Recruitment and Selection Process for the A-SMYLE and YES Programs

Round 1: Pre-Test
Students meeting the age and grade criteria are invited to take a 16 question, multiple choice English test which is designed to screen applicants to screen applicants for their English language abilities. Approximately 40 to 50 percent of applicants move on to Round 2. Students will be tested in multiple cities in each program country. In 2008, testing took place in two test sites in Albania, four test sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina, three test sites in Bulgaria, two test sites in Kosovo, two test sites in Macedonia, and six test sites in Serbia. The dates and locations of testing are announced in early September through local media outlets and schools. A detailed schedule by country is available through the American Councils SEE website (A-SMYLE and YES).

Round 2: Pre-TOEFL/SLEP and Essay Test
Eligible students who successfully complete Round 1 are invited to take the Secondary Level English Proficiency (SLEP) test. Students write three in-class essays (in English) in response to specific questions. which are designed to display the student's maturity and suitability for international exchange. Essay questions focus on actual situations that students may confront, rather than abstract situations that may be more difficult to address. There are multiple sets of essay questions, so students cannot share essay questions with their friends who may take the test at another test site in the future or at another session. Both tests are proctored by program staff from American Councils.

After tests and essays are completed, they are sent to the American Councils data hub center to be assessed and graded. First the Round 2 English tests are graded, and then the essays of students with adequate language proficiency are evaluated. Field screening committees at the data hub are trained to assess essays on the basis of ten factors considered critical for exchange experience success. Processing information and conducting the preliminary evaluation in a centralized location, rather than in the field, is important for the integrity of the competition and relieves the pressure often placed on the program staff by others to include candidates who might not be qualified.

Round 3: Applications and Interviews
Students with the best assessments pass to the next level of the competition. They are asked to submit an application and are interviewed. Less than 15 percent of the original applicant pool is invited to the third round of competition. One US and one local employee from American Councils will travel to the test site to conduct this round. On the first day, staff hold a meeting with all round 3 candidates and their parents. At the meeting they explain the application form in detail so students will understand how to complete it. Students have two weeks to complete the application and return it to the American Councils office in their country. During the meeting, staff also explain the program in detail and answers any questions that parents or students have. After the meeting, students write two more short essays. These essays are similar in purpose and form to the essays from Round 2, but the questions are different.

The next stage of Round 3 is a 20 minute interview with each student. Part of the interview takes place in English so that interviewers can assess the candidate's English language skills (however, English proficiency is no longer a selection factor in this round). Whenever possible, the rest of the interview takes place in the student's native language so that he or she has best opportunity to present themselves.

In addition to the one-on-one interview, all applicants participate in group activities (referred to as "games"). These games are conducted in the students' native language whenever possible and are led by local recruiting staff members while US staff observes. In cases where the students have different native languages, the group activity is conducted in English. Four to seven students take part in each game. These provide an opportunity to observe the students in a less formal setting and to see how they interact with their peers.

Applications are checked in the field offices for completeness and forwarded to the central data hub. At the data hub, computer data files are updated for each student, and the original SLEP answer sheet and essay questions are attached to the application form. The complete application and computer data files are then forwarded to the American Councils' headquarters office in Washington, DC for further processing and selection.

Round 4: Selection
American Councils organizes and trains approximately 150 volunteer evaluators who complete the selection process in Washington, DC. This group who meets daily for about three months to carefully review the applications and attached data. After selecting the finalists, American Councils forwards these names to partner organizations who will find safe and appropriate host families where the students will live. Finalists will be notified in the spring.