<p>Hey guys! Just to re-introduce myself to the new guys, I’m a junior. I’m applying for Korea Summer (which seems to be really quite popular!) I’m SO ready for December to come so that we can find out if we made the first cut. Fingers crossed! [-O< I’m scared and excited at the same time. My essays/responses were kind of rushed so they probably pale in comparison to everyone’s! </p>
<p>@girlintheworld If I’m not mistaken, the majority of the interviews will most likely be conducted over the phone. Also, I’ve e-mailed them to see if they could confirm if they got all of my documents. They basically told me “We are unfortunately not able to confirm receipt of mailed in documents at this time. Our file processors are currently receiving, reviewing, and matching with student applications. If we have any questions or if there is any missing information or documentation, we will contact you at a later date to receive the additional material.” </p>
<p>@ZealousStudent Thank you for answering! Oh really, by phone? That makes me really nervous. My phone is broken atm so I better get that fixed asap. I am like 99% sure they have everything for me but I still can’t help but worry. </p>
<p>Ah, I just read my essays again and they sound so bad :(</p>
<p>@girlintheworld Don’t worry, I think the staff members are really understanding! If you can’t get your phone fixed by then, I’m sure they also do video calls or maybe even meetings in actual person, depending on your location. But please do not take my word for it seeing as how this is my first time applying for NSLI-Y.
I totally understand that feeling! I just can’t help but worry. All we really can do now is wait and see. :-SS </p>
<p>@ZealousStudent December is quickly approaching and I will literally be there refreshing my email every second. I hope we all get in. Maybe less people applied this year and they will get everything done quicker and we will all get accepted. </p>
<p>This may be a silly question but when reviewing the essays, do you think they pay more attention to the context and meaning of the essay or more to the way it was written , structure, grammar and all that good stuff? </p>
<p>@girlintheworld Ugh, I totally feel you! I really hope they pay more attention to the overall message of our essays. I know from the webinars that they’re really looking for maturity and passion. While being a skilled writer is great and all, I doubt they’ll solely judge your essays based on the format of it. After all, they didn’t give us any specific instructions or criteria, just a word limit! </p>
<p>@fromUSA2Russia I’m so-so-SO worried too! I feel so passionately for my host country, and have no idea how to convey the way I feel to the interviewer, nor did I do a very good job of this in my essays. As prime minister
Churchill once said: “Russia is an enigma wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” I feel like I’m a perfect match for the program, but don’t want to come off sounding too fake. I’m even willing to give up my current spot as Valedictorian for the chance to study abroad. It’s so cool you’ve taken Russian before… I’m a bit jealous. My best friend is from Bulgaria though, so she’s helping me with the Cyrillic alphabet!</p>
<p>@evan221 Argentina sounds AWESOME! My dad studied there when he was a teenager… which was like what, a million years ago!? What was the biggest difference you saw between the U.S. and Argentina? My dad was always fascinated by the warm and friendly culture of the Argentinians. I do really crazy things to. I think it’s almost necessary that an exchange student likes to push the envelope a bit though, right? </p>
<p>@Zealous Student Hi, It’s so nice to meet you! My friend Alayna is applying to Korea NSLI-Y. Fingers crossed you both get in! </p>
<p>@girlintheworld I’m so happy you got accepted into a program already! Which one, and to which host country? Congrats! I think the people reviewing applications look for both passion and intelligence. Az long az u didnt writ lyk dis, I think you’ll be fine. </p>
<p>There is a section on CC called “What are my Chances.” I kind of wish we had something similar to that with NSLI-Y. The nerves are killing me!</p>
<p>@Schnuff3 Ah, thanks! I meant though that I already got accepted into a University. Not an abroad program. This is the only abroad program I applied to! So NSLI-Y literally is the only opportunity I have to take a gap year. </p>
<p>I kinda thought the majority of the interviews were in person…I thought skype interviews were only for people who were too far from the interview locations. Not really sure there.</p>
<p>Personality and passion are soooo much more important more NSLI-Y than grammar, haha. Though having good essay-writing skills definitely is a plus…</p>
<p>@Schnuff3 - ARGENTINA! Where in Argentina was your dad? I love love love love Argentina so much - I spent a year there, in the south (General Roca), and I’ve been back for four months but Argentina is still so…normal…to me haha. I would say that the biggest differences are the youth culture (a lot of going out at night), religious divide (it’s interesting because the Argentina your dad was in must have been so, so different from the Argentina I was in - now there’s a huge divide between the atheist/agnostic youth and their predominantly Catholic parents), and the social systems (free university, healthcare). So similar, yet so different. I love Latin America. Argentina is my passion and I’m dying for the chance to study abroad again and get to know a country so intimately like I got to know Argentina. </p>
<p>Guys, I hope we all make semis. Y’all seem to rock. Are you guys on Facebook/in the NSLIY facebook group? It would be neat to start a CC NSLI-Y applicants chat group on Facebook if y’all are on Facebook…</p>
<p>@girlintheworld AHH cool, PM me your name and I’ll add you and start a group chat. Anybody else - if y’all want to be added to the CC NSLI-Y applicants group chat, shoot me a PM with your facebook name </p>
<p>What is on the FB group? I don’t have a Facebook account so I cannot follow them or see what is posted… I might be able to convince my parents to let me get an account if there was a CC chat group! </p>
<p>I was going to make a CC group chat (right now we have two people so it’s not quite a group yet but it’s getting there hahaha) If you get a Facebook, it’ll be a group (three people). If you get one, let me know and I’ll add you. Obviously it’s fine if your parents don’t let you, though - We have CC :)</p>
<p>I am so so so nervous! I’m a sophomore but I’m only 15. (I’ll graduate when I’m 17) but although I’m at a young age, I hope that they see that I’m mature for my age. I feel like my essays weren’t good/too generic. I’m praying for an in person interview so they can really see my passion! I really hope you all get in!! If you are religious, then pray and if you are not, then send good vibes!
Good luck everyone! </p>
<p>@Schnuff3 Yes! I’m a part of a program where I am starting college classes during my sophomore year of high school and I briefly mentioned that so hopefully they will see I’m mature…</p>
<p>@skieurope
Haha, fortunately not. I was exhausted last night after practice and my writing was… less than coherent. Churchill’s famous quote was: “Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” Thanks for the concern though! Did you take Euro? (I’m taking it this year and first fell in love with the quote after hearing it in a video about the reign of Russia’s early kings.) Churchill had a lovely way with words, huh?</p>
<p>@schnuff3 I’m taking Euro now, but I also took a Russian History course as a sophomore (I’m now a senior). I love Russian culture, history, and literature, particularly the pre-Soviet period.</p>
I feel like I’m a perfect match for the program, but don’t want to come off sounding too fake. I’m even willing to give up my current spot as Valedictorian for the chance to study abroad. It’s so cool you’ve taken Russian before… I’m a bit jealous. 
My best friend is from Bulgaria though, so she’s helping me with the Cyrillic alphabet!</p>
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I might be able to convince my parents to let me get an account if there was a CC chat group! </p>
Maybe in a couple days I can ask again! </p>