College in the US didn't give me the independence I wanted. I moved to Germany, where medical school costs me $100 per semester.

"When I was 16, I took part in a high school exchange program to Munich. I loved everything about the city, especially the freedom that it gave to kids my age. Public transportation was safe and easily accessible, and I attended any cultural events that interested me. I never expected to be living here a decade later. Simple things in Munich were exciting for a teen"

"After graduating in June 2016, I wanted to do something interesting before college. I tried selling my dad on the idea of doing volunteer work in a developing country, such as Cambodia. Then I realized that most of those projects need people with skill sets, not 18-year-olds with big dreams. I followed the traditional route of touring colleges in the US. There were a lot of conversations about finding international and diverse environments where you can challenge yourself to grow."

Erika Roberts participated in a high school exchange program in Munich at age 16 and enjoyed the city's freedom, safe public transportation, and cultural events. She and friends often bought fresh bread and picnicked by the river. After graduating high school in June 2016, she considered volunteer work abroad but found most projects required specific skills. She toured colleges in the United States and initially enrolled in a Massachusetts college studying biochemistry with a pre-med focus, but she did not feel independent or connected. She later returned to Munich for medical school, plans to become a doctor, and pays the equivalent of $100 per semester in tuition.

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