I am a freshman in high school & I have been looking into programs for studying abroad. I was choosing between a program for this summer before I go into sophomore year, or a summer program. I was wondering if spending a year (sophomore) will help my chances of getting into a good college. Also, will the country I choose to study abroad in change my chances or anything?
No, not really. You still have to have good grades and good SATs.
A YEAR-LONG program abroad can be a huge EC, though.
Many colleges, including the top schools, consider a YEAR abroad as “the ultimate EC” because so few students do it, because it demands maturity and a bit of courage, and – as long as you live with a local family and attend a local school – total immersion in another culture, often resulting in near-fluency in a foreign language.
However, you’d be surprised how many upper-middle class kids do a summer abroad program, or even a semester abroad. Sadly for them, as far as admissions to good schools go, that’s considered a bit of a long vacation for the wealthy 
Without grades, SATs and great essays, it’s not going to get you into a selective school.
No
Spending a year abroad during/after sophomore year will change your life (your outlook on everything, speeding things in terms of maturity and thinking skills), and if you do a good job and don’t fail 
yes it’ll help with admissions. However, going for just a month during the summer won’t, on its own, help you get into college. It’ll probably help you with language skills and will have good secondary effects, but a summer abroad won’t, on its own, get you into a college.
As for the country, I don’t think it really matters, as long as you choose because you’re genuinely interested in the country, culture, and language.
Since such a trip would only be possible for an affluent student, most college adcoms will not be impressed.
Indirectly, it may. If it expands your horizons and somehow triggers a great appreciation of learning and exploring and service, it will translate well into your other academics and involvement.
Top schools want true hungry scholars – and people willing to roll up their sleeves to help those around them. Can travel impart this to you? Maybe. But travel alone – as a line on your application – means nothing.
Spending a year abroad, leaving one’s family and culture, navigating another language, attending school, living in a family, this totally immersion is very, very difficult. The learning that ensues, as well as the type of person it takes to make it through and succeed, is desirable to colleges.
In addition, kids aren’t necessarily wealthy (rotary scholars in particular).
Travelling abroad is just a line on your application.
Also consider if being abroad for a year will throw your academics off sequence or create negative momentum with things outside of school you are involved with. For those reasons I’d choose a summer program over a full year abroad. But it won’t have any tremendous impact on your college application IMO.
It’s true what happy1 says - a year abroad WILL have a major impact on your high school curriculum, so you have to plan carefully. Many students who do it have to double up on requirements before/after their stay, and/or do summer school to graduate on time.
That’s why a year abroad is so striking on a college application. In addition to maturity and risk-taking, it shows discipline and organization.
It IS possible to do a year abroad and graduate with your class - I’ve worked with many high schoolers who did it. But it’s not easy.
@TomSrOfBoston I think there are some exceptions to that; I’m thinking of the state department-funded programs (e.g. CBYX and NSLI-Y).
@usahopeful Yes but the OP made no mention of such a funded program.
The OP is a freshman and was looking into doing a year abroad as a sophomore. It is highly unlikely it is for a competitive program funded by the state dept.
Study abroad for the summer - and I want to emphasize study- can not only deepen your understanding of the language and culture, but stretch your ideas of yourself and what you view as ‘normal,’ as after class is over you have a whole different level of learning to be done in your surrounding environment.
Mention of a (short, month-long) study abroad program may not help to add any weight to your application for college, though. But, much as T26E4 has directed your attention to, an expansion of your overall strengths may result.
If you truly do a study program, you may also find that when you return to the scheduled level of your foreign language the next school year, that you are really just repeating information which was covered in depth in your summer program. That leads to a potential for acceleration at your high school.
Please don’t fill your plate with things just to impress college admissions officers. Find something(s) you love, and dig in, and that will speak to your strengths and intellectual curiosity if you keep it interesting, fully engaging in whatever you find you give yourself over to.
@TomSrOfBoston actually, no. there are scholarships to help out kids with lower incomes who are accepted into exchange programs
There are also the Rotary Club exchange programs – they’re largely funded, and respected, since they’re somewhat competitive.
^ Yes, but I doubt that applies here either.
The OP seems to have a desire but is well behind in planning unless s/he’s doing it on the parents dime.
No.
Adcoms don’t guess that if you made it through, you’re somehow shoulders above others. You would still have to show this in your other choices, accomplishments, and impact through the high school years, and a good application package. I think that’s part of the “indirect” T26E4 refers to.
I think what concerns me, at this point, is you’re asking if this helps with college admits. Instead, you can be looking at what your college targets say they look for.
You should do it if you want to learn a language and want to get more independent and learn a new culture and make life long friends…not because of college.
We hosted a German exchange student through Youth For Understanding. She experienced all those things.
Also keep in mind that if you study abroad, see if your classes will count…otherwise you will graduate with the class behind you.