According to my kid who did Beijing AY Program, Beijing location offers the most intense language learning experience, even though other locations might offer more “fun”. Also, they divide the groups into two groups – Regular and Advanced – in various areas such as Listening, Writing and Speaking; and as such, Advanced group goes a little faster. Some kids who get placed into Regular group petition for transfer when they feel that they should belong in Advanced group. The Chinese teachers are serious about teaching Mandarin and are generally good teachers.
Several kids end up passing HSK Level 6 test rather handily which is supposedly the highest level test for non-Chinese. After one completes the AY Program and returns to USA, they also give a speaking and listening test over the phone and issues a Certificate based on this testing.
Although the language learning is intensive at Beijing location, I was pleasantly surprised that the kids did many fun activities officially sponsored by the Program. My kid told me that all the kids in the program tried to be inclusive and tried to support each other and never excluded anyone. In fact, many of them ended up crying when they were about to return home at the end of the program. My kid feels that he really learned a lot about other kids from various parts of USA.
I think we only talked to our kid around 3 times total in 10 months because we wanted to leave our kid alone and experience being by himself. My wife loved the fact that she did not have to cook for him. lol
All I know is it was weird to hear him be able to converse in Mandarin for 20 minutes after he returned home. Actually, he seemed to converse better in Mandarin than in English. lol Our kid is now taking the highest level of Mandarin offered at his undergraduate college, and if he wishes to pursue a higher level, he has to “petition” to take a graduate level class in Mandarin. IMO 1 year of AY Program is equivalent to 4 years of college classes AT LEAST.
@duniiela There’s no way… My interviewer said that less people applied this year because of current issues (safety and otherwise) around the world. They’d have to add more spots to keep the acceptance rate the same and from what I’ve read, funding has been cut to federal exchange programs. I’m not too sure though. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Typically around ~3300 students apply every year. After talking to current program staff and alumni representatives, the number is close to that this year as well.
I’m not entirely certain but when I did Morocco summer last year, I did not see any rules in the guidelines about dress, (which were very conservative) regarding tattoos. Additionally, the head of the program I attended has a large, visable tattoo. I do not know how this would apply to other programs, however. @interestedtraveler7
@anderph This is what NSLI-Y said on the Ask Alumni Facebook Page:
“All semi-finalists are still in consideration unless they receive a notification otherwise. We consider semi-finalists for both first and second choice. Sometimes, we are able to make late additions, too. We advise all applicants, however, to keep various options open.”
So it’s definitely possible to get an email later. For example, my mentor’s student got an acceptance for China on April 1st, which was the same day that rejection letters came out.
Sounds like the Korea summer finalist notifications are coming out now, and that should wrap up summer. Ready for daughter’s AY decision to come out…April 23 is closer than it was yesterday! Best of luck to all!