Moscow-Texas Connections 2015 Information Session

Moscow-Texas
Connections 2015
Information Session
The following slides are an abridged version
presented to interested UT-Austin students
on Wed, Nov 12th
Agenda
• Program Overview & Responsibilities as a
Fulbright-Hays GPA Scholar
• Eligibility/Costs/Obligations/Application Process
10 Weeks in Moscow: An Overview
• DSES Contact Info if you have additional questions
Program
Overview/Responsibilities/Obligations
as a Fulbright-Hays Scholar
Program Overview
• 10 Weeks in at the Higher School of Economics (HSE) in
Moscow, Russia
• Funded by a U.S. Department of Education Multi-Year Grant
• 2015 will be the third year of the program. Repeated in 2016 as
well.
• Competitive Selection Process (22 of 36 selected for MTC ‘14 )
• For MTC ’15 - 20 students from universities across Texas plus a
Resident Director
• 2014 participants included 11 from UT, 2 from RICE, 3 from
Texas A & M, 1 from UT-Arlington, 2 from Texas Tech and 1
from UT-El Paso
Fulbright-Hays GPA Scholar
Responsibilities
•
•
•
•
Being selected as a Fulbright-Hays Scholar is a BIG DEAL!
The American taxpayer is funding your time in Moscow
You’re representing the US, the state of Texas and UT
Resume enhancer
Selection to this program incurs certain responsibilities and
obligations:
 Attend all classes, excursions and “meet and greet” events; an
attendance policy will be in place during your time in Moscow
 Completion of all required pre-departure administrative
paperwork (more on this if you are selected)
Eligibility, Costs, Student
Obligations, Application Process,
Preparing your Application
Eligibility
• Students must be a US citizen or permanent resident
• Classified as a full-time graduate student or undergraduate “junior” or
“senior” as of Summer 2015 at ANY post-secondary institution in Texas
• Students must still be in a program of study and not have graduated
prior to the start of the program
• Students should have completed/achieved an Intermediate or SecondYear Equivalency in the Russian Language by the start date of the
program (June 1, 2015)
• Students must possess a valid passport that does not expire before
February 1, 2016
Costs
• Visa fees, approximately $250.00
• Application/Affiliation Fees (UT Students only) $450 – Ensures that UT
students will receive academic credit for the course work completed at HSE
• Health insurance coverage through the UT Study Abroad Office for duration of
your time in Moscow ($19 a week x 10 weeks for a total of $190) plus the costs
of any required pre-departure check-ups, tests (HIV) and inoculations
• International Student ID card - $28
• Spending $$ for personal purchases, telecommunications (cell phone/SIM
card/minutes), internet access etc.
• Independent travel, transportation, sightseeing or meals outside of official
MTC ‘15 sponsored activities
• Transportation to/from Austin (plus accommodation, if required) for
Orientation on May 30th and return on August 7th
Student Obligations
• Agreement
• Pre- and post travel Russian Language Examinations to assess level of
competency and progress
• Attendance at the MTC ‘15 Orientation at the University of Texas at Austin on
Saturday, May 30th, 2015
• Completion of pre/post MTC ‘15 surveys (UT and Dept of Education)
• Participation in career guidance activities in Moscow and in the post-travel
alumni network
• All participants must travel to/from Moscow as a group with the Resident
Director. The departure date for Moscow is Sunday, May 31st , 2015. The
return date is Friday, August 7th, 2015. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Application Process
(1 of 2)
• A completed “Moscow-Texas Connections Online Application with basic
personal/emergency contact information, passport information, program
relevant information etc.
• A Personal Statement (500 words or less) on how the MTC ‘15 program and
proficiency in the Russian language specifically further the applicant’s
educational or professional goals. Submitted in .doc or .pdf format
• A Letter of Reference from a professor assessing the applicant’s Russian
language skills, explaining how the applicant might be a good fit for the MTC
program and use it to their professional advantage. Submitted in .doc or .pdf
format
• Please Note: Letters of Reference should be printed on official departmental
letterhead signed by the recommender and either hand-delivered/mailed to
DSES or e-mailed (in .pdf format) directly to [email protected]
by the recommender. Letters of Reference submitted by prospective students
will not be accepted.
Application Process
(2 of 2)
• A copy of your current Transcript from your academic institution.
(Scanned Copy, does not have to be official)
• A scanned copy of the information page of your passport in .pdf format
• E-Mail your transcript and copy of your passport in .pdf format to:
[email protected]
• The deadline to apply is January 9, 2015 at 5:00pm
• MTC ‘15 Selection Board meets on Friday, January 23rd, 2015
• Applicants will be notified of acceptance into the program on the
evening of January 23rd or on Saturday, Jan 24th via e-mail from Dr. Mary
Neuburger.
Preparing Your
Application
• Know the deadline (January 9, 2015 at 5pm)
• Ask for your letter of recommendation from a professor well in
advance! Do not wait until the last minute!
• Carefully read all of the requirements etc. on our website; if you do
not understand something ask!
• Have a fellow student review your online application and personal
statement prior to submission. Double check for spelling/syntax errors
etc. Remember: There is no such thing as a perfect first draft of any
quality piece of writing. Check and re-check your work!
10 Weeks in
Moscow: An
Overview
We’d like to let you
know up front
that…
This program is Mentally
and Physically challenging…
On average MTC ‘14
students walked about 4
miles per day during the
week. Overall 200 + miles in
the 10 weeks they were
there!
Arrival/Reception at
the HSE Dormitory
• Underway for about 24 hours from Austin to Moscow
• Greeted by HSE personnel / Bused from airport to dormitory
• Dormitory In-processing (Room Assignments, ID cards, linens,
dishware for cooking etc.)
• Each MTC student housed with a Russian roommate
• Russian students assist MTC students with the purchase of cell
phones/ SIM cards, initial food purchases etc.
Here are a few photos
of HSE Dormitory #3
Where our students
lived the past two
summers:
Academics
Where you’ll be attending class*
*As of November ’14: The Department of Philology may move to a
new location prior to June ‘15
HSE
Department of
Philology
Classrooms
HSE Russian Language
Instructors
• All native speakers with expertise teaching Russian to foreigners
• At least two have spent several years in the US either as graduate students
or teaching at US universities
• Highly motivated to help each student improve speaking, reading, writing
and listening skills
A Typical Week
(Monday – Thursday)
7:30-8:45am – Personal Hygiene/Breakfast
8:45-9:55am – Walk/Metro/Walk to Class
10:00am-12:50pm – Russian Language Instruction w/
breaks between sessions (each session is 50 minutes)
12:50pm-1:50pm – Lunch
1:50-pm – 3:50pm – Russian Language Instruction/Lectures
3:50pm-4:50pm – Walk/Metro/Walk to HSE Dormitory
4:50pm – 5:50pm – Dinner
5:50pm-Until Complete – Homework/Personal time
(Students averaged between 2-2.5 hours of homework
each night; there are also homework assignments given to
complete on the weekends)
Note: Russian Students will be available as tutors in the dorms for two hours
per night during the week (Sunday – Wednesday)
Excursions
Excursions in Moscow*
•
•
•
•
•
Walking Tour, Kremlin (Grounds and Armory)
Day trip to Yasnaya Polyana (with lunch)
Babaevskaya Chocolate Factory
Bunker-42 (aka Cold War Bunker)
Politics in Russia Seminar
*Planned as as of November ‘14
Excursions in St.
Petersburg*
• Round-trip to/from St. Petersburg on SAPSAN day train
• Four nights in dormitories at St. Petersburg State Economics University
• Walking Tour with visit to St. Isaac's Cathedral and Colonnade, Peterhof
(main palace and park), Siege Tour and Hermitage Tour
*Planned as as of November ‘14
If you have any additional questions please do not
hesitate to contact Mr. Elliott Nowacky, DSES
International Programs Coordinator
e-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 512.475.6145

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