hobakie

I'm not to sure about Korean but I found the Chinese statistics through a Google search. You may have to dig tho.

So I checked my secondary email. I am a semi finalist! Weird that they would send it there tho. Its been there since 4:30pm. A few other people had the same problem so I would check there also.

Recommended for China research??

I'm chinese and haven't received an email either way although some did?

Yep, I got it in 2015.

The maintenance thing is likely a coincidence or for the judges application portal (they use the same system) but I do think we will hear back the 17th. Since finalist are selected in February you have plenty of time for additional paperwork. After the first round they do not ask for anything nor do you have to do anything. You just sit and wait....again. orientation is essentially orientation lol. you just meet other people in your cohort as well as a few other languages. There are also a bunch of US department of state workshops we have to attend for info about how cls can benefit you career wise, what to expect when there, career opportunities, etc etc. It was two or three days of that plus meeting everyone.

From what I know the big three are Chinese Arabic and I would also say Russian. Although I think Korean Japanese and Hindi are more competitive bc there is one site Other languages like punjabi, swahili, azerbajani or urdu I dont see as too competitive even though there is one site because there are a VERY select group of people even attempting to study these languages. I'm sure most people haven't even heard of some of them. Like i'm sure they know exactly why they are studying it and how it fits into there plans especially since most schools don't offer it.

It really depends. Korean and Japanese are more competitive in my opinion because there is only one program site. Maybe Japanese has two Im not exactly sure but that is literally roughly 30 spots out of hundreds of applications. On the other hand Chinese, Arabic and a few others have more than three program site ,but they also have triple the amount of applicants. Personally I think the former is more competitive since you really not only have to explain why this would be useful in your career, but it would also need to be deemed worthy by the panel? For example, I think someone studying Korean literature could make a very good case about why it would be necessary in their future, but there are plenty of people studying Korean literature so someone with aspirations in diplomacy or STEM or something else more urgent could make a better claim as to why they specifically should have the scholarship. I think the languages with more program sites have more wiggle room with things like this and can get applicants studying important but not necessarily urgent fields. but this is solely my opinion and from what I noticed in my cohort.

my hunch is the 17th. The same day as the fulbright results come out. but no you cannot ask. For some languages its so competitive that there might not even be anything wrong with your app, other candidates just stood out more.

I think its actually to your advantage if there are not as many people in your specific field reviewing your application, but that is just my opinion. When I looked up the member list for China there are no reviewers involved with public health or health in China which I knew would be the case. I think it gives you more wiggle room as far as your research proposal because as long as you can make it sound plausible to a reviewer without that set of expertise then it is going to come across as a good research topic. However for applicants whose reviewers specialize in their area, there is going to be a lot more scrutiny and judging. They'll know exactly who in the field is already doing a similar project, whether or not your timeline makes sense, etc. But this is just how I look at it. The same thing happened with my campus committee, most of them while having expertise in Asia, weren't familiar with the health science side of things, I tailored my proposal so that an expert would approve it but a non expert would understand it without much help if that makes sense.

same! It's good to see i'm not the only Fulbright applicant applying for CLS. im doing research grant for China. are you doing research study or ETA?

Yep! I have pretty bad allergies so I didn't want to be around a fam that smokes or has pets. My host uncle smokes but I didn't find out until the program was almost over. He was very good about smoking when I wasn't around plus they always aired out the balcony and living room so it wouldn't bother me. They also ask if you are ok with siblings etc. You sometimes do not get exactly what you want but everyone is usually satisfied. In the case that you are not you can switch to another fam but there is usually a solid reason for doing that not just because you don't like them.

You are definitely allowed to go out for the most part however whether you will have the energy and or time to is another story. Every Friday there is an exam plus homework and prep take a few hours each night so it's unlikely you will finish by 5.you also have to meet with a language partner twice a week. Every weekend we had the cultural excursions which are mandatory (these were fun and filled with free food so I wouldn't skip anyway!) We did have one free weekend the entire program which people used to travel or just rest/explore. It also partially depends on your host fam. For me I went to clubs or out at night with other students and would come back late. (12pm/1pm) is considered late in China. Everyone is in bed by 10 at the latest. But I tried not to do it often even though my host aunt didn't mind because she would worry and stay up until I returned. So I would either leave early if I went or didn't go at all. I heard some of the host fam gave curfews which you had to respect since they are opening up their homes to you. After classes you are also free to explore but but then it's was maybe 4 or 5 and I had to be back for dinner by 6 or 7. By then the sun is setting and it's dark so there isn't much time to explore. CLS doesn't forbid you from doing it it's just the way the program is run that it's hard and/or very tiring to do so.

Yeah I heard about that too but Im positive this isnt the case since it's way too early. I just wanted to make sure since they are asking me to sign the program commitment paperwork in like a week ,but without knowing my status that seems ridiculous. I'll email them directly and ask what's going on.?

For anyone especially those that applied for a CLEA: is CLEA completely separate from Fulbright as a whole. For example do they not have any direct communication with the programs available to choose from. When I submitted my application I also applied for the language program I was interested in. (BTW if you are applying for CET Harbin special summer Fulbright program there is no app fee). Well I got an email a few days ago saying my CET app was accepted and I am in the program which was confusing because 1. Semi finalists results aren't even out 2. This is a special CET program specifically for Fulbright so it seems weird to accept people without knowing if they actually have a fulbright. I also looked at a bunch of the deadlines and paper work they gave (visa, program commitment, etc) and it needs to be done long before finalist results are out for China late April. Is this normal? Does everyone have to prepare early just in case and just decline if we don't (god forbid) get the fellowship?

Everyone takes the pledge. You aren't allowed at all to speak in any other language but the target one. For my cohort alot started as soon as we landed in China. My chinese wasn't the greatest at the time but I did the same. Even if you speak in English students or teachers will answer back in the target language. Your host fam is also asked not to speak English with you.

Its honestly really different for everyone. The first time I studied abroad was with CLS it was my first time out of the country and in China so everything seemed new and exciting. I literally tried any and everything. But this was much different from my other abroad experience where I lived in Beijing for six months. China didn't seem as glamorous as it was before and little things started to bother me especially since I could understand pretty much everything at that point? now I can't wait to go back. Someone told me that there are stages to being abroad or living abroad. The first one is the glitzy starry eyed stage. Then you have the annoyed fed up stage. Then the understand and finally acclimation stage. CLS was def the first one for me but Beijing was the second (not all of the time I loved Beijing as well but it's definitely a place you have to grow to like) Also I don't really co~sider CLS a true abroad experience. For one you are only there to learn as much of the language and culture as possible so there aren't as many opportunities to do anything else. Also you are coddled quite a bit with the host fam and resident advisors and teachers. If I got lost I'd have help immediately. But when I went abroad on my own this wasn't exactly the case. I was a lot more independent and not by choice, I just had to be if I wanted to enjoy myself if I am mak8ng any sense. Overall it will be extremely meaningful HOWEVER do not let your CLS experience be it good or bad, be your final and only opinion of your host country. Each time I go to China I find something different or something that I didn't realize before so little by little I'm getting different pieces to complete a whole puzzle instead of just a part of it.

Hi all! Is anyone applying to the Blakemore Foundation fellowship for the advanced study of Asian languages? I am applying this year and do not know many people applying or who have received it before.

Yeah I feel you completely. But with Christmas break coming up it'll fly by quickly!

For any of the languages their isn't a quota of advanced to beginner to intermediate that they have to meet. They are honestly more concerned with fit and whether or not you will continue the language whether it be studies or future career. For example a program site could have all beginners if it was the case that the beginners all had a better fit in this year's application pool. Of course this isn't always the case since you learn just as much from fellow students as teachers. But overall there isn't a preference.

? I think that has been everyone lately especially being so close to the first round. It isnt necessarily the acceptance rate for my country that I am worried about. China's a bit high for the research students. But I am worried whether or not my topic is a bit too controversial. how ever looking at past public health projects I feel somewhat better about it?

Finals?. I'm a senior in university so it's been busy with thesis projects and classes. I also have a few other fellowship applications I'm applying to so that eats up a lot of time. Sophomore year when I got it the best thing for me was to completely ignore it. I didn't look at anything related to it and forgot about the dates they announced the semi finalists and finalists. You are just gonna drive yourself and if you do plus in the case you do not get it, it can be a hard blow when you are super worked up about it.

Neuroscience and Biology

I just submitted an hour ago. Good Luck and remember if you don't get it this time to definitely try again next year! I didn't receive the grant until my second try?

I am applying again! I was a recipient in 2015 so I am hoping to get it again and brush up on my Chinese before the Fulbright grant starts (if I get that as well).