A-SMYLE applicants answer essay questions

Round 1: Pre-Test
Students meeting the age and grade criteria are invited to take a 16 question, multiple choice English test. Students are tested in 10 cities in Serbia and Montenegro, and locations of these dates are announced through local media outlets, schools, and on the American Councils website.

Round 2: SLEP and Essay Test
Eligible students who successfully complete Round 1 are invited to take the Secondary Level English Proficiency (SLEP) test. Students are also asked to write three in-class essays (in English) in response to specific questions. After all test and essays are completed, they are sent to the American Councils data hub center in Moscow to be assessed and graded.

Round 3: Application and Interviews
Students with the best assessment pass to the next level of the competition. They are asked to submit complete applications and are interviewed. Less than 15% of the original applicant pool is invited to complete applications.

In addition to the one-on-one interview, all applicants participate in group interviews (referred to as "games"). These are conducted in the Serbian language and led by recruiting staff members. Afterward the complete application and computer data files are forwarded to the American Councils headquarters office in Washington, D.C. for further processing and selection.

Round 4: Selection
The American Councils office in Washington, D.C. organizes and trains volunteer evaluators who meet daily to carefully review the applications and complete the selection process. Finalists are chosen and names are provided to partner institutions who will find safe and appropriate host families where the students will live.

Please visit http://www.americancouncils.org.yu/programs/hs-details.htm for more selection information.