Selection:
ASI works with its partners in Afghanistan to select students for our Tutorial Program. These students,introduced through our partner NGOs in Kabul, then sit for an English exam. The top candidates -- who are selected based on their writing skills, reasoning skills, and demonstrated intelligence e.g. organizing thoughts, and school grades -- are shortlisted for an interview.

The interview gives prospective students a chance to demonstrate their English fluency, critical thinking, and personality while answering questions about their achievements, interests and aspirations.  The selected students then enter ASI’s tutorial program with the potential for placement at one of ASI’s partner schools.

Preparation:
ASI’s Tutorial Program academically prepares students for success at the nation’s top secondary schools.  This year long program consists of 6 months of work via the internet with American tutors.  This first half of the program builds critical thinking skills, English language fluency, and self-reflection and assessment.  Students read short stories, essays and personal narratives and writing response essays.

The second half of the program, which takes place after placement, consists of intensive, self-directed work in fluency and cultural understanding.  Each week, students will read at least one novel, and watch at least two American movies. Each day, students will listen to or watch at least one hour of English language radio or television and reflect upon their experiences in their journals.

In tandem with ASI’s Tutorial Program, our Pen Pal Program gives Afghan and American students a chance to learn about their counterpart’s culture, religion, hobbies, and interests.  This program helps both American and Afghan students bridge the social gaps between two cultures.

Placement:
 ASI constantly cultivates relationships with boarding and day schools across the United States and abroad in order to identify schools that share our commitment to multiculturalism and academic achievement and have the capacity to provide a nurturing but challenging environment for American and international students. Once a student successfully completes the Tutorial Program, he or she proceeds to placement with one of these partner schools.

During placement, ASI provides our partner schools with a student folder complete with transcripts (translated by ASI), a brief biography, a written sample of the student, and any other important documents in addition to a formal application.  If the partner school believes the student is a good fit for the academic and social culture of the school, ASI begins to coordinate the necessary paperwork, including travel documents and  to bring that student to the partner school to complete their junior and senior years of high school.

Scholar Support:
As part of our Scholar Support Program, ASI works with our partner schools to ease the transition for our students, provide them with internship and leadership opportunities and to assist them with college placement.

This process starts before our students arrive.  ASI provides each school with a welcome kit for each student.  This kit includes information on ASI and its programs, an introduction to the student and his or her background and interests and other information on Afghan culture to assist school officials as they work with our students.

When possible, ASI will send officers or staff members to greet the student when he or she arrives at the partner school.  A familiar face can help ease the transition for students, and make the process more comfortable for both the student and partner school staff.