emb

Just to give someone hope: A girl who received the Boren will be unable to attend CLS for Urdu as a result. Keep your fingers crossed!

Ok, I'll try to answer the stipend question as best I can: I don't know how much money students going to China receive nor how it is structured if you don't live with a family. However, I do know that the stipend directly correlates with how much you are expected to purchase for yourself. Typically, the CLS ensures that breakfast and dinner are provided by families. If there is a way, I'm sure they will make sure you have those meals provided by the institute. If not, my understanding is that they increase your stipend to cover the amount. That system might actually work better for you if you're trying to be conservative with your stipend to travel as you can choose cheaper meals.

So the trouble is, everyone has been taught weird languages like Turkish in different ways and in different contexts. I was actually one of the weird fringe students when I went in and they put me in a lower class than I probably should have been in. You are allowed to move if you discuss it and feel like there has been a mistake. I moved and was also unhappy. In a strict grammar language like Turkish, it was more useful for me to stay in a lower level to review and learn. Actually, class 2 and class 3 will end in similar places if you have a motivated class. I had a very motivated class and teacher so we were on the move. Plus, with Turkish the first two levels of grammar are the most important. Everything else is just a bonus. So, like adlastirma-- that crap takes work! My teacher for the first few weeks gave me extra stuff to work on so I didn't get bored then it was hard for me just like everyone else and they caught up. I was also kind of strange because I knew a lot of slang (and swear words!), how people talked in an informal/friendly setting, and my comprehension was mega-high.

Ok, I called this morning. I guess, I'll have to apply for a new one but I can use both. Extra pages stopped being issued in January. I just need to upgrade to the big passport this time... If I don't expedite, it says it will take 6 weeks but I don't believe them. It's always taken less time even without expediting it and if I gets here after I leave, I will have it shipped to the school or to someplace where I can pick it up. As to the extra class: Your level will determine how much homework you have and how much time you have to spend on it right away. Don't worry too much about the first few weeks. Do it. CLS is intense, but if I had NEEDED to do an extra class online, I think I could have.

So, for example, I know that I want to stay in India post program. I hope that I can change my ticket, but I'm not counting on it. A question everyone can help me with: I want to go to Nepal and Myanmar once the program is over. Both of them have tourist visas that are easy to attain but I only had two pages left in my passport when I sent it to get my India visa.... If I order another passport, does it negate my first one? If so, is there a way I can get a new one in India?

Yep, Ankara! It was a good time. But I heard that the Lucknow students also get invited and often go to Delhi for the same thing.

Sorry if I sounded judgmental. I re-read my post and I don't know if I "typed the right tone". Basically, if there is a way for you to summer sublet, I would do it because the CLS is an awesome experience. Were you upgraded from an alternate to a finalist? I looked to try and find your previous posts and it looks like you're going to India too. I've heard from past participants that the stipend is about $500 for India (I think) if that helps you budget/make a decision.

It's your prerogative. Just bear in mind that the CLS offers some really cool opportunities. We attended at 4th of July party at the US Ambassador's house, had a generally good time, and all massively improved linguistically. There were also 2 overnight trips and a few day trips as well as some fun cultural activities. The stipend WILL cover all costs within the program (and then some) but if you're referring to bills in the US, then that seems a little unreasonable to expect a stipend for living in the developing world to cover that.

Hey guys, just to try and shed a little light on the stipends: Your stipend will cover more than what it's intended for (lunches, toiletries, etc), but won't get you far if you want to travel. Honestly, amount received varies from country to country but you will have a better time if you can go with a few hundred dollars for travel. The CLS is a really intense program and you will need some money to get away and to get some space on the weekends. For Turkey, I believe I received about $500... but I don't quite remember. Also, lots of things in DC will be financially covered during orientation but not everything. A couple meals are on your own and it's also fun to grab a beer with the people who will be in your cohort one night. Remember: you won't know what cool things are possible until you're in country. What I can recommend is that you all look at where you think you'd like to travel and budget accordingly. I recommend Rome2Rio to estimate in country trip prices (there is also an app, which is cool) and remember that in a lot of places budget airlines exist and might be cheaper (not to mention faster) than busses or trains if you book in advance. Also, if you're going to a Muslim area you will be there during Eid and have a long weekend where you will want to travel. A bit of extra cash never hurt. Bring some and be a little happier. Let me know if you have anymore questions.

Ok, as to the doctor thing: Don't worry about it. You basically need a physical. Go to the health center on your campus, or it's a lot faster to get in at a doctor's office if you ask to see a nurse practitioner (they can also fill out the form). As I was abroad last year, I had the last doctor who gave me a physical attest on my form because I had been to see her within a year. Hope this helps.

I am a finalist for the Urdu program. I am absolutely speechless. Despite having my Pakistani friend tell me that he "had a feeling" and that his "feelings were never wrong", I had so many reservations! I cried a lot. I never expected it as a Turkish speaker. @mrs12 I assume you got it. Yay! Just to let you know the Ankara program had some amazing teachers. I was intermediate but I stayed behind the semester afterwards to keep studying in Turkey and I could completely see the difference pre and post program.

@mrs12 I actually liked the program and I was in Ankara. I can attest to the absolute nightmare that it feels like most days as I was constantly tired, irritable, and a lot of the time I would sit in class and around hour 3.5 ask myself, "What if I just didn't learn Turkish?" My family was also a source of frustration (marital problems) but my language partner was the bee's knees (we hung out on average 8 hours a week instead of the required 2). I applied for the Urdu program as a result of all the Pakistani friends I made in Istanbul and learning about the situation of women in uneducated communities in Pakistan. It was more of a drive to work with a second developing community as opposed to a dislike of the CLS Ankara program. I have heard tell of a guy who got it first for Turkish and then for Urdu, but who knows if this unicorn of a man exists... @pdh12 Crazy as this sounds, I have now been through this site for both the 2014 Boren and the 2015 CLS and I can give my opinion which is that many of the people on these forums do end up getting the scholarship. Really, a larger portion than you'd expect based on past stats and a random sample of applicants. I think it speaks to the level of neuroticism that everyone who obsesses over an award to this level obviously put a lot into that application (and really, just about everything in life). Fingers crossed for all of you! This process has given me a belly ache on the daily for about 2 weeks now.

Alright, after much lurking I've decided to write in the hopes that I can stop freaking out if I just write it out of the thread. I am a Urdu Semi-finalist but was a Turkish CLS student last year.... I'm freaking out guys. I didn't feel this way last year. I'm wondering if anyone else is applying for a completely different language after having won in the past? Also, feel free to ask if you have any questions about the Turkish program.

For both the scholars and the fellows, the decision has to be uploaded by May 1st.

I cried a bit in the car when I got the email-- I was awarded. Congrats to all the other winners.