Will my study abroad help me get into college?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I spent a semester in Japan last year, this summer I am going to Kazakhstan for 6 weeks, then for the first semester of my senior year I am going to Argentina for a semester. I get A's and B's, my GPA is a 3.6, I play Lacrosse on the varsity team. I got an 1820 on the SAT and a 29 on the ACT. I am really hoping all my international experience will help carry me into a good program. I was considering U Washington(Seattle) and U Michigan. I was also thinking about applying for reach schools like UCLA, maybe Princeton, and the Croft program at Ole Miss. I have U Hawaii Manoa as a fallback(Hopefully I can get a scholarship for out of state) I'm from Florida. If you have any advice or questions about my time abroad I am happy to answer them. </p>

2

<p>How are you doing all of this travel as a high school student?</p>

3

<p>I think that traveling aboard would be a good topic for your essays, but I do not think it will give you any special advantage.</p>

4

<p>Through state run programs and programs like AFS </p>

5

<p>But doesn’t it stand out on an app? How many kids attend high school in another foreign country and can still maintain quality grades. I guess it’s just my opinion </p>

6

<p>Yes it does. Especially for a program like Croft, schools like American/Dickinson/Goucher where study abroad is important. Even more so if you achieved fluency in a language (with SAT Subject proof - if you haven’t taken those, register) and spent time living there, as opposed to travelling as a tourist. AFS is a plus at most top schools. Attending school in another country and getting even decent grades will help at many LACs and international-focused universities.
However, it will NOT make up for a 1820/29/3.6… Keep in mind that at Princeton, 2100 is bottom 25%!!
Your study abroad will help you get into a school where the median is 3.75/1950, not into a school where the median is 2220/3.9…
UCLA does not have financial aid for out of state students, so if your parents don’t have 55k to pay out of pocket, don’t bother applying there.
You’d be competitive at the three schools above though. Look into them.</p>