Becoming an adult comes with the independence needed to travel and have a say on where you live and/or study.
But what about teens that want to travel – teens who want to study and live in another country??
Well, if you’re that teen, you have options!
In this post i’ll cover:
Study abroad
Studying abroad is a great way to travel since you are still enrolled in a school and thus earn school credits. Although, most organizations offering to take students abroad do not guarantee official school credits. Your school at home decides whether to accept credits from another country or not.
Ill list a couple of full ride study abroad scholarships here, but I won’t go in depth since I already have a blog post dedicated to them (Check it out here):
CBYX – year abroad in Germany.
YES abroad – year abroad in countries like Senegal, Morocco, Bosnia…
FLEX abroad – year abroad in Georgia, Kazakhstan, or Poland.
Another option is a paid study abroad experience. These are more laid back and don’t have as many requirements as the scholarship alternative. Unfortunately, these are quite expensive depending on the country you decide to go to.
Here are some popular study abroad organizations:
Over all, studying abroad is the perfect way to travel as a teen. You get the experience of living in another country for as short as 3 weeks and as long as an academic year!
Your high school progression will stay in line and you will gain a unique experience to mention while applying for college.
Internships
Another option to travel as a teen is applying for an internship. This, of course, comes with some work. If spending 15 hours + a week as an intern doesn’t seem worth it, skip down to the camps section!
But, If experiencing a new place while building a competitive resume for college or jobs interests you, keep reading…
Hutton Junior Fisheries biology Program
With the objective of stimulating interest in fisheries and aquatic science among underrepresented groups in the profession, this internship provides a $3,000 stipend and an all-paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit.
This Summer program matches interns with an aquatic or fisheries scientist in their local area to enjoy a hands-on fisheries experience in a marine and/or freshwater setting (within 45 minutes of the interns residence).
Although this might be more local travel, most people aren’t familiar with the marine or freshwater setting in their community! I know I’m not.
As mentioned before, this scholarship also pays for your trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit at the University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff.
Getting paid while visiting a new place doesn’t seem bad at all.
Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Geosciences program trains high school seniors, particularly from underrepresented groups, in various areas in the Geoscience field.
Interns reside in the University of Maryland Eastern Shore halls receiving a stipend while having food, room and board, and travel costs completely covered.
If you’re willing to dedicate 6 weeks to this program you could get credit for 2 college courses as well!
If you plan on studying marine biology, environmental science, geography, etc…, this program is well worth your while.
Residing in the University of Maryland, though, has got to be the biggest perk.
Exploring Maryland while getting a preview of college life is so exciting!
The Boyce Thompson Institute, located in Cornell University, takes local high schoolers to participate in research in one of their labs. In compensation for 7 weeks of work, you’ll get a $4,000 stipend!
This internship allows high school students above the age of 16 to gain work experience and discover Cornell University’s campus. Ithaca, NY is beautiful, and what better way to experience it than through researching its ecosystems?
Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, BTI is only accepting applicants from the Ithaca, NY area.
This may change, so check their website for any updates!
Camps
Ranging from band camps to Harvard’s summer camp, camps provide a unique way for high schoolers to experience a new place.
Traditional, more local camps can let you experience a part of your state you’ve never been to before. Churches often host retreats which aren’t necessarily exclusive. Ask a religious friend if you can tag along!
I encourage you to do your own research and see what kind of local camps you can find since what’s available really depends on where you live.
Another, more expensive option, is attending a university camp. Harvard hosts high school summer programs that consist of lectures on areas such as Government, coding, and law.
These programs have an in person option, allowing you to experience their campus and surrounding areas.
Even high schools provide camps associated with clubs. Joining these clubs might be a way to start traveling over the summer.
That’s it for me, if you enjoyed it please let me know below!
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I wish I could be 16 again! Thank you for sharing Lucas.