Frequently Asked Questions
- What kinds of financial support could I have for the National Chinese Flagship Program (NCFP)? What are the deadlines for these supports?
- Where do I find application forms for financial support?
- Are GRE scores required for my application?
- Will I be precluded from being awarded financial aid from NCFP if I am awarded NSEP fellowship?
- What program should I choose in filling out the application form?
- What specialty should I choose in filling out the application form for the National Chinese Flagship Program?
- How many people applied for the program last year and how many were accepted
- What are the criteria for making admission decisions and for granting financial supports?
- How many words should my statement of purpose be?
- Is there an interview process that goes with the application?
- When will the academic year commence for the '09 session?
- Do I need to attend the summer intensive program?
- About housing?
- About traveling?
- Can I use Credit card and Debit Card in Qingdao?
- How can I get a return-to-the US Christmas vacation?
- Why do I have trouble in registering courses in winter quarter?
- Can students who only have knowledge of simplified characters apply?
- Would it be acceptable for a professor to write me a recommendation who has not had me in her classes?
- If I were to apply for an OSU fellowship, how is the letter of recommendation from the Flagship Program for the fellowship written to the Graduate School without the author knowing the applicant personally?
- What is the specific title of the Master's of Arts degree that the program offers?
1. What kinds of financial support could I have for the National Chinese Flagship Program (NCFP)? What are the deadlines for these supports?
A: Students accepted into the National Chinese Flagship Program will be eligible for support from the following sources.
*Funding by the National Chinese Flagship Program at The Ohio State University. Tuition and living stipend support is available to qualified applicants.
*The funding agency for the National Chinese Flagship Program at OSU, National Security Education Program (NSEP), offers substantial funding to a limited number of undergraduate and graduate students to participate in the OSU Flagship Program (or other designated Flagship programs). These awards require US citizenship and a federal service commitment.
*Graduate Assistantships. A limited number of graduate assistantships are available through the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures. Applications should be received by February. Graduate Assistantships are normally awarded during autumn quarter (typically during the last week of September) for the following academic year.
*University Fellowships. These highly competitive awards are made by the Graduate School to outstanding graduate students. For more information, please go to financial aid section.
2. Where do I find application forms for financial support?
A: If you are interested in getting financial support through OSU, including funding by NCFP at OSU, Graduate Assistantships and University Fellowships, you should check all possible boxes in the “Graduate School Admission Application Form” for full considerations and send out all materials before the published deadlines. For more information of University Fellowships, please go to the website of http://www.gradsch.ohio-state.edu .
If you are interested in getting a financial aid through NSEP, please go the website of National Security Education Program (NSEP) for the requirement of David Boren Graduate Fellowship. This is the best way to fund your study. The funding organization for NSEP, the Institute of International Education(IIE) requires a separate application form.
3. Are GRE scores required for my application?
A: If you are interested in getting financial aid through OSU, GRE scores are required.
If you plan to get the NSEP/NFLP Fellowship, GRE scores are not required.
4. Will I be precluded from being awarded financial aid from NCFP if I am awarded NSEP fellowship?
A: No, it will not preclude you from being awarded scholarship funds from NCFP at a later time if you are awarded NSEP money this year.
5. What program should I choose in filling out the application form?
A: East Asian Languages and Literatures
6. What specialty should I choose in filling out the application form for the National Chinese Flagship Program?
A: Advanced Languages - Chinese Flagship
7. On average how many students are enrolled in the program?
A: As a program sponsored by NSEP, the National Chinese Flagship Program at The Ohio State University typically enrolls 10-12 students each year.
8. What are the criteria for making admission decisions and for granting financial support?
A: Admission and support will depend on the following in the descending order of importance 1) Chinese language skill, 2) Academic transcript, 3) Academic or occupational area other than Chinese language, 4) Work experience, 5) Standardized test result.
9. How many words should my statement of purpose be?
A: The statement of purpose is to explain what your short term and long-term goals are, why you would like to enroll in this program, how this program will assist you in achieving your goals, and what you plan to do after you complete this program. So that it's the content that really matters.
10. Is there an interview process that goes with the application?
A: Yes, there will be an interview after we receive your application package. Basically it is a phone interview to assess your language proficiency level. The result of the interview will become a factor in admission, support granting, and the necessity to attend the summer intensive program.
11. When will the academic year commence for the '09 session?
A: Around September 20th. After testing, we recommend that some potential students attend the summer program in Qingdao as a preparation for the academic year program in Columbus.
12. Do I need to attend the summer intensive program?
A: We offer two intensive programs this summer: one is for post-first level students and the other is for advanced students that are pre-flagship students. If the result of an interview indicates only an ACTFL “intermediate - high” (ILR level 1.5) instead of “advanced - low” (ILR level 2), the student will be required to attend the summer intensive program that will train them to the “advanced-low” level in preparation for the autumn enrollment.
13. About housing?
Some students are planning to arrive in Qingdao one week or so before the official beginning of the program. Will they be able to live in the dormitory provided by our program? If it is possible, are they responsible for it?
A: Before the program starts, dorms are not guaranteed. However, we will try our best to book rooms for them at the dorm, university hotel or a nearby affordable hotel. Please email your itinerary to me so that I can arrange their pre-program accommodation. Students are responsible financially for pre-program stays.
14. About traveling?
Some students have the plan of traveling individually during the program or visiting their friends in other cities (e.g. Dalian). Will students be allowed to leave Qingdao during the program? How long will they be allowed to be absent? Are we responsible for our safety during the period that we are not in Qingdao ?
A: Students are free at weekends. If they want to travel outside of Qingdao , they must get permission from the program director and sign pledges stating that they will observe local laws and regulations and that they are responsible for their own safety. Outbound traveling is not recommended.
15. Can I use Credit card and Debit Card in Qingdao?
Will it be possible for students to purchase food or other things within Qingdao University by credit card or debit card?
A: Credit cards are accepted at Qingdao University Hotel only. One may withdraw cash from a limited number of ATM machines stationed at large bank branches. Students must be aware that service fees and transaction fees will mostly likely be imposed on cash advances like this. Also, the interest rate is much higher for cash advances. Using a debit card to obtain cash is better than using credit card because no interest is charged if there are sufficient funds sitting on the account. Only those bank cards or debit cards that double as credit cards can do this. Still service fees and currency conversion fees are usually exercised on this kind of transaction. It is recommended that students bring travelers checks instead of cash.
16. How can I get a return-to-the US Christmas vacation?
A: Normally, you don't have a return-to-the US Christmas vaction. Students are required to follow the Chinese academic calendar since you are enrolled in a Chinese university.
If there is a compelling reason that you have to have a return-to-the US Christmas vacation, please inform the director of overseas program and director of home institution Flagship, and provide them your reasons as well as specific itinerary.
17. Why do I have trouble in registering courses in winter quarter?
A: The most common reason is that the university has placed an administrative hold on your record. This is mainly caused by the missing of your final transcription from one of the college/universities you attended before you were admitted by OSU. Please be sure to check your admission letter from OSU Graduate School admission office. You need to submit all the documents listed under the “provision” term ASAP in order to enroll for next quarter. You can find the “hold information and clearance procedure” in your orientation package.
Another possible reason is that you have unpaid fees: library late fee, cota, student recreation center fee, etc. If you think you are all clear with the fees and transcript, please stop by the graduate school at the University Hall 2nd floor, asking the front desk to figure that out because they will be able to check that for you.
18. Can students who only have knowledge of simplified characters apply?
A: Yes you can. We recommend students to be able to read traditional characters because there are more and more places that use these characters nowadays in China.
19. Would it be acceptable for a professor to write me a recommendation who has not had me in their classes?
A: Out of the three recommendation letters, you should have at least 2 from your Chinese instructors who can verify your language abilities.
20. If I were to apply for an OSU fellowship, how is the letter of recommendation from the Flagship Program for the fellowship written to the Graduate School without the author knowing the applicant personally?
A: Letters of recommendation are sent to the Chinese Flagship Program for completion.
21. What is the specific title of the Master's of Arts degree that the program offers?
A: Master of Art's in East Asian Languages and Literatures with a program in Advanced Chinese Language and Culture.
