CBYX online application tips!

This is hopefully somewhat useful for future applicants.. That is if anyone reads this blog.. 

Since I participated in CBYX (Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange) in 2014, I guess I can say my online application was pretty solid. This is all based on my application experience. (I actually wroe this back in 2014. I decided to re-post this because a lot of people actually read it.)

- Essays: After you wrote and edited your essays, don't hesitate to ask people (preferable alumni, parents and teachers) to read them! Believe it or not, I attacked at least 15 people with my not-so-good essays and their comments helped me improve a lot! Essay is one of the most important parts of the application, since it's the only way the judges get to know you as of now. They look for genuine and motivated applicants; bragging and lying in your essays doesn't help.
In the interview, the interviewer(s) will be reading your application while asking you questions and talk about things you put on the application; it is IMPORTANT for you to review what you wrote in the application before having interview [and congrats if you've made it this far!]. 

- Host family letter: This is different from the essay in my opinion. This letter is for your future host family to know more about you, so there isn't a specific prompt to follow. Before you write, ask yourself what you would want to know if an exchange student is coming to stay with you for 10 months. The student's family life? Social life? Hobbies? Interests? Personality? If you don't have a word limit for the letter, just keep writing, but keep in mind that you don't want the letter to sound boring and redundant because, once again, it's the first impression you have for your future host family. I would say keep it under 700 words and don't just restate everything you wrote in the previous essays, because they'll most likely review your whole application. Try to really give them a glimpse of who you are. 

- Teacher's Recommendations: Double check if the teacher's recs are in. A lot of people didn't complete the application because a teacher's rec was missing. If you aren't sure about it, email the person in charge of application processing! It never hurts, plus this would show him/her that you actually care about the program. 

- Your cover picture: This is the first impression that the judges (and possibly host family) have on you. So you better look nice. I'm not saying you should be complete dressed up for it. Like me, I just wore a nice sweater and had my hair down, nicely combed, and smile like how I would normally. It's better to just show your personality (while looking professional). I'm kind of a casual person and I wear sweaters all the freaking time so that's what I chose to wear. As long as you don't look like a hobo or someone who just woke up, you should be good to go. 

- The grades: There's a section where you fill in your grades by hand, please don't fake it. It's so obvious since you'll be required to provide a transcript anyways. Grades aren't as important (still important) if you have an outstanding personality and desire to go :) 

- Your activities and awards: It's important to show how much you involve in different activities, because this is what the judges are looking for: people who are active and will involve in activities in Germany. In the tiny column they provided us, I included a little description for each of the things I wrote. For example, I didn't just write "Equestrian" or "Art". Instead, I wrote "Equestrian - Started in Hong Kong Jockey Club and continued in Sam Houston Equestrian Center; assisted in youth riding classes", and "Arts/crafts - School elective and personal hobby, participated in numerous local/regional/state competitions and auctions". This will give a little bit more insight to the things you do without having to write a whole essay. The judges will feel like they know you better.

The Student Information and Stats, Academic Certificate, Medical Information, Media Release etc. really just depend on you and the school. You can't really screw those up unless you filled them out incorrectly. Make sure you review your application and forms to check for mistakes! 

Future applicants, I hope this helped and I wish you the best of luck!

Annie

Top 10 Destination I recommend from my trip to Europe in Summer '16

This past summer, I dragged my mom to go on a 6-week Europe trip with me. I planned everything, from flights and hotels, to daily schedules and transportations; that was a good couple of weeks of work, not to mention it was during the finals week. We visited almost 25 cities in 7 countries, and here are my top 10.

10. Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and a mere hour train ride from Vienna. While most people don't think about stopping there, this is definitely the city for budget traveling. This city can be easily overlooked when traveling around Europe simply because it is not as advertised as bigger tourist cities, but none the less, Bratislava has loads to offer. Their streets are lively, and since there are not too many people, I actually get to enjoy the performances. The short 2 days that we were there, we saw a folk dance and folk song stage performance, a market, 5k Color Run (or their version of that?), and 2 people dressed up like a flower pot. Throughout the city, there are also tons of hidden statues, like the Schoener Naci Statue and the Rubberneck, waiting for you to discover them.

Popular attractions: Bratislava Castle, Main Square, Michael's Gate, the Blue Church

Market on the Main Square sells mostly cheap souvenirs and folk crafts

View of the city from the Bratislava Castle

9. St. Goar/ St. Goarhausen,  Germany

These little gems are definitely worth visiting if you ever find yourself in the Rhine Gorge, which is known for its beautiful landscape and abundance of castles. St. Goar and St. Goarhausen are situated on the Rhine River, one on each side of the river bank. In these two towns alone, you can find Burg Katz and Maus (Castle Cat and Mouse, literally) and Burg Rheinfels sitting on the mountains. Not too far from St. Goarhausen, you can find the Lorelei - a rock on the right bank of the Rhine that is closely tied with folklores and myths. If you ever have a chance, a cruise down the Rhine is also highly recommended by many travelers. While tourism is not too big here and there aren't load of things to do, spend your day visiting castles and hiking would be just as wonderful.

Popular attractions: The Rhine, Castles, Lorelei

 Watching the sun set on St. Goar is calming and relaxing after enjoying supper in St. Goarhausen

Burg Katz - now a privately owned castle, overlooking St. Goarhausen and the Rhine

8. Hallstatt, Austria 

This village situated between mountains and lake in the heart of Austria really does live up to its fame on Instagram and Facebook. Most people only know the picturesque side of Hallstatt with its cathedral, houses and lake, but what I discovered was that its nature trails in the back of the village were just as beautiful. They offer cruises on the lake - it's a great way to explore the surrounding areas of Hallstatt (like Obertraun). Do beware of tourists, as this village of a couple thousand inhabitants is usually flooded with tourists. 

Popular attractions: Marktplatz, Salz Welten ("Salt World"), Hallstatt Ossuary

The postcard-perfect view of Hallstatt most people know of

Hidden trains behind the familiar face of Hallstatt

7. Salzburg, Austria 

Salzburg is home to the Sound of Music, a classic movie that is famous for its historical background, music and scenery. There are numerous Sound of Music tours in the city, and if you are adventurous or too poor for tours, you can make one on your own (which is what I did!). This musical city is also home to Mozart, and you can find Mozart-themed everything here. Many of its cathedrals and historical buildings are well protected, and the attractions are mostly within walking distance, making the town easy to explore.

Popular attractions: Salzburg Cathedral, Birthplace of Mozart, Fortress Hohensalzburg

From here, you can see the Salzburg Old Town with many of its main attractions

The Residence Fountain is one of the most beautiful and detailed fountains
in Salzburg,  not to mention it was one of the locations in Sound of Music

6. Grindelwald, Switzerland 

Known for being the ski Wonderland, Grindelwald is just as great in the summer, especially for hikers. This village is located near the Jungfraujoch, one of the most famous peaks in Switzerland, and surrounds itself in nature. The mountains are covered in hiking trails that lead you from one village to another. Not the hiking type? Take the train to go all the way up to the peak! But let's be real: there isn't much to do here if you don't like outdoors.. It's a pretty wonderful spot if you want to just hide from the world and go back to mama nature. I was not bored a minute from my 5-hour hike because the scenery was constantly changing, from snowy and stony to muddy and grassy.

Popular attractions: Lots of Mountains and extreme sports

Grindelwald before me after 4.5 hours of hiking, it was worth the rain and mud

Adorable cattle with traditional cow bells seen before reaching town

5. Vienna, Austria

You can find the perfect mix of new and old in Vienna. One of the most popular activities to do here is to go to a concert / opera, and while do watch out for scams and promotions on the streets, this is one thing that you cannot miss when visiting Vienna. If you are not able to do so, at least go on a tour in the Vienna State Opera. Other than the musical and performance side of Vienna, there are also plenty of sightseeing opportunities, like hundreds of museums, cathedrals and palaces. Tired of old looking buildings? Visit the Hundertwasser House - they are a series of houses that are shaped and colored very artistically. Last but not least, Vienna's city center has a great collection of brand-name stores, including the Swarovski Kristallwelten (Crystal World). 

Popular attractions: St. Stephen's Cathedral, Hofburg, Schönbrunn / Belvedere Palace, Vienna State Opera

The Schönbrunn Palace was an imperial summer residence, now a museum for visitors
Its garden (aka perfect picnic spot) is open to the public

"Amorem Meum Populis Meis" ("[I give] my love to my people") - this Statue of Pope Francis II is located
in Hofburg Palace, where my mom and I enjoyed afternoon tea

4. Prague, Czech Republic 

A European destination that is more and more often visited, Prague is certainly a beautiful city with much historical significance. There are lots to see and lots to do; my 3 days there were not merely enough! To the east of the river Vltava is the Old Town of Prague, and to the west is the famous Prague Castle. There are always people selling handmade jewelries , paintings and photographs, and even people playing traditional music on the Charles Bridge, so don't just take a picture and rush to the other side. 

Popular attractions: Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square

View of Prague Old Town from the Powder Tower: Church of Lady before Týn, Old Town Hall, Prague Castle

Looking the famous Charles Bridge on Mánesův Most after visiting the Prague Castle on the other side

3. Bern, Switzerland 

Wait, Zurich is not Swiss capital? Nope, it's Bern. Surrounded by the Aare River, this capital city might throw you off with its traditional buildings and historical sites. Its Old Town is listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and it's absolutely stunning. There are many local shops in the Old Town that provides you with snacks, a cure for shopping addiction and even craftsy fun. Walking around town was soothing (this is not the busiest part of town) and watching the river flow will calm your soul down. Don't forget to visit the bears and the Rose Garden on the other side of the river!

Popular attractions: Cathedral of Bern, Zytglogge, Einstein House, Bear Pit

A short walk to the Rose Garden will give you this mediocre view

The main street in the Old Town - the bear is the coat of arms of Bern

2. Budapest, Hungary

Did you know that its name came from combining 2 cities - Buda on the west and Pest on the east? This shining star of Europe will satisfy your eyes with its Gothic style architectures. A cruise on the Danube river is an easy way to see all of the beautiful buildings on both the Buda and Pest side. Or if you are like me, you can spend your night on a boat hotel and admire its night lights. One of the most memorable sights is the "Shoes on the Danube Bank". This memorial is composed of bronze shoe sculptures along part of the east-bank in memory of people who lost their lives to fascists during World War II. Taking a walk along Danube, especially passing by said memorial, will give you something to reflect on. The banks of Danube would also be great places to picnic while enjoy the magnificent scene of either the Buda Castle or the Parliamentary Building. 

Popular attractions: Hungarian Parliamentary Building, Fisherman's Bastion, Buda Castle, Széchenyi Thermal Bath

The Hungarian Parliamentary Building sitting by the Danube River, who knows how much it has seen?

The opposite side from the Parliamentary Building are the Buda Castle and Fisherman's Bastion
among many other landmarks

1. Munich, Germany 

Home to the Oktoberfest, this southern capital of Germany is historical yet metropolitan. There are countless things to do in this big city: enjoy Bavarian food in the Rindermarkt, visit the Residence (oh you will spend half a day there), experience a game in the Allianz Arena (I'm actually a Borussia Dortmund fan..), go to the BMW museum... If you are traveling for an extended period of time, stationing in Munich is a great way to explore the southern part of Germany. Within an hour of train ride, you can reach cities like Augsburg, Rosenheim, Landsberg(Lech), Ingolstadt and more. Want some nature? No problem! There are tons of lakes and forests surrounding Munich that you could explore! 

Popular attractions: Marienplatz, Munich Residence, Deutsches Museum, Nymphenburg Palace

The "New" Munich Town Hall - one of my favorites

From the Town Hall, you can easily see the whole Munich Old Town,
including the old Town Hall and Heiliggeistkirche

PS: Thoughts after my first actual post: holy potatoes finishing this took way longer than expected.