How to become a YEAR program finalist in the United States
Hello! After nearly two months of delay, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow has finally announced the enrollment for the new stream of the U.S. «YEAR Program» exchange program.
Program website, where it is necessary to fill out an application form and attach all necessary documents, and group in VK.
The finalists of the program thought they were the last stream and there would be no more program. That didn't happen, and now the new kids have an exciting stage in their lives ahead of them.
I forgot to introduce myself: my name is Denis, and this year I became a finalist for the YEAR – a program that allows you, as you already realized, to go to the US for a whole year for absolutely FREE. I am currently studying international relations at West Virginia University. This post is about my personal experience of qualifying for YEAR, but will also be helpful to anyone who is applying to exchange programs, as the selection process is similar for everyone.
Who is the program for? I would say it is for young, active Russians who want to make a difference in the world. Don't think getting into the U.S. is unrealistic! Read the article to the end and you'll see that it's possible.
You'll see that it is possible.
Why is that? Because I, and many of the guys in the program, still don't understand why we were chosen.
Because I, and many of the guys in the program, still don't understand why we were chosen.
Basic program conditions for V stream YEAR:
Age: The 2020-2021 set will consist of finalists who were born no earlier than 5/08/1999 and no later than 25/07/2002;
Russian citizenship (the program does not allow applicants from CIS countries);
Excellent English proficiency (all semifinalists must pass the TOEFL exam)
Graduated high school by July 2020 and enrolled in the first two years of the 4-year program or the first three years of the 5-year program in Russia.
Brief description of the program:
The participant of the program goes to a university or college in the United States for one year completely free of charge. The host takes care of all expenses: TOEFL exam (one of the stages of the program), flight, accommodation, tuition, meals, as well as additional expenses, for which a stipend is paid (stream 2019-2020 - $175 per month). In addition to direct study at U.S. universities, finalists attend a five-day orientation in Washington, DC.
First step – applying.
While many finalists say that all stages in the selection process weigh the same, I believe that the most important stage – the first. I'll explain why in a moment.
In the questionnaire, you fill out all the information that the organizers will be looking at throughout the year. In it, the potential finalist lists accomplishments, writes an essay, and encloses 2 letters of recommendation from teachers. (This year, ONE letter of recommendation is required of you). When deciding, the organizers, in addition to your TOEFL score (you must score a 60+), also analyze how the participant performed in the interview. Imagine: each organizer has an average of 20 to 30 interviews in a month, and you need to make sure you are remembered. But not all guys can get up to speed quickly in a Skype interview, which of course is still in English. Guys would get disconnected, the microphone wouldn't work properly, etc. All this affects the overall impression of the person. Once again: you can pass TOEFL with a low score, stammer at the interview, even forget English, but if you do your best on the application, fill it out «properly» then your chances are much higher than «just pass the second stage». You could win and go to the United States for a year. So can all the finalists, like me.
So what does it take to get a good application?
The idea or the story. Your questionnaire should give the organizers a complete picture of who you are. From my point of view, a finalist questionnaire is like a little book: it has a backstory, a main storyline, a denouement and an epilogue. The accomplishments you write into the questionnaire should correlate with what you write in the essay. But that doesn't mean that you need to ignore any of them and leave them out. On the contrary: your job is to put in as many as you can. I attach a little screenshot of my accomplishments: I put in there every volunteerism, and generally anything you could call an accomplishment. For example, I am studying in a program created by two universities (the private university MVSEN and RANKhIGS), and we have 5 budgetary places, which are funded by the endowment. One of its sponsors, for example, is the World Bank. And I thought it important to point out that based on the results of the state exam (albeit compulsory) I became a recipient of a grant for budgetary education.
You may only think there are no achievements. You need to look around you and think of absolutely everything you've done in the last 2-3 years. Then, try to build it into a cohesive story so that the organizer remembers you not as someone with a big list of circles, but as a person who has everything connected in one way or another. These are not empty words. I applied to the program 2 times before I won, and it wasn't until the 3rd time that I finally caught on to what they wanted from me. Your job is not to please the programmer(s), show your English skills or even express your love for the USA, but to show them why they can invest a tidy sum of money in you and it will pay off sooner or later. Read the program's website and reflect on what its goals are and what it wants from you: as a finalist, a Russian, and a student.
Besides that, you'll be expected to write an essay, which I suggest you put even more effort into than describing your accomplishments.
If I'm honest, rereading my essay now, I can't say it's written by a finalist. However, my essay does contain a story. The story of a guy who moved to the big city at 18, took the plunge into «metropolitan» opportunities and used them to «rise». Although he hasn't decided exactly what he wants to do, he knows that the experience he gained in the U.S. is applicable to the field he would like to work in (international relations). Moreover, he does not conceal his leftist views and wants to see Russia follow a liberal path. Of course, in a way, I didn't use a very good move by emphasizing political views, but on the other hand, it seemed to set my questionnaire apart from others. Try to find what you really believe in, and don't be afraid to write it. Frankness and sincerity will only make your profile stronger and more visible. However, don't write what you didn't do or try to appear to be someone you are not. You can tell a lie from a distance.
I would divide the essay into three parts. In the first part I started with «clinging fact». I confessed that I'm afraid of flying planes, and every time I get on a plane, I think about how much in life I would like to do. Next, I talked a little bit about the last years of my life and what I managed to do during them. Then, I described my goals for the near future and how the YEAR Program could help me accomplish them. And at the end of the essay, I made it clear that even attempting to participate in such a program is already worth a lot.
When writing your essay, build on what you've already accomplished and how the YEAR Program can help you in the future. Don't forget that you have something to give to the program, too. Think about how your experience differs from others and how it can be useful in the United States.
Second Step – TOEFL Exam
This year the TOEFL is the third stage, that is, after the interview.
As I said before, this stage is not that important as it only tests your knowledge of English. Judging from past years, guys who scored 90 passed, and those who scored 115 out of 120, for example, – did not. The bottom line is the same: your score doesn't particularly affect your passing in the program. However, of course, the higher your score, the better.
My score is far from perfect, but it was enough for me to pass. I scored a 98, which I was insanely happy about. With that score I could apply to Master's programs in America. I studied with this website.
A few TOEFL tiphacks I've used myself:
Since the exam is taken on computers, I would recommend that you increase your typing speed in English; you only have 20 minutes for the written part, which can be difficult for an unprepared person;
learn ready-made clichés for the oral and written parts. I, for example, have a hard time concentrating in stressful situations, so ready-made phrases helped me structure my answers to questions;Keep up your vocabulary. There are lots of books on the internet that have vocabulary for the TOEFL.
The third stage – the interview
After you've received the letter with the coveted words about passing the second stage, it's time to prepare for the interview.
What questions can you expect?
1. Why do you want to get into the program? What is your goal for the program? Other variations of these questions are possible.
Before you say anything, think back to what you emphasized in your essay. If you wrote that you wanted to study American journalism and write a book about the United States, for example, it would be strange if you said in an interview that you wanted to launch rockets into space. Remember the single story I talked about in the beginning. The interview is a logical extension of your introduction to the organizers and their introduction of you as a person. In my case, on the questionnaire I talked about wanting to study international relations in the United States. In the interview I tried to express deeper ideas, and I had already said that I wanted to understand how international relations was taught at an American university, what concepts were leading the way, and what discourse in general was hanging in the air. I said that maybe it would help me in the future to establish relations between our countries. Does that sound childish? However, if that is one of the main goals of the program, then why not say that your goal and the goal of the program are the same.
2. What challenges might you encounter in the program?
There's a long-held algorithm for answering this question. First you say the difficulty/problem, then you say the quality/action that would help you solve the difficulty, and finally you say with confidence that any difficulty can be overcome, one way or another, and it all depends on the actions you take.
3. Can you make it through the year away from home, family, and friends?
And again think about how your answer might demonstrate your qualities. Sure, you could just say «yes» and not go into detail. But every question is asked for a reason. My answer was simple. I will certainly miss my family, however, since I moved from my hometown to Moscow, it will not become something very intolerable for me. The advice is simple: don't answer the questions one-sidedly and stick to the story.
In addition to these questions, I was asked about my accomplishments, exactly how I would promote the culture and what I was going to do if I went. The answers I gave formed a kind of unified puzzle in my mind, and by looking at it, the administrators could easily tell what I would be doing in the United States and what to expect from me. Of course, the organizers don't put any puzzles together, however, all answers are evaluated and written down in a form that is then analyzed. In addition, you will have a chance to ask a question, and you should definitely use it to demonstrate your interest in the program. I, for example, asked about the possibility of publishing in academic journals and sponsoring this question by YEAR.
The interview lasted 17 minutes, and when it was over, the first thing I felt was relief. I'm not going to hide the fact that I put a lot of work into all the phases of the interview. And the interview itself was a critical moment for me, when I didn't care anymore what would happen to my finalist candidacy. In the conversation, it was said that the guys were interviewed for 30 minutes each. Some of them even went up to 40 minutes. So I kept thinking that they just didn't like me and decided to turn me down right away.
How wrong I was when on April 12 I received an email with the cherished words: «Dear Denis Lomov, It is our great pleasure…». You know, it's worth applying to the program for that emotion. And you may not believe in yourself, in your strength and think that you're not worthy. However, who cares? If you have read this article to the end, then you are at least motivated to participate. And, as you know, all big things start small, so the opportunity to spend a year in the United States also starts with a simple click of the mouse. Without further ado, I wish potential finalists success in all three phases. And remember, «Anything is possible; the impossible takes longer.
Denis Lomov
YEAR 2019 finalist
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