<p>My student is a junior this fall, and is considering a semester of study abroad for the senior year. This option is in favor over doing more AP courses or other academic stuff as we see how much the summer home stay abroad experiences helped in terms of maturity, flexibility and overall personal growth. </p>
<p>But I understand senior year is probably not the best time to be away from school such as doing the college applications, etc, but still hope that perhaps it is doable. </p>
<p>Any BTDT experiences or suggestion is greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>My niece graduated a semester early from high school, and in January did a semester abroad program in Argentina. She applied to colleges the fall before leaving, applied to a couple of schools EA, and had two nice options even before she left the country. She ended up liking Argentina so much, she stayed till a month before college started - came home fluent in Spanish, and totally excited about ‘adult’ college life, since she experienced far more freedom during her study abroad program than the average high school senior gets to in the U.S. </p>
<p>So drawbacks - applying early to college, missing out on her final semester of basketball with her high school team, making key college decisions while on another continent. The pluses - well, the adventure of a life time. And the ability to jump into advanced Spanish-literature courses as a freshman in college.</p>
<p>I see issues with either semester. In the fall, the student would be swamped with college applications - don’t underestimate the time and energy involved in this process. Then in the spring they would not be around to go to admitted student days to make the final college decision. Also, don’t underestimate the end of High School activities in the spring which the student would miss if they were away (getting and signing yearbooks, prom, graduation, etc.)</p>
<p>I think it depends a lot on the kid’s personality and how involved they are with school, activities and friendships. My daughter would rather have lost a limb than miss out on her last homecoming, last athletic season, last winter formal, etc. Not to mention prom, graduation and all the other special senior activities. My son, on the other hand, could probably give or take a lot of those things and wouldn’t see missing them as a loss. Even so, I probably wouldn’t let him study abroad as a senior unless he was literally on his knees begging to. The way I see it, there will be plenty of opportunities to study or live abroad in college and afterwards, but you only get one senior year of HS and you may later regret not being around for it.</p>
<p>Why not wait till college to do it? She’ll be a bit older. My son’s university requires one summer session prior graduation and study abroad counts for that. Worked out well.
Senior year is busy with college apps, exams, end of year activities.</p>
<p>My daughter just got back from doing student exchange for her entire senior year. She would tell you that it’s the best thing she has ever done and she would never trade it for anything, including all the senior “stuff” she missed out on since the things she experienced in Spain were far better. She thinks everyone should be an exchange student and I hear the same from every student I’ve talked to from being on our Rotary youth exchange committee. Of course a semester abroad won’t have quite as much value as it takes time for the language skills to really develop, make friends, and really be immersed in the culture, but still worth it.</p>
<p>As to gouf78’s comment about college study abroad, it really isn’t the same. Doing it in high school, living with a family, and going to high school with other teenagers gives you a far more authentic experience with regards to a foreign culture. Most of the college programs I’ve seen have you living with other college students, often also doing study abroad, so you will not have the same language or cultural immersion. Even in the ones that have you live with a family, you are more of a boarder than a family member vs. the high school exchange.</p>
<p>As a mother, I had to put a lot of time and effort into her college apps - keeping on top of dates, etc, but she had lots of good topics for essays!</p>
<p>My cousin’s daughter did a year abroad - Rotary - in Argentina too! She was in her high school all of senior year, got into colleges and made her decision then deferred her acceptance to that college for a year and did her exchange as a gap year. She loved her experience. She also came back fluent in Spanish.</p>
<p>Just wanted to add that doing a gap year may or may not be possible depending on your child’s birthday. Some organizations and countries have age requirements and I know our Rotary won’t take anyone who will be over 18 1/2 by the time they begin their exchange and even then, certain countries have even younger requirements.</p>
<p>Rotary here too, as a gap year, in Peru. Added another language to her list of skills, plus was a great time. Do college applications as a senior, then defer. </p>
<p>Her sister contemplated doing a gap year as a senior. I thought it would be hard, at the time. Looking back, I think, more like impossible. The college visits, the applications, the bonding with HS classmates, the advanced classes. Though Rotary is a great program in many ways, it is not an intense academic experience, at least from what I saw. Totally appropriate, as they are learning other things in that year abroad.</p>