<p>A $$ “tip” isn’t limited to development admits. Even among the top 20 LACs, schools are concerned w/ their discount rates and looking to enroll at least a handful more full-freight students in each class, so asteriskea is on to something. </p>
<p>OTOH, I would certainly hope that participating in a “community service” junket wouldn’t result in autoreject. If the primary complaint is that these trips are light on service, the junkets shouldn’t be viewed any less favorably than other non-service foreign travel.</p>
<p>As for Muyskens, I don’t think the letter in any way suggests that moral concern, self-sacrifice for others or any of the other values expoussed can’t be expressed through local service. No teen needs to travel abroad to do good and traveling abroad doesn’t (shouldn’t) increase the “goodness” or value of the teen’s service/work.</p>
<p>N’star-</p>
<p>I khow MANY students who participated in these programs and engage in no service work at home. And even if the programs can jumpstart a student’s preparation for a future career, that doesn’t change the fact that there is often very litte “service” in these teen service junkets. I think other posters have said the programs are valuable and enriching experiences, but it is misleading to describe a program where students spend 4 days of service and 8 days of homestay and 14days traveling as service programs.</p>