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I will be graduating in the spring. Am I still eligible? Do I need to be enrolled in a program in the fall?
Graduating seniors and recent graduates are eligible to apply. Recent graduates are defined as students who have graduated from an undergraduate or graduate program no more than 2 years ago (May 2007). You do not need to be enrolled in a program for fall 2008.
I graduated more than two years ago, but will be attending a graduate program starting fall 2009. Am I still eligible to apply?
Yes, if you will be enrolled in a program in fall 2009, you are eligible to apply. You need not show proof of acceptance to be eligible to apply. However, if you are accepted to the CLS program, you must show proof of admission to a graduate program that begins in fall 2009. Graduate programs can be MA, PhD, JD, MSW, etc.
Is the scholarship only offered to students enrolled in a US degree program?
Yes, this scholarship is only offered to student currently enrolled in a US college or university.
Are all accepted participants required to attend the Washington, DC pre-departure orientation?
Yes, all participants are required to attend. If you are overseas on a study-abroad program or a student at a foreign university you must return to the US for the Washington, DC pre-departure orientation.
Is the program limited to students of specific disciplines?
No, in fact the CLS Program encourages students of diverse disciplines and majors to apply. Law students and medical students are also encouraged to apply. You must be able to clearly articulate in your application how your selected language relates to your academic field of interest and future career goals.
Am I obligated to seek employment in the U.S. government following graduation?
No, the CLS program does not have any service requirement. However, it is expected that you will continue to use your language in your future academic and/or professional futures. Previous CLS recipients have sought and found successful employment in various fields not only in government, but in academia, business, research positions, non-profit organizations, public health positions, etc.
Can I apply for a scholarship for programs in more than one language?
No, you must choose to apply for only one language offered by the CLS program, however, within the same application can opt to apply for multiple sites within the same language (e.g. Beginning Arabic in Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia) but not in multiple languages (Beginning Arabic and Beginning Turkish).
Do I need to submit official transcripts or are unofficial transcripts acceptable?
You must submit an official transcript. If you are a freshman in college and do not yet have first term grades, you must still submit an official transcript to show your courses in progress.
Do my letters of recommendation need to come from professors?
We require that each application have two letters of recommendation. The program expects that one letter come from an academic contact, preferably a professor. The other letter should be a language reference (for intermediate and advanced applicants). This letter has a special cover sheet and should come from your current (or most recent) language instructor. If your instructor is unavailable, please ask someone who knows the language of your choice and who is familiar with your language capabilities to write your language reference.
Do I need to have my application reviewed by a campus representative before it is submitted to the program?
You do not have to go through any particular office on your campus. However, the CLS Program urges you to talk with your Fellowship/scholarship Office, your Merit Awards office, your Study Abroad Office, your Office of International Affairs, or your advisor. S/he can review and offer suggestions on how ways you may be able to strengthen your application.
I do not have a current U.S. passport; do I need to apply for a new/renewed passport before the application deadline?
For most CLS programs, visas will need to be obtained shortly after acceptance into the program. Therefore, you should have a U.S. passport valid through March 2010 in hand by late March. PLEASE NOTE: If you are offered a Critical Language Scholarship award and do not have a valid U.S. passport valid through March 2010 (with at least two blank visa pages), the CLS Program may require you to expedite a new passport at your own expense. Up-to-date passport information can be found at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/get_840.html. Please note that visa fees are covered by the scholarship, but passport application fees are not.
Can I receive more than one scholarship or fellowship and can I hold them concurrently?
The program urges you to apply for any applicable funding for languages studies. In most cases you can receive more than one scholarship, but not at the same time. For instance, in most cases you can receive a Critical Language Scholarship for the summer and another award for the following fall. There are exceptions to these rules, so we ask all award recipients to let us know if you have received any other awards. The CLS Program requires your participation from the mandatory pre-departure orientation program through the length of the intensive institutes. No exceptions may be made for attendance of other orientation programs during the CLS Program or early departures from the CLS Program to attend other program events. PLEASE NOTE: You cannot receive funding from both a Critical Language Scholarship and a Fulbright Critical Language Enhancement award during the same year.
Can I receive academic credit for the CLS program?
The program does not grant academic credit. However, in the past many students have negotiated independently with their universities to obtain credit for the CLS program. Please seek advice from your campus should you wish to receive academic credit.
Will I be able to conduct independent research while I am on the program?
No, this program is an intensive language academic program, and you will not have free time to conduct independent research or participate in outside volunteer work or internship activities.
Are dependents allowed or may dependents accompany me while I am on the CLS program?
Dependents are not supported with CLS Program funding. Since this is a group program, we also discourage dependents from traveling to the country to be close to a participant. Participants will not be allowed to live in non-program provided housing with dependents. Additionally, dependents may not participate in any program activities or excursions, and the program coordinators will not be able to provide any assistance with accommodations for dependents. Further, the program is so intensive and all CLS Program activities are required, leaving little free time to spend with your dependents.
What expenses does the scholarship cover?
All CLS program costs are covered for scholarship recipients. This includes travel between the student's US home city and program location, mandatory pre-departure orientation costs, applicable visa fees, room, board, program-sponsored travel within country, and all entrance fees for program activities. Please note that U.S. passport fees will not be paid by the scholarship, and students will be required to travel to and from his or her US home city and the airport for CLS Program travel.
How many scholarships will be awarded for the summer 2009?
525 total awards will be made in 2009.
When will applicants be notified of their status? Will CAORC only notify applicants who have been accepted?
Students will be notified by late March of their status. All applicants will be notified.
What level of proficiency can I expect to achieve after participating in the program?
The CLS Program is equivalent to approximately one academic year of language study.
What is the selection process for the CLS Program?
Each complete application is reviewed by two language or area experts. The highest ranking applications (approximately one-third) are then selected for review by a national selection panel convened in Washington, DC, and participants are recommended for approval by the US Department of State.
What are the criteria for selection to the CLS Program?
Expert readers and panelists are asked to review applicants on his or her level of commitment and intent to continue language study after the CLS Program, in addition to previous academic coursework and language study. Applicants are also encouraged to clearly articulate how the study of a critical language is linked to future academic or professional goals. Reviewers seek a diverse group of participants from across the United States, and from a wide variety of academic institutions. Finally, the CLS Program is an intensive language program held in an overseas environment. Selection will also be based on the applicant’s ability to demonstrate maturity and readiness for a challenging academic and international experience.
I have a question not listed on the FAQ. Whom should I contact?
If your question is not answered on the FAQ or program details, please use the contact form. You may also contact us by phone:
For questions about Arabic institutes, please call 202-633-1610
For questions about Chinese, Indic, or Persian institutes, please call 202-633-8792
For questions about Azerbaijani, Russian, or Turkish institutes, please call 202-633-8786
For questions about Korean institutes, please call 202-633-1304
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