Will This Help My Student Get Into College? A Perspective From a Director and a Parent
I get this question more often than almost any other: “Will a Global Works program help my student get into college?”
After 36 years of leading high school travel programs and teen summer programs, and now with a high school senior in my own house, I understand exactly why parents are asking. College admissions feel more competitive and more stressful every year. Families want to know whether a meaningful student travel experience can truly make a difference.
My short answer is yes.
My longer answer is yes, and probably in more ways than you expect.
Of course, we’ve always believed deeply in the lifelong benefits of educational travel. The chance to collaborate in unfamiliar environments, build resilience, engage in service learning, live with a host community, and develop empathy across cultures is at the heart of what we do. These experiences shape the kind of young adults who thrive long after high school.
But over the years, I’ve also seen how these trips support students in very practical, concrete ways during the college application process. And as a parent going through this journey myself, I’m more aware than ever of how important these pieces are.
Below are a few of the ways we’ve seen Global Works programs influence applications, essays, and interviews, from both a director’s and a parent’s perspective.
College Essays That Stand Out
This is the most common place our programs show up: the personal essay. Students often return from a summer abroad program with a moment or a story that sticks with them. It might be a service project that challenged them, a cultural exchange with their host family, or a time when they stepped into an unexpected leadership role.
These stories become powerful essay material because they are real. Admissions officers read thousands of essays each year, and they quickly recognize when an essay is built on a genuine cross-cultural experience rather than something manufactured. Some students even use our optional travel writing program add-on after the trip.
Every year, we hear from students who tell us, “I wrote my entire college essay about my Global Works trip.”
A Stronger Overall Application Story
Meaningful international travel for teens can help students connect the dots between what they do, what they value, and who they are becoming. Colleges aren’t just looking for activities. They’re looking for depth and self-awareness.
When a student can point to a real experience, articulate what they learned, and show how they applied those lessons at home, their application becomes more compelling. Admissions teams often say that reflective students stand out, and cultural immersion programs tend to spark exactly that kind of reflection.
Independence and Readiness for College
One of the biggest questions colleges ask, even if it’s never stated outright, is simple: Is this student ready for the independence of college life?
A well-structured international travel program for high school students gives them the chance to navigate new environments, adapt to challenges, and take on responsibilities they may not have had before. They learn to problem solve, to collaborate, and to find their footing away from home.
These qualities show up in recommendation letters, interviews, and even in the way students approach their senior year. As a parent watching my own teenager take these steps, I know firsthand how valuable these experiences are. Colleges notice that maturity and independence too.
Clarity About Their Major and Their Why
One of the most meaningful outcomes we see is clarity. Students don’t always discover a future major during their trip, but they often return from service learning trips or global education programs with a stronger sense of direction.
Some become interested in environmental science after conservation work. Others discover a passion for global health, education, sustainability, or language immersion. Sometimes a single experience abroad helps students articulate not just what they want to study in college, but why.
That “why” matters. College applications increasingly ask students to connect their experiences with their goals. A thoughtful student travel program often gives them the story that ties it all together.
Colleges Appreciate Global Engagement
This isn’t about checking a box or adding an exotic-sounding bullet point to a resume. What colleges appreciate is genuine engagement with the broader world.
A meaningful student travel experience shows curiosity, initiative, and maturity. It demonstrates openness to new perspectives and a willingness to learn through hands-on involvement. Whether it’s a Spanish immersion program, a sustainability project, or a community-based service trip, these experiences help admissions teams understand the character behind the application.
Many colleges say they’re looking for students who will enrich their campus communities. Thoughtful global experiences often shape students in a way that aligns with that goal.
A Final Thought as a Parent
As the owner and director of Global Works, I’ve seen firsthand how these programs influence students academically and personally. As a parent, I’m seeing the college process through a new lens this year, and I know how much we want our kids to feel confident and prepared for what comes next.
When students return from a Global Works program more grounded, more curious, and more sure of themselves, it matters. Colleges notice that growth. Parents notice it too.
If you ever want to talk through which high school summer travel program might be the right fit for your student, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to chat, both as a director and as a parent who’s walking this same path.
