The Six Questions About GLA That May Be On Your Mind

Absolutely! With a rolling admissions policy, GLA has no application deadlines, and every summer we have students enrolling late into the summer. While traveling to some destinations requires a little more time to prepare (for securing visas and obtaining the proper vaccinations), in other cases you can be ready to travel- from start to finish- in just a few hours! It’s very easy, with the help of GLA’s Student Coordination staff.

» Helpful Hint: It is advisable, however, that you enroll in a program as soon as possible. Programs begin to fill in January, and every year about 80 students are not able to attend one of GLA's high school travel abroad programs due to a program filling.

Every summer, hundreds of students fundraise for their complete experience - including tuition and airfare. Here is avideoof two GLA students who explain exactly how they raised all the funds they needed! If this is something that your family might consider doing, check out ourstep-by-step guideto fundraising. This will give you ideas and instructions on how to effectively raise the funds needed to make your trip possible. GLA also has a limited number ofneed-based scholarshipsavailable, which can cover up to 30% of your program tuition. It’s easy to apply, and you’ll find out whether you qualify before making tuition payments!

» Call us at 1-858-771-0645 for a scholarship application.

"I made a checklist of everything I wanted to do before I graduated high school. On the checklist was “explore a new culture”.  This one gnawed at me in particular, because I knew if I wanted to accomplish it, I would have to be proactive. Fundraising can be a lot of work, but it is definitely worth it! Throughout the year, I fundraised the tuition for a service trip to Thailand. I looked at the list of fundraising ideas from GLA to get started.”

 

Erin B. | GLA Alum

Definitely. If you’ve got a busy summer schedule, there’s still a good chance that one of GLA’s 10, 14 or 21-day program options will fit into your plans. With over 100 sessions this summer, start dates in June, July, and August allow families to work around vacations, sports schedules and other camps and activities.

» Helpful Hint: The best way to find a session that fits your needs is to work with aGLA Enrollment Advisor- they’ll help you find the program that works best for your family.

GLA alumni have gone on to attend Harvard, Yale, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and other schools. But it's not simply attending a GLA program that will help you get into college.

It's what you learn at GLA that can help you get into college.  GLA take you out of your comfort zone.  You volunteer in a developing country and immerse yourself in a culture and lifestyle very different from your own in an authentic, non-touristy community.

In that environment, GLAopens your eyes to new possibilities, develops your leadership skills, and helps you reflect on your experience.How is this country different from yours? Who are you? Who do you want to be? How can you connect your knowledge and talents to those in need? Where can your passion lead you?   

» Remember: Colleges look for passion, introspection and leadership potential.  That’s what GLA delivers.

Students come from all over the world, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and 30 countries across Europe, Middle East, Latin America and Asia.  The average age is 16-17 with a range from 13 to 18.   Although some have a passion for making a difference, many come to explore another culture, discover new passions, or meet new friends.  Nearly all GLA students plan to attend college.  We have a healthy balance of boys and girls.

» Follow GLA on Facebook to find out more about our students and alumni.

There are so many reasons that a GLA program is life-changing for teens,  but sometimes it can be a challenge to convince your family to let you travel abroad as a high schooler! Check out our list of suggestions on how you can get your parents on-board with volunteering this summer.

“When my 16 year-old daughter suggested taking her first trip with GLA, I was apprehensive. She was a sheltered teenager who had never even been to sleepaway camp! How could I possibly send her overseas alone? I had many questions and concerns; Who was in charge? Would they be safe? What if she didn’t have a good time? I took to the internet and immediately got in contact with an experienced GLA advisor. She not only had the answers to all of my questions, but was patient enough to take the time to answer every question, in detail, to quell my fears.”

 

Mother of Nikki P. | GLA Parent