Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you still accepting applications for a specific program?
We are currently accepting applications for all programs, and will provide information on the website once we are not accepting applications.
Do I need to fill out the "Summer Language Immersion" application if I want to study at the graduate level?
No; you should fill out just one application, for the specific program that you are interested in and select “Graduate Level”.
How can I apply for another program and is this allowed? Do I have to submit separate materials (transcripts and recommendations) for each program application?
Yes; please complete a separate online application and read the application instructions for each School to which you wish to apply. You must submit separate letters of recommendation and separate applications fees. However, transcripts can be shared between applications.
Will my application be processed while you are waiting to receive materials?
Generally, it will not. We need all of the requested materials, including the application fee, in order to make an admissions decision.
What version of internet explorer do I need to access the application?
Internet Explorer (version 11 or later), Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome (version 22 of later), Firefox (version 27 or later), or Safari (version 11 or later)
How do I change part of the information I provided in my online application?
Please send an email with the correct information to languages@middlebury.edu, choosing as your subject line the language for which you’re applying, followed by your first and last names (e.g., “Russian - John Smith”).
How long does it take to receive a decision on my application?
From the time that your application materials are complete in your Language Schools’ office, a decision letter to you may take four to six weeks.
How soon will I hear from you after I send in my application?
You will receive an email message from the automated system after your application has been submitted. The link to your financial aid application will be contained within that message.
We will send you an email to alert you to materials that we are missing after the application and some of the supporting materials have been received. You may log-in to the applicant dashboard to see the status of your application by using your username and password.
Should I wait until I've been admitted before submitting a financial aid application?
No. Although no offers of aid will be made before an applicant has been admitted, your financial aid application may be processed in preparation for a decision in the meantime. We urge you to send in your financial aid application as close as possible to the time that you apply for admission.
May I contact you to learn if my application materials have been received?
Please use the Application Tracker to see if we have received an item. If you have reason to doubt that your materials have arrived, you may contact us. Please allow a minimum of one week if the item(s) were mailed before such contact, as we will require some time to sort and identify all materials here in our offices.
Do I have to fill out the entire online application at one time?
No; you may click the “Finish Later” button to save what you have filled in and return at a later time to complete the rest. Once you click the “Application is Complete” button, your information will be submitted, and no further changes or additions to it may be made online.
My college transcripts will be delayed; can I send in a photocopy of my grades, or a grade report, so that my application can be processed in the meantime?
If you wish to submit unofficial copies of your transcripts or grades, you may do so, but be aware that no final admissions decision will be made until your official, sealed transcript has been received.
One or more pieces of my application materials were sent in directly to Middlebury; will you put them together with my application once everything has arrived?
Certainly; we keep track of all materials that come in and unite them all, as appropriate. It is very important that each part of your application materials clearly indicates which Language School it is intended for. Lack of clarity in this regard will result in unnecessary delays in processing your application for a decision.
How do I submit my letter of recommendation?
When you fill out the section on the application for your recommender, the system will automatically send him/her an email with a link to the secure recommendation form. Your recommender should check his/her spam folder because on occasion, the email could be caught in a spam filter. The email will come from lsadmissions@middlebury.edu.
Does my recommender have to use the recommendation form?
When you fill out the application, you will be asked to identify your recommender and provide his/her email address. The online application system will generate an email to your recommender with a secure link to the form. This is the fastest way to complete your recommendation. Sometimes the email invitation may get caught in a spam filter. Please ask your recommender to check his/her spam folder if s/he doesn’t receive the link shortly after you enter the information. If s/he is have trouble submitting the recommendation, please contact the coordinator.
May I submit more than the required number of recommendations?
You may do so, but it is not encouraged.
Can one of my recommendations be from a friend of mine or a family friend?
Not unless that person has worked with you in a professional context or as a former instructor. Please see your School-specific application information for complete instructions.
I recently held an unpaid position doing volunteer work; can my supervisor from that experience write a recommendation for me?
Yes; formal, structured volunteer work may count as a “professional context.”
The people who are most familiar with my language level are instructors I had more than two years ago; can they write recommendations for me?
We are interested in recommendations from people who have been in recent contact with you. If you have recently had language instruction or are in regular contact today with a former language instructor, then they may be a good choice as a recommender. However, since each Language Schools student will be tested by our own placement process to determine the level most appropriate for them, it is not necessary to have a former instructor attest to your language level. Our primary concern is that each of your recommenders be familiar with you from recent contact.