Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange
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The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (CBYX or CB) is a full scholarship awarded to outstanding U.S. students for a year of study in Germany and to German students for a year of study in the United States.
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Background and Overview
Launched in 1983, the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (CBYX) is jointly funded by the German Bundestag and the U.S. Congress, through the Cultural and Educational Affairs Bureau of the State Department. CB offers ambitious young people the opportunity to develop their language skills, and to gain real world views of current affairs and German social, political and economic life. Congress-Bundestag scholars experience German life firsthand. Living abroad, they will be immersed in a new culture and new surroundings every day. They will have an unequaled opportunity to develop new interests, explore new directions, and build self-confidence and self reliance.
The CYBX website provides in-depth information for motivated high school students who want to live with a host family and attend school for an academic year in Germany. Answers to questions regarding the program, eligibility, and the application process can be found exclusively on the website. See http://www.usagermanyscholarship.org
Scholarship basics
- The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (CBYX) is funded by the Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Youth Program Division.
- CBYX scholarships cover the full tuition for the NH year program. Program elements include a four week language camp for CBYX scholars at the beginning of the program, enrollment in a German high school, a homestay experience, and a visit to the German Parliament in May. CBYX scholars also attend Gateway and Return orientations in Washington, D.C.
- AFS awards 50 CBYX Scholarships for the year long academic program to Germany departing in the NH cycle (departing in early September and returning the following July)
- Students from the following eastern states may apply for a CBYX scholarship through AFS: CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, OH, PA, RI and VT. (Students in other regions must apply through the CBYX grant holding organization in their region).
- To qualify, students must be ages 15 to 18, have a GPA of 3.0 or better, show a strong interest in Germany and the German language.
- Nominations are not required, though we encourage educators to help us identify and motivate interested students by nominating them for this scholarship program. Nominations are encouraged as a way to increase knowledge of CBYX among educators.
- CBYX Scholars are required to attend local pre-departure orientations and participate in all standard AFS pre-departure activities. In addition, CBYX Scholars must participate in a series of orientation conference calls in the Spring and Summer before departure.
- In addition to sending students to Germany, CBYX winners from Germany are also hosted in the United States. In 2007, AFS-USA is hosting 57 CBYX German scholars. Unlike the sending portion of this scholarship, geographic hosting restrictions do not apply to CBYX. If you are interested in learning more about hosting a CBYX student in the United States, please contact Sibylle Langer at 1-800-237-4636 ext. 1530, or email slanger@afs.org.
Where CB students come from
The program provides full scholarships for 200 American high school students to live and study in Germany for an academic year, and, concurrently, for 250 German students to be hosted in the United States. AFS-USA administers the selection of 50 students from the general Northeast region.
Application process (outbound)
- Candidates must submit (postmark) the CB application by December 17, 2007.
- Submitting the CBYX Application is the first step in the application process. Applicants will also be required to complete the standard AFS Application. Applicants are required to complete an additional application for two reasons: the scholarship award is contingent upon meeting AFS medical and placement criteria (in addition to the CBYX requirements) and the AFS application requires materials (like a photo page and detailed placement information) that will help our colleagues in AFS-Germany find the best host family possible.
- Once we receive the CBYX Application in the AFS Admissions Center, we will send the AFS Application to the student applying. Instructions will also be given on how to download this application from the AFS-USA website.
- Applicants will be invited to attend a Selection Committee in early January. The Selection Committee will take place on a weekend day in January or February. The goal is to have Selection Committees take place within a two hour drive of the applicant’s hometown, however, this is not always possible. In the Selection Committee, applicants will be able to meet other students that might be traveling to Germany with them and also have an individual interview with a panel of Selection Committee members. This is a crucial part of the selection process for this scholarship.
- CBYX applicants are welcome and encouraged to additionally apply for core AFS programs and need-based financial aid.
Selection process
1. To participate in the 2007-2008 Academic year program to Germany, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident
- Have a GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale
- Be between 15 and 18 years of age at the start of the program.
If you wish to apply through AFS, you must reside in any of the following regions:
CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, Washington, D.C.
- Please note that previous study of the German language is NOT required.
- Language preparation is offered while on program.
2. If you meet these prerequisites, please mail a completed application to us by the December 18, 2006 postmark deadline. You may request an application and return the completed forms to:
AFS Sponsored Programs Advisor 506 SW 6th Ave, 2nd Floor Portland, OR 97204
- Toll Free: 800.237.4636 ext. 1530
- Phone: 503.241.1578 ext. 1530
- Fax: 503.419.9630
3. Your written application will be reviewed. If you are selected as a Semi-Finalist, you will be asked to participate in group and individual interviews at a regional Selection Committee.
4. AFS-USA Winners will be selected in approximately mid-March. Applications of Winners will be forwarded to AFS Germany for approval and final confirmation.
Winners are selected based on:
- Evidence of the personal qualities essential for adjustment to another culture,such as flexibility, curiosity, open-mindedness, sense of humor and a desire to be challenged
- Written and oral communication skills
- Motivation for a cross-cultural experience
Please note: Applicants from all racial, economic, ethnic, religious, and social backgrounds are encouraged to apply, as are students with disabilities.
