Do you want to apply?

Does this all sound interesting to you? Do you want to do this? If you answered yes, then I 100% encourage you to apply.

NSLI-Y stands for National Security Language Initiative for Youth. It is funded by the state department and allows for kids my age to travel around the world, to another country, to not only learn but experience the culture.

So here are the steps to applying:

STEP ONE: APPLICATION
This year, when I applied, the deadline for ALL applications and paperwork was October 29, 2015 at 4 PM EST. So my guess is that it will be similar for all other years. So I would recommend that around August-September, you start looking and filling out the application. But do not be overwhelmed because the application is not too bad. I myself waited till the last minute, of course. I had completely forgot about NSLI-Y when I was searching for summer internships and around October 20, I stumbled among it and instantly started applying. But it did take up a lot of my time, since I only had a little over a week to complete it. So yes, please plan ahead! When writing your essays, really try to portray why you want to be in the program and how you will use the skills you learned overseas when you return back home. NSLI-Y is really interested in spreading cultural knowledge so research/ think about how you can tie in your experience with your life back home.

STEP TWO: WAIT/ SEMIFINALS
After you submit you application, you must wait. You'll get an email around January telling you if you were selected to be a semifinalists. If you are not, it is not the end of the world. You can always apply the next year. Also, usually there is over 2,000 people applying all over America, and they only select 200 as semifinalists, so it is very competitive.
 But if you are, congratulations, you made it to the next round. Now, you must be interviewed. After you confirm that you want to move on to the next selection process, you will receive another email talking about interviews. Generally, they will pick a central locations for a few applicants and schedule interviews at that location. Since I live in Maryland, my interview took place at George Washington University in D.C. Don't worry, the interview locations are always within an hour drive from your house, so you don't need to take a huge road trip for this. But some people have interviews via skype or even the phone, if they live in the middle of nowhere, far away from other applicants.
My interviewing experience went great. It is more of a conversation than an interview. To prepare I practiced answering questions I thought they would ask.

For example here are a few questions and my answers:
Q) What if your host family is really protected and does not let you participate in activities that other students are doing, how would you react?
A) Of course, I may be a little disappointed but I think having the opportunity to live with a host family would be the best activity for me. I would not mind spending extra time with my host family and bonding with them.
Q) Would you be open to going to church with your host family?
A) Although I may not agree with their religion, I think visiting their church with them would be a great experience. If the opportunity was presented, I would go because it would teach me more about the Chinese culture from a different viewpoint.
Q) What if at the end of the day, your host family left you alone and did not interact with you much, what would you do?
A) I would respect their decision and give them space but I would also try to take an interest in their lives. For example, if I had a host sibling I would suggest that we do things together like swimming or watching a movie or other things they enjoy doing.
Q) How would you react if someone came up to you in the street and wanted to talk to you and take pictures with you?
A) It would be weird, but I think it would be fun and a good way to practice my Chinese with locals. I would take as many pictures as they would like.

Those are just a few. As you can see they are mostly "What if" questions, They are interested in seeing how you react with a different culture and if you are able to adapt to change. Also remember that it is okay to pause before you answer. After they ask you a question, try to collect your thoughts and think about your answer before you say anything, this will minimize words like "um" and "like".

STEP THREE; WAIT (AGAIN)
After your interview, you one job is to wait for yet another email to arrive in your mailbox. Mine came around the end of March-early April. You will get an email with a document attached. The email context doesn't tell you if you got in, the document does, so just skip the email and go straight to opening the document.
It will be an offical NSLI-Y document informing you if you got the scholarship or not. Again, do not be sad if you are not choo. It is just an honor to be selected as a semifinalists. And you can re-apply!!!

Hope this helped and gave you more information about the application process.

For more information, visit: http://www.nsliforyouth.org/