Questions Relating To Curriculum:

What is Chinese FALCON?

FALCON stands for Full-year Asian Language CONcentration. FALCON's comprehensive, full-time approach to Chinese instruction is designed to build, within a single year, the linguistic foundation, cultural understanding, and real-world Mandarin Chinese language skills that students need to function independently in China. No other program offers the same degree of coverage in so short a time.

How would FALCON benefit me?

Falcon is a full-time (full course load) intensive language instruction program, and if you take the whole calendar year from summer through spring, you progress from the beginning to the advanced level. This would give you approximately three years worth of traditional academic language instruction in one year of FALCON.

I'm matriculated at Cornell University. Can I take other classes while in FALCON?

No. FALCON is a full-time course load: if you take the entire full-year program, you will be enrolled for 8 credits in the summer, 16 credits in the fall, and 16 credits in the spring. Classes are in session Monday through Friday 9:00 to 4:30, with only small breaks during the day, plus mandatory evening lab times. Thus, it is not possible to take other classes while enrolled in FALCON.

How many students are in Chinese FALCON every year?

In any given year, as many as 30 students are enrolled in Chinese Summer FALCON.  The program is designed to have small sections, 6-9 students, this allows for plenty of individual attention from instructors.  Fall FALCON is limited to twelve students attending classes together.  Spring FALCON in Beijing provides our smallest classes: 3-7 students per section.

I live in Syracuse.  Could I commute to FALCON?

This wouldn't really be feasible.  The course schedule runs Monday through Friday, from about 8:30 to about 4:30 with practice time in the lab and prep for the next day's class.  Adding drive time on top of the schedule would likely be too exhausting for you to maintain, and you would get far less out of the program than your potential.

In Chinese FALCON, do you teach simplified or traditional characters?

We teach both traditional and simplified Chinese characters, starting with traditional characters in the summer term, then introducing simplified in the fall term. 

If I complete FALCON, will I be qualified to work in China?

China does not have any specific requirements in terms of language for working in the country, so one does not have to worry about any sort of formal "qualification."  However, you would be qualified in a more general sense in that by the end of FALCON (assuming that you have done well) you would have reached the point where you can converse with relative ease about everyday matters and you would have reached the point where you can understand the speech of Chinese people you encounter.

I want to study in China. How can Chinese FALCON help me?

Chinese FALCON does conduct its spring semester in Beijing.  While we do not place students in study-abroad programs or correspond with departments about their policies for their students, the spring semester allows you to explore your opportunities for further activities abroad.

My goal is to work in China. Will Chinese FALCON afford me that ability?

At the end of the year, you will have covered comprehensively what typically takes about three years to cover in a traditional curriculum. So, while they are by no means fluent when they finish FALCON, the students do have a very solid base for continuing to learn the language on their own. It is not unheard-of for FALCON students to get jobs in China directly following the program.

I'm the mother of a potential Chinese FALCON student. My family is Orthodox Jewish, and I'm especially concerned about how a spring semester in Beijing might affect his religious observances.  He'd need, at times, to not work; there are times when he could sit in class, but would be restricted from writing. (Are classes held on Saturdays in Beijing?)

In general, we would do as much as we can to facilitate this student's studies and accommodate his religious observance needs. There are no Saturday classes in any of our terms, including Beijing, and our classes end by 4:30Beijing, I believe there is an Orthodox Jewish community there, and we can probably put him in touch with someone about that. on Fridays in the summer, and even earlier in fall and spring. We would need to know exactly how many days he'd need to take off for holidays in fall and spring, but if it's not more than 6 total it's no problem; more than that we should discuss, but it's still quite possible. As for

I'm a non-native English speaker.  Can I succeed in FALCON?

Plenty of non-native English speakers have done well in FALCON. Your English would need to be strong enough that you could understand explanations of Chinese language and culture in English, but most of your other work would be conducted in Chinese. If you understand this explanation, then you should be fine. FALCON does not require the TOEFL exam for admission.

I was wondering what Intermediate Chinese FALCON covers. I am taking Beginning Chinese this semester and next, and was wondering if your Intermediate Summer FALCON could be the next level for me. Also, is the intensive Summer  Intermediate comparable to a third and fourth semester of Chinese at Cornell?

Chinese Introductory Summer FALCON (Chinese 160) is the equivalent of taking Cornell University's Chinese 101 and 102 over the course of one 9-week, intensive summer session. Cornell University students who have achieved a B+ or better in Chinese 101 and 102 place into Chinese Intermediate Summer FALCON (the equivalent of Cornell University's 201 and 202).

How do I know if I'm qualified to enter Intermediate Chinese FALCON?

For anyone who has studied Chinese, we conduct placement interviews over the telephone (or in person, if you have the time and desire to come to Ithaca). These interviews are used to determine if you are applying at the best level for your needs.

Questions Relating To Applying:

Am I a "degree" student or a "non-degree" student? What's the difference?

Students who are matriculated at Cornell and are working toward a Cornell University degree would be "degree" students (at either the graduate or undergraduate level).

Students who are NOT in Cornell degree programs are welcome to apply to FALCON as "non-degree" applicants.

Should I include a language attachment form for high school French? I retained very little of it, having only taken the classes to satisfy high school requirements.

Yes, include your high school French courses. The admissions committee likes to see all the languages you have studied formally. This helps them determine your experience as a language learner.

I'm applying as a visiting undergraduate. Should I have my high school transcript and/or SAT scores sent?

If you are currently a matriculated undergraduate (student enrolled in a college/university), and have been matriculated for two or more years, then you can just send the transcripts from your university. If you have not yet matriculated as an undergraduate or have been at your university for less than two years, then we will need your high school transcripts, so that the application review committee has materials to work with as they reach a decision.

If accepted in the program as a non- degree undergrad or grad student,and as the year moves on,  what if one is suddenly inspired to get a degree at Cornell?

While you're here, you would be attending Cornell as a non-degree student, not as a Cornell degree-seeking student. You'd certainly be welcome to apply to a Cornell degree program if something sparked you interest. However, you would simply be applying to the university just as any new applicant would. (You would have Cornell transcripts and grades to strengthen your application, though.)

I am interested in the FALCON Program and applying for an M.A. in East Asian Studies. I was wondering if you knew what the Chinese language requirements were for this M.A.?

The requirements for the M.A. in Asian Studies are "FALCON or equivalent" and then one usually takes one Chinese language course each term during the M.A. also.

I'm a freshman in the College of Arts & Sciences. I'm taking  first year Mandarin (CHIN 101). I'm considering participating in the fall and spring term FALCON for next year, but not the summer part. While I am participating in Chinese FALCON for the fall and spring terms, will I be given a special status, or considered as a regular Cornell student? That is, will my FALCON year count as one of my four years at Cornell?

You will be considered a regular Cornell student during your FALCON year, and the year may count as one of your four undergraduate years. However, you will need to plan your undergraduate career carefully in order to graduate within four years. You may be able to petition for a fifth year as an undergraduate in order to include FALCON. In any case, you will need permission from your adviser within your college to spend a year in FALCON.

What are the requirements to be accepted into your school?

If you are interested in applying to and being accepted by Cornell as a regular Cornell University student, you should contact Cornell Admissions for details.  Realize that if you apply to and are accepted into Cornell, you would still have to apply to FALCON separately. Similarly, if you apply to FALCON and are accepted, that does not mean that you are accepted to Cornell as a regular student.

My son is a junior in high school, and he is interested in FALCON for the summer. Is it possible for him to attend?

We welcome high school students who are motivated and mature enough to do FALCON and have seen great results from those who have come, the program is not designed for high school students. They would be among undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals, and they would be keeping up with the whole pack. On one hand, younger people tend to internalize a new language much more easily than older people, so our high school students are often very successful. On the other hand, they do not always have experience with this level of rigor and this degree of structured demand for their time, so it can be a hard adjustment for some.

I'm an undergraduate, and I was told during orientation that I have to finish my undergraduate degree program at Cornell in four years.  If my FALCON year counts as one of the four years I will be spending at Cornell, then I think I probably will want to participate in FALCON while taking a leave of absence from Cornell, so that the year I take FALCON will not count toward one of my four Cornell years (I'm not certain I will be able to finish all the work I need in three years.)

Whether  permission is granted to use a 5^th year for FALCON study varies by college at Cornell. Determining factors include your financial aid package, your curriculum, etc. At least in the case of Arts & Sciences, we do have students who have petitioned for a fifth year. Consult your advising Dean. S/he might also be able to help plan your classes so that you can complete FALCON and your degree in four years.

Do I need to have a recommendation from a Chinese teacher to be considered for Chinese FALCON?

I wouldn't take a class in Chinese at another institution solely to get ready for FALCON, we often find that students who have studied Chinese elsewhere come into FALCON with bad habits that are hard to break, so you could be doing yourself more harm than good.

A recommendation from someone who taught you in a language class is a good thing to have, since s/he can attest to your general language-learning abilities. However, a letter from any professor who knows your work ethic, intelligence, etc. would also work.

Should recommendation letters be from teachers only?

Former teachers, in languages or not, would work the best, although we do sometimes see letters from employers as well. Basically, you want to select people whose recommendation will paint a clear picture of your likely language-learning skills, or at least the types of skills that make a good language learner: discipline, analytical ability, etc.

Questions Relating To Funding:

Undergraduate Students

I am an undergraduate. How can I fund Summer FALCON?

Unfortunately, there is currently no funding available for undergraduate Summer FALCON students. One alternative offered by many private loan companies is a career loan.

I'm an undergraduate. Are there any scholarships available for Academic Year FALCON?

If you're here as a full-year or academic year student, you could apply for the FALCON (Spring) Semester Scholarship. It covers a portion of the spring semester tuition with preference given to Cornell University undergraduates. If you're coming here from another institution, you should see what they might have available. Any private scholarship that you secure should be able to be applied to your tuition here.

I'm an undergraduate student. Can I use the G.I. Bill for FALCON?  How do I do so?

You'd need to contact Sofia Salce, the Veteran's Affairs contact, at smw45@cornell.edu. Please be aware that the G.I. Bill has predefined limits and may only cover part of your time at FALCON, leaving you to find additional funding.

I'm an undergraduate student: which private loan company is most highly recommended for career loans?

Students in the past have used Key Bank, CitiAssist, Grad Access, Nellie Mae Excel, and the Educational Resource Institute. You might also try looking into the bank that you or your parents use for checking--sometimes they will offer good rates to existing customers.

Graduate Students

I am a graduate student. How can I fund Summer FALCON?

In terms of fellowships, funding for summer-only study is not especially abundant. There is one option that you may want to look into: it’s called the FLAS, or Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship. There is a separate summer-only competition for FLAS awards, and the fellowship pays tuition and a living stipend.

The FALCON application for summer requires no transcripts, but the FLAS competition does require them. Since the FLAS deadline is in the spring semester, we would want your transcripts to include your fall grades.

I am a graduate student. How can I fund Academic Year FALCON?

There’s no doubt that the program is expensive. If you come in with a Bachelor’s degree, Cornell will consider you a graduate student, even if you are not matriculated in a degree program at the time of FALCON entry. Any graduate student (degree or non-degree/ Cornell or non-Cornell) is eligible to apply for loans through Cornell’s financial aid office.

Additional financial aid (housing, living expenses, etc.) would have to be handled through the graduate school.  Their website is: http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/

For the FLAS, do I really have to submit GRE scores?  What if I were to substitute other standardized test scores?

We have in the past accepted GMAT and LSAT scores from FLAS competitors, although this is not really an optimal approach. The GRE is a better measure of the types of skills needed to succeed in language study and you’d be competing against people who took the GRE. The FLAS competition—especially in Chinese—is quite intense. Thus, to be a more competitive applicant, you may want to consider taking the GRE.

To clarify, are non-degree graduate students eligible for FLAS Fellowships?

Non-degree graduate students are eligible as long as you have a Bachelor's Degree. Not being in a degree program does place you in a less competitive category, because preference is given to applicants who are in (or about to enter) a graduate program. Highest preference is given to those in degree programs at Cornell. Since the FLAS is a “portable” fellowship, your odds of receiving it through your own school may be higher.  You may look into competing for this fellowship at your home institution and using it to study here.

About when are admissions decisions available both for the FALCON Program and the FLAS Fellowship?

If you applied to FALCON in the fall, it’s possible that the director would review your application and make an admission decision before the start of the new semester in January. Most likely, however, the decision would occur early in the new semester. As for the FLAS decision, the committee’s goal is to have those decided by the beginning of April.  Applicants will hear about FALCON admission before they hear about fellowship competition results.

I’m a graduate student. Can I use the G.I. Bill for FALCON?  How do I do so?

You’d need to contact Sofia Salce at smw45@cornell.edu  (she’s the Veteran’s Affairs contact), to discuss your specific situation. Please be aware that the G.I. Bill monies will only cover part of your time at FALCON, so you’ll need to find additional funding.

For 2006-07, the G.I. Bill only paid out a stipend of about $1,184 per month for a maximum of 36 months (to a non-degree undergraduate). Funding amounts may vary by year and whether you’re a graduate or undergraduate student. Cornell needs all of its tuition and fees up front—you cannot pay as monthly G.I. Bill payments come in. Many students use Key Bank Career Loan.  Navy Federal Credit Union and Key Bank are the only institutions that this program knows of that will loan you money without Cornell certifying your loan.

I’m a graduate student: which private loan company is most highly recommended for career loans?

The one that we see recommended the most is from Key Bank. You can visit them online at www.key.com. Other students have used CitiAssist, Grad Access, Nellie Mae Excel, and the Educational Resource Institute. You might also try looking into that you or your parents use for checking—sometimes they will offer good rates to existing customers.

Other than the FLAS Fellowship, are there any scholarships available for non-degree graduate students?

If you’re here as a full-year or academic year student, you may apply for the FALCON (Spring) Semester Scholarship. It covers a good portion of the spring semester tuition. If you’re coming here from another institution, you should see what they might have available. Any private scholarship that you secure should be able to be applied to your tuition here.

I am a graduate student at another university, and I am not a U.S. citizen. Am I qualified to apply for the FALCON Semester Scholarship? 

Yes, you are qualified.  You should just be aware that preference is given to Cornell University students. Also, the International Students and Scholars office might be able to help with international student funding:  http://www.isso.cornell.edu/

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