2022-23 NSLI-Y and YES Abroad Interview Season Update

2022-23 NSLI-Y and YES Abroad Interview Season Update

Please note that this message is internal and for reference by AFS-USA Volunteers regarding the upcoming NSLI-Y and YES Abroad interview season.

Dear NSLI-Y and YES Abroad Interviewers,

Every fall, we turn our attention to the upcoming NSLI-Y and YES Abroad interview season. AFS-USA collaborates with the U.S. Department of State and American Councils to conduct interviews for over 1,000 NSLI-Y and YES Abroad scholarship candidates. This is a significant undertaking, and we could not interview so many wonderful and motivated NSLI-Y and YES Abroad candidates without AFS-USA volunteers serving as Interviewers and Coordinators! The AFS-USA staff greatly appreciates your continued dedication and hard work!

While details for the upcoming interview season are still being finalized, current circumstances will make this interview season unique. The following are some of the confirmed changes for this season.

  • Format: The U.S. Department of State has informed us that interviews may be conducted in both virtual and in-person settings this season, based on local conditions and the comfort of the interviewer and candidate. On a local basis, volunteers may opt to schedule interviews in-person or virtually. If the interview is scheduled for in-person, we ask volunteers to respect the wishes of any candidate who feels more comfortable with a virtual interview.

We will share tools and training for connecting with applicants and conducting interviews virtually.

Our goal is to be cognizant of the needs of interviewers, candidates, coordinators, and teams. We hope to thoughtfully engage with all stakeholders as we navigate this upcoming season.

  • Timeline: We expect all candidate names will be shared with Interview Coordinators in mid-December. This is a change from the previous season, when candidate names were available on a rolling basis. We hope this shift will help area teams in managing the logistics of interviews. All interview forms must be returned to AFS-USA staff within 3 days of the interview occurring.
  • Virtual Interviewer Group: In order to build a national group of volunteers who are interested in conducting virtual interviews with candidates living around the U.S. (nationwide) and overseas, we are developing a “Virtual Interviewer Group.” We ask for your support in developing this Virtual Interviewer Group by registering here if you’re interested in joining us: https://www.jotform.com/form/212836258524156 
    • Interview Coordinators: If you are an Interview Coordinator, please reach out to your volunteers and ask them to complete the registration form by November 30 if they are interested in virtually interviewing NSLI-Y and YES Abroad candidates nationwide.
    • Interviewers: If you are already a NSLI-Y/YES Abroad interviewer, or would like to become one, and are interested in interviewing candidates virtually nationwide, kindly complete the registration form by  November 30.

We will continue to update volunteers as details and logistics are determined for the season. We’re grateful for your continued support of the NSLI-Y and YES Abroad programs and future applicants, we’re looking forward to another interview season!

Don’t forget, as of this posting, two U.S. Department of State programs for Americans –CBYX and YES Abroad—are accepting applications nationwide for the 2022-23 program cycle! Please refer to this previous MyAFS News post to learn more and find our program-specific contact details and social media links.

With our appreciation and best wishes,

The NSLI-Y and YES Abroad Interviews Team