<p>Hi, I was just wondering if anyone applied for the NSLI-Y program this year, and if you did, when do we hear whether or not we are accepted as semi-finalists or not? If you attended this program in the past, any information about the program would be great! I read a lot about it, and I seemed wonderful, but firsthand information is always really cool. Thanks!</p>
<p>They started sending the semi-finalist emails the other day. You should be getting yours soon. What languages did you choose? (I chose Arabic, Chinese, Hindi)</p>
<p>Congratulations! I got accepted as a semi- finalist too; I just got my email. 
I applied for China, Hindi, and Korea. If we both get in, we may be in the same group!</p>
<p>Congrats guys! I’m a semifinalist for (Hindi, Arabic, any) just had my interview today. Have you had yours yet?</p>
<p>I have my interview this weekend. Hopefully everything goes well!</p>
<p>Wow, all these people applied to Hindi nice</p>
<p>I found out I got in on March 31st!</p>
<p>Honest opinion:</p>
<p>India’s amazing. School is complicated because the Indian teachers didn’t really know how to teach a language that all of them have known their entire lives. Complaining to a counselor or a teacher is futile. However, you will definitely learn just from interactions and your host family. My host family was absolutely amazing, but not everyone was that lucky. You definitely have to be chill and up to do anything. India’s crowded, privacy is nonexistent at home, and if you’re white or black you stand out (of course). Cows do wander, but more in the suburbs. </p>
<p>Indian kids are very dependent on their parents and it can be a little constraining as an American. Traffic is crazy. Indians like to dance and/or sing, you’ll never get away from it. Hinduism is extremely prevalent, including in schools. Doesn’t matter if you or your classmates are Sikh, Christian, Jewish, or Muslim… you will be doing Hindu shlokas/ceremonies/temple visits. Pakistan doesn’t get mentioned often. No one is ever on time and miscommunication happens. Bollywood- love it or hate it. Everyone will ask if you have a boyfriend/girlfriend. Some kids asked me if I’ve had sex, LOL</p>
<p>I’ve barely covered the first 0.00001% of all I got in from India, and I was only there for 6 weeks.</p>
<p>emorylegacy: that sounds really cool!</p>
<p>I just had my interview today, and I think it went pretty well. At the end, my interviewer told me that she thought I was perfect for the program, but she said that I should not be worried if I didn’t get in; it wasn’t anything about me, just that there were too many applicants. Good or bad? I’m so nervous…</p>
<p>I had my (phone) interview on Sunday (Jan. 22). My interviewer was really nice. He asked a lot about my application/resume and had a LOT of yes/no questions. He said that the questions they gave him this year was different from previous years, so I don’t know if the youtube/blog tips floating around online will be much help. But there are still scenario questions. I had, “If your host family or classmate said that your American accent was difficult to understand, what would you say to them?” </p>
<p>In other news, my family is starting to have doubts about the Arabic and Chinese program. Egypt and Jordan are probably out (with the issues with the Islamists and the strait). Apparently, an American news reporter was raped in Morocco. And it sounds like there’s a bird flue outbreak in Beijing. If this keeps up, I may end up in India (assuming I get accepted). That’s okay though cuz I’d get to see a bunch of you guys!!! :D</p>
<p>FYI, you get accepted for a particular country. It is not possible to change your country choice after you are accepted so if you feel strongly about changing country preferences, you should contact them now.</p>
<p>Sorry about the confusion. When I said “out”, I meant NSLI-Y might throw it out. Didn’t they do something similar for the kids in Egypt? I heard that the NSLI-Y group in Egypt went to Jordan instead because of the Arab Spring. idk… I totally understand what you mean though. I signed up for Arabic, Chinese, and Hindi, so if the first two are canceled or whatever, then I’d end up with my 3rd choice in India. ;)</p>
<p>OMG! I’m so excited!!! (assuming I get in, of course). I am honestly obsessed with NSLI-Y blogs, youtube videos about trips, etc… I feel like I should stop reading everyone;s stories, I would be SUPER bummed out if I didn’t get in… 
[anxious]</p>
<p>I hear you, Nagela. I am just sooooo excited and anxious for this program. I have only heard great things about it and am really interested in the countries I applied to. I am kinda scared that I seemed to formal in my interview, and I am really regretting that now >< oh well what can you do</p>
<p>They might like it if you were more formal, it just depends on what they were looking for. Formal means you presented yourself in a really good light, so that’s most likely a good thing. Best of luck!</p>
<p>I was so excited when I saw the AFS NSLI-Y email. I was starting to get super excited! Early admission, here we come, I thought!..And then I opened the email and it was just the survey. So disappointing… That probably also had something to do with my lack of reading the subject line…</p>
<p>Hey everyone, I’m a two time NSLI-Yer to Russia, so if you have any questions about the application process or specifically Russia, let me know.</p>