Which Better For Summer 2010

<p>There are two programs that i would love to do but i can't do both! So Which sounds better to you?</p>

<p>IU Honors Language Program-7 weeks abroad (Spain or Mexico-hopefully I'd get Spain) you stay with a host family and go to school/travel around. There is a no english rule so it would really help my spanish and costs about $6,000 but really money is not an issue at all!</p>

<p>People to People- 15 days in Australia where you learn about Australian history, biology, and things like that. Basically just seeing Australia, but learning too. I don't know the cost for that one though.</p>

<p>Would one look better to colleges? I'm having a hard time because i've always wanted to go to both these places! </p>

<p>Thanks for your opinions!!!</p>

<p>okay looking at stuff makes me realize the language one is better!</p>

<p>but still, will that look good to colleges?</p>

<p>Personally, I would only do it if you really enjoy and/or are passionate about learning the language. Doing anything JUST because colleges will like it is a waste of time. If you show a commit to spanish overall then yes, it will look good. In general, colleges want to see that you are interested in something. If you want go to Spain and you love Spanish, then go!</p>

<p>i believe the people to people trip are in general about the same as your trip abroad. so looking at the value and experience, I would go with the trip abroad because you can improve your language skills tremendously (I did a month exchange to Germany) which is definitely a benefit in the future. If I had the money to do both, I would do that also. Australia just seems so much more interesting to me yet I don’t have to take into account what you do with the spanish language and what I said earlier. It’s just that the people to people trips are very expensive for very little. I researched it a bit when I got the letter this year. If you want to do something similar try National Geographic Student Expeditions and you can find some others as well.</p>

<p>IU Honors is a competitive program - you prove that you are one of the top Spanish students in Indiana just by getting in. Also, as a result of the immersion experience you will develop fluency that will stay with you for life - I went to France with IU Honors almost 30 years ago and can still communicate in French as the result, even though I rarely have opportunities to speak it. It also helped me land a spot in one of the most competitive liberal arts colleges in the country. Just about anyone who can pay can go abroad with People to People and traveling to an English speaking country is not going to impress any college. JMHO</p>

<p>Having done the Australian People to People trip (20 days), and having been to Spain (for extended periods of time), it really depends on you.</p>

<p>I absolutely loved Australia, it was beautiful and relaxing, but it is more of an experience that you will enjoy, then one colleges will look at as a positive.</p>

<p>If you do go to Spain, make sure you visit the Pamplona, Barcelona, Madrid, and I really loved the southern coast around Malaga as well. </p>

<p>From a college point of view, I would go to Spain, then go to Australia on vacation at a later date (going all along the eastern coast).</p>

<p>Spain is great too. There aren’t very many things that are more fun than going to the festival de San Fermin.</p>

<p>I would go to Spain because a vacation trip to an English speaking country is probably one you can arrange on your own for less money. The IU Honor trip seems like more of a special opportunity.</p>