Please don’t be too disappointed folks! Read below for a Plan B that might work out even better than your Plan A…
I decided to write this because I see so many of you reporting how disheartened you are because today is the day you found out that you will not be going to YYGS this summer.
So! If you didn’t make it into YYGS, have no fear, there is an alternative program called Global Scholar and they are still accepting applicants 
Global Scholar is a two week summer program based at the American University in Washington DC, during the month of July. They now have four sessions available across grades 9/10 and 11/12 and it costs about half the amount of YYGS and they award financial aid scholarships to about 40% of their applicants. It is for US-based and international youth so it doesn’t matter where you’re from.
In terms of learning, at Global Scholar you’ll learn international affairs, social change-making, and global citizenship through a diverse range of learning formats. For example, you’ll attend expert panel discussions and seminars at org HQs such as The World Bank, United Nations Foundation, and Save the Children where you’ll be meeting experts present, debate, and discuss global challenges and the SGDS. You’ll also meet high profile figures such as ambassadors and senator/reps at international embassies and Capitol Hill. Not to mention the skill-building workshops that you’ll attending on campus and all the extra-curricular activities that you’ll be getting up to in your spare time.
There’s so much that I haven’t mentioned about Global Scholar because I’ll just go on and on. But the moral of the story is that there is life beyond being accepted into YYGS… and even Global Scholar. You can always find an alternative when you are self-assured and hard-working. So keep applying
And just remember, prestige and price don’t always automatically mean top quality. What Global Scholar is really good at helping you do is not only shaking hands with the decision-makers but also how you then apply all the knowledge and skill you have for social change and a purpose-driven career!
Good luck with all your summers and remember CHIN UP!
P.s. Disclaimer: I attended Global Scholars a few years ago and loved it so much that I am now working for the organization. So while the above might be a little biased, it is a true reflection of how I feel according to my personal experience of Global Scholar. If you don’t believe me, you can find other alumni reviewing Global Scholar and you’ll see for yourself!