What is the Muskie program???

[DE]

Can you fill me in on this please!  Thanx

[RW]

... in response to What is the Muskie program???, posted by DE on Mar 7, 2002

Muskie program is named after Senator Edmund Maskie and is designed to bring people from Former Soviet Union to receive education in the US Universities.

It is higly competetive as all costs are covered by US government - tuition, travel, insurance and program also pays mothly stipend based on the living standards of the cities scholars are living in.

There are undegraduate, graduate and since last year PhD programs included in the scope of the program. About four years ago, when I was applying for it there were five areas in the graduate program you can apply for: Business administration (MBA), Public Administration, Legal, Library Science and Economics. All applicants just identify area of interest (MBA or Economics, etc), length of the program (two-year with degree or just one year) and if they pass through all the requirements, program assigns them to the University (you can't select University yourself).

Depending on the area of studies, you have to pass a few "stages" of selection process - application, TOEFL, (GMAT if it's MBA) and than interview.

ALL participants on this program come to USA on J-1 visa, which has two-year requirement (means you have to return to Russia/Ukraine/etc) for two years. That does not mean that they can not come back to US later, it's just time spend in USA will not be calculated into two years and they can not apply for a green card without "serving" two years.

The organization which administers this programs called ACTR - American Councel of Teachers of Russian and you cna read all "official" information about this and other programs at www.actr.org

Russian Wife

[Dan]

... in response to What is the Muskie program???, posted by DE on Mar 7, 2002

It is a program designed to spread the 'good news' about democracy and the American way of life to 3rd world (esp. communist and former communist) countries.

I know quite a few young people in Ukraine that came to America for one year of study while still in high school. The admission requirements involved both meeting academic standards and a minimum level of English. The program pays for the majority of costs associated with these youngsters coming to American and studying for a year.

I see it as a terrific program that exposes youth who are likely to be influential leaders of these countries to America and her way of life. All the Ukrainians I know that participated in the program have a very positive leaning toward America - and all are moving toward, or filling, important roles in business in Ukraine. Their futures are very bright - and their leanings, which are owed to the Muskie program, will do nothing but help in forging closer relationships between America and Ukraine.

If you need more information, I can put you in touch with a couple of people that have gone through the program.

- Dan

[Danno]

... in response to I *Think* . . ., posted by Dan on Mar 7, 2002

All that you have done is pissed people off...  made enemies generating trouble..  You do not think as you did not think when you WRONGLY excluded Thailand from the list of Countries that Russian/FSU countries can readily visit.

LOL LOL LOL

[BarryM]

... in response to U don't *Think* . . ., posted by Danno on Mar 11, 2002

nt

[Dan]

... in response to U don't *Think* . . ., posted by Danno on Mar 11, 2002

n/t

[Bill P]

... in response to I *Think* . . ., posted by Dan on Mar 7, 2002

Or do you know of other programs that offer scholarships to Ukrainians who want to go to college?

[Richard]

... in response to No benefit for permanent residents of US..., posted by Bill P on Mar 8, 2002

The standard financial aid sources would apply, I suspect.

Also, check to see what is required to get in state tuition for your spouse. For example, Florida waives the one year residency requirement for spouse of residents that already qualify for in state tuition.