If it were me, I would accept the NSLI-Y scholarship. You don’t want to risk not studying abroad, because you said no to NSLI-Y. And, you don’t know that CBYX will accept you. What region of CBYX are you in, and when is your interview?
Hey guys!
I’ve been following along with this thread for the past few months anonymously and have just decided to join to discussion to subside some of the angst I have about waiting for finalist selections.
I’m a semi-finalist with ASSE in the bay area region, and I just had my interview this last Sunday.
It was super laid back, everyone was really cool! I was the only guy there though; weird.
They’re informing us on/before the 20th, so fingers crossed! Haven’t been able to sleep thinking about it every night though. Counting down the these next 16 days.
Good luck to those who haven’t had their interviews yet!
@waldeinsamkeit You need to speak with NSLI-Y and ask for an extension - don’t worry, you’re not the only person to have this problem, and I would think they would be flexible about people applying to multiple scholarships (there are some people who apply to all three DOS scholarships). I would think they would allow you to decide once you heard back from CBYX. Definitely do this - speak to NSLI-Y. If I am accepted to CBYX, I will have the exact same problem (waiting to hear back from YES Abroad), so it’s not uncommon. Talk to NSLI-Y.
@evan241 @linzyh Wow I am so grateful to have heard from you so soon! I am in the AFS region of CBYX and already had my interview on January 31-ish. Thanks for your advice @evan241 . I felt rather uncomfortable calling, thinking there was nothing that could be done except make a blind decision. Have people received extensions in the past? I recall my interviewer for NSLI-Y (who was also one of my interviewers for CBYX!) telling me that I would know about both scholarships around the same time and that I would not have this issue but it seems the dates for notifications are extremely varied depending on country and organization.
@waldeinsamkeit definitely ask for an extension! also, if they don’t allow that, you could probably accept CBYX and then drop out if you get into NSLI-Y and want that one more. I mean, they have alternates for a reason, right?
@SirVinnie welcome and congratulations! I know it’s unrelated, but I grew up around Walnut Creek 
(Lafayette, specifically, if you know the place)
So how are you guys going to deal with credits? I’m thinking about self-studying AP Lang and APUSH, and doing my math course over the summer, but it seems like a lot to handle in a foreign environment! If I stay in the US, I’ll miss taking three other APs, which I’m a little worried about…I’m sure that exchange is worth more as an experience, though!
@petitlion I would graduate early if I got CBYX, but for my first exchange, my school just asked me to provide and translate my transcript, and they gave me credits accordingly. It completely depends on your particular school.
Do online classes now/the summer before/when you get back. Definitely don’t do them on exchange. Taking classes in English (especially Lang) would be a huuuuge distraction from language immersion (I say this as someone who forgot a ton of English and couldn’t string a coherent sentence together after a few months hehe). Don’t worry 
A ton of kids take X number of APs, but veeeery few study abroad for a full year on full government scholarships. You aren’t “missing” anything
Hey guys! I applied for CBYX 2015-2016 as well! @evan241, I’m also from the AFS region and I’d love to read your essays!
just wanted to say good luck to everyone! I took NSLI-Y and am no longer eligible for CBYX. If you write blogs you should really post links here, I’d love to read.
@waldeinsamkeit Same to you! Let us know if you are going to keep a blog! Where was your interview in the AFS region?
Well I am super happy to announce that I received a call this morning and…I GOT CBYX! I’m going abroad guys!!
Congrats!!! that’s wonderful! I have my interview this week, hopefully I’ll get in too
hey thanks cblake233 ! Not sure if I’ll blog…but maybe. My interview was in the AFS, yes. And congrats evan241 !
Ah, Congratulations Evan! And @linzyh i’m totally ready for this interview I feel like we’re missing out since everybody has already had it and heard back!
@KendallAnon I feel the same way. I really want to be done with my interview. and, I’m not as nervous as before, because everyone has been saying that the interviewers are really nice, and the interview is really relaxed
Thanks guys! Hehe, it’s only AFS that’s started to hear back, almost everyone is still waiting. You guys will do wonderful, I know it!
Congrats Evan! They picked 5 people per state (what my friend said that got chosen). 4 people from my interview got the scholarship! Sadly I wasn’t called, but maybe I am an alternate! Who knows! I’m waiting on the email that holds that fate. I am excited to apply next year if not.
@cblake233 Five people per state? Wow! You may be an alternate, and if you are, don’t fret - a lot of alternates end up dropping their spot (maybe not a lot, but I remember that when I was an alternate, I dropped by spot and at least two others did too). Plus several of us finalists(me included) are still waiting to hear back from other scholarships, so a couple of people may end up turning down scholarships because of that. Definitely apply again, though, if you’re not selected! I was selected as an alternate in my freshman year (turned down the spot to go abroad with another scholarship), and, well…the second time was the charm for me! Good luck
Wait, 5 people per state? @cblake233 ?
Yes @kendallanon for the AFS region.
Thanks Evan this isn’t a dream I am going to give up on!