<p>Congratulations, Russian students! Are you going for the summer, semester or year? What do you think was your chief “selling point”? I’m wondering what determines who gets the scholarships.</p>
<p>Thanks! </p>
<p>The application was multi-pronged, I think. I’m confident that my essays were pretty solid (and really relevant to study abroad). I know I got an excellent recommendation letter, too. It also might have helped that I’m of Indian heritage and go there every summer (so I know what going to a different country is like). Apparently, previous language experience is not required, but it probably helped my application that I’m taking two foreign languages in school and speak a third fluently. After the semi-finalist stage, the interview is a factor too. Mine went okay, but not as well as I’d hoped. </p>
<p>I know that international experience and maturity are also important influences in the decision. They like to see that you’ve traveled, and that going abroad won’t be a completely new and scary experience. Even if you haven’t, the representative at the meeting I attended said that maturity is really vital. (The two combined are probably the most important.) </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks, those are some interesting perspectives. My 17 and 15 year olds will apply for next summer. The older one is currently on exchange in S. America this year and will begin studying Chinese in the fall. The younger one is going to Concordia Language villages for a month of Spanish immersion this summer. Both of them enjoy language and adventure. (So do I. I wish I were a teenager again so I could join you.)</p>
<p>Hearty congrats to all of you who have already heard!!! At least we know things are rolling now. Are all of you Russia folks summer? I actually hope that is the case, as I applied for semester or year, and since I didn’t get an email yet, I’m looking for any explanation (other than that I wasn’t selected, of course!). I was told in my interview that gap years were uncommon, but I’m still hopeful.</p>
<p>And by the way, also congrats to watchmesoar, who had the earliest guess in the pool.</p>
<p>My essays were decent I suppose, but not the best I’ve written, considering the fact that I rushed to send it in @ 11:57 PM the night it was due (11:59:59 PM). It does help I suppose for me to be literate in two languages (I can speak and read fluently in 2), while taking a third in school. Rawr, I sure hope they get to Korea and China soon, especially with the Scholarship Acceptance thingy due April 15th (hey, at least I got SOMETHING right =D).</p>
<p>Along with jdh, congrats to watchmesoar for being more accurate (psychic abilities, woohoo!) Please predict when I’ll be successful at baking while your at it.</p>
<p>I’d like watchmesoar to predict my acceptance, about which I will be notified as soon as humanly possible. C’mon watch - gaze into that crystal ball and tell me what I want to know!</p>
<p>And while you’re at it, why don’t you check the crystal ball for chewydog too. :)</p>
<p>Congratulations to everyone!! Now its just a wait until the rest of us hears! Ahhhh!</p>
<p>I predict that…everyone on this thread will be accepted to the program of their choice! And chewydog, your baking will go well.</p>
<p>By the way, did anyone else here apply for Turkish Summer?</p>
<p>watch me soar: yes i applied to arabic and turkish both as my first choice!</p>
<p>Yes I applied for Russian Summer!</p>
<p>I take 2 languages at school, have only been out of the country to the Caribbean once, essays were decent I rushed as well, I had a good recommendation letter and my interview went alright haha I think he was forgiving because it was his first interview.</p>
<p>Goodluck waiting everyone! I know it’s a difficult ordeal as I wasn’t informed of my semi-finalist status until very late… :)</p>
<p>Congratulations! well there is hope for my son then - he has only been to Bermuda, we rushed the essays (didn’t even do the max words) but he has taken three summers of Startalk; we are awaiting news for the Egypt/Arabic trip. As a parent, I was caught off guard for the interview and was trying to think very fast on my feet. My son is very mature for his age and his father’s side is from Palestine… so here’s hoping!</p>
<p>That sounds very promising! I hope he gets it 
</p>
<p>For those not selected/alternate status CIEE is offering a 2 week summer program in South Korea all paid for
Study Abroad in South Korea | CIEE</p>
<p>Very cool, thanks!</p>
<p>aargh - 4/1 deadline!</p>
<p>I’m going to Kirov too, for the summer :]</p>
<p>sorry to bombard the forum - especially while everyone is waiting ~ I was wrong, the application process for South Korea which SoreSubject noted has just opened.</p>
<p>Yeah the deadline is somewhere around May 14!</p>
<p>Congrats 93!! I’ll see you there</p>
<p>It will be interesting to see how things turn out. It sounds like there are quite a few applicants who have great language backgrounds, but no previous travel. I have been all over the world (probably 20 countries in Europe and Asia), but only two years of a language (Chinese) because of a program I did all year last year where no languages were offered. I hope they are looking for both kinds of students for this program! Good luck to all!!!</p>