Semifinalist for chinese summer!
D19 is semi-finalist for Arabic or Hindi summer.
Does anyone know if Arabic Academic Year finalists have to get visas? If so how long is the process and when are they issued?
I was a semi finalist last year (as a freshman) and this year I didn’t make it. I’m super confused as to what to do now because I thought my essays were stronger. What can I do for next year?
@borromini I have heard there were “about” 3500 applicants, 1200 semifinalists, and 600 finalists for summer 2017.
Semifinalist for China summer!!! 
@Jenniferami I would assume we have to get a visa. I think that process usually takes place during the summer but I’m not sure.
Does anybody know how the interviews work?
Can I ask you guys how you think you got in? I go to a moderately competitive public school where I have over a 4.061. I have taken three years of French, and I’m now in my third year of Latin taking IB Latin SL. I’m an IB diploma candidate, I founded the Model UN at my school this year, I’m a part of the Multicultural Club and NHS, I’ve started on varsity soccer since I was a freshman, and my Latin teacher wrote me a really good recommendation. I honestly can’t understand how I got rejected. Is there anything that I’m missing?
@LaDolceVitaVII From what they’ve said in the past, more than any grades or academics, they’re looking for people who will fit well in the program and fulfill the goals of the program. Because of that, the essays are by far the most important part. My guess would be that your essays didn’t convince them of those things for whatever reason. Essays were the only major things that changed for me between last year when I was rejected and this year. I obviously haven’t read yours, but maybe go back and look at them again?
wow I’m surprised you didn’t at least get semis that sounds like a good application to me. I have no idea how they do any of their selection process but I did make sure to focus on my love for the Russian language. I only listed my honor societies but since they don’t have anything to do with Russian I did not mention them in the essays. What I did mention is that I was in Russian club and that I had won two gold medals in competition for spoken Russian. So if you have the opportunity to apply next year show them that you have interest in the language that you are applying for through the activities you do.
NSLI-y primarily gives scholarships to people who wouldn’t typically have the opportunity to learn a critical language in their area. There are lots of very, very qualified applicants that could have received the scholarship and I’m surprised have been rejected. NSLI-Y is very secretive with their admissions, so you will never know. It sounds like you have a pretty good resume, but as larkin29 said, essays are very important.
I think that my essays were good. There was one that wasn’t exceptional, but apart from that, they were more than acceptable. The only study abroad experience I have is that I went to India for two and a half weeks two summers ago with my school, but I’ve never even been outside of the country other than that. I told also indicated that I studied Urdu at home.
Child is semi finalist for Turkey. Anyone have thoughts whether they will be running the Turkey program this year? If not, does it default to second choice?
It seems to be my impression that beyond meeting the GPA requirement, NSLI-Y isn’t too concerned with grades and extracurriculars. What matters to them seems to be essays that convey a student is mature and capable of committing to and doing well with cultural exchange, as well as that they have a clear plan for how they’re going to use the critical language they learn in their future educational and career goals. This isn’t to say that you aren’t mature or capable of handling cultural exchange if you didn’t get accepted, just that your essays may not have necessarily conveyed it to the fullest extent.
@LaDolceVitaVII I don’t know with regards for your specific case, but they do say they are also looking for mature, self-directed, responsible 16 to 18 year olds. They look for students who have their wits about them and have the resourcefulness to conduct themselves well in a totally new environment. I think they are looking for fit and motivation, more than academic accomplishment. Perhaps the fact that you already have experienced a program in India made them want to give it to someone who has not had such an opportunity. As for myself, I have never been outside of the USA and I told them that. You sound like a very strong applicant, and we are all just speculating. Try again!
My kid was selected as SF for Chinese summer. Kid is elated.
@LaDolceVitaVII NSLI supposedly only really looks at your essays for the first cut. You say your essays were acceptable, but this being a scholarship with a 15% acceptance rate, you might want them to really stand out and be exceptional. Only 1/3 of the applicants make the semis cut. If you’d like to discuss more just go ahead and message me; I’m willing to offer constructive criticism/advice.
@haylier Thanks for letting me know! Could you tell me which platform it is on and how I can join?
If anyone is doing Arabic summer and wants to start a semi finalist gc, let me know