YYAS 2025 - Frequently Asked Questions
Please refer to all questions below before emailing the YYAS Team about the 2025 Online or Residential Program.
Please note, this FAQ is specific to the 2025 YYAS Programs. If your question is still not answered in your Admission Letter or below, please contact us.
Prospective Applicants
Can I apply to both YYAS and YYGS using the YYas application?
Yes! If you start a YYAS application, at the beginning of the application there is a section for you to indicate your interest in applying to the YYGS Program, too. By indicating your secondary interest, you will automatically be considered for both programs. After YYGS and YYAS applications are thoroughly reviewed, applicants will receive one offer of admission to either YYAS or YYGS.
Please Note: You can only create one application. Our system only recognizes one application, so if you create separate applications for each program, it’s likely your admissions decision will not be released and you will risk losing your chance for a spot in either program.
Admitted Students
which program was I admitted to? Can I attend both?
Students can only recieve ONE offer of admission (to either the Online College Prep Workshop or the Residential Leadership Summit). When you receive your admission letter, it will state which program you have been admitted to.
HOW WILL I ACCESS THE ONLINE PROGRAM?
All admitted students will receive an email with instructions on how to join the sessions virtually. Students will need access to a phone, computer, or another device that connects to the internet to be able to log-in to the online platform to view the videos and engage in discussions.
HOW CAN I CHECK IF I HAVE ACCEPTED MY OFFER OF ADMISSION OR SUBMITTED THE REQUIRED FORMS?
Admitted students can view all requirements for accepting and confirming their offer of admission on their status portal.
Where will the online program be posted?
YYAS will use an online platform to host all program content and the online sessions. Detailed instructions on how to sign up will be sent directly to admitted students prior to the start of the program.
Do I have to attend all six days of the online program?
Yes. While we understand that there might be circumstances that cause you to miss an online session or part of a live video, we expect registered students to join us for as much of the scheduled programming as possible to ensure the most impactful YYAS experience.
Do i have to attend all nine days of the residential program?
Yes. YYAS does not permit scholars to miss any part of our programming for any reason; scholars must be present in every part of our programming to receive a YYAS Certificate of Participation. Given that YYAS is a roughly 1-week program, every hour of every day counts, and our staff carefully crafts a schedule that is both cohesive and rich in content. Typically, students only leave out program for any amount of time due to extreme circumstances (e.g., family medical emergency).
Why was I not selected for a travel grant?
YYAS has a limited amount of Travel Grant funds to allocate. Applicants who did not apply for a travel grant (using the YYAS application) or financial aid (using the YYGS application), and those applications that the admissions committee determined to have the financial capabilities to pay for roundtrip airfare to the program location will not be given a Travel Grant. These students are expected to arrange their own transportation to and from the program.
However, YYAS plans to provide free transportation from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) to the YYAS program at the host school (this is only for students traveling from outside of Kenya and traveling by airplane).
Additionally, any applicants residing in the host country (Kenya) are ineligible for a travel grant (as it is intended for international airfare) and expected to arrange their own transportation to the program location.
CAN I DEFER MY ADMISSION TO NEXT YEAR?
No. Unfortunately, due to the volume of interest each year as well as the Eligibility Requirements, YYAS is unable to accommodate any enrollment deferrals for either program.
WHERE CAN I FIND A SCHEDULE FOR THE ONLINE or residential PROGRAM?
A detailed schedule will be sent to all admitted students prior to the start of both programs.
Traveling to the Residential Program
do i need a visa to travel to Kenya?
Participants must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Kenya. The eTA is mandatory for all foreign visitors. Passport holders from the following East African Community (EAC) countries are exempted from applying to an eTA: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. More information on the Kenya eTA can be found here. The single entry eTA fee is USD 30 per traveller, plus payment and other fees.
eTAs expire 90 days after issuance, so participants should NOT apply before 11 May 2025. You also need your travel booking (i.e. airline ticket) in order to submit your eTA application.
When am I expected to arrive and depart Kenya?
Our check-in time will be from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm (14:00) on Saturday, 9 August 2025 and check-out time will be any time before 12:00 noon on Sunday, 17 August 2025. Please arrange your transportation with these times in mind.
how will i travel from the airport to the program location?
YYAS plans to provide free transportation from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) to the YYAS program at the host school (this is exclusively for students traveling from outside of Kenya and traveling by airplane).
Students Deferred (Early Action) or on the Waitlist (Regular Decision)
what does it mean to be “deferred”?
The YYAS admissions committee has determined they would like to review your application again after the regular decision deadline. You will receive an admissions decision by the end of March 2025.
CAN I JOIN THE ONLINE SESSION IF I AM ON THE WAITLIST?
Only admitted students can join the online session. Students on the waitlist can refer to our Resources page on our website to learn about other opportunities.
CAN I APPLY NEXT YEAR?
You can apply again next year if you still meet the Eligibility Requirements.
HOW AND WHEN WILL I KNOW IF I HAVE BEEN ADMITTED OFF OF THE WAITLIST?
Applicants will be notified directly via email between April 2025 and July 2025 if they have been granted admission off of the Waitlist.