<p>I am a sophomore. I could either intern (unpaid) for a local political organization & take a class at my local community college, or I could go abroad and stay with a host family in France through a prestigious program. The first option is completely free, and the second option is pretty decent (anywhere from 1000-3000 dollars, probably). The problem with the 2nd option is that my family is pretty tight with money at the moment so this would be hard for them to finance, but at the same time I'm not going to have any more time for the rest of high school to ever stay with a host family so I don't want to miss out.</p>
<p>What do you think would be better: #1 or #2?</p>
<p>I would go with #1. No offense, but generally if you have to pay 1000 - 3000 dollars for a summer program than it is not that prestigious. However, do not let me inhibitions hold you back, above all do whichever one really supports your interests…hopefully without bankrupting your family.</p>
<p>Well it’s actually the Rotary Youth Exchange program, which is considered prestigious because it’s competitive to get accepted, plus your local Rotary club pays for most of it. It would cost 7,000+ dollars if you did it without Rotary. So 1000 to 3000 dollars is actually REALLY affordable to go to France for the summer, because you are basically just paying for airfare + spending money and that’s it. Anyway, 1000-3000 is just a rough estimate; it’s likely that the cost will end up being less than 2000 and could even end up being completely FREE, depending on what my local Rotary club decides.</p>
<p>Is this the only year you can go to France? I would try and earn some extra spending money over the summer/through the year and help finance most of the trip and go the summer after your Junior year.</p>
<p>Yeah, this is the only year I can go. I have lots of plans for the summer after junior year and same with the summer after senior year. I wouldn’t be able to do an exchange during the school year, either. So basically this is my one chance to stay with a host family.</p>
<p>It depends on how interested you are in seeing another country up-close compared to getting experience in that political internship. The Rotary Club exchange wouldn’t hurt your app, but neither would the internship/CC class, so go with what you like best.</p>
<p>When I looked up information about the Rotary Exchange I read that in exchange for you going to a foreign country for 3-4 weeks your family would then host the teen of the family you stayed with for 3-4 weeks. Is that how this program works? Just wondering.</p>
<p>@flaucinauci, just wondering but what do you mean by both programs “wouldn’t hurt” my application? Do you mean they wouldn’t “help” my application, or are you assuming that I think they would “hurt” my application?</p>
<p>@ladybug3: Yeah, that is how the Rotary Exchange program works.</p>