CBYX- ADVICE NEEDED PLEASE HELP

Applying to College
1

Hello yall!

I feel as if I am faced with a dilema and I really really need advice.

My heart is telling me to apply for CBYX, a government sponsered exchange program through the state. If I get accepted take a gap year and live in Germany.
But there is something inside of me telling me not to do it, and to just go straight to college. I am going to be a college senior, but with applications out right now, I find I am in a very tough position.

I feel as if, there is a voice in me telling me not to go, I probably shouldn’t. But, I am not sure if that was common among people studying abroad for a whole year.

pros of Gap year:
-defer admission to instate college
-more time to boost ACT and maybe get a scholarship at college
-a year abroad for free
-learn german

pros of going straight to college:
-still with my original graduation class (does this matter?)
-college in general i feel like i am super excited for
-won’t have to go through trouble of deferring admission

Any and all advice, experience, etc is GREATLY appreciated.

Much love,
conflicted senior

2

I went on CBYX in 2013-2014 and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. You will regret not doing the program, and the things I learned and the friends I have made are incredible. In fact, my host family just booked their tickets to come to my high school graduation! Also, I have friends that deferred their admission to college, and they regretted doing that because they know that they could have gone somewhere so much better. I suggest restarting the college process while you are over there, improve your test scores, and be an awesome applicant for when you return. Off the top of my head, CBYXers have gone to Yale, Columbia, Vanderbilt, UGA, Georgetown, and GW. Do CBYX, you will not regret it. A year seems like a long time, but it goes by so quickly, so quickly that I just got back from 4 months of visiting and working a year later! Being with your graduation class doesn’t matter a bit. You will be really popular with your friends back home when you can buy booze a year early. My recommendation is to do CBYX, you will change so much! Best of luck!

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