CLS Accepted Applicant FAQ 2016
CLS Accept-Decline FAQ Congratulations on your selection for the Critical Language Scholarship Program! In order to inform your decision, we have compiled the following Frequently Asked Questions. Please feel free to contact your Program Officer if you have a question that is not listed below. Please note that if you are awaiting further site placement information, that information will be sent to you soon, and in advance of the Accept/Decline deadline. If you decide to accept the CLS Award, we look forward to working with you over the coming months to prepare for a rewarding and challenging summer of language learning.
Questions Before Accepting the CLS Award Q: Can I defer my CLS award to next summer? A: No, the CLS award cannot be deferred. If you would like to participate in CLS in the following summer, you will need to apply and be selected again. Declining the CLS award will not impact your ability to participate in future programs. Q: If I decline the award, does this look unfavorably upon future CLS applications? A: We understand that students may decline a CLS for a variety of personal, academic and professional reasons. If you decline CLS this year, it does not negatively impact any future applications you may submit. Q: I am applying to multiple scholarships that may have conflicting dates with the CLS program. Is there any way I can either begin the program late or leave the program early? A: The dates for the CLS program are very strict. All orientation activities are required, therefore you cannot begin the program late. Under rare circumstances, you may be permitted to leave the program up to 3 days early, but no earlier. Please talk to your Program Officer if you believe your situation may apply for an early departure. Q: I will not hear back from my other scholarship applications until after the accept/decline deadline. May I have an extension on my acceptance? A: The deadline to accept or decline the CLS award is a firm deadline. If you opt to decline the CLS award after initially accepting it for any reason besides a critical incident (e.g. medical or family emergency), you may be responsible for the repayment of award costs that have been incurred (including for the Washington, D.C. orientation, travel to and from the host country, any advance stipend issued for the program, and any housing and meal funds already expended on your behalf). We recognize that you may need to make a difficult decision about your summer plans without having all the information you would want.
Q: I have a very important wedding/job interview/family event in the U.S. during the summer. Will I be allowed to leave for a few days during the program? A: No, you may not leave the program or host country for any reason during the CLS program unless you do not plan to return. Q: I would like to stay in the host country following the program. Is this permitted? When will I receive ticket information and how can I change my ticket? A: In some cases participants are able to stay in the host country following the program, but are responsible for making their own travel, housing, and visa arrangements. In cases where this is not allowed, the reason is due to firm visa restrictions requiring students to leave the country. Participants who are eligible to stay in the host country following the program are required to make any necessary visa arrangements to stay beyond the dates of the CLS program. ASPE, the medical benefits program provided by the CLS Program, also ends the last day of the program regardless of how long you plan to stay in your host country. Participants will receive flight information a few weeks before they are set to travel. Students may change their CLS provided ticket, but they must do so directly with the airline. American Councils staff and the travel agent cannot be involved in making these changes. Because tickets are purchased as group tickets, you may not be able to change them or you may be required to pay a fee to do so. You are not permitted to make changes to your ticket before you have arrived in your host country and doing so may jeopardize your ability to participate in CLS. Q: Do I need certain vaccinations in order to participate in CLS? A: No, the CLS Program does not require that you have received particular immunizations as a condition of participating in the program. While part of the medical form requires you to provide your immunization history, the purpose of this is to collect medical information in case it is necessary, rather than to confirm that particular immunizations have been received. Please consult with your doctor to determine what, if any, immunizations you should receive prior to participation in the CLS Program. You should also consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website on travelers' health. The CDC Travelers' Heath website provides a general overview of health conditions by country, plus information on required and recommended vaccinations and disease prevention strategies. Q: Will I be able to travel during the program? A: You will have opportunities to participate in organized CLS cultural excursions and activities during your summer institute. You may also have some limited free time for independent travel (within your host country) during the program, but this varies from site to site and is not guaranteed. You must receive permission from local program staff prior to any independent travel and travel cannot interfere with your ability to participate in mandatory program activities. You will not be allowed to leave the host country during the program except in cases of emergency. Q: How will I be placed in my class once I arrive in country? A: In most cases, placement tests and/or an interview with teachers will be conducted once you arrive in country. The results of this will facilitate the assignment of students into classes based on level. It is common for students to be at different levels in their language-learning process. You will be placed in a class based on your level, but you should also expect some minor variation in level within your classes, as each CLS student comes from a different language-learning background. The goal of the CLS Program is to master foreign language concepts which might mean reviewing some materials you have already covered.
Q: I have received the scholarship but have not been placed in a specific site yet. When will I know where I am going and is there a way to choose in which site I am placed? A: Placement depends on a number of factors and students cannot choose their program site. Final site placement will occur at different dates depending on your program language but you will know where you will be placed before the final acceptance deadline. Your Program Officer will provide more information as soon as it is available. Q: Can family or friends visit me during the program? The CLS Program discourages family members or friends to visit during the program due to its intensive nature. You will be busy with classes, program activities, excursions, and obligations to local acquaintances (friends, host families or roommates, etc.). If you choose to have visitors during the program, keep in mind that you are required to attend all CLS activities, and the schedule is subject to change at the last minute. Companions may not participate in CLS activities and may not live in program-arranged housing, and you may not be allowed to stay in a hotel with your visitors during regular program activities. CLS staff cannot provide any assistance to the family or friends of CLS participants to schedule travel or secure a visa. Q: I will be abroad in the spring before the start of the CLS. Will the CLS program pay for my ticket from my international location to Washington, D.C. for the CLS Pre-departure orientation? A: The CLS program only provides U.S. domestic travel to the CLS pre-departure orientation. If you are abroad in the spring, you will need to arrange your own travel to the U.S., and then the CLS program will cover your transportation to Washington, D.C. from the US city you designate.
Questions After Accepting the CLS Award Q: My passport recently expired or is set to expire soon. What do I do? A: First, contact your program officer immediately to let them know. Second, visit State Department Travel and begin the renewal process. In some cases, the passport process may need to be expedited in order to ensure that you are able to receive a visa on time. CLS cannot pay for or reimburse any expenses related to passports. Q: I am out of the country and cannot find an AMA certified doctor. What should I do? A: First, contact your program officer. Second, contact your local embassy or consulate to see if they know of a certified doctor in the area where you are travelling. Your program officer will work with you to find any available medical resources necessary to complete your certification, but in some cases, you may need to travel in order to do so. CLS cannot reimburse expenses related to medical certification, including for travel. Q: I am out of the country and cannot mail my passport to American Councils by the time listed on the checklist. What should I do? A: Contact your program officer. In some cases it may be possible to obtain a visa early or late, in which case you will need to sign a waiver. However, in some cases, if you are unable to send your passport in on time, it may preclude your ability to receive a visa on time to participate on the program. Q: I see disability accommodation forms in the accepted student portal that do not apply to me. Am I required to fill these out? A: No, please only fill out these forms if you have a disability that requires accommodation. Q: I have an existing visa for my CLS destination. Can I use this visa? A: Due to the nature of our program, CLS participants are required to abide by the visa recommendations from the CLS partner organization in their site. Therefore even if you have a valid visa to your CLS country, you may be asked to apply for a different type or length of visa. Q: My registrar’s office has requested a syllabus or course information before they determine whether I can import credit from the CLS program. Is this information available? A: Yes. Please email your program officer to receive CLS course information specific to your language. However, your exact courses numbers and titles cannot be guaranteed until after completion of the CLS program when course placement has been finalized by your institute. For that reason, we advise students to get more courses approved than what will be taken during the CLS Program. During the CLS Program you should also save course materials provided by your teachers (like a syllabus) to show your registrar’s office when you return.
Questions Before Accepting the CLS Award Q: Can I defer my CLS award to next summer? A: No, the CLS award cannot be deferred. If you would like to participate in CLS in the following summer, you will need to apply and be selected again. Declining the CLS award will not impact your ability to participate in future programs. Q: If I decline the award, does this look unfavorably upon future CLS applications? A: We understand that students may decline a CLS for a variety of personal, academic and professional reasons. If you decline CLS this year, it does not negatively impact any future applications you may submit. Q: I am applying to multiple scholarships that may have conflicting dates with the CLS program. Is there any way I can either begin the program late or leave the program early? A: The dates for the CLS program are very strict. All orientation activities are required, therefore you cannot begin the program late. Under rare circumstances, you may be permitted to leave the program up to 3 days early, but no earlier. Please talk to your Program Officer if you believe your situation may apply for an early departure. Q: I will not hear back from my other scholarship applications until after the accept/decline deadline. May I have an extension on my acceptance? A: The deadline to accept or decline the CLS award is a firm deadline. If you opt to decline the CLS award after initially accepting it for any reason besides a critical incident (e.g. medical or family emergency), you may be responsible for the repayment of award costs that have been incurred (including for the Washington, D.C. orientation, travel to and from the host country, any advance stipend issued for the program, and any housing and meal funds already expended on your behalf). We recognize that you may need to make a difficult decision about your summer plans without having all the information you would want.
Q: I have a very important wedding/job interview/family event in the U.S. during the summer. Will I be allowed to leave for a few days during the program? A: No, you may not leave the program or host country for any reason during the CLS program unless you do not plan to return. Q: I would like to stay in the host country following the program. Is this permitted? When will I receive ticket information and how can I change my ticket? A: In some cases participants are able to stay in the host country following the program, but are responsible for making their own travel, housing, and visa arrangements. In cases where this is not allowed, the reason is due to firm visa restrictions requiring students to leave the country. Participants who are eligible to stay in the host country following the program are required to make any necessary visa arrangements to stay beyond the dates of the CLS program. ASPE, the medical benefits program provided by the CLS Program, also ends the last day of the program regardless of how long you plan to stay in your host country. Participants will receive flight information a few weeks before they are set to travel. Students may change their CLS provided ticket, but they must do so directly with the airline. American Councils staff and the travel agent cannot be involved in making these changes. Because tickets are purchased as group tickets, you may not be able to change them or you may be required to pay a fee to do so. You are not permitted to make changes to your ticket before you have arrived in your host country and doing so may jeopardize your ability to participate in CLS. Q: Do I need certain vaccinations in order to participate in CLS? A: No, the CLS Program does not require that you have received particular immunizations as a condition of participating in the program. While part of the medical form requires you to provide your immunization history, the purpose of this is to collect medical information in case it is necessary, rather than to confirm that particular immunizations have been received. Please consult with your doctor to determine what, if any, immunizations you should receive prior to participation in the CLS Program. You should also consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website on travelers' health. The CDC Travelers' Heath website provides a general overview of health conditions by country, plus information on required and recommended vaccinations and disease prevention strategies. Q: Will I be able to travel during the program? A: You will have opportunities to participate in organized CLS cultural excursions and activities during your summer institute. You may also have some limited free time for independent travel (within your host country) during the program, but this varies from site to site and is not guaranteed. You must receive permission from local program staff prior to any independent travel and travel cannot interfere with your ability to participate in mandatory program activities. You will not be allowed to leave the host country during the program except in cases of emergency. Q: How will I be placed in my class once I arrive in country? A: In most cases, placement tests and/or an interview with teachers will be conducted once you arrive in country. The results of this will facilitate the assignment of students into classes based on level. It is common for students to be at different levels in their language-learning process. You will be placed in a class based on your level, but you should also expect some minor variation in level within your classes, as each CLS student comes from a different language-learning background. The goal of the CLS Program is to master foreign language concepts which might mean reviewing some materials you have already covered.
Q: I have received the scholarship but have not been placed in a specific site yet. When will I know where I am going and is there a way to choose in which site I am placed? A: Placement depends on a number of factors and students cannot choose their program site. Final site placement will occur at different dates depending on your program language but you will know where you will be placed before the final acceptance deadline. Your Program Officer will provide more information as soon as it is available. Q: Can family or friends visit me during the program? The CLS Program discourages family members or friends to visit during the program due to its intensive nature. You will be busy with classes, program activities, excursions, and obligations to local acquaintances (friends, host families or roommates, etc.). If you choose to have visitors during the program, keep in mind that you are required to attend all CLS activities, and the schedule is subject to change at the last minute. Companions may not participate in CLS activities and may not live in program-arranged housing, and you may not be allowed to stay in a hotel with your visitors during regular program activities. CLS staff cannot provide any assistance to the family or friends of CLS participants to schedule travel or secure a visa. Q: I will be abroad in the spring before the start of the CLS. Will the CLS program pay for my ticket from my international location to Washington, D.C. for the CLS Pre-departure orientation? A: The CLS program only provides U.S. domestic travel to the CLS pre-departure orientation. If you are abroad in the spring, you will need to arrange your own travel to the U.S., and then the CLS program will cover your transportation to Washington, D.C. from the US city you designate.
Questions After Accepting the CLS Award Q: My passport recently expired or is set to expire soon. What do I do? A: First, contact your program officer immediately to let them know. Second, visit State Department Travel and begin the renewal process. In some cases, the passport process may need to be expedited in order to ensure that you are able to receive a visa on time. CLS cannot pay for or reimburse any expenses related to passports. Q: I am out of the country and cannot find an AMA certified doctor. What should I do? A: First, contact your program officer. Second, contact your local embassy or consulate to see if they know of a certified doctor in the area where you are travelling. Your program officer will work with you to find any available medical resources necessary to complete your certification, but in some cases, you may need to travel in order to do so. CLS cannot reimburse expenses related to medical certification, including for travel. Q: I am out of the country and cannot mail my passport to American Councils by the time listed on the checklist. What should I do? A: Contact your program officer. In some cases it may be possible to obtain a visa early or late, in which case you will need to sign a waiver. However, in some cases, if you are unable to send your passport in on time, it may preclude your ability to receive a visa on time to participate on the program. Q: I see disability accommodation forms in the accepted student portal that do not apply to me. Am I required to fill these out? A: No, please only fill out these forms if you have a disability that requires accommodation. Q: I have an existing visa for my CLS destination. Can I use this visa? A: Due to the nature of our program, CLS participants are required to abide by the visa recommendations from the CLS partner organization in their site. Therefore even if you have a valid visa to your CLS country, you may be asked to apply for a different type or length of visa. Q: My registrar’s office has requested a syllabus or course information before they determine whether I can import credit from the CLS program. Is this information available? A: Yes. Please email your program officer to receive CLS course information specific to your language. However, your exact courses numbers and titles cannot be guaranteed until after completion of the CLS program when course placement has been finalized by your institute. For that reason, we advise students to get more courses approved than what will be taken during the CLS Program. During the CLS Program you should also save course materials provided by your teachers (like a syllabus) to show your registrar’s office when you return.
