Payment schedule for Student Ambassadors traveling on summer exchanges:
Application fee of $300 due with application
**Application is not considered complete until application fee and teacher recommendation are submitted
January 31 - $500.00
February 28 - $1,000.00
March 30 – Balance due (if any)
Sister Cities purchases the plane tickets in order to ensure all are traveling together. The payments outlined in the schedule reflect reimbursement to SCN for airfare and any other expenses necessary to pay prior to the trip.
Financial Aid application can be downloaded from the Sister Cities of Nashville website: http://www.scnashville.org/student-ambassador-experience.html
If students submit an application after January 31 or February 28 payment deadlines, the total amount owed should be submitted with the application. Checks, money orders or cash are accepted. If a check bounces, a late fee of $10 will be assessed. If a payment is not received within two weeks of due date, the student will forfeit his/her participation in the trip and all previously made payments, depending on the costs incurred by SCN. All monies will be refunded if by March 7, there are not enough students signed up to participate on the program. SCN accepts all major credit cards but will assess a 3.6% service fee to the payment if a family wishes to use a credit card.
Trip costs will depend primarily on cost of flight. Though this could vary a lot, for your information, the total trip cost for the students in 2018, including the application fee and special excursions were:
Caen and Paris, France = $1,500
Magdeburg and Berlin, Germany = $2,000
Mendoza, Argentina = $2,000
Belfast, Northern Ireland = $1,000
Tamworth and Sydney, Australia = $2,600
Beijing and Taiyuan, China = $3,650 (also includes $240 for visa)
On average, the students spent $100-150 on incidentals – souvenirs, snacks, etc.