The Application Process

So, this is my first blog post....

I first heard about this opportunity to be a foreign exchange student in Germany in my German 3 class but, I completley brushed it off. I later heard about it again in my Pre-AP US History class and decided to apply even though at the time their was only three weeks before the application deadline. The application process for the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) scholarship has been LONG. There were quite a few steps and they are as follows:

1. THE FIRST APPLICATION

This application consisted of essay questions, a list of your class grades, many signed papers, and personal information.

It took a lot of work and I honestly didn't expect to get past this first step but... I DID!

2. THE PHONE INTERVIEW

The phone interview was about a month after the initial application and consisted of... well.... a phone interview and not every person that has been accepted recieved one.

3. THE IN-PERSON WEEKEND

During Spring break I was beckoned to Colorado along with about 60 other applicants. After an hour and half plane ride and a a two-three hour bus trip, I finally arrived at Camp Santa Marie. The weekend consisted of group activititys and team building excercises as well as In-Person interviews. The weekend was used to see how we all interacted with others and lasted for about two and half days.

4. THE SECOND APPLICATION

This application was less extensive than the first. It involved applying for a passport, answering some more essay questions, sending photos of yourself and your family, writing a host family letter as well as your parents writing a letter for your host family.

After all of these steps we played the waiting game for weeks. We then, found out if we were semi-finalists and then played the waiting game some more until we were fully approved.

Now I have mandatory phone orientations and online German lessons and much more to do before I go.