shakuton

I know several people who've reapplied after declining and received finalist status. It's if you accept and drop out then it might impact you negatively. What language are you a finalist for?

Bangla semifinalist! I felt really good about my application, so I'm glad it worked out. Seems like an interesting year, a lot of NSLI-Y and CLS alumni/friends I know were all rejected.

I'm applying! I did CLS Bangla virtually during COVID, then did Refresh last year. I'm a graduate student now (vs. when I did CLS before I was an undergrad), but since I don't have access to South Asian studies courses, have never been to South Asia, nor did I actually get to do CLS in person, I'm hoping my chances are pretty solid this year. Found the application a lot easier now that they merged the two essays and cut the recommendation, to be honest.

100% understand your thoughts. I actually studied international trade/business in undergrad but knew my heart wasn't into it, and also was thinking MFAs were the route that was familiar. What ended up changing my mind was that every writer/mentor I was talking to literally said "don't do an MFA. Get a fully funded PhD or find a job outside of this." Granted, a lot of these discussions in context included heavy discussions about class privilege in MFA programs and the writing world, as well as MFAs as a form of gatekeeping/literary elitism. I was also very worried about financial security, and nowadays the minimum requirement to teach is a PhD (my college was literally firing art-based professors for not having a PhD in, for example, fashion design when I was graduating), so it seemed like the safer decision even if higher ed is in shambles. Definitely depends on what an individual wants though, some need the time and space to write, while others feel prepared to skip that step. Hope you get good funding :)) Maybe one day you'll pursue a doctorate!

Guess Iowa poetry is indeed out, someone in Draft posted they got an email (overseas). Going to assume rejection here, waiting on PhD app decisions but it was interesting to apply to MFAs at least! Good luck to everyone else waiting~~ ?

Has anyone heard from Iowa/IWW for poetry? I know two acceptances were reported, but it's been weirdly quiet here and on Draft (I don't think anyone has posted an acceptance outside of the two on results).

Hi all! I'm new here, but I only applied to one MFA (Iowa for poetry). I'm fresh out of an undergraduate business program and didn't take many writing courses, but I've been decently published & in some higher places, so fingers crossed. I focused on my PhD applications more than my MFA app, since I'm looking at using writing from an artistic ethnography and translation angle, so not expecting much. Good luck everyone~

Also a Bangla finalist! I accepted it though already and took the OPI, since I've mainly heard good feedback about the virtual institutes and it made me optimistic, as well as this is my last opportunity for CLS. From what I've heard it sounds like it's been really productive for many language-wise, generally, saw quite a few people mention they'd jump 2-4 levels on the OPI. Will miss that in-person culture aspect, but, alas. Last fall though I saw Bangla was virtual and literally only had five people in the program, so I do believe we'd get a lot of one-on-one time and attention if that's still the case.

good luck everyone!! I'm so nervous & keep refreshing, but I don't have my hopes high.

I can really relate to this! When I went on NSLI-Y through the State Department, I was intermediate level writing and comprehension wise, but really lacked in speaking because of self-studying. I got put into the beginning level class on the Seoul program because they emphasized speaking so much on program for placement tests. What I liked about these State Department programs was they really pushed you in speaking (I'm referring to NSLIY here, but my Resident Director was a CLS Korean alum and she told me CLS was quite similar but did this better) specifically. Everything we did in class (we studied at Ewha w/ a State Department guided curriculum) incorporated vocab and grammar that might've been familiar before, but we mainly had to make presentations, roleplays, and skits that had to be memorized and verbally articulated well. They also give you language partners on most programs. So I think the scholarship would push any level, especially with the immersion factor included.

I also read that readers can mark down if they think you're above or below a certain level, which would probably just change the site I assume. I'm in a similar situation, as I put down what I got on my last OPI score (advanced beginning) with American Councils but am now realizing I'm more low to mid intermediate.

Korean's getting quite popular! I know the high school version of CLS, NSLIY, had to increase the number of spots offered for Korean summer and year programs because of the sudden demand. Wonder if CLS will end up doing the same, considering the past couple of years beginners go to Busan and everyone else Gwangju....

I made an account for this! But I applied for Intermediate Korean, and am a freshman at a fashion school. I am a NSLI-Y alumni for Korean so hoping for the best!