<p>My son is considering applying for one of these programs for next summer (2010). Does anyone on this forum have experience applying for a CLS? How competitive is the process?</p>
<p>D is away doing a CLS right now! It’s difficult to know how competetive these are, since you really don’t know how many people apply. She graduated from college in May, but there are other people from her college that did them during summers before they graduated. The mix of people in her program include 1 or 2 undergrads, several recent grads and a few Phd candidates. She is at a beginning level in this (her fourth) language.
Based on what she told me about her application, you have to outline your reasons for studying this language and make a compelling case for using it in the future in either your work or future studies. Although she is planning to use the language as she pursues a Phd in History, she says that many in her group seem to have more of an IR focus.</p>
<p>Do you have a link for this information?</p>
<p>It’s the Critical Language Scholarship Program sponsored by the US State Dept.
I don’t know how to create a link here, but it’s clscholarship.org</p>
<p>I’m hoping to revive this thread. Could anyone who has gotten into this program post stats and share experiences, please? DD has applied for Russian for this summer and we’re trying to gauge her chances of getting in. Thanks!</p>
<p>DD is in Shanghai this summer on a CLS program. 10% acceptance rate for the 3 programs in China. One boy did it last summer, also in China. There are about 25 students per city, broken into 4 classes by placement test. DD is youngest in the Shanghai group, age 20, rising junior. Oldest student is 31. The application essay seems to be quite critical to acceptance. DD said it was important to present a strong case for how this experience would help her in future career goals. </p>
<p>So far DD’s enjoying everything about the experience- the other students, teachers and classes and living in Shanghai.</p>
<p>We are enjoying having DD in China for 9 weeks, free of charge. The scholarship covers all costs including health insurance, spending money, food, housing, transportation, education, airport transfers, etc.</p>