AMP Global Scholar 2019 Review

gsalum2019
Mon, 04 Nov 2019 18:31:04 +0000

This review severely overemphasizes the program’s shortcomings and underestimates its advantages. I found the vast majority of the sessions we attended to be highly informative and interesting - we got to speak with industry experts at the Aspen Institute, the State Department, and more, all of whom were more than happy to teach us about the intricacies of their work and who served as valuable connections. The reviewer also mischaracterized some of the supposedly less interesting places we visited - yes, the World Bank was underwhelming, but that led to a very productive discussion about the role of the World Bank in developing economies and encouraged us to question the institutions of power we’ve long viewed as static and unchanging. The Action Lab sessions were also outstanding. I initially was skeptical about the idea of skill-building workshops, which sound trite and overdone, but in the end I was blown away by the quality of the activities we participated in and discussions we held. I ended up learning not just about the outside world but about myself and the importance of the decisions I make.

Regarding the quality of life at Global Scholar - yes, American University’s dining halls do not serve gourmet fare, but a) what university does? and b) the staff had no control over that. I was also pleasantly surprised by the quality of the dorms/living situation. I myself greatly enjoyed visiting the Natural and American History museums, and we ate out at food trucks and local restaurants at least four or five times over the course of two weeks - compared to the other summer programs I’ve attended, that’s way more than average. I agree that sometimes things got a little hectic and fast-paced, but I enjoyed having jam-packed days and I felt that I had plenty of time to hang out with the amazing friends I made. Considering all the different locations we visited and the size of our cohort, I thought the staff did a great job.

Please do not be dissuaded from attending this program because of this review. If you’re looking for a camp that will help you learn about yourself and your world, I would strongly encourage that you apply.