Education Travel: Benefits of Student Travel Abroad
By: Michael Liberty
Even in a tough economy, the benefits of a study/travel abroad experience will provide a competitive edge for college admission, in addition to being life-changing for students.
There are many benefits of a study/travel abroad experience for high school students. Such experiences have a huge impact on a student’s life by expanding their horizons and changing the way they see the world. Almost all high school students return from their time abroad with a much larger and in-depth understanding of the world and its many cultures. During their experience, they are able to grow as individuals and receive a global education that is increasingly more important in the connected and “flat” world of today.
It is because of this life-changing experience that college admissions boards look fondly upon high school students who have participated on a study/travel abroad program. The positive impact on a student’s life provided by these programs make them better prepared for life and, by extension, better candidates for colleges and university. Many high school students choose to study abroad to further their study of foreign languages, which has long been an important factor for college and university acceptance.
“As a former admissions officer at an Ivy League university, I can attest to the positive impression made by an applicant who shows evidence of risk taking, adaptation to new environments and people, and a genuine curiosity for exploration,” said Howard Greene, renowned educational planner and president of Howard Greene & Associates, a leading independent educational consulting company.
Admission to college has never been more competitive, with the number of qualified applicants in the U.S. applying to schools seeing a dramatic increase and top schools admitting lower numbers of students. Colleges and universities admitted a record low number of students in 2008, according to the New York Times. This “perfect storm” of increased applicants and decreased university acceptance has put a profound emphasis on differentiating students from their peers. Gone are the days where merely good grades, good standardized test scores, and membership in a few clubs were all that was needed to get into college.
So, what is it that differentiates students from one another for college admission? This is where a student’s study/travel abroad experience pays huge dividends. High school students have always had to achieve the appropriate balance between academics and extracurricular activities. Today, in addition to finding out the “how,” students must pay even more attention to the “what” they do to find that balance.
The shrinking globe and increased emphasis on global exposure and awareness by society make these experiences abroad the choice of many high school students. These programs mix leadership and independence and tell colleges and universities that the student is serious about their education both inside and outside of the classroom. Nothing says “well-rounded” more than this type of multi-layered education. In the case of study abroad, students are able to participate and gain experience for something that will help them become leaders and more independent, while also incorporating an academic element that deservedly receives even more attention from colleges and university admissions.
While U.S. students are benefiting from study/travel abroad experience in this way, many international students are coming to the U.S. to study to gain an edge in admission to U.S. colleges. The number of non-U.S. students enrolled in U.S. higher education institutions continues to grow, helping the U.S. to remain the premier destination for international students. According to the Institute of International Education (IIE), first-time enrollments increased 10 percent in 2007-2008, following a similar 10 percent rise the previous year.
“We have had a tremendous increase in the number of students coming from China who are using their experience to better their chances at acceptance into American colleges and universities,” said Melanie French, executive director of Academic Year in America (AYA), one of the nation’s largest high school exchange programs.
Also receiving increased attention is service learning participation abroad. Study and travel abroad helps to portray students as independent, seeking more out of their education both in and out of the classroom. Service learning also shows the student as a conscientious applicant. Those that choose to take an abroad experience to the next level by participating in service learning are looked at as a cut above their peers, not only for the experience they take away from the program, but also because of their initial desire to participate.
High schools have become far more service conscious than ever before, offering their students the ability to take part in programs like Habitat for Humanity. This is a by-product of the emphasis put on community service for college acceptance. While these domestic opportunities are outstanding and definitely help a student stand out, service learning takes it one step farther on a larger, global scale.
“Over the years, we have begun adding service learning into our programming. Each year, we receive more and more interest in these programs, and the feedback that we get is tremendous,” said Mike DiMauro, senior vice president of American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS), one of the nation’s largest study abroad providers.
“Traveling and seeing the world can have a profound impact on a young person’s life,” says Joel Cody, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer of American Council For International Studies (ACIS), which has organized rewarding educational group travel abroad for more than 30 years.
Over the years, more and more options have become available to high school students, whether they are choosing to study abroad, travel, or volunteer for a service learning opportunity. Since a University of Delaware professor took eight students to Paris in 1923, the unofficial beginning of U.S. study abroad, overseas opportunities for students have multiplied exponentially.
Students can choose to take an internship while abroad, giving them real-world experience in foreign companies, an advantage not only in college and university admissions, but when looking to join the American work force after they finish their schooling. High school students can choose from non-credit and for-credit programs, enabling them to dictate the level of impact these experiences have on their educational requirements.
The plethora of options available to high school students allows them to have an experience that is all their own, in addition to gaining a valuable asset to their college admission prospects.
Mike Liberty is the assistant creative director and public relations manager for the
American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS), www.aifs.com.
