Scholarships Available Through the Center for Language Studies
Center For Language Studies Grant (Deadline Extended: May 7, 2008)
This grant is being offered through Beloit College’s commitment to making the summer intensive language program experience affordable to all qualified students accepted by May 7, 2008. It is a partial tution grant of $1,810 (eight-week) or $460 (four-week) which may not be used toward the cost of room and board. This grant is not guaranteed to applicants who apply after April 25, 2008.
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Center for Language Studies Director's Scholarships
(Deadline Extended: May 7, 2008)
$1,250 competitive scholarships are available to undergraduates who apply for the eight-week program. It may only be used to cover the cost of tuition and may not be used to cover the cost of room and board. These are not available to four-week participants.
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STARTALK Scholarships (Deadline Extended: May 7, 2008)
For the second year in row the Center for Language Studies has been selected to participate in a national initiative that offers high school students the opportunity to study Arabic or Chinese. The STARTALK scholarships are awarded, on a competitive basis, to 20 advanced high school students age 17 or older. This award (a $4,310 value), in combination with a CLS grant, covers the full cost of tuition. The award may not be used to cover the cost of room and board. Students graduating from high school in 2008 are eligible; however, these scholarships are not available to four-week participants.
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Aid Available Through Other Sources
Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships Program
Center for Language Studies eight week program meets the minimum of 100-120 contact hours required by the FLAS program for summer intensive language programs. The FLAS scholarships are only available for currently enrolled graduate students who are citizens of the United States. More information on the FLAS program is available online at the Department of Education website.
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Loans
CLS students are also eligible for financial aid in the form of federal loans through the Stafford, Perkins, and PLUS loan programs provided the college or university in which you are currently enrolled is willing to do a Consortium Agreement on your behalf.
You may apply for a private alternative loan through CitiBank, College Loan Corporation, Sallie Mae or Wells Fargo. If you currently use this type of loan and a different lender, you should continue to use the same lender.
The following loans may be available to students who take it upon themselves to apply.
Private Alternate Loans
The following private loans may be available to students who take it upon themselves to apply:
CitiBank CitiAssist Loan
College Loan Corporation
Premier Alternative Loan
Signature Loan
Wells Fargo Collegiate Loan (Keyword: Collegiate)
These educational loans are the preferred loan option available to CLS students and are available through private institutions to credit-worthy students and parents. Students should read the accompanying information entitled "Procedures for Applying for Educational Loan Assistance." Students should contact Ms. Jane Hessian, the Director of Financial Aid at Beloit College, at 608.363.2663 for details.
Federal Stafford and Perkins Loans
These federal loans are available to eligible students to help pay for post-secondary education. Students should read the accompanying information entitled "Procedures for Applying for Educational Loan Assistance." Students should also contact the Financial Aid Office of their current institution for details.
Federal PLUS Loans
These federal loans are available to eligible parents to help pay for post-secondary education of their children. Students should read the accompanying information entitled "Procedures for Applying for Educational Loan Assistance." Students should also contact the Financial Aid Office of their current institution for details.
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Procedures for Applying for Educational Loan Assistance
You should first contact the financial aid office of the college or university in which you are currently enrolled to ask if an aid officer will process a loan request to cover summer language study at the Beloit College Center for Language Studies. Though it generally is within its authority to process such a request (if you are eligible), the decision to assist you in attending the CLS program depends on the policies of that office. Please inform the officer that the Beloit College Center for Language Studies will reimburse processing expenses up to $50 per application of students who complete the CLS program.
If your own financial aid officer cannot provide the necessary assistance, then you must provide Beloit College with a complete financial aid file and consortium agreement in order to determine your eligibility. Once your aid file has been completed, Ms. Jane Hessian, the Director of Financial Aid at Beloit College (608.363.2663), will inform you of the types of loan assistance for which you are eligible. If you are currently receiving loans under the Stafford or PLUS programs, she may be able to advise you on your remaining options under these programs.
If you will be applying through Beloit College to obtain a Stafford or PLUS loan, your financial aid officer will need to sign the "Financial Aid Agreement Letter" and the "Beloit College Informal Consortium Agreement" and provide a copy of the necessary portions of your financial aid file.
The preferred loan option for CLS students is a commercially-funded loan program. The Beloit College Financial Aid Office has loan applications available through the CitiAssist Loan and the Wells Fargo Collegiate Loan programs. The current interest rate for both loans is the prime rate + 1% and they require a credit-worthy co-signer. You may request an application for both loans through Ms. Hessian at the above-listed number.
Please feel free to contact Patricia L. Zody, Director of the Center for Language Studies 608.363.2277 or cls@beloit.edu, or Ms. Jane Hessian, the Director of Financial Aid at Beloit College 608.363.2663 or hessianj@beloit.edu, with any questions that you may have regarding financial aid for the CLS programs. If you are planning on obtaining a loan for the Center for Language Studies summer program, we strongly encourage you to start this process as soon as possible.
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