I just got my acceptance into usafa this year. I am interested in majoring in STEM, preferably aerospace or aeronautical engineering. However, I would like to do a semester abroad program in SE Asia. I don't know much about what it takes to do this, and I know it would be challenging for a STEM major not studying another language, but how could I make this happen in the future?
Study Abroad and semester exchange programs USAFA
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My ds is an alternate for CSLIP (Cadet Summer Language Immersion Program) to Japan this summer and has been told that it is almost guaranteed for him next summer. I don’t know all of the criteria to be chosen but I know part of it is his F.Lang. GPA, overall GPA, and F.Lang. instructor recommendation. His major isn’t an issue for the summer program at all. He is also planning on applying for the semester exchange to Japan. The biggest issue he has as a STEM major is making sure he can get his majors classes in. The Japan program wouldn’t offer many if any of his majors classes. His hope is to overload his schedule next year to make exchange more feasible. I imagine he’ll need his advisor’s okay to take extra hours, but his GPA is high enough for that. I think it really depends on the country-specific program and their course offerings. Reading the USAFA Course of Instruction Handbook (pg. 60), it seems like only FAS and language-minors are eligible for the exchange programs, but I’m not sure if that is the case for every country. The only country the handbook lists in SE Asia for semester exchange is Singapore.
Are these programs (summer immersion & semester exchange) offered at a certain point in time?I'm sure not first year but maybe second? Or is it later? And do you know if you're only allowed one semester exchange throughout your 4 years?
Thank you!
It is most common to do CSLIP your 4th summer, but it is possible to do it the 3rd summer, if chosen. At this point, my ds would prefer to go with his classmates/friends next summer instead of this summer with cadets a year ahead, but I don’t think he’ll say no if it is offered to him.
I seriously doubt that a cadet could do more than one semester exchange. They are only offered to first and second class cadets (juniors and seniors) and are competitive. Plus, there are a lot of considerations with completing core curriculum/majors classes and USAFA’s in-residency requirements. DS told me that it is possible to do a summer and semester exchange. He won’t be able to be fluent enough in his language for semester exchange before firstie year so that is his goal. There are also other shorter trips offered throughout the year (like at spring break or summer), but those seem more spontaneous. The ones ds has knowledge of still go through the Dept. of F. Lang.
I did CSLIP back in my day the summer before my first year and it was AWESOME!! I highly recommend it.
Thank you so much! I had heard of these programs but it's hard to find specific information so I appreciate it! I hope your son gets to go and has a great experience! I've been studying French language and culture since elementary school so to be able to spend any time in France would be amazing. I was really excited to hear about these possibilities. Thanks again!!
AA787DRIVER
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My kid is going to Germany/Munich for the 4 weeks right at Graduation Week for CSLIP. Should be a great learning trip.
I believe all cadets have to take a language for the first two years unless you test out. My daughter is about to graduate from USAFA and did a semester in Taiwan and summer abroad which was around 30 days in Singapore. She is a Systems Engineer major with a Mandarin minor but came to the academy with a strong background in Mandarin. When she went to Singapore it was the summer before her Junior year and the semester abroad was Fall of her Junior year. Two of the cadets with her though were Seniors. For the summer abroad they took around 20-30 cadets to Singapore. Many of these cadets had only started taking Mandarin once they arrived at the Academy. For the semester abroad in Taiwan, 7 was chosen and they all had a pretty good foundation for speaking Mandarin. Several of her friends went to many other countries and their language ability varied. Should you apply just look into how the classes are taught. Many of the semester abroad programs the classes are taught in English but for the one my daughter went to the classes was almost all taught in Mandarin. It was challenging she said to take a technical class in Mandarin. There are so many other opportunities though to travel abroad. She submitted a proposal to go to Africa over spring break for a cultural immersion program. She was granted funding for 7 cadets and one professor to go to South Africa over spring break.
Slight correction, you have to take two semesters of a language unless you test out, for some people this can go into your second year if you fail one of the first two semesters and have to retake; however, most people finish up the requirement by the end of 4deg year.
Wow, these are amazing opportunities! Thank you so much for sharing this. I was lucky to start learning French in an immersion program at 7 years old and am fluent and have 3 years of college French done so am thinking about learning another language. I just know it won't come as easy as it did back when it was my 8 year old brain so it's a little scary- haha. Sounds like maybe I'll get the opportunity to study abroad though! Thank you!
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There are a lot of different language travel opportunities. My son was a Spanish minor and did a 3-week program/conference at the Spanish Air Force academy that had dozens of countries’ Air Force cadets attend. It was over spring break his junior year. In the past decade and a half since, he has run into several of the people he met at the conference during his AF career, and those contact have all been positive. It is a great experience.
I love that! What an experience and way to connect with people from around the world! Thanks for sharing. If I get through BCT and the first two years I'll have a lot to look forward to. lol!