Increase Your Chances for College Acceptance: Go Overseas

If you are a regular at my other blog, Diary of a Content Black Woman, you know I recently sent my child off to World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia.

I saw this opportunity as a tremendous milestone in the educational experience in the life of my daughter as she prepares to enter the 11th grade and prepares for the final two year push in her efforts to gain acceptance to the college of her choice.

My personal goal was for her to go out of the country each year throughout her high school years. It is an opportunity I did not have as a youth, but very much wanted her to experience. If we pursue our goal of going to Africa next summer, she would have been to 4 of the world's 7 continents before she even enters college.

I find such experiences significant because I believe it will expand her educational horizons far beyond what books could ever teach her and she will have a level of compassion and sensitivity that Americans too often lack when not having traveled outside of the United States.

Over the last 12 months, we have attended several college fairs and presentations and one of the extracurricular experiences that are encouraged is giving the prospective student the opportunity to travel outside of the country. Such experiences will make their personal essays and perspectives far more rich as well as life more interesting.

Of course, the financial means can be a challenge, particularly in times such as these. However, don't be shy about asking for support from your circle of family, friends and community. My daughter was fortunate enough to get a sponsor for her trip for which I am so grateful.

I have been sending my daughter away on travel without me since she was eight. The first time, I was scared to death. However, I never ever wanted my daughter to be afraid of knowing the world and trying new things. I support her growth and development as a citizen of the world as well as a student in search of a career.

As a parent, I am well aware I cannot control every aspect of my child's life, however, I want her to want more for her life and be confident she can have whatever it is she sets her mind to. As a result, I believe such a strategy has minimized potential distractions such as an obsession with boys and illegal recreational activity while significantly enhancing her personal interests and self-confidence.

I heard a statistic once that only 11% of Americans have passports and less than 6% of those use them on a regular basis. We owe it ourselves and our relationship with the rest of the world to move beyond the creature comforts of America if we are to continue to know those comforts as we always have.

Don't believe me? Look over your shoulder. India and China are increasingly showing us the face of advancement of a whole new world.