How are kids selected for this trip? We got a letter for my 10 yo son last week and it really reads like a form letter sent to all the 5th graders. Anyone have a kid who attended care to comment on their experience with the whole thing?
My friend's daughter got a letter -- mine did not. I have heard from some it's a scam, from other's it's legit. A large part of my career involved running study abroad programs. Personally, I would never allow my 10 year old to go on one of those trips -- I spent years running and traveling on study abroad trips with high school and college kids. 10 is too young to travel without parents, in my opinion.
We got a letter too last year...when my eldest son was in the 5th grade...we did not attend the meeting, but did call to find out the costs for the Australian P2P trip and it was almost $10K for 2.5 weeks.
I posted on here about P2P and didn't get much of a response...asked on FB and people didn't have much to say either so I decided to drop it all together...
We get that invitation every year for my daughter. We went to the informational meeting the first year. It is ridiculously expensive. There are just as good student trips out there for half the cost.
My son went during the summer between his 11th and 12th grade years. He went to China and had a blast. I am sure his experience was different than a 5th graders' would be because the work leading up to the trip would be different, the distance, and amount of supervision would be different. I know of another boy that went when he was in Jr. High and another when entering high school. Both had a good experience.
It is a form letter but not EVERY 5th grader would get it...but all that did would have received the same letter.
I would suggest you go to the informational meeting and then decide. It is a great experience, looks good on resumes and college applications. I am not sure I would send my 10 year old (depending on the child and the trip) but definately recommend it for a high school student.
my daughter has gotten the letter the last 2 years. I looked into it a little bit the first year and then threw it out last year. 1, we travel so much as a family that we didn't need this and 2, if she wants to study abroad we will look into Rotary when she is in HS. I studied abroad for a year in HS and would not change that experience for anything in the world. 20+ years later I am still extremely close with one family, and keep in touch with tons of friends and have been back to visit 3 times since. So, if you are interested in your child studying abroad, I would wait until high school. Look into Rotary and I think ATF(?) is the other one.
My son has done two trips with people to people. Originally, he was nominated by one of his teachers. He went on a leadership trip to DC in elementary school. He went with a friend from school. My husband is from the DC area and we picked that week for him to go to DC to visit friends so he would be nearby. But, he was very impressed with the supervision provided by p2p. Second trip was in junior high to see the presidential inauguration. Both trips were expensive but he definitely got more out of them than he would have on a family trip. Teachers run the outings and there is journaling and homework.
Never heard of this.... is it a regional thing?
Never heard of it. Where is the trip? Sounds like a scam.
People to People has been around a log time, I know a girl who did it right after high school. I didn't know it was available to kids under 15 or 16. My friends had to try out, she had at least 3 or 4 auditions to get in. So, not a scam, but the descriptions here are not what I remember it used to be 10 years ago.
It is not a scam. Most have to be invited by a member to join P2P. If it was through the school, and you checked the box that your student information could be public to different institutions, that is how you got the letter. It is costly though, that is why we did not do it. It would have been a great experience, wish we could have afforded it.
I have heard of programs like this. My opinion tends to lean more toward scam.
It sounds similar to the Who's Who for High School students where a lot of people get a form letter and if you spend the money, your child's name is in a book. Big WooHoo
I recall a mom or 2 on this site from a year or so back asking for donations to send a child on this trip. They are very expensive.
Our preference would be to spend the $10,000 on a personal tour of Europe and experience what we want and when we want vs being dictated on a trip as to what to do,etc.
They just need a few people to "bite" and they can make a lot of money.
Just be very aware and read all the details. There are a bunch of scams out there preying on parents making them believe they are the only ones to get these special invitations,etc
Yes, the letter gave me the same impression...sent to all. I hope everyone bombards their school and/or district to find out how they get our personal information etc. I hate that we cannot trust anything anymore for the almighty buck. Let someone tell me I am wrong, please;)
The P-to-P organization is legit, although the initial communications are very form-letter like. My now 17 year old went on the P-to-P student trip to Alaska the summer between 7th and 8th grades, for 2 weeks. It was an amazing experience for her. The next year she was selected for a 3 week trip to Australia. But as another responder mentioned, the trips are very expensive! Your child can try to fundraise to help pay for the trip, but it's difficult to get people and businesses to contribute because it's not a tax write-off. We tried fundraising with no success, so in the end she didn't go to Australia.
