Edgar Said:

People to People Student Ambassador Programs?

We Answered:

It's a really good program and is pretty legit. It tends to be pretty pricey but it's reasonable. Somebody else on here said that it's roughly double what you would spend going on your own but that doesn't seem to account for a lot of the stuff you get to actually do when you get there. I was invited multiple times year after year and went on a few of them. One of them as an athletic version of the program and the others standard. It was really good fun and you meet a lot of really cool people. You're nominated by somebody to the program. Usually you're not supposed to know who it is but I was personally nominated by teachers at my school and once I entered junior high I was nominated by the mayor. It's a really good experience and looks really really good on college applications. To be honest if you're probably only going to go once, I suggest you do it later on in high school, you'll get more out of it and the chaperones tend to be more lenient with what you're allowed to do and hence less uptight about everything. If you can afford to go though, do it.

Douglas Said:

Summer group programs in France for highschool students?

We Answered:

I can't describe something I just googled...
But: http://www.ciee.org/program_search/progr…

And: http://www.studyabroad.com/programs/high…
Provides overviews of the programs.

Also, there are many types of summer abroad programs. Adventure abroad programs (awesome!!!!) and study abroad programs... What do you want? Are you and your friend open to both?

Check these summer programs out:
http://www.adventurescrosscountry.com/tr…

(A little less expensive than some programs, though still expensive as they all will be if you want quality.)

http://www.educulture.org/programs/franc…

I don't know about that one, but hey, give it a look...


Good luck, and have tons of fun.

Valerie Said:

Are there any 2010 summer programs for high school students that want to become doctors?

We Answered:

I'm in the same situation you're in ! Columbia University, Harvard, Boston, Syracuse, UCLA, USF, Cornell, NYU, and many other top colleges offer summer programs about health. They range from 5 days to 6 weeks, depending on the school and course. It's usually $3000 - $8000 including housing and meal plans. a MAJOR perk about some of these programs is that you can earn college credits that can be transferred over to your future college (if they accept it).

People to People hosts a ten day program at Johns Hopkins University where you visit hospitals, labs, etc. They also teach you leaderships skills !
http://www.peopletopeople.com/TravelExpe…

Hopefully we'll both get into programs we like ! =)

Lucy Said:

Summer College for High School Students: Worth it?

We Answered:

I recently graduated from college at Yale, and I can tell you that going to the summer school as a high school student is seriously not a big deal.

The reason Cornell explicitly tells you that "attending and doing superb in the course does not guarantee undergraduate admission" is because it's true. If it were not true, they would not tell you (it's bad for their business for them to admit it).

At the top schools, summer programs are much easier to get into than the undergrad program itself, and are often effectively $$ fundraisers for the school. Most of the students you study with will not be students from that college, and many of the courses are taught by visiting professors or even grad students, instead of the regular college professors.

So, does going to summer college and getting a good grade increase your chances "at least a little bit"? Yes. In the SAME way that getting an educational summer job, or doing community service for the summer, or some other meaningful/educational experience will increase your chance. Going to a college summer program does NOT give you a leg up in undergraduate admissions any more than these other activities does, even to the same college where you did the summer program!

So, it's definitely better than watching TV all summer. But it's no better than getting a job or internship where you can learn a lot. Either option is good, and the job pays you whereas you pay the summer college. (But if you hate working/internships/community service, then yes, maybe summer college is your best choice for the summer.)

Going to the same summer college for a successive number of years does not matter, either.

In your case, I would recommend working hard on extracurriculars, and SAT prep. It will be especially challenging for you to get A's in summer college if you're not even a junior yet. Do summer college next year if you want to--or just get a job or community service again next year. Because, summer college really is not better than any other summer activity which is educational and/or meaningful.

Salvador Said:

People To People: European Odyssey Trip Summer 2010?

We Answered:

i went last year and it cost alot you can go on there website and find out how much. i'd guess around 5500 or more. The leaders are pretty nice and the delegation manager we got was pretty fun. We were supposed to stay with a host family but instead we stayed in guest houses which was alot of fun. I think it's worth it to go because you'll meet alot of new friends and get to do stuff normal tourists don't get to do. like i got to repel down a castle wall in wales.

the website is
peopletopeople.com

you might be too late to join now but you can go next year as long as your still in highschool. i hope you get to go

i just looked it up it's $6500