Since it seems like an actual thing at this point that there’s a forum page for a CBYX application year, I’m deciding to make it this year since it’s likely applications will open up soon! I’m from the CIEE region, specifically Virginia. I feel like us Northern Virginia people might be better off in AFS but I won’t complain since it seems AFS is even more competitive than CIEE XD. This was mainly made to let us CBYX 2018-2019 hopefuls connect with each other and share posts, videos, and advice that will help each other through the application process!
If there are any alumni lurking around for whatever reason, even if you’re from NSLI-Y or another State Department program, please give us your advice!
Another CIEE region applicant here! I’m from Florida, though. I’ll also be applying to NSLI-Y and YES Abroad this year. Unfortunately I’m a senior who didn’t discover these programs until this year, so I’ll be applying for a gap year.
@haylier Eyyy, CIEE applicants! That sucks that you just found out about the programs, though, but if it helps at all about the fact that you’ll be taking a gap year, studying abroad looks really good on college applications. I know someone who did application processing for Stanford and she said that the thing that colleges do is look for something that makes you stand out, and what better than a year abroad under one of the State Department’s scholarship programs! I have a certain amount of luck as I am an itty-bitty freshman who has a lot of chances to apply as I found out about this in a flyer at a State Department Model United Nations Conference in May this year, but I hope that I can do it in my sophomore year so I don’t have a panic attack over the SAT in junior year! I wish you the best of luck in your application!
Hello! I made an account so I can finally talk with people who are doing this as well! I am in the YFU area(Missiouri) and I’m super nervous even though people say the competition is not that bad here. (Ive heard they barely 50 applications in this region some years) any way hopefully I get in for my Junior year of high school. Best of luck to you all!
In the spirit of CBYX 2018-2019 applications now being open (Even though this happened a while ago; I was busy, please don’t judge), I want to share some helpful application videos I found in the case you might have not seen them yet!
@GermanCrying Ey! Nice for you to join this forum with kind of a lack of conversation! Woo! And yeah, from what I’ve heard, YFU is one of the easier regions to get into, so I’m sure if you do your best to fill out that application, you’ll get through at least the first round. Think of it this way, even if 100 people apply, which is apparently rare in YFU, you still have a fifty percent chance of getting in! Not to mention, from what I’ve seen, if you bother to interact on forums like these and purposefully search for advice, you have a large chance of getting in (Being on here probably helps as it shows you really want this are are motivated, and I’m sure some at CBYX has googled CBYX before…). In conclusion, really, you don’t have too much to worry about! I’m sure you’ll do great.
@Zimthefedorable I actually have found a lot of blogs from home-schooled kids doing CBYX, and a lot of them got in, so you’re in good company! I’m rather curious, though, since you’re home-schooled, who are you having write your teacher recommendations?
@Halo4ture Hello! Welcome to the conversation! It took me a while to respond, sorry, but welcome to the CBYX hopefuls club! I wish you the best of luck in your application! I’m sure you’ll do great, not to mention I read a blog post of someone who was among a bunch of Texan applicant finalists, so I’m quite sure that if you put in the effort, you will get in!
@TheSafaofElison thank you! That makes me feel so much better and I’m glad I joined now! I’m sure you’ll make it too! They seem to take people who are dedicated and you sure seem to be so I wish you luck! Thanks for the videos too. I love watching CBYX stuff and hearing about others experiences. Its taken all of my free time as of lately oops.
Hey guys!! So I am currently on program with CBYX (I’m from NY with AFS). And let me tell you it has been one of the best decisions ever to apply. It’s such a journey. This is around the time I started applying (October 7th 2016 to be exact). I wish to you guys the best of luck!!!
@GermanCrying I’m glad you think I might get in, but unfortunately, CIEE is a really competitive region, and my chances of getting in seem a lot smaller when I hear that most of the people they accept are seniors or people doing a GAP year. I totally get what you mean by CBYX videos consuming your free time, during the summer, when I found out about the program, I once spent an entire day looking at CBYX stuff, playing advice videos while I read blog posts… I have a mild problem, I admit that.
@Yaismin Oh, wow! You got into CBYX through AFS? I heard it’s extremely competitive there, in fact, the most competitive region. Any advice you’re willing to give?
@TheSagaofElison what do you think differentiates this program from going to Germany as a regular exchange program? In other words, why is this different than just going over with CIEE or one of the administering companies?
@TheSagaofElison The blogs too!! Though there aren’t very many that are frequent. Most of them just have updates from when the person went and when they go back sadly. Does any one plan to keep a blog if they get in? I think it would ineresting to have that.
