Note to Future Applicants :)

            Since I’m not in Germany yet, nor am I in school, I really have nothing else to do (except earn money, but that’s beside the point) so I decided to write a little note to you future applicants. I should probably introduce myself too :) My name is Yu-Jing Cheng, but I go by Sarah. Most Americans have a hard time saying my name correctly, but I think the Germans would get my name correct because I've been studying a little bit of German on my own (I've never taken German at school, or studied it anywhere. I basically knew no German when I applied for this scholarship) and one of the German alphabets sort of sound like the correct pronunciation for the "Y" in my name. I'm super excited to finally have people pronounce my name correctly! Btw, I'm from Taiwan, but currently live in Louisville Kentucky. I just graduated duPont Manual High School so I'll actually be going on a gap year instead of doing one of my years in high school abroad. 

            Many people have already asked me the big question: Why? Why would I give up a full ride at the college of my choice, and instead chose to go to Germany? Why would I “waste” a year of my life abroad instead of going to a prestigious college and getting the education I need for my future career? Why would I want to do one more year of high school? Why Germany?

            These are all legitimate questions. But they’re really hard for me to give a very sophisticated response(which a lot of people seem to expect) because my answer is really personal and also pretty simple: it’s just that it has always been one of my dreams/goals. I’ve always dreamed to travel the world and to become a polyglot and I truly believe that this scholarship (Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange) will help me fulfil my dreams. It wouldn’t completely fulfil my dreams, but it would be one of the first steps I take in achieving my goals/dreams. And if any of you reading this post are agreeing to what I’m saying, then perhaps CBYX is the program for you and you should apply!

            A note about applying: you can apply to this program pretty much all throughout high school. And I really recommend that (if you’re a student) you talk to your parents about it first. If they say that they will not let you go even if you get in, then maybe you should rethink your decision to apply because the application process is long and a lot of work, and it really might be a waste of time and effort if you end up not being able to go anyways(I didn’t follow my own advice, but my parents have always let me do whatever I wanted to as long as I do my part first, and it wasn’t something immoral. I did talk to them after I found out that I made semi-finalist though(don’t recommend for underclassmen cause your parents could really help you a lot on your paper application)).

If you are not a graduating senior when you’re applying to this program (then I’m talking to you right now):

            -make sure you talk to your counselors about transferring credits, because you might have to redo a year of high school here if the credits you earn in Germany don’t transfer (which might change your(or your parent’s) mind about applying) (also realize that the grades you get in Germany might not be stellar since you’ll be studying in a language that you’re most likely not proficient in and that your GPA might suffer. However, online classes might be available at your school)

            -If you have a lot of leadership positions that you/your parents wouldn’t want you to give up, then you might consider applying later, you always have the chance of going to Germany on a gap year.

            -Realize that you might miss prom(junior/senior) and that your experience in Germany would be so different than the experiences your friends would have in the U.S.. It’s completely ok to feel lonely and be different, but just a thought.

If you are a graduating senior:

            -You might want to find out whether or not the college of your choice will defer for you. Most colleges will defer, but beware that scholarships often will not (will have to reapply for them when you come back)

            -This program might increase the chance of you getting into the college of your choice (although application period is around the same time for both) Many people have said that their gap year have helped them in getting into a more prestigious college(they reapplied after they got back or during their gap year). (this however shouldn’t be your priority or sole reason for applying, or your year in Germany would probably be pretty miserable because you’re not doing it for the right reasons)

            In my humble opinion, I really do believe that this program is worth redoing a year of high school, or losing a couple of leadership positions, or doing an extra year of high school, or having your GPA suffer a bit. But, my goals are different from many other people, and I respect everyone’s choice. I do think that if you’re already almost 100% sure that you will not be going even if you get in then you shouldn’t apply, because it really would be a big letdown and might decrease your desire to reapply. I also think that this opportunity is especially great for freshmen and seniors because they’re missing the least amount and benefiting the most (this is only my opinion). Why would I say that? Because they really aren’t missing anything important in high school (no prom, less leadership positions, less need to take ap classes online or having to take the test abroad), and studying abroad would probably help them discover themselves, their interests and likes/dislikes, so they can better take classes they know they will enjoy for the rest of high school/college.

            Sophomores and juniors, you guys will learn a lot too, but you will be doing your junior year or senior year abroad. And by that time, you will probably have clubs that you’re invested in, and classes for junior and senior year are really important for college apps. Not only that, if you’re a senior in Germany, you have to deal with college apps (you could write a lot of the essays in the summer but your essays would probably be better if you talk about your experience living abroad without your family, etc and how you’ve grown ) and that would take away time you could have spent with friends or your host family in Germany. 

            And juniors, you might be missing a whole year of academic achievements, medals for various clubs, etc that you can put on your college resume. Not that college is the most important thing in your life, but it is of relative importance, and your parents might place a lot more emphasis on it than you would. But “unfortunately” their opinions do matter, and don’t end up like some people I know, who got accepted, but their parents wouldn’t agree to let them go because they would have to redo a year of school (all the reasons above), etc. There’s a time and place for everything, and everyone’s situation is different.

            Why Germany? This actually is a very important question that all of you future applicants should think about. (hint, hint, might be an interview question) And really, I was lucky to have several college interviews before my CBYX interview, because I got the chance to practice and I knew myself a lot better after each college interview and by the time the CBYX interview came, only a couple of questions threw me off guard and this was one of them. I’ve never really given much thought to why I wanted to go to Germany. Is it because of its rich history? Its culture? Or is it because of the usefulness of its language? I really had to think about it during the interview, and for those of you (like me) who like to take their time thinking about their response, start thinking now!

            Oh wow… this was a long spill! (These are the things that I’ve been thinking about these past few months after the interview and after I found out that I made finalist and I think might be useful to any future applicant) But in all seriousness, I really hope that my post would sort of help you decide whether or not CBYX might be the right program for you at this time of your life. And if it isn’t, don’t be discouraged, you will always have other opportunities later (later in high school/ in college, etc) but if CBYX is for you and you’re excited about applying, good for you! I would be more than willing to help along the way and once I’m actually in Germany(cough, cough), I will be able to answer more questions about life in Germany, etc! Feel free to comment below and ask any questions, I will do my best to answer them.