Participants are chosen through a multi-layered, merit-based open recruitment and selection process.  If chosen, students are awarded a scholarship to spend an academic year in the United States living with an American host.  The recruitment and selection process is conducted by AYUSA who assigns students to their consortium members.

The selection is based on the student’s English ability, personality, social skills, academic achievement, and leadership potential.  Chosen participants are assigned to Pacific Intercultural Exchange by AYUSA.

The YES scholarship provides the students with a monthly allowance of $125.00 per month. The monthly allowance is the student’s spending money, designated to cover expenses incurred outside of the host family’s home.  YES participants are mailed a check directly from P.I.E. by the 10^th day of every month, beginning with September and ending in May (9 monthly allowances total).  Students should be encouraged to maintain a strict budget in order not to exceed their monthly allowance.  YES students may use their allowance to pay for entertainment, activities, or personal items. Twice during the exchange year (in December and in May), participants will receive a bonus check of an additional $125.00 if they are in compliance with the requirements of their program.

The YES scholarship includes an additional $300.00 for incidental expenses for each participant.  P.I.E. recommends that families spend $200 of this incidental allowance at the beginning of the year for start-up expenses (such as books and clothes) and $100 at the end of the program for end-of-year expenses (such as extra luggage, prom, yearbook, etc).  P.I.E. will reimburse host families for their incidental expenses, visit the Forms section of the website to obtain the Incidentals Worksheet form.

The YES scholarship includes funds for Enhancement activities.  Your local P.I.E. Area Representative/Regional Manager will organize these activities.  Enhancement activities are educational and are designed with meaningful themes in mind so students may learn more about US history, US economy, US government, or other American values such as equality, tolerance, freedom of speech and of the press, to name a few.  Participants will also enjoy activities where they can experience American traditions first-hand.