CBYX: overview and tips

A year abroad in Germany with almost all expenses paid? Welcome to the CBYX program. 

Hello! My name is Garima and I'm a current exchange student with CBYX (2023-24) This blog post will be about CBYX, an overview and application tips. 

What is CBYX?

CBYX is a scholarship program that fosters cultural understanding between the US and Germany. By sending "youth ambassadors" across the world, they promote an opportunity for cultural and language immersion. It also allows the chance to meet Congress and Bundestag officials. The program is jointly funded by both governments. Pretty cool if I do say so myself. 

It’s a 10 month program, with a departure in August and a return in June. You can read the list of requirements on the website. 

Costs covered by the scholarship (copy pasted from the website):

• Round-trip international transportation between the U.S. gateway city and your host community in Germany

• Medical benefits

• Lodging and meals provided by a volunteer host family

• Approximately one-month of language training upon arrival in Germany. 

• Tuition and academic materials, if required for your host school

• Costs associated with obtaining a German residence permit/visa (participants should follow implementing organization instructions and timelines for this process)

• In-country support

• Transportation (while in Germany), lodging, and meals for participation in required program activities, such as the mid-year seminar and program-wide end of year activities in Berlin and Washington, D.C.

Costs not covered (also copy pasted from the website):

• Transportation to and from the U.S. city of international departure/return

• Spending money for personal use

• Required medical examinations and immunizations; costs for management of pre-existing medical conditions (such as medications)

• Costs associated with obtaining a U.S. passport in a timely manner

This is just a general overview of what the scholarship covers. 

Application Process

1. Written application, exhaustive but allows the organization to get to know you better

2. If you move on, an interview with the organization

3. Finally, a decision about whether you get in or not

What applying looked like for me

1. Found the program 

2. Debated on whether or not to ask to apply or if I should just apply

3. Told my dad about it, who wanted me to apply

4. Started the application process and finished it over the course of a month

5. Hit submit early (punctuality!)

6. Obsessively checked my email for the next 3 months

7. Freaked out when the email finally came and refused to open it for 10 minutes

8. Cried because I made it to the next level

9. Filled out all the extra paperwork

10. Went to the interview and met a lot of super cool people

11.  Obsessively checked my email for another couple weeks

12.  Had a mini nervous breakdown when I got the email 

13.  Screamed and cried a bit 

14.  Called everyone I knew and freaked out with everyone

It was a fun process! It definitely was an emotional rollercoaster but it was worth it. I can't wait for the year ahead. 

How to apply

Depending on the region you live in, you'll have a different organization. Here's a map with what organization you'll be a part of. Each organization has a different way of doing things but they have enough in common to write about. I'm going with CIEE. There will be a map at the end of the post. 

Tips

• Be yourself. I know this is super cliche but they're looking for you, not some poster perfect person. If you lie excessively on your application, chances are you'll get rejected. 

• Give yourself enough time to complete the application. It's tedious but exhaustive and allows the organization to get to know you better.

• Remember the goal of the program. It's based around diplomacy and connections. Make sure to write and talk about why you are fit for a position in this program. 

• Be specific. Don't overgeneralize. They're looking to see how you can represent the US while you're in Germany. The last thing you want to market about yourself is how not specific you can be. 

• Don't forget to justify your answers. You're a kind person? Tell me why. A good way to do this is with an anecdote. 

• Show good and bad. While you want to show them the positive aspects of your life, it's important to show that you can handle the negative aspects as well. You'll be living in a whole new country by yourself and you need to be able to recognize when something is up and how you can handle it. 

At the end of the day, if you don't move on, there's always something else in store for you. At least you put yourself out there and that's better than nothing. Be proud of that. 

Anyways, I hope this helps future/ potential applicants or that you learned something new today!

Program link again, here.

Bis zum nächsten Mal (Until next time in German)