Hi everyone! I don’t know if there is an actual percentage calculated when it comes to making finalists decisions but I’m pretty sure that the judges go over your app again along with your recommendations (teacher & interview)
I believe that the interviewer takes notes (mine did) and they fill out a report like a scoring sheet and send that in. Good luck to everyone! I know we all are very eager and really want to become finalists! I hope we all make it and I can see some of you in China this summer
Have any of you already mailed your medical form? And do you have to get a passport/have you started the passport process?
I’m assuming this thread will start to die down a little as we’ve all pretty much had our interviews and are now stuck playing the waiting game. I think my interview went pretty well, but everyone at the location seemed very qualified so I think it’s best to try and keep my expectations low so if I don’t get accepted I won’t be too devastated. Good luck to everyone as we enter this long waiting period! April seems so far away right now but hopefully the time will go by quickly.
@lovinglife01 I’ve started the process of renewing my passport but won’t be able to have a medical evaluation until 2 days before the form is due to be sent in because my doctor is so busy and constantly scheduled I’ll be cutting it really close to the February 6th deadline but hopefully it should be okay.
@wardra Welcome! I’m a senior too; I feel so old with all these young 'uns around.
@lovinglife01 I have my med eval filled out, just have to get my mum to sign it and mail the thing. I went to the passport office Friday, so my new one should be on it’s way soon! I was so nervous about having it in time, I even paid the extra fee to expedite it
Is anyone planning on blogging or otherwise documenting their experience if selected? A lot of alumni seem to have started blogs, but almost all of them fizzle out super quickly. I promised my best friend that we would write by snail mail next year, if I’m in a different country or just a different college.
I can confirm to y’all that the final selection will involve three components: your application, recommendation letters, and interview’s performance. And generally, the interview would be weighted the most.
I can’t stop stressing about finalist notifications and going over my app and finding small errors and things I wish I had changed…
Did you all include a lot of extracurriculars?
I put down 3 clubs I’m involved in in addition to NHS and a few other things like volunteer work and dance. I can’t help feeling like I didn’t have enough though. Do you think they weigh EC’s a lot into the selection process?
@cnuprincess Hi! What grade are you in and what were your language preferences?
Hey! I haven’t looked at my app since the day after I sent it in, because otherwise I would find SOOO many errors that I would want to change…
Since I am homeschooled, I don’t have any clubs… But I do a lot of music and sports!
@Schnuff3
I know what you mean! My WiFi didn’t work for FOREVER and now there are TONS of new people that I haven’t welcomed… WELCOME ALL NEW PEOPLE!!! I am a freshman that applied only for Russian Summer!
All the awesome new people: Just wondering, but did you guys read all of our 30 something pages??? I could not even image how long that would take… Only asking this because I read all of last years forum, but this year we tend to talk…a lot…times three… SORRY ALL NEXT YEARS APPLICANTS WHO ARE FEELING BORED AND READING ALL THIS!!!
@wardra I applied for Korean year as my first choice:) As for my college apps, I’ve already submitted them, and been accepted to my top choice!
@cnuprincess YOOOOO another Korean year applicant?! I know @JustinH is applying for it too.
@Zsophia I noticed after submitting my application that I left out all of my leadership positions in extra curriculars :((
I think ECs look the same way they do on college apps: if you have only a few but are super dedicated to them, it looks better than having a ton and barely participating in them.
@FromUSA2Russia I’ve actually been reading this thread since it started in October, but didn’t take the time to make an account and join in until recently. From what I saw early on though, you seem to partake in a lot of sports so I’m sure that entirely makes up for the fact that you aren’t able to participate in clubs! Also I can tell you’re very passionate about Russian so I’ve been rooting for you since the beginning!! haha.
@cnuprincess I’m a junior as well! But my top preference is China summer. Good luck to you the Korean year seems like an incredibly fun and rewarding experience!
@screenname16 Congrats on being accepted to your top choice college!! I’m sure that’s something you’re very happy about. I also left out a couple of things I participate in on the app, but from what I’ve read, NSLI-Y seems to value the essays and recommendations over grades and extracurriculars, so we’ll probably both be okay.
@Zsophia good luck to you too! If you go to china that would be a wonderful experience for you! @screenname16 nice nice! i didnt even know there was a facebook group for nsliy korea haha
Hey everyone I’m a senior and I applied to 1) India academic 2) China academic 3) Turkey academic although I now wish I had applied to Arabic. Oh well. Already had my interview, it was alright but could’ve gone better…
Any other seniors applying for an academic gap year?
Hey if you guys have questions about China, hit me up! I lived in China for three years, have been back a few times and my mom visits all the time! Just a quick introduction again(i’ve been here since like december…?)I’m Kate, a 14 y/o freshman applying for Arabic Year, Russian Year and Korea year. The order got kinda screwed up, but I know arabic year is my first choice! I’m also a CBYX Semi and hopefully a YES one too! I’m also applying for AFS Brazil as a back up
I will introduce myself again! My name is Emma I am a 15 year old freshman and I applied for Korean summer only ^^ I’m so glad that this forum is back up and running because the beginning of January was quite slow. Can you guys believe that January is almost over? A lot of the alumni have been saying that because of how early everything is, we might see notifications come out as early as early March!!~ I hope so becuase waiting is so agonizing. Especially when I have people asking me every three seconds “How is your Korea thing going?” and then I have to reply with “I still have to wait 3 months before I find out anything.” DX Anyways welcome everyone and I wish you all the best of luck.
I’ll be cutting it really close to the February 6th deadline but hopefully it should be okay.
)
Only asking this because I read all of last years forum, but this year we tend to talk…a lot…times three… SORRY ALL NEXT YEARS APPLICANTS WHO ARE FEELING BORED AND READING ALL THIS!!!