People to People Student Ambassador Program

[dthogue]

Does anyone have any experience with this program - may DD has been invited many years now, but we never looked into it - she will be a senior next year and really wants to go - looking for any feedback as whether the price was worth the trip - did your child go and enjoy it - did you feel it was worthwhile - any thoughts?

Thanks,
Tammy

 

[MidgeD79]

My dgd (12) went this past June/July to England/Scotland and loved it! We treated it as a once in a life time thing. It was a great experience for her and us. It is not an economical trip and not really worth the price, but the experience was everything.

 

[memy26]

My ds was invited last year. He didn't go however his teacher told us that it is a wonderful program and that he would totally benefit from it.

 

[I_Know_You2!]

Overpriced travel agency that encourages begging for funding. Bad news, all the way around.

 

[eduk8r26]

We have a couple of teachers at our school who have taken groups of kids for the last 3 years now. They really seem to enjoy it and think it's a great experience for kids.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

DD's invite last year was $7500.00. Thats for (1) yes (1) child!!!!

 

[I_Know_You2!]

http://www.iowa.gov/government/ag/latest_news/releases/june_2006/People_to_People.html

 

[MM27]

They are an overpriced travel company. They send out forms to make it look like you are being nominated, but the fact is, if you can afford to go, they would love to have you. There have been cases of deceased children receiving nominations.

 

[audrabolster]

it is a glorified travel agency. WAY overpriced. your kid could go with another student group for A LOT less. My mom helped me go on a very simliar trip to eastern europe (austria, hungary and the czech republic) and it was ended up costing almost 50% less than what people to people wanted us to pay.

 

[audrabolster]

http://ripoffreport.com/searchresul...=&q6=&q3=&q2=&q7=&searchtype=0&submit2=Search!

 

[trip]

When one of my DD's was "nominated", I loved that one of the fund raising sugestions was to write letters to friends and relatives asking for money.

 

[Inigo]

My daughter signed up for an account on some website using a fake name. The fake name has been nominated for this trip, as has my daughter under her real name.

For the price of sending one child, I could take all 4 of us to Europe for a two or three week trip. I'd rather we all go.

 

[allison443]

Your dd is now a junior in high school? I would save the money for college and encourage her to do a semester abroad. Most colleges have that program or coordinate with another school that does.

I know kids who went on the PTP trips, and they did enjoy it. But it is a travel company, sorry it isn't really an "honor" to be nominated. It isn't something that will help on a college application. I don't know how many people are in your family but like another poster suggested, maybe look into a family trip abroad for the same cost?

My dd is now a high school senior, she went on an educational trip to Spain this past summer (not PTP) and took classes at the University of Madrid. They also traveled around Spain for eight days. She received college credit for the classes. The whole trip including the college credits cost less than a PTP trip.
It was a great experience and we are so glad she went.

 

[MidgeD79]

We didn't do any fundraisers/begging for dgd trip. I realize that it could be done cheaper. She had months of pre-planning with classes, book reports, taste testing, interviews, trouble-shooting etc. Kyleigh went to Europe for about 3 weeks without family and forged new friendships, heard other opinions and ideas, met people outside of our religion, culture, and gained tremendous confidence knowing that she could do this without me hovering over her.

 

[akersten]

My nephew did a PTP trip 3 years ago to Austrailia. He had a great time and made a lot of lasting friendships. He keeps in contact with several other students from our area who were on the trip with him. It was expensive but fortunately Grandma paid for most of it.

 

[MoniqueU]

My son was just nominated. We have our initial meeting later in the week. Those that go seem to love the experience. We are leaning towards sending him. My son doesn't get excited about very much but football and he was bouncing out of his chair at the idea. This is the kid I couldn't pay to go to Turks and Caicos with me last summer and I had to hogtie to get him on the plane to Hawaii. So we know it is expensive but being with peers in a foreign county at 16 sounds like a once in a lifetime thing to me.

 

[OverplanninJess]

I went to Great Britain in 2002 with P2P (I was 16 and going to be a junior). It was absolutely the trip of a lifetime! I noticed that some of the people here are calling it a "glorified travel agency" and I have to disagree. Quite a few of the experiences I had would not have been available to me if I had just gone on a "vacation" or even with a student travel agency. While it is a bit pricey I think it was worth every penny-my parents have never regretted sending me. It built my confidence and left me with memories I will cherish forever. That being said-I do agree that if your daughter is going to be a senior I would also think about a semester abroad once she's in college-spending an entire semester in another country would give her even more time to experience a new culture-however, I would factor in extra money for touring the country she is in if you want it to be comparable.

 

[NVDisMom]

My dd11 is going to Australia next summer for 15 days with P2P. I definitely see it as an opportunity of a lifetime. I disagree with the poster that claims it won't help with college admissions and scholarships. It is a presidential backed program that offers the students trully unique experiences. In a world that is getting more and more competitive, anything that helps you stand out from the crowd is a plus.

Definitely go to the informational meeting, you will get to meet other students that have gone as well as the group leaders.

 

[hentob]

It is a presidential backed program that offers the students trully unique experiences. In a world that is getting more and more competitive, anything that helps you stand out from the crowd is a plus.

What is the stand out factor? They nominate dead babies and pets Why would any president back this travel agency?

 

[NVDisMom]

What is the stand out factor? They nominate dead babies and pets Why would any president back this travel agency?

Yes, I admit, there have been some unfortunate circumstances with their nomination process...my understanding is that the have modified how it is done and P2P contributed to charities that were supported by the family with the deceased child being nominated as an apology.

As for the question of standout factor...how many kids do you know that can put "student ambassador" to (fill in the country, there are itineraries all around the world) on their application?

Plus, I have spoken to a number of parents that have sent their children before...everyone of them were astounded by the change in their children when they came home. They were more confident, more comfortable in new situations, more comfortable inpublic speaking situations, more independenat and reliable. I do not see those as negatives. Those are skills/qualities that will benefit them all throughout their lives.

Here is more info about the whos and whens...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_to_People_Student_Ambassador_Program