Questions
Financial Questions
Admissions Questions
Application Questions
Miscellaneous Questions
FINANCIAL QUESTIONS
How much do students have to pay?
The actual cost of the Institute is more than
$3500 USD, and all students will be required to pay a
minimum of $500 (USD) after receiving scholarship subsidies.
These scholarships
are provided by donors to The Fund for American Studies,
and have been designated for students from various countries.
All scholarships and program fees will go towards tuition,
3 meals a day, housing, reading materials and special
events.
If I apply after the 31st of January, will I be
still eligible for the scholarship?
Yes,while you will still be eligible for a scholarship, your chances or receiving one are less than if you apply before January 31st.
Scholarships and admissions are both based on our rolling
admissions policy.
Do you cover travel expenses?
No. Students will have to cover their travel costs to
and from Hong Kong. Prior to the start of the program,
e-groups will be established, allowing accepted students
to communicate with each other. In the past, students
have used this as a means of working out traveling plans
with other students from their region.
Are meals included in the cost of the program?
Yes. Unless scheduled otherwise, Breakfast, lunch and
dinner will be served five days a week in the dining facilities
of HKU. On weekends, students will receive two meals on Saturday and one meal on Sunday. For anyone with special dietary requirements
(kosher, vegetarian, etc.), you must contact us via
email at kstrampe@tfas.org no later than June 20th.
Is there a chance to pay the program fees in
installments?
You can pay your amount due in two installments. However,
a non-refundable $250 USD must be paid by your payment
deadline to confirm your attendance and guarantee your
spot in the Institute.
Do you offer a refund if I pay my dues but
cannot attend the Institute, or if I have to leave during
the Institute?
Refunds are only granted prior to a student's arrival,
and only if they cannot attend due to an emergency.
No refunds are given after your arrival and registration.
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ADMISSIONS QUESTIONS
What is Rolling Admissions?
Rolling Admissions means that your application will
be reviewed as soon as your application is completed.
The earlier you apply, the more likely your application
will be accepted. If you wait to apply until or near
the application deadline, your application may not be
accepted because of space limitations. Each year, we
decline a number of highly qualified applicants because
they waited too long. With rolling admissions, it is
possible that admissions for some countries will be
suspended before the final application deadline.
Most often, a final decision will be made once an application
is reviewed. If a decision cannot be made, it will be
placed on "hold."
I applied early and I've been placed on "hold",
why? When will a final decision be made?
Sometimes students are placed on "hold" for
a variety of reasons, often not related to their qualifications.
Since we try to establish a student body representative
of all countries involved, and representative of students
from a variety of backgrounds and academic majors, there
are many factors we must consider. Even if the admissions
committee does not immediately make a final decision,
students on "hold" who apply early will receive
priority over other equally qualified candidates who
apply at a later date. If you are still placed on hold
at the final application deadline, a final decision
will be made no later than middle of April. If you are
placed on hold and admission from your country has been
suspended, you will be considered as an alternate in
the event space becomes available.
What are the eligibility requirements for the
participants?
Students must be currently enrolled in university in
either an undergraduate or graduate level of study.
Students must also be citizens of Asian countries or
the United States of America. For international students,
priority is given to students living and studying in
their native countries. Priority for scholarships for
American students is given to alumni of The Fund for
American Studies' Institutes in Washington, DC.
How many students of each nationality will
be accepted?
Every year the admissions committee establishes a target
number of students by country, and according to the
average number of applications we typically receive
proportional to the distribution of nations in the Institute.
The demographics of the applicant pool tend to change
each year, so these target numbers often change before
admissions are completed.
When will final decisions be made?
Final admissions decisions will be made shortly after
the final deadline of 15 March 2007.
Why was my application declined?
There can be a variety of reasons why your application
was not accepted. The application process is very competitive;
therefore, we look at a number of factors that contribute
to our decision, and we are often forced to decline
a large number of successful students. In accepting
students, the admissions committee pays a lot of attention
to areas of the application that help communicate various
characteristics of an applicant and how that student
could contribute to the nature of our program. Thus,
the resume, essay and recommendations hold a lot of
weight.
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APPLICATION QUESTIONS
Can I submit my application materials via email?
No, all application materials must be received in the
mail or by fax. We will not accept any email attachments.
Do I have to complete and submit the online
application form?
To be considered for admission, you must submit the
Online Application Form. You can also complete and submit
the application form if you have received one of our
brochures; however, that will delay your application.
Applying on-line is a more efficient and speedier process.
We get your data in our records as soon the on-line
application is downloaded into our database (usually
no later than the next business day). After completing
the online application, you need to submit all required
application materials. Click here for application requirements.
Do I have to put my passport number in the
online application?
Yes. The passport number in the on-line application
is extremely important and serves as your reference
though the application procedure. If you don't have
a passport, then type in a password. You can use this
password for referencing your application status on
our Application Status webpage.
What do I do if I am unable to submit the online
application form?
First - try again. Depending on the speed of your Internet
connection, it might take several moments for your application
to submit. If that still does not work, try from another
computer. In case you cannot submit the online application,
you can print out the completed application and send
it to us along with other application materials by fax
or mail.
Do I have to submit all required application
documents at once?
No, but it is recommended. The sooner we receive all
documents, the sooner your application will be reviewed.
If any items are missing, you should mention that in
a cover letter. Many schools and professors will only
send transcripts and recommendations to us directly.
Once we have your online application, we will place
all materials you submit in a file until it is completed.
My application status is "incomplete"?
What does it mean?
Your application status is "incomplete" when
we do not have one or more of the required materials.
You application will not be reviewed until all materials
are submitted. If you do not know which items you are
missing, contact Institute staff at asia@tfas.org. Please
note that it sometimes takes 2-3 weeks (if not more)
before we receive application materials in the mail.
If I fax my application requirements, do I
have to send the originals?
No, however we prefer originals. We are not responsible
for faxes that cannot be read. If we can read your fax,
there is no need to send the originals by mail, but
faxes can often be difficult to read if not transmitted
properly. All faxed materials, such as reference letters
and transcripts, are also subject to verification.
I have applied to the program last year, was
accepted, but could not come. Do I have to submit all
the additional documents again when applying this year?
You have to submit new transcripts, an updated CV, and
a statement-of-purpose. Also, please include in your
cover letter that you have applied last year and the
reason why you could not attend.
I was declined last year. Do I have to submit
new application materials for this year?
At the very least, you need to submit new transcripts,
an updated CV and a statement-of-purpose. But since
your application was declined last year, submitting
new and improved materials will increase your chances
of being accepted this year. We will likely not consider
your application if you submit the same materials once
again.
Do I have to rewrite my essay?
No, however, a new essay with a different subject might
improve your chances.
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MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS
Can I receive credit for attending the Institute?
Three undergraduate or graduate credit hours are available
from Georgetown University after students complete and
pass a comprehensive written exam at the end of the
Institute. Undergraduate credit can be applied to a
Bachelor degree. Graduate credit can be applied to a
Master's degree or PhD. Graduate students will have
to take a more complex exam.
Is there any deadline for sending the photographs,
Attendance Agreement, Payment and Travel forms?
The deadline for the Attendance Agreement, Payment Form
and photographs varies depending on when the admissions
decision was made. This deadline is stated in the official
letter sent by mail to every student upon acceptance.
A travel information form should be submitted no later
then May 1, 2007.
Do I need to secure a visa to attend the Institute?
Yes, all students must secure a visa before entering Hong Kong. The Fund for American Studies assists accepted students
secure necessary. Student visas are required for entry
into Hong Kong. The Fund's partner in Hong Kong (HKU)
will draft and send a letter of invitation to all accepted
students.
What kind of accommodations are provided?
Students will be housed in a modern dormitory at HKU.
There will be two students assigned to each dorm room.
Each room is air conditioned and has ethernet connections
available. Each room contains 2 single beds and study
areas. Bed linens are provided and there is maid service
twice a week. There are also laundry facilities on campus.
The Fund for American Studies will assign you a roommate
upon registration. In order to promote cross-cultural
exchange, roommates will be assigned so that students
from the same country are not rooming together. Costs
of accommodations and a meal plan are included in your
scholarship and program fees.
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