If you want to see the world, one of the best ways to do it at a young age (the only time you will really have the energy) is to look into summer programs for high school students. Now, obviously, they do not just let anyone into these programs, they do not send just anyone on an all expenses paid cruise to study abroad in Europe or Paris, but you may well have a pretty good shot at making it into one of these programs if you get the following in order…
Get Those Grades Up
Obviously, the higher your grades, the better your chances at getting into one of these summer programs. Let’s say for the sake of argument that you do not really have any interest in going to college. Whatever career path you have before you, college is not really a requisite, so why worry about grades, right?
Well, this is why. This is just another of the opportunities that is available to students who keep their grades up. Forget college for now, get your grades up because it is a lot easier than saving up the thousands of dollars it take to go on one of these trips on your own dime.
Prepare a Financial Statement
Talk to your parents and get a financial statement together. Whether you are going through a school program, finding corporate sponsorship or asking your rich uncle to finance your stay in Europe, a financial statement showing that you need the assistance is the first step to, well, getting that assistance. Nobody out there is trying to hand out free money to rich kids, so make it clear to your sponsor that you need their help.
Look for Multiple Sponsors
If you can have half of your trip financed by a school program and the rest financed by charitable organizations or donors, then you have a better shot at getting all of the funding you need to make the trip. It is easier for someone to donate one dollar than two, right? So split your funding up amongst multiple donors and see what you can come up with.
Scholarships and Grants You Might Want to Consider
Your best bet is really to look into scholarships and grants specific to your station in life. If you are from a poor family, if you are African American, Native American, handicapped, gay or even extremely tall (don’t laugh, there really are scholarships for very tall people), then you should seek out scholarships and programs specifically designated to send you wherever you want to go for the summer. That said, here are some programs that almost anyone can apply for.
Fulbright Scholarships
Fulbright Scholarships is there to help US students go to other countries, and to bring students from around the world to the US in the name of bettering relations between the US and the world.
Gilman International Scholarship Program
Sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Dept. of State, this program is there to make it easier for students to study abroad, awarding scholarships of up to $5,000 USD per academic period.
Rotary Foundation Scholarships
The Ambassadorial Scholarships Program is the largest privately funded scholarship program in the world, with an average of more than a thousand scholarships being awarded a year. Apply directly at the rotary club and you will have a better shot at getting the money you need.
http://www.studyabroad.com/scholarships.aspx