Mar 24 2008
Official CBYX Acceptance Letter
On Tuesday the 18th, I received the official acceptance letter from ASSE. I think mine came a little late because they wrote a ‘1′ instead of a ‘4′ for my address (I got this fixed). The letter’s about three pages long. Summary of the more interesting parts:
- They’ll need to approve your final application before you’re officially accepted. My mom made me clarify this with Sandy Chase, my rep, and Sandy told me that she already received the list of those who had problems with their final application and I wasn’t on it, so I’m golden.
- The final application will be sent to Germany where it’ll be shown to prospective host families (eek!). After we know my host family, I’ll get a placement form/other docs that I’ll need to apply for my residence permit.
- ASSE will be sending a series of information letters at certain intervals to guide everyone through the process leading to departure. International flight details will be sent in May - I’ll know exactly what day I leave then o.o
- I’m responsible for the flight to Wash, D.C., but ASSE can help with the flight arrangements (student discount, perhaps?)
- Scholarship covers:
- Program cost
- Pre-Departure Orientation in Washington, D.C.
- Round-trip international airfare
- Three week Language & Cultural Enrichment (LCE) Program at the beginning of the exchange (We might have different host families during these three weeks than for the rest of the year)
- Seminars in Weimar (mid-year) and Berlin (end of year)
- Basic Health Insurance (what does basic mean?)
- The D.C. orientation starts sometime during the first week of August. Less than five months away!
- There might be extra trips available for a fee - I’m thinking places like Paris or Vienna. It could be compared to a trip to SoCal from San Jose. My mom says she’ll probably pay for me to go on a few of these if they’re reasonably priced, so I’m definitely looking forward to that.
Congratulations on being accepted. I hope you’ll have a great year!
One thing to look at as far as traveling inside Europe goes is the night train. If you book three months in advance, you can get a one-way ticket for 29€. The lines run all over Europe and it’s a great deal.
http://www.bahn.de/p/view/international/englisch/trains/db_nachtzug.shtml
-Kevin
Wow thanks Kevin; that looks super cool!
Do the kids from other countries also come to the orientation in DC?
There’s a possibility of meeting German students if there is another end of year thing in D.C., but not in August. I’m pretty sure some programs mix the German and American kids at the end of year, but I’m not sure if ASSE does. I want to meet some of the Rotary exchange students in my area in Germany if at all possible.
WOW! You leave almost a month before I do…AFS doesn’t have orientation in D.C. until the last couple of days in August or (most likely) early September : (
Yeah, I heard that about you guys. Of course there’s the pro that you have more time to prepare, but all of you are probably super exciting and just want to go *now*, heh. I like my start date. =)
I have a website now! I put it in that “website” spot, so I hope you got the adress. : )
Heyy, that’s really cool, but there’s no guestbook for place to comment/contact you! D: Well, I’m sure you’re still in construction. =)
It’s off my mom’s school web site (she’s a german teacher), so I guess it doesn’t have an option to post : ( oh well…