student ambassador program About This Page:

[travelinsara]

Hi Everyone, My oldest DD has been invited to participate with the Student Ambassador program, to tour Europe for 19 days next summer. Does anyone know anything about this program? Do you know anyone that has participated? Costs? Any advice/info is very welcome. Are there selection requirements? She is very excited and about ready to start packing!! ha We have a info meeting in about 6 weeks, but I wanted to find out anything that I could ahead of time.
TIA
S

[Carousel96]

My friend's daughter did it a couple of years ago. I'll see what I can find out and maybe set you folks up with a PM

[travelinsara]

that would be very appreciated. TIA I am really excited for her-next summer seems a long way away, until I find out how much it costs! ha

[fourdrawfs]

my friends son did it two yrs ago.. he raised the money himself,, he loved it he was gone about two weeks and was only 14 yrs old,,very well chaporoned, he had a great time,, personally I couldn't let one of my kids go out of the country without me but..that's just me a worry wart.. LOL..

[travelinsara]

great!! "about" how much???? if you have an idea! and how did he make the $$?

[poohmaine]

My DD was "selected to participate" every year of high school. We actually went to one of the meetings and the average cost is $7,000, depending on where you go. They encourage you to do fundraising, but we were not comfortable with asking for money for a non-charitable trip. We were also not satisfied with the security (or lack thereof) of the program.

[travelinsara]

Thanks for the insight, that is a TON of money! wow... IT is good to hear the thoughts on the security issue, that really sets me back. From what their website says, 'security is of utmost.....' type of thing I will go to the meeting and see what they have to say/not say and see if they address certian issues.... If I may ask, what type of academic credit did your dd receive? For high school or college?

[Huntermom]

All three of my kids were "carefully selected" for this and several other travel and enrichment programs. All three received multiple invitations each year based on their" outstanding academic and extra-curricular acheivements. " Quite honestly, my kids were wonderful, but no more exceptional than most of their honors classmates, most of whom also received the same invitations.

One of my oldest son's friends got a trip as a bar mitzvah present. He was not happy with the trip and did not feel that they did everything that was promised-especiallu in regard to meeting other students from other countries..

I talked to the college counselor provided by my ex husband's university and he felt that they did not boost a student's application. The schools know what programs are paid and how much they are.

For the price of the program, you can probably do your own trip. I, like Poohmaine, have a ahrd time with the suggestion that the studdents "fund raise."

Diane.

[travelinsara]

Thanks for the info, I agree about being able to do your own trip for that chunk of change..... The only 'extra' was the idea that they would recieve academic credit, I will check with the college advisor at work and see what he says (I just thought of that idea!) I think the trips the school puts together are a much better value, it is just the way that this was presented that made it 'seem' like some big deal, in reality it doesn't come across that way! I really appreciate the insight.

[Carousel96]

Sara,
I just PM'd you but am posting this here for any other folks who may be following this thread.
There are apparently a number of "student ambassador" programs out there (my friend who's daughter went on one knows of seven!), so you need to find people with experience in the same program. Otherwise, you're comparing apples to oranges.

[travelinsara]

ah ha!! Thanks so much. I will go read the pm. S