<p>Debbie -- the YFU James Bradley Peace Scholarship to China is one of the programs my son applied to. After you submit your application, did they do any more interviews or anything? He hasn't heard anything since he turned in the application and he is thinking that is bad.</p>
<p>Did he have his general YFU interview yet? <em>either in person or on the phone</em></p>
<p>I got called by someone from YFU who claimed I was in the finals and asked me to write a 2 paragraph short essay on a certain question. Then I had to email it to her so she could pass it on as material to use in the final judging. I'm not sure what it's like every year <em>I assume they would do the same thing...</em>, but YFU should call you. They are a good organization, just not very timely...</p>
<p>yes -- he had the initial interview (by phone, he is in a remote location) but we haven't heard anything since. I guess he will just have to be patient. Thanks!</p>
<p>From my experience with the Japan program, I was interviewed at the end of November and didn't hear about my acceptance until sometime in January (after that 2nd essay question).</p>
<p>I guess he will just have to play the waiting game at this point. he has an interview coming up for the United World Colleges, so he is psyched about that!</p>
<p>Just thought I would post and update -- my son got his letter today and he was selected for the Congress Bundestag program for next year! He is very excited. He applied for several other programs, so I am not sure what he will be choosing -- but we do know that he will be out of the country next year.</p>
<p>Congrats! We just found out this evening that D was awarded the AATG/PAD senior study/travel to Germany for the summer (one month). She's one of 5 seniors in the US who were selected. The funny thing is that she was at a movie with her German club when I got the e-mail and text-messaged her! Best wishes to your son for next year!!!!</p>
<p>wow -- congrats!!! that looks like a great program and quite an honor to be selected.</p>
<p>Wow, that's awesome! And you got the results more than a month earlier than last year's batch of CBYX kids, at least according to this thread. That takes a huge load off, knowing he'll at least be somewhere next year.</p>
<p>My daughter will be studying abroad in Argentina next year with Rotary as a high school senior. She's taking senior English via an online course. She will try to complete her final two hs requirements this summer, again via online. However, if she can't, she'll have to do this next year from Argentina.</p>
<p>QUESTION: Is anyone familiar with how prevalent internet is in homes in Argentina? Will she have to spend a lot of time in internet cafes?</p>
<p>QUESTION: One of the courses she needs is Economics. Anyone familiar with Argentinan classes? Is it possible she might be able to get that course there?</p>
<p>Any other thoughts re: Argentina from students who did high school programs there would be much appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>Webbie, I would highly recommend checking the website <a href="http://www.cultures-shocked.org%5B/url%5D">www.cultures-shocked.org</a></p>
<p>This is a really useful web forum devoted to high school exchange and there are a number of country specific threads. It has been really helpful for me as I prepare to study in Russia next year. I know that there are several students who have exchanged in Argentina on the board and also there are a number of parents and "rebounders" or students who have already gone on exchange who may be able to give you advice from the parent side. good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks devushka. I've passed the link on to my daughter.</p>
<p>Congrats on the CBYX acceptance! It's nice to hear they got their act together better this year than last.</p>
<p>My son was contacted this week by his first Rotary host family from Germany. He'll be living in Kiel, which is extreme northern Germany on the Baltic Sea. He's very excited to have photos of his host family, their house, and a link to the high school website. The school seems to have a large music program, which is nice, since he plans to do band in college shortly after he returns in summer 2008.</p>
<p>Would anyone here who has had a child attend SYA be willing to answer a few questions? Thanks.</p>
<p>2sonmama - Kiel is gorgeous. We stopped there overnight on our way to Sweden a year and a half ago. Congrats to your son - I bet he's excited.</p>
<p>moewb -- if you contact SYA, they can give you the names of parents whose children have participated in SYA in the past.</p>
<p>While this thread is back up at the top of the board, I thought I would update with how my son did on his study abroad admissions.</p>
<p>My son, a homeschooled student who is 17, great stats and ECs and would be a senior next year, was determined to study abroad next year. He was not interested in going to Africa or South America, otherwise he was pretty open.</p>
<p>He decided to apply to multiple programs because financial aid was needed (he basically needed a full scholarship).</p>
<p>He applied to SYA China, Rotary International, YFU China and Japan (they offer several scholarships), AFS Congress Bundestag and United World Colleges.</p>
<p>He was very successful and had a difficult time deciding where to go next year. </p>
<p>He chose not to continue on with the Rotary International scholarship because they required a commitment earlier than the other programs and it wasn't his first choice.</p>
<p>He was accepted to SYA China with excellent financial aid, accepted to Congress Bundestag, accepted to his first choice college at the United World Colleges, accepted to the YFU year to Japan and won a scholarship (partial, not full) for AFS exchange.</p>
<p>He decided to attend the Atlantic College, the UWC school in Wales. </p>
<p>In hindsight, he probably didn't need to apply to so many programs -- but he really wanted to study abroad, and he wasn't sure if he would get admitted and even if he did, he wasn't sure he would get enough financial aid to attend.</p>
<p>The application process went well -- but it was a ton of work! He was lucky that some of the essays that were needed could be used for multiple applications. The follow up interviews were tricky to schedule -- the UWC interview was only offered on one particular day and it was a 5 hour drive from our home.</p>
<p>The worst part of the process was declining the offers he didn't chose. By the time he had to decline, he had already gotten information packages, course descriptions and emailed or facebooked other kids who were chosen for the program. The only thing that cheered him up was the thought that someone on the alternate list that really wanted to go would get the chance.</p>
<p>Anyway -- I encourage anyone out there that wants to study abroad to apply. There are multiple programs, from summer to semester to year-long programs. Financial aid is out there, so lack of money shouldn't stand in your way.</p>
<p>I would say that the number one thing that all the programs were looking for were parent support -- strong parent support.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestion. I am sure SYA will provide the names of parents, but I was looking for more unbiased opinions. Surely, the names provided by the school would more likely be the names of parents whose experiences (or whose children's experiences) were positive.</p>
<p>Moewb,
I did SYA in France 1989-90. I don't know if I'd be "unbiased"...is there really such a thing? But I would certainly be honest...I have known many students with varied experiences (in fact I volunteer to interview prospective applicants), as well as a host family that worked with students for 20 years, and who had some fascinating insights into the program.</p>
<p>UWC / YFU </p>
<p>Nice to stumble on this thread! My daughter, a Yale junior spending this semester and summer in them Middle East, graduated from UWC Wales. If you would like her contact info please let me know. In summary, it was a tremendous experience that continues to impact her life. And, as parents, I would urge you to visit and take advantage of the guest quarters in the castle!</p>
<p>I had looked at this topic, however, for our son who has decided to defer his admission to Harvard and study in Russia. He is most interested in KEI (a university program) but has also been looking into YFU (even at this late date). Any thoughts about the advantages/pitfalls of university vrs homestay programs for an 18 year old with only one year of university level Russian? Any thoughts about either program?</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>Ellen</p>