Unlock Your YSEALI Dream: A Guide to Winning the Academic Fellowship
Have you ever dreamed of studying in the USA? Do you want to experience fully-funded study tours, and educational trips, and interact with other Southeast Asian youth leaders while learning from experts, NGO leaders, and policymakers in the USA?
If so, the YSEALI Academic Fellowship might be perfect for you!
My YSEALI Journey
I first learned about this opportunity through young Filipino leaders I admired in organizations where I used to volunteer. I applied for this opportunity in 2021 but failed. I tried again the next year, but still no luck. However, I didn’t lose hope. In October 2023, I applied for the third time, pouring my passion into the application with the help of generous YSEALI alumni and mentors. I was shortlisted, interviewed, and finally got it. The third time’s the charm, indeed! ✨
I’m very fortunate to have my YSEALI academic fellowship journey at the University of Montana for the Environmental Issues Spring 2024 cohort. I experienced a lot of wonderful adventures from Montana to New Orleans, Louisiana, and Washington DC where we graduated.
Application Process
Starting this year, all YSEALI Academic Fellowship applications are centralized on one platform: https://www.ysealiafp.org/apply. Make sure to review the website for important application details thoroughly.
For the 2025 cohorts (both Spring and Fall), check the application form details here. Keep in mind that this might change for future applications, so stay updated by monitoring the YSEALI Academic Fellowship website and social media pages (here’s the link to the Facebook page).
Tips for a Successful Application
Here are some tips based on this year’s application segments:
1. Highlighting Your Interest and Experience
- Focus on your work and its impact, including your membership in organizations and how they helped you create positive change in your sector or target communities.
- Support your story with data or statistics.
- Use the STAR (situation-task-action-result) method in answering the application form.
- Review your application multiple times. Ask some friends and mentors to review your materials as they might be able to help you further improve and highlight your strengths in your application.
2. Answering Essay Questions
A. Addressing a Community Challenge
- Share your biggest “why” or your “north star.”
- Tell a specific story about a challenge in your local community. Provide context that’s understandable to people from other countries.
- Explain why you want to join the program and be specific about the skills you want to learn.
- Be humble about what you still need to learn, but also focus on your strengths.
B. Collaborating on Group Projects
- Use personal storytelling to share your experiences.
- Describe how you’ve collaborated with other young people locally.
- If you have experience working with people from different cultures, mention it here.
- Communicate the impact of your past projects, including the number of people who benefited and the project’s scope.
3. General Suggestions
- Watch previous information sessions from US embassies and organizations to hear from YSEALI alumni. There are recorded videos/live sessions available on Facebook and YouTube.
- Stay tuned as well for the information session this year!
- Share your achievements—either educational or extra-curricular on platforms like LinkedIn, as this can be important for background checks.
- Use active voice in your application and highlight key words to make it easier for the review committee to scan.
That’s all for now, folks! Good luck with your application! As we say in the Philippines, padayon (or keep moving forward)! 💪
Disclaimer: These notes are based on personal experience and observation. For official information, please consult the US embassy in your country or email ysealiafp@umontana.edu.
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The YSEALI Academic Fellowship welcomes applicants from all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Fellowship is committed to fairness, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
If you have questions about accommodations, eligibility, or any other topic, contact ysealiafp@umontana.edu.
