| Application deadline | March 1, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Free attendance; check separate expenses; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Free attendance; check separate expenses (2027 cycle) |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Need-based travel assistance: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Funds are limited. (2027 cycle) |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Residential lodging: $0. Covered by STARTALK funding for accepted students.; Meals during the residential camp: $0. Covered by STARTALK funding for accepted students.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Need-based travel assistance: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Funds are limited. (2027 cycle) |
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| Stipend or pay | Weekly salary: $500 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grade 12 and first-year college; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades) | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Citizenship: US citizen; Residency: IL; Requirement: Open to grades 12–13; Requirement: High school senior in the 2027-2028 school year or a 2027 high school graduate; Requirement: Enrolled in an Illinois high school; Requirement: Proof of medical insurance | Requirement: Open to rising grades 9–12; Requirement: Limited or no prior exposure to Chinese; Requirement: Priority consideration for students from the Southern Appalachian region, especially Western North Carolina and East Tennessee | Ages 15–16; Requirement: For 2027, birthday between August 26, 2010 and June 26, 2012 (at least 15 when the session starts and not yet 17 by its end); Requirement: Available for the whole four-week in-person session; Requirement: Able to speak English; Requirement: International campers need a valid passport and visa (if applicable) |
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| Session dates or duration | Starts July 12, 2027; Ends August 6, 2027; 4 weeks (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 15, 2026; Ends July 3, 2026; 3 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts June 26, 2027; Ends August 26, 2027; 4 weeks (2027 cycle) |
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| Format | Hybrid | Hybrid | In person |
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| Housing and supervision | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | IL | Boone, NC | Rhinebeck, NY |
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| Selection and application | Application materials: Letter of recommendation from a STEM teacher or STEM club advisor | Selection: Rolling admission to 18 places, with priority for Southern Appalachian students, especially western North Carolina and east Tennessee. No application count, acceptance rate, rubric, waitlist rule, or decision timeline is published. Application materials: Statement of interest (150-200 words) | Selection: Regional/global selection committees review applications for cohort fit and invite some applicants to interview. LAJF seeks diverse strengths, backgrounds, interests, and commitment to change, but does not publish current applicant totals, cohort size, or acceptance rate. Application materials: Interview with your regional selection committee (if selected for the interview phase) |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-12Source 4 · checked 2026-08-20Source 5 · checked 2026-08-20 |
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