried about. Thats why I want to go to SYA Italy or take a gap year. At SYA Italy, the classes are in English, and they have American courses to keep you up with your studies and into the AP track, and courses in Italian for culture.</p>
<p>I'm doing a gap year with Rotary, so it will be a yearlong exchange for me. If you're shooting for the big leagues like Stanford or the Ivies, a gap year is the way to go, assuming you will still meet the age requirements for your exchange program once you've graduated from high school. That way you can have a pretty normal, uninterrupted high school record in America AND get to go on exchange. A couple Rotary countries won't take you if you've graduated (depending on your district/area where you live), but as long as you're reasonably young, you'll still have almost all the countries open for ranking. So don't just take powerbomb at his/her word; going on exchange means something to colleges, especially in my case because of my intended major(s).</p>
<p>It sounds like you're looking into European countries (CBYX and SYA Italy). CBYX is a competitive program, but if you're really into Germany and you're good enough to be competitive as a Stanford applicant, then I guess you have a good shot at getting it.</p>
<p>One of my best friends is at SYA Italy right now. He's having a lot of fun, but he does say that the academics are <em>far</em> easier than at home (a well-known private high school, so it is at fairly challenging level to start with). I don't know if colleges will necessarily recognize that, and of course the easiness is relative to what kind of school you're coming from, but just something to consider. I also know that he isn't take a science while he's there, and I'm pretty sure that was not his choice...I <em>think</em> (not 100% positive) that he had to do that because of the program.</p>
<p>Yeah, they don't offer science. I'm thinking of taking a Physics class at a local CC, so I don't lose my spot at my H.S. to take an AP science my senior year, I my H.S. will let me. </p>
<p>I've heard kind of the opposite about the academics. One mom told me her son was an A/A+ student in a public H.S. and now B+'s were the norm. But he was taking every class in French, so that would be a likely reason. </p>
<p>But, like you said it all depends on where you come from. I go to a pretty competitive Catholic H.S., and I'm in the Honors track, so I think I will be decently prepared if I can go to SYA.</p>
<p>And in the packet they sent me, they have a breakdown of where the most kids from SYA end up going, G-town topped the list, with a couple Ivies behind. But who knows what to make of those statistics, or how well the kid was prepared at his normal H.S. </p>
<p>And Asukal, yeah I'm looking at mostly Euro countries now, but I'd be open to south america, especially Brazil. Rotary sounds like a good and not super expensive program. I'll probably use that as my Gap year if I can't get CBYX, and If I still qualify for Rotary.</p>
<p>I cant speak for any of the European SYA programs, but my school in China was rigorous. Not as hard as my school in the US, but still pretty tough. However, SYA China is notorious for having a much harder workload than the other programs (Not sure about India). </p>
<p>I took 2 AP exams during my year abroad and scored 5's on both, took the SAT and PSAT, scored well on those too. Dont fret over any of the academic side of a year abroad, you do all the same stuff as back home. The one drawback though is science. You CANNOT take a science at any of the programs - except for India. </p>
<p>Last year abroad was honestly the best year of my life by far. You learn to take action and responsibility for your own life (I mean being like 7000 miles away from family), become near fluent in the target language, travel to amazing destinations, broaden your cultural and global perspectives, and lets not forget, the great material you have for college essays. </p>
<p>I applied to Stanford EA, and I think honestly a year abroad makes you stand out. I mean, your one of roughly 60 kids who LIVED in a foreign country with another family for an entire year. If that doesn't separate you from the pack, I don't know what does. And also, I know for a fact (college admissions officer) that a year abroad - typically PG - is looked highly upon, because colleges believe that it adds to a student's maturity and development.</p>
<p>Anyway, thats my 2 cents. I am of course biased. PM me if you want to know more. Hope you decide to go, you will regret it if you dont.</p>