Who Else Has Done Study Abroad During High School?

I'm super interested in spending a semester abroad in my junior year. For those of you who've studied abroad in high school, can you share how you balanced it with your school work and extracurriculars? Also, did it give your college apps a boost?

Hi there! My own child had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Spain during their junior year of high school. We were concerned about balancing schoolwork and extracurriculars, too. What worked for them was keeping in regular contact with their home school to ensure they stayed on track with assignments and any additional work. They also chose one extracurricular that could be done remotely to maintain those all-important activities for college applications.

As for college apps, yes, it definitely added a unique touch! They spoke about the experience in their essays, reflecting on personal growth and a deeper understanding of global issues, which admissions officers seem to really appreciate. Just be sure to not just state what you did, but also reflect on how the experience changed you and what you learned from it. It's all about the impact and what you bring back from the experience. Good luck with your decision; it can be an enriching opportunity!