Like anything there appears to be one out of 20 kids who don’t find NSLIY AY China experience great. Don’t worry about the safety; probably safer there than in USA. But there were more trips and activities than we thought. Language wise, my kid made a tremendous improvement. Very satisfied with the experience. And it’s free.
waiting for this decision sucks.
Has anyone heard from Korean AY? All this waiting is making me nervouuuuus.
Both my son and I are beginning to regret looking at these message boards. He’s likely among those who were not selected for a scholarship or as an alternate but the waiting for the rejection letter is super painful. Sort of like asking someone out and they stop returning your calls rather than just giving you the courtesy of ripping off the Band-Aid by telling you straight up. I simply don’t understand why the wait to send rejections. It simply feels rude. I mean, I don’t think anyone gets accepted if they weren’t initially selected or lucky enough to move up the alternate list. Again, just feels rude.
I keep wondering the same thing. Everything I have read says that rejections are not sent out until around the 23rd of April, but I don’t understand why they don’t just send the rejections out right away either. Some of the things I have read said that some countries only had 10 or 15 kids selected to attend, so maybe they do not give rejections because they think maybe in some freak scenario, all of the finalists and all of the alternates would have to drop out? Like maybe 20 or 30 kids?? Seems unlikely…But most everyone has said that if the notifications have come out for your country and you got nothing, then you can probably safely assume that you will be getting the rejection letter.
I think that it would be great if they could coordinate the notification times between the different State Department programs, like yes and cbyx and nsliy. It is extremely difficult to choose between programs or make choices for the upcoming school year when you have to wait a month between notifications. You basically have to put your life on hold for a few months. I had hoped they would finish up with notifications early this week, but looks like we’re not going to hear anything today either.
I am also wondering if one is chosen as an alternate for one program and a finalist for another, how they should handle this scenario because with the quickly approaching deadlines, one would not have time to wait to see if you would be moved up from alternate to finalist status.
@mom: We are lucky in that D2 is not facing college decisions. If so, the delays would be 10x as stressful. They really ought to take that into account.
@wander: on your earlier reply. I am not at liberty at this time. It would be too ugly.
@InlandNW ; I understand…but how scary and disappointing! I am sorry she went through an agonizing experience with CBYX. I hope it is not a common thing with study abroad! 
we have much riding on this, as giving our high school senior another year before starting college, and allowing us another year to save $$ for it, is a huge deal. this waiting is excruciating! my son wants this SO much you wouldn’t believe it! (as i’m sure is true for many of you!) good luck and be patient. 8-\
@Wander: No kid should have gone through what she went through. I think the age 14-18 experience needs more attention. We, like many, were entranced by thinking of CBYX in the most positive way. The reality was like being cheated and getting miserable at being cheated. A part of that was likely idiosyncratic and a part was the result of deep flaws. I think college is the ideal overseas experience. For high school or gap year kids, only a fraction benefit up to the potential of the program. In part it is about opportunity cost. A three week jaunt around Germany might have given her as much as she got out of the nine months. She did develop quite a bit of grit and love for the US, the silver linings for which I am grateful.
@kev: I hear you. Good luck to you as well. There is a plan B2 so it is ready just in case…
@InlandNW : such a bummer! My dd did 2 months in summer in a German high school at 16 and stayed at her German grandmas’ house and had an absolutely fabulous time. But staying with family is easier, I’m sure. I did a year abroad in Germany in college and it was the best year of my life. I even married a local and brought him back! Life changing, for sure. Sorry to hear about that experience.
@wander. Thx. There is a lot that goes into a cross cultural experience. And even if a program does a great job,there are still many human factors. Of course one must not extrapolate to an entire people.
No, I think wheels started coming off early and went from bad to worse. I would like to go there some day with her and have fun. But as a foreign exchange program? No way would I recommend it without an extra level of due diligence. The problem? No one accepted wants to jeopardize a free year. Even in this thread for NSLI-Y much of the focus is on the program being free.
i’m too old for this waiting. i’m literally feeling sick. come on NSLI-Y wth takes so frikin long? argh!
i heard korean ay is out. can anyone here confirm?
Korean year indeed came out
My daughter was notified today that she is an alternate for Korean AY. She’s hoping that a spot opens up as she REALLY wants to spend a gap year in South Korea. She spent three weeks there last summer as part of a Rotary Club student exchange program, loved the culture and wants to go back so that she can take a deeper dive over a much longer period of time, begin learning Korean and then continue it in college. According to the 2017 link provided earlier, there were only 12 AY spots in Korea for 2017 - yikes! Wondering what news other applicants have received. With only 12 finalists, does this mean that there is only one AY program location? Does anyone know where that will be?
I never got an email for Korean AY
Yeah there’s usually been just one group of Korean year students and I think this year they’re in Seoul, which I also think is typical. Fingers crossed for your daughter!
Thank you!