How do I become a FLEX finalist?

In 2018, I successfully qualified for the FLEX exchange program, which sends high school students from the former Soviet Union and Eurasia to study for one academic year in an American high school for free, and provides a scholarship and living in a carefully selected host family. Since the program's inception, more than 28,000 students have received scholarships and gone on exchange for a year.

Facts about the program: 

• The FLEX program is organized by the American Councils for International Education, which selects students, arranges flights, etc.

• The scholarship covers everything related to flight, living in America, living with a host family, going to an American school, health insurance, and participating in local community events. There are three stages of the selection process, which include an English test, essay writing, an interview with a native speaker, and completing a questionnaire.

• The results of the selection process are announced in late spring by calling the participants, they leave at the end of July to early September and come back in May/June of the following year.

Match the grade level and certain age criteria (there are differences depending on the country). For example, Kazakh applicants need to be in 8th, 9th, 10th grade, or the first year of college/lyceum at the end of 9th grade and have a birth date between January 1, 2003, and July 15, 2005.

1. I Tour 

   On the first round of FLEX, each participant takes a 15-minute English test. Excellent English is not the main selection criterion, but each participant must have at least a basic knowledge of the language. You do not need an application to participate in the first round. It is enough to come on the test writing day and get the necessary participant registration form. You only need to bring your ID/passport/birth certificate, «Consent to Process Personal Data» (can be found on the official program website), a 3 by 4 photo, and a pen. If you want to take textbooks, dictionaries, and the like with you, you can use them only before you write the test. Taking out these materials, phones, or cribs during the test is strictly prohibited and is punishable by the removal of the participant from the classroom - automatic expulsion from the program. Tips for the first round: 

   • Start with text.

   • No uncolored answers.

   • First, answer the easier questions.

   • Check answers if there is time left.

     Second Round

     The second round consists of writing 3 essays in English in 35 minutes. A list of official essay topics can be found on the website. To prepare for the 2nd round, you need to find someone who knows you well, and together with him/her briefly answers each question. That way, if any of the topics you come across on the actual round, you will already know what to answer. It is also advisable to choose about 3 topics from the list and write an essay on them in English for a while so that you understand how you should distribute them on the day of the competition. While writing the essay, you should not touch the topic of politics, religion, breaking the law, and the like, or write that you only want to go to the United States for food or travel. At the same time, it is important to show that you have qualities such as independence, responsibility, an open mind, and communication skills.

     Third round 

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     The third round is a two-day selection process. The first day is an essay and language test, the second day is a group game and an interview. You are also given a questionnaire to fill out 2-3 weeks in advance and mail to the American Councils' office in your country.

     In the 3rd round, you write 2 essays in 45 minutes. The topics, writing rules, and tips remain the same as in the 2nd round. The only difference is that more of the essay topics will focus on why exactly you should be an exchange student. That's why you need to go over the main goals of the program, such as cultural exchange and improving the relationship between the United States and the participating countries, and write in your essay how you can make them a reality. SLEP consists of 2 sections (listening and reading), each section consists of 75 questions that take 45 minutes to answer. Some tips to prepare: watch TV shows in English, listen to audiobooks or podcasts, read books or magazines, and review basic grammar.

     The next stage of the selection process is a team game of 5-6 people in which you must show your leadership skills. The topic of the game can be anything from staging a skit or debate to surviving on a desert island. The game is overseen by two representatives from the American Councils, who take notes at the same time and interview each participant individually. During the game, it pays to be yourself, be polite, and not interrupt other participants.

     Interviews or interviews are conducted to get to know the participant better. Some of the questions are in English, while the rest are in Russian or the participant's native language. Just like essays, the questions are structured to understand you from a psychological point of view and how you will behave in certain situations. Very often, they can be confusing to a semifinalist, but it's important to stay calm and analyze your answers in the same way you would in an essay.

     After passing all stages of the selection process, the participant is given a few weeks to complete a questionnaire that includes information about the semifinalist's grades and health, a host family letter, and additional information about the participant. Participants will find out their status in late April or early May by phone call.

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     Aelita Khusnutdinova

     FLEX 2018 finalist

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