People to People Student Ambassador Prog
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People to People Student Ambassador Prog
| Sat, 10-28-2006 - 7:40pm |
is anyone familiar with this program?
they send me letters inviting me to a meeting --
seems they take groups of kids on trips around the world...
their website is www.studentambassadors.org
i'm just wondering if anyone here has gone on a trip or even been to a meeting...
thanks
rachel

I don't have personal experience with People to People, but a friend of mine has.
I think the way it works is that teachers in schools that participate in People to People recommend students to the organization for 'ambassadorship'. Students are typically high-achievers, leaders in the class, high GPA, mature, responsible etc. It is made to seem like an honor to be invited to participate in the program, and I guess it is, when you consider how many students a teacher sees each day.
Participation in the program is NOT free -- it is all at the expense of the parents! I think some schools offer a scholarship of some sort, though.
My friends DS who participated in a People to People trip to WDC said he enjoyed it very much. His mother, however, rolled her eyeballs -- she felt it was too expensive and not necessarily a valuable enough experience to miss a week of school!
Maybe others will have more direct experience. This is all hearsay I realize, but it's experience from someone!
My son was invited to be an international ambassador next summer. We looked into it but decided that while the travel experience was great, we just couldn't financially afford for him to be abroad for three solid weeks.
When you attend an informational meeting they will tell you more about the program, where they will be traveling to, what will be expected, costs etc.. In addition they will you more about the application process. Even though you recieved an invitation, doesn't mean automatic acceptance, just that a nomination was recieved, sent by a teacher or administrator, and that they are under consideration. You still will need three letters of recomendation and your child will need to fill out some forms and write a letter explaining why they wish to be an ambassador and what they hope to get out of the program. Once those are in, then there is an interview process that you need to go through.
The program is a great one and well worth doing if you can afford it.
stacy
check the message posted before yours... she mentions that there is an approval process that happens after you show interest - which includes recommendations...
regardless - it's much too expensive for us -
rachel
Be careful. My dd was also "invited". I think that they send flattering letters saying that they were recommended by teacher, etc. When in reality A LOT of kids get invited, and it is more of a money making opportunity than an "honor" as it makes it seem. I did google them when my dd was invited, and did find some complaints about it.
I think while it might still end up being a good experience in the end, it is not quite what it seems.
My daughter went on the P2P European Discovery trip 2 summers ago. She thoroughly enjoyed the trip, especially because she could speak the languages. A friend of my son, who had gone the summer before, recommened my daughter. After the initial letter there was an informational meeting and a few weeks later an interview. Once she was accepted there were monthly meetings for a few hours. I was impressed by it and my daughter enjoyed it, so I think it was worth it.
Adelaide