riverguide

Well, I only applied to four programs. I was accepted to Harvard, today. I am hopeful that I get the FLAS -but there's some tough competition. I am just honored to be among the applicants.

Does anyone know when they make the FLAS award announcements? I was accepted into my program and was curious as to when we receive the thumbs up or thumbs down on the FLAS...

LSE has 2 summer sessions where you get take Micro and Macro. That's where I took mine. The first 4 weeks is micro and the second four weeks is macro.

After two years in the Middle East, I'm back in the states and it feels good to apply from here for a change. Good luck to all!

I have thrown my hat in the ring. SAIS is my first choice. I've also applied to Harvard and Georgetown. We'll know soon enough. Is anyone here applying for the Merrill Fellowship? I'm writing my essay now. I just received the email for fellowship applications.

I just submitted my FLAS essay. I completed one for another school about a month ago. They are completely different. They are also different from my SOPs. My FLAS essays were geared towards the evolution of my language acquisition. Without mentioning the term diglossia, I discussed the diglossic journey I have taken in my target language. I mentioned how I studied my target language and its unique dialects in three different countries. I explained how I developed my language skills in my content courses as well as outside of class. I described how I expanded my vernacular skills through the different independent projects I completed in each country during my years abroad. I discussed how I developed my dialect skills through exploring the culture and politics of each country. I also mentioned how I wanted to move from the advanced level to the superior level and how I was going to use the FLAS to do it in each particular program. Finally, I tied it all into my government service goals. For my summer supplement I mentioned that I wanted to learn a new dialect. I reviewed the recommended summer programs abroad at several top FLAS schools and chose the one I thought would be the best. I emphasized how the content courses, in the program I chose, were taught solely in the target language. I mentioned how this new dialect and target country would augment and complete my regional expertise. Good luck to all!

Thank you for your response! I have heard great things about the program. Can you elaborate?

Kevin, we've chatted before and you're every competitive!! All of the OCS packages would satisfy the Boren. The NSEP also has a specific letter that they will give you to attach to your package for OCS. Good luck my friend!

That's impressive. Good luck!!

I would welcome any advice on the best Middle East Studies graduate programs and on the competitiveness of my profile. I am currently considering SAIS, Georgetown, UT Austin and Harvard programs. I am interested in their Middle Eastern studies graduate programs with a contempory ME perspective. My career goal is to work for the Federal Government. I'm taking an intense GRE prep course in DC now. My existing stats are: University of Kentucky International Relations (MENA concentration)/Arabic Languages double major with an Islamic Studies minor (3.82 GPA) Boren Scholar in the Middle East; Islamic Scholar in my program with Scholarship; Two years abroad in the ME at Middlebury Alexandria, AMIDEAST Cairo, AUB, Saifi (Beirut/Urban Arabic), Yarmouk/CET (Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan); Two summer sessions at The London School of Economics; Middlebury College 8 week Summer Intensive Arabic Program at Mills; Paid staffer for US Senator (DC) (Harvard grad who will write my LOR) in the summer (Intern coordinator and Military/Foreign Affairs); OPI Advanced in Arabic (Egyptian Arabic, Lebanese Arabic, Jordanian Arabic, Urban Arabic, MSA); University Academic Excellence Award in French. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

I would welcome any advice on the competitiveness of my profile. I am currently considering SAIS, Georgetown, UT Austin and Harvard's program. I am interested in their Middle Eastern studies graduate programs with a contempory ME perspective. My career goal is to work for the Federal Government. I'm taking an intense GRE prep course in DC now. My existing stats are: University of Kentucky International Relations (MENA concentration)/Arabic Languages double major with an Islamic Studies minor (3.82 GPA) Boren Scholar in the Middle East; Islamic Scholar in my program with Scholarship; Two years abroad at Middlebury, AMIDEAST, AUB, Saifi, Yarmouk/CET (Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan); Two summer sessions at The London School of Economics; Middlebury 8 week Intensive Arabic Program at Mills; Paid staffer for US Senator (DC) in the summer (Intern coordinator and Military/Foreign Affairs); OPI Advanced in Arabic (Egyptian Arabic, Lebanese Arabic, Jordanian Arabic, Urban Arabic, MSA); University Academic Excellence Award in French. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Do the Boren and then do the Fulbright as a fellowship. Just my two cents but its also my plan. I completed the Boren this year and I'm applying for the Fulbright to return to the Middle East for the year after next. Taking your language from advanced to superior would be my suggestion. Once, you pass on a Boren Scholarship, all that you have left is the Boren fellowship. I vote for the Boren. Good luck either way.

I'm working as a staffer this summer in DC and thought I'd sign up for GRE prep while I'm here. I have a liberal budget for test prep $2000+. Any suggestions ?

I would again remind everyone that the Middlebury summer language schools are still open and offer financial aid and are "language pledge" programs that offer incredibly intensive instruction. If you are truly interested in improving your "package," be creative, don't give up and remember that the only thing that matters if you didn't get the Boren is your ability to persevere and move forward. We are all tested by obstacles and disappointments and what separates those that are successful from those that aren't is the ability to rebound from adversity. We are all a work in progress...

From the anecdotal stories we heard last year, there are multiple regional panels that pick the first tier of candidates. There are several panels across the country with a certain number of slots allotted to each. Those candidates are then forwarded to a national panel which gives the ultimate thumbs up or thumbs down. Many of the candidates come from schools that have a laissez-faire approach to supporting and screening their nominees/applicants. Despite that, I have met many Boren scholars and chatted with others who did it on their own without the strong support that Will refers to at his school; so keep the faith, don't lose hope and remember that you are all committed players in an honorable quest. I have the utmost respect for everyone of you who threw your hat in this tough competition and if you don't get it this year, don't give up and try again. There is also the CLS and many of you can apply to and ask for financial aid to attend the Middlebury Language Schools at Mills or in Vermont. We are all a work in progress and there will be many obstacles confronting you in your quest to improve your language skills and (IMHO) perseverance is the most important skill to have!

FYI: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?authkey=CPu-4N4N&key=0AkcX_P5cr8uIdDNxT3NhZ2RkUnBCZDQ4eS15Si1haUE&hl=en&authkey=CPu-4N4N#gid=0

Keep the faith, Sunrise; no one else has received the financial update request yet either -from what I've read here. Your campus rep did not look at the spreadsheet from last year's Grad Cafe Boren page. Check it out. Those who received the update moved to the next tier according to the spreadsheet. I was one of those who received the financial update request and I am a Boren recipient. Worrying about something that hasn't happened yet is like paying interest on a debt you don't owe.

Will, you only say that 'cause you know me. Sorry I couldn't figure out how to bail you out of that jail in Gaza... PS: That restaurant you recommended in Amman was awesome!

As usual, Steph is correct. That is my recollection also.

Yes, I received the email asking for more financial information.

As far as I know there was no one from last year who didn't receive the early email that received a Boren. Aslo, if you receive the email and you are not picked but are an alternate, there is still a reasonable chance that you will later be picked and that happened to several people.

Thank you ladies for the very kind comments. I hope to see you at the reunions and the job fairs...

I'm currently a Boren National Security Scholar in the Middle East and am strongly considering Middlebury's MA in Arabic. I have taken two Middlebury programs in Arabic (Summer 6 week intensive at Mills and Middle East School/Alexandria (cut short by the revolution)) and the programs (Arabic Studies & Arabic Language Pedagogy) look very good. Does anyone have any experience with them -or their rankings ?

Good luck! I've participated in two programs with Middlebury (Summer Intensive Arabic and Middlebury Alexandria) and it is truly the best! The friends I made there and their level of ability and commitment were extraordinary. It should be a great feather in your cap. I still attribute my receipt of the Boren to my experience and the development of my language skills in their programs!

I can and would be happy to help and can also provide some good examples. Send me a pm.