USA scholarship with The American Dream

Students between the ages of 15 and 17 have until September 30th to apply for The American Dream Scholarship for a year of high school in the USA! The application form can be filled out directly at our partner organization Partnership International e.V.

Winning a year abroad in the USA

Many young people would like to spend a year abroad in the USA, but their families tend to shy away from the high costs. That's why The American Dream supports three students every year in making their American dream come true.

Our scholarship holders Maja, Helena and Amelie flew to the USA in 2022, Marlene, Nils and Emilia started their high school year in the USA in summer 2023, and Charlotta, Klara, and Sarah packed their bags in August 2024!

Application procedure for a USA scholarship

Students aged 15 to 17 have until September 30th to apply for one of three "The American Dream Scholarships." To get one of the coveted places worth € 6,000, € 5,000 or € 4,000, they have to go through a selection process with four stages:

1. Short application to Partnership International

All applicants must first fill out the online form on Partnership International's website to apply for "The American Dream Scholarship".

2. Introductory interview at Partnership International

Those who make it to the second round will be invited to an interview at Partnership International along with their parents.

3. Written application to Partnership International

Round three includes a letter of motivation. What would the applicants like to experience in the USA? What does the "American Dream" mean to them? Why are they the right ones for this scholarship?

4. Creative Contribution

The students may transform their American dreams and visions into creative contributions in the finals. The rule here is: make it exciting and digital!

Three winners may attend an American high school for a half or whole school year and live with a host family in the USA.

The application deadline for the The American Dream Scholarship is September 30, 2024.

Requirements for the USA Scholarship

To win one of three "The American Dream Scholarships," applicants should first and foremost be true USA fans! Regular volunteer work and a passion for storytelling are also a must.

Other requirements:

• Enthusiasm for the student exchange concept, including a host family
• Willingness to go to the USA for five or ten months in the summer of 2025
• Ages over 15 and under 18 as of August 1, 2025
• Willingness to regularly provide the initiators of the scholarship (The American Dream and Partnership International e.V.) with photos, videos, and/or texts for our news coverage.

Our scholars will regularly report from their everyday life as high school students in the USA via blog or vlog. They will also be featured on The American Dream's Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook channels.

Fans and followers from all over the world are keeping track of our scholars’ USA adventures.

A high school year in the USA: facts and figures

According to Statista, the USA is the most popular country among German exchange students. Over the past ten years, more than 70,000 young people have moved from Germany to live with US host families in order to experience American (school) life up close in one of the official exchange programs.

An exchange year in the United States is like jumping in at the deep end because most students only find out shortly before their departure in which host family and US state they will end up. However, they almost always settle in quickly and become experienced New Americans after a short time.

Students' English skills are brought up to a professional level during a US student exchange program. This also makes the coveted exchange programs - just like studying in the USA - a reliable career springboard.

The length of the stay in the USA usually depends on the financial resources available and the personal wishes of the students and host families. A period of three months or more is officially referred to as a student exchange. Most high school exchange students spend an entire school year in the USA.

Initial language barriers quickly vanish into thin air during an exchange year.

The host family in the USA

The typical hospitality of the Americans makes the USA a real model country for student exchange programs because the host students are an integral part of the family there and experience typical American everyday life with all its rights and obligations.

This also means attending sporting events with the host parents and siblings, taking short vacations, watching TV with them, helping out around the house, and sometimes having a bad day together. But don't worry: it is also possible to change host families if the chemistry is not right.

A high school year with Partnership International

As a non-profit organization, Partnership International has been strengthening the global networking of young people for over 60 years, arranging scholarships, exchange programs, and vacation programs to the USA. The annual awarding of "The American Dream Scholarships" is an integral part of the program since 2021.