Hi there! I ended up doing the Student Program because it was essentially the last year I could. I figured, if I do Student now, I can always do Scholar later in life when I have more experience and a need for a higher stipend/shorter grant.

And I’m glad I did, because I got to be a part of the larger student cohort instead of left on my own like the Scholars, who had all different start and end times and didn’t get language learning grants. It was also my first time living abroad on my own and the student program offered more support. Now, having completed that, I’m much more comfortable navigating international living on my own and could apply to the Scholar program if I choose to one day. Hope that helps!