Experiment Participants

Experimenters are high school students of different races, religions, sexual orientations, physical abilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The Experiment actively seeks to engage and enroll participants from a diversity of backgrounds throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Experiment Groups

Our groups are small, typically comprising 10–16 participants. They come from small towns and large cities; urban and rural areas; and public, private, and homeschools.

The diversity of our groups is an important part of what makes The Experiment different. In addition to learning about the host culture, Experimenters should expect to learn about the diverse cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds that exist within the U.S. and throughout the world.

Summer 2017 Experiment Groups — At a Glance

  • More than 500 Experimenters traveled to 25 countries worldwide.
  • Experimenters came from 37 U.S. states.
  • Experimenters came from 11 countries throughout the world: Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Israel, Kenya, Morocco, the United Kingdom, the U.S., and Zambia.
  • The average Experiment group had 13 participants with two adult group leaders.

The Experiment’s Partnership Program

The Experiment partners with more than 60 high schools, mentoring organizations, community groups, and individual donors and foundations to provide funding for need- and merit-based scholarships.

A sample of these partnerships includes:

  • A Better Chance – nationwide
  • SEO Scholars – New York and San Francisco
  • Step Up to Excellence – Massachusetts
  • Monroe County Educational Foundation / Take Stock in Children – Florida
  • Summer Search – nationwide

For more information about our partners, visit experiment.org/about-the-experiment/partners.

For more information on giving to The Experiment, visit experiment.org/donatenow.

Commitment to Diversity

The Experiment is committed to diversity. In 2017, The Experiment awarded $2 million in scholarship funding to 73% percent of our participants. We work with approximately 60 partner organizations to recruit diverse participants.

As an institution that values inclusion, The Experiment welcomes transgender students and participants in transition. As such we respect a participant’s gender identity at the time of program participation.

We ask all program participants to understand and respect the context, customs, and attitudes in the host country.

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What distinguishes the Experiment from other groups is the emphasis on learning about the culture and being in the culture, and I feel like they do that through the two different homestays that this program has. I've looked at a lot of other high school study abroad programs, and a lot of them feel like a tour group. You go from one place to another. You don't really get to learn and live in that place. The Experiment gives the students the opportunity to learn about Thailand, to live in Thailand, and to be with Thai families.

JuliaExperimenter to Thailand
“

On our way to go see the Eiffel Tower, I was so excited to go see what millions of people have always wanted to see in their life! I knew emotions were going to be shown, but I never thought I’d cry. As my group left the metro, and walked closer, I began to see a gold light that shined like a bright moon in a dark night. I then realized that this wasn’t a dream. I was actually in PARIS! I was actually seeing the EIFFEL TOWER! I thought of the moment my parents told me how proud they were that I was the first of the family to go to Europe. And at that moment I felt the happiness they felt.

LeslyExperimenter to France
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Our temple stay in Sancheong far exceeded the previously held expectations of our group. With its lively and spunky monks, playful golden retriever, breathtaking views, and beautiful architecture, Munsu temple became a place of peace, happiness, and spiritual exploration and discovery for our band of 19. This is due not only to the fact that the monks were so welcoming and hospitable, but also due to the spiritual awakening and inspiring activities we took part in during our stay. Over the course of the 4 days and 3 nights we spent at Munsu temple, we climbed the second tallest mountain on Korea, made lotus lanterns, completed the 108 bow ceremony, did daily yoga, learned various forms of meditation (including walking, incense, water, and music meditation), painted our own fans, and took part in many other activities that helped us discover ourselves. Overall, it was an incredible experience that helped us to bond and get to know each other on a deeper level while simultaneously opening our eyes to nature and our relationship with it. We will never forget the wonderful monks and the adorable golden retriever Bori and we hope to see them sometime in the future.

DD WattsExperimenter to Korea 2017
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My group was racially, ethnically, geographically, and politically diverse, and included Experimenters from New York City, California, Vermont, and Tennessee. As the summer went on, I learned the definition of diversity. All of us had different views about religion, life, and politics, which helped me to see the other side of important issues.

LindaExperimenter to Ireland, Manhattan Village Academy
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I was so impacted by the diversity and intelligence of my group. We learned so much from each other and genuinely cared about one another.

Lillian HinshawExperimenter to China
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Everyone’s unique character contributed to what this experience was about. Throughout the stay my group members no longer felt like the kids I first met at the airport but my family members.

DaisiaExperimenter to Spain
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I’ve made a couple lifelong friends, and my group is now a support system so that we’ll be there for each other during hard times.

ZachExperimenter to India