<p>that is, my s is. He is senior in college, needs 2 full sem to graduate as Finance major. He loves to travel, and loved our (too short) vacation in Germany. I was hoping someone may have first hand experience about this exact scholarship exchange program so I could get more personal info about it. If it sounds good, I may surprise son by offering it to him at my cost as a gift.
I know it is a full yr program, I have their brochure but have questions that I hope can be answered by real travelers rather than the CBYX brochure.
Advice? Suggestions? Welcome pm's too, if anybody wants to help.
Thanks</p>
<p>I don't have any personal info, but it sounds like a great program, not to mention it's paid for (i believe, or maybe just cheaper). Go for it!</p>
<p>I wish I had more information. I applied at the end of my junior year in high school and was accepted, but then my mom decided that I <em>needed</em> to do my senior year at home. It seems like a wonderful program and the German teacher at my school really heavily touted it- not just because it was in Germany but because she thought it was a solid program all together.</p>
<p>Yeah, I know my mom would never let me go abroad now that I'm in the
"critical period" of high school. Plus, I'm this stupid program where we have to do a research project senior year, and she thinks it's really important even though studying abroad would be so much more influential.</p>
<p>You have time, PB, I think you're eligible until you're 24. But I'm afraid I don't see any connection between your post and my posted questions..........</p>
<p>As I get bits of info, it seems many high schoolers are turned down as the program officials are hoping for a somewhat more matured student, that has a few more life experiences, and a better idea of their future career, rather than the typical high schooler. Perhaps because an integral part of this program is the internship in one's expected career? Different from some other study abroads that focus on classroom study.</p>
<p>the high school program is just that -- it is meant only for high school students. eligibility requirements are that the student be between 15 and 18 years old.</p>
<p>I am not familiar with the program for college students -- what I see on the website is a youth exchange for young professionals. Is that the program you are talking about? </p>
<p>It looks like the cost is just personal expenses -- everything else is paid for. Also -- they greatly prefer students who speak German and they have a requirement that says "Work Experience: At least several short-term or one long-term experiences in the applicant's professional track. Experience may either have been paid or volunteer. "</p>
<p>This isn't something you can "surprise" your son with -- it has quite an involved application process including essays, teacher recs and an interview -- so he has to do this if he is interested.</p>
<p>there are many, many excellent study abroad programs -- not just this one. I am a big supporter of study abroad programs and I would definitely suggest you encourage your son to study at Germany or elsewhere.</p>
<p>hsmom. The high school exchange is only for high schoolers. The Bundestag exchange has 3 facets though, and yes I was referring to the "young pros" exchange for my son who falls between their guidelines of 18 to 24. I think I may have been confusing some aspects of one with the other.
In my earlier post, my gift is not to surprise him with a trip to Germany on this plan, but rather the gift of the dough to pay his expenses, or as I said in the first post "at my cost as a gift". I'm sorry I wasn't clearer in my first post.
Thanx for your input.</p>
<p>I am actually in Germany on the CBYX scholarship right now. I'm a senior in high school, though, and don't know as much about the Young Professionals program.</p>
<p>However, if it's anything like the high school version, the program is absolutely amazing, especially if you live in their definition of the "Southeast" and are paired with CIEE. I've had the time of my life here and it's only October.</p>
<p>Also, I've gotten to know the director of the German side of things here and she got into the exchange student business after doing Young Professionals. She said she loved it, and it's how she ended up actually getting a full degree here. She now lives in Bonn (near Cologne) as a higher-up in the German version of CIEE.</p>
<p>As for high school -- SilverClover and princessbell, your parents may have had a point. I'm applying from here to a range of schools, from state to LAC to Ivy, with no senior classes, only classes in German at my German high school (no grades, too hard at this point, I only had two years of German prior to coming here). So we'll see who's right and if this was an unwise decision in the eyes of the adcoms come next April. :)</p>