Application Advice

Hey everyone! So several people have posted about application advice, and I found them very helpful when I was applying. So, heres mine.

Application Advice

1. Be yourself and be truthful - don't make up stuff you've done. Complete no-no. Don't exaggerate and don't be superficial, because these folks have seen a LOT of applications. Chances are, they'll see right through it all. 

2. Don't be a show-off - Let's be honest. You want to make yourself look good, but talking about your popularity and the fact that you think you're better than everyone else doesn't help.

3. Proofread - it's far better to be safe than sorry. I had my english teacher look over mine numerous times. Also, make sure you're not talking about the same thing in every essay. These people want to see the real you, so show them as much as you can!

4. Get good recommendations - Don't go to your cooking class teacher. No. Choose the teachers who you believe will give you the best recommendations. I had my english teacher (who's german) and my former world geography teacher write mine. 

5. Try to meet the deadline - This year it was December 21st I think. They give you an extension, but try to finish it before so that you're not rushed.

Interview Tips 

1. Dress for success - Don't wear jeans. You want to show them that you care about this scholarship so I would recommend business attire, but still try to be fashionable(The fashionable part is more for girls. Obvi.).

2. Be honest - Like I said in the app advice, don't lie. PLEASE. Don't be a suck-up, either. These people are smart. They know what you're doing. Be really polite but not over-the-top

3. It's all in the handshake - If you walk into the interview and give the interviewers a dead-fish handshake, your first impression isn't going to be as great as you hoped. Look them in the eye and give a firm handshake. Woooo!

4. Prepare yourself - beforehand, have someone ask you questions that could be in the interview. Here are some examples(which may not be real questions): Why Germany? What's the longest you've ever been away from home? Why should we pick you? Do you have any german language background? Have you ever murdered anyone?(urm). Well, you get the idea

5. Prepare yourself part 2 - After the interview, get people's numbers and stay in touch. Just remember, only 50 people from your region will get that call. So even if you felt insanely confident, not everyone will get in. Just remember that you could be in the "not" category. Be optimistic though! :)

6. Don't replay your answers over and over in your head - okay, this is hard not to do, but if you think you messed up, try not to hang on it. You can't go back and change it.

7. Avoid sensitive subjects - The interview is not a time to get political or  talk about sensitive subjects in German history. Like World War II. Seriously. Don't. This is also not a time to talk about how much you hate X senator and all that jazz. 

8. Good Luck! If anyone has any questions, email me at a.k.laser@gmail.com

Host Family!

I got my host family! I'll be living in a village called Reken, which is close to the western border. I have a host brother who's 16 and a host sister who's 14. My dad is an engineer. The family enjoys taking trips and walking their dog, who's a golden retriever. The school I'm going to has over 1,000 kids, which will be a major change from the 128ish in the Stuart Hall upper school. (woot woot!) I don't know too much more! I'm so excited!

Under 50 Days

Unter 50 Tagen! Maybe that was correct grammar. Maybe not. I actually have been practicing my German, though! Pat on the back for me. I've been using duolingo and to be perfectly honest, I don't really have much to write a post about. I don't have my host family yet, but that'll happen any day! 47 days left in the U.S. and I'm insanely excited but also pretty nervous. I'll post again once I get my host family, but until then, Bis bald!

CBYX, Explained

I was looking at my other posts and realized I never really explained what CBYX is, exactly. So here goes: CBYX stands for the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange, and is a program funded by the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag. Each year, for about ten months, 250 American students go to Germany and 250 German students come to America. No, a German student won't be coming to live in my house while I'm away. I don't "trade places" with anyone, but that would be cool. Anyways, in about a month I'm going to get the information on my host family, who I'll live with for the majority of the year. Students are placed in small towns and attend the local public high school. The classes are taught in german, and the student can only return home in the event of an emergency. Family can visit after January 2nd. To start the program, there's a  three-day orientation in Washington D.C., followed by a three-week language and culture camp. There's so much more I could say, but this is the jest of it. I'm so excited. Sometimes I'll still just smile and shake my head, thinking I'm actually going to Germany. Wow. I know I'll get tons of papers, important booklets, and that sort of thing, and I'm working on my german, I can now conjugate verbs in the present tense. *pats self on back*. I've got a lot more to do before I leave in exactly 130 days, but then again, I have 130 days to do all that needs to be done. Until next time!