It’s Advice Time

So, I just got a message today asking for some help with the application, and I realized that there are only 10 days left until the due date! So, as promised, I’m going to give my expert, amazing, brilliant advice (I’m joking of course, please use my advice to your own discretion as I do not speak on behalf of NSLI-Y). 

Choosing a Language

By this point, I’m guessing most people have already chosen, but in case there’s any hesitation, keep these points in mind:

• Choose the language that sparks the most joy – By this, I mean pick a language that has some kind of significance to you besides “it’ll look good on my resume” or “I’ve been studying it for years, so why not?” NSLI-Y is looking for people who are genuinely interested in language learning, so don’t worry too much about whether a language program is easier to get accepted into. 
• Don’t be worried if you have too much or too little experience in a language – This goes back to point 1, but NSLI-Y accepts language learners of all levels, so don’t worry too much about that. Never studied a lick of Korean? Doesn’t matter as long as you show dedication. Already studied Russian for several years? Doesn’t matter as long as you believe (and can show) that you can still learn more from the program. 
• For year vs. summer – there are a lot of factors that go into this decision but some general guiding points are:
  • Am I mentally prepared to spend an entire year abroad?
  • Will I be able to re-apply to NSLI-Y next year? (If so, you might consider trying summer first and then year.)
  • (For seniors) Am I financially/logistically capable of taking a gap year? Do program dates interfere with any important school-related dates?
  • What would be the benefits/drawbacks of year vs. summer for me?

Teacher Recommendation

If you haven’t asked already I would ask now. The general rule of thumb is two weeks notice (I’d even say three weeks since we are in college application season and many teachers are busy). But, if you haven’t asked yet, here are my tips:

• Choose a professor that knows you well, preferably outside of the classroom -You’ll hear this a lot, but it’s worth repeating. Don’t ask your language teacher just because they’re your language teacher. Try to ask someone who can speak about you personally. Remember, the aim of the teacher recommendation is to let the reviewer know more about you from the perspective of someone else. You don’t want to ask just any teacher, and have them write “Johnny did well in my class (but that’s all I can really say).” Try to ask a teacher that knows you as more than just another face in their class. 
  • For me, I chose my world history teacher. He was notoriously tough, but I managed to get a pretty good grade and ended up being a volunteer tutor for his class. 
• But what if I’m not that close to any of my teachers? – Never fear, there is a way to compensate. Heck, even if your teacher does know you well, I’d recommend doing something like this. 
  • Consider picking a teacher that you’ve had recently and done well in their class. Extra points if you’ve had them for more than one class. 
  • Make an appointment to talk to them in person. If they don’t know you very well, then asking them in person (versus email) can make the request feel more genuine.
  • For the meeting, prepare a folder with information about the program, logistical information about the recommendation process, and any relevant information about you (like a resume or copies of your essays – even if they’re incomplete). 
  • During the meeting, talk about the program and your motivations for applying. If they are willing to write you a recommendation, leave them the informational folder. 
• Don’t be afraid to point out specific parts you might want mentioned in the recommendation. 
• Finally, make sure to check in on the teacher – make sure they received the email, and send them a reminder if necessary (I’d say about a week before the due date).

Essays 

And now for everyone’s favorite part – essay writing! 

Some general tips:

• Write early and revise often – Your first draft will most likely be pretty crappy. That’s okay. Writing is a process, not a destination. So, don’t be worried if you end up revising it a lot or even scrapping your original idea. 
• If you’re stuck, try a brain dump – You might run into some writer’s block (I know I did). There’s no guaranteed way to get over it, but I’ve found brain dumps can be quite helpful. Brain dumps can take many forms, but the general idea is to just get ideas out of your head. You can write down everything and anything relating to the prompt, dictate your ideas out loud and record them, or have a friend/family member listen to you rant and help you form a clear idea. 
• Have other people read over your essay – At some point, you will have read your essay so many times that you can’t tell whether it’s good or bad. So, get some help! I’d recommend asking at least one person who knows you (like a teacher or family member) and one person who doesn’t (like an alumna of the program). This way, you can get different perspectives. I’d also recommend clearly stating what you want them to focus on (whether it’s composition, idea/theme, or general grammatical proofreading). 

Now, I can’t give that much advice when it comes to the specific essays, but it’s important to keep in mind that each essay has its own role in the overall application. 

• The “Why This Language” Essay – This one gives your reason for the specific language you chose. I’d say focus on no more than two points (choose three only if all of the points are strong – there’s not much space in this essay, so everything has to be impactful). Talk about particular locations with caution – remember that this is language program, and many languages have multiple program locations. 
• The “Why NSLI-Y” Essay – This should not have much overlap with the previous essay. Remember, each essay has its purpose, so you should make the most of each one. Focus on why NSLI-Y would be beneficial to you (as opposed to other programs/traditional classroom study). Think about the program as a whole, rather than just focusing on the language aspect. 
• The “Choose One of Two Topics” Essay – This one gives insight on how you respond to certain situations or gives more information about your personality and life path. Choose whichever one you think you can write more about. Generally, for these types of prompts, it can be helpful to center the essay around a particular event or situation (but this is not necessary). Focus on what you did versus what happened (in other words, put yourself in an active role). 
• The Host Letter – This one is the longest essay, and for good reason. It can give a lot of insight into your overall personality and life. It’s okay for this one to have a more informal tone, just don’t go too far with it. Think about the essay like you’re writing an actual letter to your host family – what do you want them to know about you?

Hopefully this is a little bit helpful as you prepare your application! Like I said last post, I’m more than happy to answer any questions or read over essays (just send me a message through this blog). I’d also recommend checking out the Ask NSLY-Y Alumni or the NSLI-Y Applicants and Alumni Facebook pages.