Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the scholarship offer?
- What costs are covered by the NSLI-Y scholarships?
- What costs are not covered by the NSLI-Y scholarships?
- What happens after I submit my application?
- How do I get a passport?
- Am I required to have a passport by the due date of the application?
- Can non-U.S. citizens, including permanent residents, participate in NSLI-Y?
- Are home-schooled students eligible?
- I have been having technical difficulties with the web-site. Can you email me the application?
- How do I submit downloadable forms? How do I submit my academic records/transcripts?
- What effect will participating in a semester or academic-year program have on my academic career?
- Will participants be alone on the program or with a group?
- Do the students need to have a background in one of the NSLI-Y languages to be eligible to apply?
- Will there be any kind of language preparation before departure?
- Do host families speak any English? Does each student live by herself/himself with the host family?
- Is Country X safe?
- What should I do if my latest grades will not be posted until shortly after the application deadline?
- If I have already submitted my application, can I change my preferences for language and program length?
- If my parents are divorced, do they both need to sign the Parent's Statement and Terms and Conditions?
- Where will orientations take place, how long will they last, and what will they cover?
- Am I a semi-finalist?
- How will I find out if I have been selected for a scholarship?
Q: What does the scholarship offer?
A: NSLI-Y scholarships provide recipients with a study abroad experience administered by AFS Intercultural Programs, American Councils, iEARN-USA, or other academic exchange providing institution. All NSLI-Y programs include:
A: NSLI-Y scholarships provide recipients with a study abroad experience administered by AFS Intercultural Programs, American Councils, iEARN-USA, or other academic exchange providing institution. All NSLI-Y programs include:
- Pre-departure orientation
- Access to exclusive NSLI-Y online cultural and language resources
- In-country orientation and support
- Language and cultural instruction with opportunities to apply acquired skills and knowledge
- Field trips
- Community service projects
- Host family component
- Re-entry orientation
- Alumni activities, including access to the U.S. Department of State's State Alumni online community
Q: What costs are covered by the NSLI-Y scholarships?
A: The costs covered by the scholarship are:
- Round-trip travel between the participant's home region and the overseas host city
- Tuition and academic materials and preparation
- In-country support
- Cultural activities
- Pre-departure and re-entry orientations
- Modest stipend
- Room and board
- Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE) health benefits
- Visas
Q: What costs are not covered by the NSLI-Y scholarships?
A: The following costs are not covered:
- Costs associated with obtaining a U.S. passport
- Required medical examinations and immunizations
- Extra pocket money while on program
Q: What happens after I submit my application?
A: After you submit your application electronically, you will receive a confirmation email. Semi-finalists will be contacted for interviews on a rolling basis. All applicants will be notified by early April.
A: After you submit your application electronically, you will receive a confirmation email. Semi-finalists will be contacted for interviews on a rolling basis. All applicants will be notified by early April.
Q: How do I get a passport?
A: All selected participants will need a valid U.S. passport. If you already have a passport, it must be valid at least six months after intended date of return to the U.S. For information on obtaining a passport for the first time or renewing, please visit travel.state.gov .
A: All selected participants will need a valid U.S. passport. If you already have a passport, it must be valid at least six months after intended date of return to the U.S. For information on obtaining a passport for the first time or renewing, please visit travel.state.gov .
Q: Am I required to have a passport by the due date of the application?
A: No, although finalists for summer programs will need to have their passports by April 2010 in order to begin the visa application process. The length of time to complete the visa process varies from country to country. Passports must be valid for at least six months after intended return to the U.S.
A: No, although finalists for summer programs will need to have their passports by April 2010 in order to begin the visa application process. The length of time to complete the visa process varies from country to country. Passports must be valid for at least six months after intended return to the U.S.
Q: Can non-U.S. citizens, including permanent residents, participate in NSLI-Y?
A: No, only U.S. citizens are eligible to apply.
A: No, only U.S. citizens are eligible to apply.
Q: Are home-schooled students eligible?
A: Home schooled students are encouraged to apply. For home-schooled students, the teacher recommendation form must be completed by an adult who is not related to the student, but knows the student well and can attest to her/his readiness to be an exchange student. Possible individuals may include, but are not limited to scout leaders, coaches, clergy members, volunteer coordinators and instructors.
A: Home schooled students are encouraged to apply. For home-schooled students, the teacher recommendation form must be completed by an adult who is not related to the student, but knows the student well and can attest to her/his readiness to be an exchange student. Possible individuals may include, but are not limited to scout leaders, coaches, clergy members, volunteer coordinators and instructors.
Q: I have been having technical difficulties with the web-site. Can you email me the application?
A: If you have been experiencing technical difficulties, please email us at nsliy@americancouncils.org and we will assist you. All applications must be completed and submitted on-line.
A: If you have been experiencing technical difficulties, please email us at nsliy@americancouncils.org and we will assist you. All applications must be completed and submitted on-line.
Q: How do I submit downloadable forms? How do I submit my academic records/transcripts?
A: Please refer to the application for specific instructions about submitting required documents.
A: Please refer to the application for specific instructions about submitting required documents.
Q: What effect will participating in a semester or academic-year program have on my academic career?
A: Graduation requirements vary from state to state, so you should discuss your plans to participate in NSLI-Y with your Guidance Counselor. We also recommend that you find out in advance whether you may receive a credit in liberal arts subjects through participating in the program. The primary focus of NSLI-Y is language learning, and students will be attending academic classes in the target language. Your high school will make the final decision on whether or not to grant you academic credit. You should take into consideration that such U.S. specific subjects as English, Literature, World History, State History, etc. are unlikely to be offered at an equivalent level or offered at all, which is why you might want to arrange taking certain courses prior to or after your participation in the NSLI-Y program.
A: Graduation requirements vary from state to state, so you should discuss your plans to participate in NSLI-Y with your Guidance Counselor. We also recommend that you find out in advance whether you may receive a credit in liberal arts subjects through participating in the program. The primary focus of NSLI-Y is language learning, and students will be attending academic classes in the target language. Your high school will make the final decision on whether or not to grant you academic credit. You should take into consideration that such U.S. specific subjects as English, Literature, World History, State History, etc. are unlikely to be offered at an equivalent level or offered at all, which is why you might want to arrange taking certain courses prior to or after your participation in the NSLI-Y program.
Q: Will participants be alone on the program or with a group?
A: The students will travel to their host countries in groups. Students on summer programs will live in the same community and attend classes and activities together. Students pursuing semester- and year-long programs in many cases may live in the same community as other participants, though in other cases, they may be the only NSLI-Y student in their community or school. All participants will have a resident director and/or local coordinator available to them in the same community who will monitor and support them for the duration of the program.
A: The students will travel to their host countries in groups. Students on summer programs will live in the same community and attend classes and activities together. Students pursuing semester- and year-long programs in many cases may live in the same community as other participants, though in other cases, they may be the only NSLI-Y student in their community or school. All participants will have a resident director and/or local coordinator available to them in the same community who will monitor and support them for the duration of the program.
Q: Do the students need to have a background in one of the NSLI-Y languages to be eligible to apply?
A: Absolutely not! NSLI-Y is about increasing the number of Americans studying and speaking critical languages, so all levels of language experience and ability are encouraged to apply. Spots are available for all levels of learners, from absolute beginner to advanced.
A: Absolutely not! NSLI-Y is about increasing the number of Americans studying and speaking critical languages, so all levels of language experience and ability are encouraged to apply. Spots are available for all levels of learners, from absolute beginner to advanced.
Q: Will there be any kind of language preparation before departure?
A: Students will receive a variety of pre-departure information, which may include self-study language materials for language. All students will have access to an on-line program of preparation called Culture Trek. Students can also work in online Language Lounges with native speakers and others learning the same language. Some programs will also provide written or on-line materials. We strongly encourage finalists to begin studying the program language on their own before departure.
A: Students will receive a variety of pre-departure information, which may include self-study language materials for language. All students will have access to an on-line program of preparation called Culture Trek. Students can also work in online Language Lounges with native speakers and others learning the same language. Some programs will also provide written or on-line materials. We strongly encourage finalists to begin studying the program language on their own before departure.
Q: Do host families speak any English? Does each student live by herself/himself with the host family?
A: Host parents typically do not speak English, which will require students to use the target language at home. If the host family has teenaged children, they usually have studied some English and are often eager to use it. In the early stages of the host family stay this can help facilitate communication with other family members.
In most cases, only one exchange student lives with each host family.
A: Host parents typically do not speak English, which will require students to use the target language at home. If the host family has teenaged children, they usually have studied some English and are often eager to use it. In the early stages of the host family stay this can help facilitate communication with other family members.
In most cases, only one exchange student lives with each host family.
Q: Is Country X safe?
A: Student safety and security is the highest priority for NSLI-Y. The U.S. Department of State, in consultation with its embassies and missions overseas, approved all NSLI-Y host countries. The State Department and NSLI-Y Consortium continuously monitor events in host countries and are in contact with U.S. embassies and missions. All NSLI-Y students are registered at the U.S. Embassy or consulate in the host country. Students receive safety-awareness training and are well-oriented before departing from the U.S. to know what sort of risks are present in the host country and ways to handle potential problems. Living with a host family or in a closely monitored dormitory setting also increases student safety.
A: Student safety and security is the highest priority for NSLI-Y. The U.S. Department of State, in consultation with its embassies and missions overseas, approved all NSLI-Y host countries. The State Department and NSLI-Y Consortium continuously monitor events in host countries and are in contact with U.S. embassies and missions. All NSLI-Y students are registered at the U.S. Embassy or consulate in the host country. Students receive safety-awareness training and are well-oriented before departing from the U.S. to know what sort of risks are present in the host country and ways to handle potential problems. Living with a host family or in a closely monitored dormitory setting also increases student safety.
Q: What should I do if my latest grades will not be posted until shortly after the application deadline?
A: Applications without transcripts will not be reviewed, so be sure to have the transcript arrive by the deadline, even if the current semester grades are not available.
A: Applications without transcripts will not be reviewed, so be sure to have the transcript arrive by the deadline, even if the current semester grades are not available.
Q: If I have already submitted my application, can I change my preferences for language and program length?
A: If you are selected as a semi-finalist, please inform your interviewer of your new preference and send an email to nsliy@americancouncils.org notifying NSLI-Y of the change, as well.
A: If you are selected as a semi-finalist, please inform your interviewer of your new preference and send an email to nsliy@americancouncils.org notifying NSLI-Y of the change, as well.
Q: If my parents are divorced, do they both need to sign the Parent's Statement and Terms and Conditions?
A: If both parents have custody, they will both need to sign both forms.
A: If both parents have custody, they will both need to sign both forms.
Q: Where will orientations take place, how long will they last, and what will they cover?
A: Each administering organization conducts their own orientations, so location and duration will vary, though they usually last one or two days. The purpose of the orientation is to prepare you to be a safe and successful exchange student, so topics generally include information on health and safety, program information and schedules, information on the host country culture, culture shock and teambuilding activities.
A: Each administering organization conducts their own orientations, so location and duration will vary, though they usually last one or two days. The purpose of the orientation is to prepare you to be a safe and successful exchange student, so topics generally include information on health and safety, program information and schedules, information on the host country culture, culture shock and teambuilding activities.
Q: Am I a semi-finalist?
A: If you have not received an email from American Councils notifying you that you are no longer a candidate for the NSLI-Y 2010-2011 programs, then you are a semi-finalist. If you have not received this email and still have not been contacted by an AFS volunteer about an interview, please contact AFS at 1-800-876-2376, ext. 1165 to schedule an interview. All interviews should be completed by the week of February 16th.
A: If you have not received an email from American Councils notifying you that you are no longer a candidate for the NSLI-Y 2010-2011 programs, then you are a semi-finalist. If you have not received this email and still have not been contacted by an AFS volunteer about an interview, please contact AFS at 1-800-876-2376, ext. 1165 to schedule an interview. All interviews should be completed by the week of February 16th.
Q: How will I find out if I have been selected for a scholarship?
A: Volunteer evaluators are currently reading NSLI-Y applications at American Councils and will continue to do so throughout February and March. All applicants will be notified via email in April whether or not they have been selected for a NSLI-Y 2010-2011 program. Those applicants awarded scholarships will receive information about the specific program for which they are selected at time of notification. Please note that all contact regarding your NSLI-Y application will be sent to the email address you supplied in your application. Please do not call or email American Councils or AFS to find out if you have been selected; NSLI-Y staff will inform you as soon as information is available.
A: Volunteer evaluators are currently reading NSLI-Y applications at American Councils and will continue to do so throughout February and March. All applicants will be notified via email in April whether or not they have been selected for a NSLI-Y 2010-2011 program. Those applicants awarded scholarships will receive information about the specific program for which they are selected at time of notification. Please note that all contact regarding your NSLI-Y application will be sent to the email address you supplied in your application. Please do not call or email American Councils or AFS to find out if you have been selected; NSLI-Y staff will inform you as soon as information is available.
Version 5 last updated on February 16, 2010
