AnnMarie

Hello to everyone!
Since the last Grant cycle is coming to an end and the next cycle's application is now open, I figured it would be helpful to begin this next thread! Congratulations to the last cycle's grantees!
Let's help each other out in the Fulbright process. This is a great place to ask questions, get familiar with the process, and chit chat to blow off some steam! 
Good luck to us all! 

Hello to everyone!
Since the last Grant cycle is coming to an end and the next cycle's application is now open, I figured it would be helpful to begin this next thread! Congratulations to the last cycle's grantees!
Let's help each other out in the Fulbright process. This is a great place to ask questions, get familiar with the process, and chit chat to blow off some steam! 
Good luck to us all! 

*Crosses fingers* 

Hello to everyone!
Since the last Grant cycle is coming to an end and the next cycle's application is now open, I figured it would be helpful to begin this next thread! Congratulations to the last cycle's grantees!
Let's help each other out in the Fulbright process. This is a great place to ask questions, get familiar with the process, and chit chat to blow off some steam! 
Good luck to us all! 

Oh I hope that's true! Maybe there's still a chance then

I spoke to my Fulbright advisor this morning. Alternates typically don't hear back until the end if May/ first few weeks of June. It's like a 3rd round really.

I applied for ETA but since you don't apply to a specific area for that and Indonesia is a very diverse country especially in respect to what resources you can expect to find I was vague. I said I wanted to work with groups that keep girls in school and listed groups I knew of. I also said I was interested especially if placed rurally to help stock up libraries. 
I have seen other applications be more or less related to the program they applied for. The main thing my advisor said was showing integration into the community.
Maybe you could find something similar to what you had but dealing more with people, or find a way to stress the communal aspect of the nature park.

Hi AnnMarie!
I'm a Research Finalist for Peru. I study bioarchaeology (i.e. human skeletal analysis, think the TV show bones). In a nutshell, my proposed project is to do skeletal analysis in the Moche Valley on individuals excavated from Moche and Chimu culture archaeological sites. There's a lot more to this, but the idea is baseline my work requires nothing but me and a bunch of dead people... so cultural engagement was going to be a tricky one.
The community outreach aspect of my project still incorporates my skill set and research directly. Peru has recently (past generation or so) increased their commitment to cultural heritage and conservation efforts. With this, many Peruvian students are interested in pursuing archaeology in order to help with conservation and preservation of sites.
My proposed cultural engagement was two fold - first, the project I am working on tied to a non-profit. This non-profit partners with "villages" (so impoverished that the government sometimes doesn't recognize them) near to the sites they want to excavate. In exchange for "projecting" the Moche sites (i.e. not looting from them), this NGO funds a community-identified service project. In the past, they've built a school, and water filtration system. I noted specifically in my application that my schedule is flexible enough that I am able to participate in any construction efforts by this NGO. 
Second, there is a field school that excavates at these sites during the summer months. For the first time, this field school will include Peruvian students. Their Archaeological education does not include bioarchaeology. My job during this field school is to train people in bioarchaeology, and effectively contribute to a new generation of individuals that can do this research on their own instead of relying on international researchers.
More generally, I stressed the importance of archaeology/anthropology. Specifically its ability to allow a group of individuals to learn more about where they come from, reclaim identity, and form a sense of communal pride.
 
I hope this helps!
 

Yes. Put it on your resume. I have a few professors that were alternates for big grants that listed it on their CV. It's an accomplishment and makes you stand out. Academics do it.
On another fun note, I also found out your college advisors list your achievements on their CV. If you are awarded a grant or become an alternate, they list you on their achievements because it makes them s more competitive professor/advisor. They have to have been the one that advised you through college, though. So my advisor now has me posted on her CV as a Fulbright alternate.

Going to have a drink tonight for this forum. I have never been so engaged in a dialogue with as much momentum as i did this. Everyone here was so friendly and helpful, and reminded me of why i chose to pursue graduate school in the first place. To be surrounded by like-minded scholars such as you guys makes the world of a difference in me continuing to work hard and strive for higher education. Also, that google spreadsheet was impressive. Wow! The force is real. If the planets are aligned right, I hope to run into some of you in the future. 

Cheers. Don't stop reaching for those goals. If you have come this far, you have come a long way.
 

Question for people here. So I got an alternate status but I'm already touching up my application to resubmit next year since I strongly believe in my research. I had an interview and the panel that spoke to me seemed perplexed about my community outreach part of my application. (I don't know if ETA applicants have to do that). But I love nature and I spend most if my time out in it while not in work. So I contacted a nature park in warsaw to volunteer for. 
The people that interviewed me didn't seem impressed by it and said my skills would be better used for volunteering in a local immigration NGO because my project was on immigration to Poland. This threw me off because I was under the impression my community outreach could be geared toward anything. 
I guess my question is this: what was your community outreach idea and was it in the same field as your project proposal?
I've already contacted an NGO in warsaw to see if I can volunteer with them for next year.

Yes. Put it on your resume. I have a few professors that were alternates for big grants that listed it on their CV. It's an accomplishment and makes you stand out. Academics do it.
On another fun note, I also found out your college advisors list your achievements on their CV. If you are awarded a grant or become an alternate, they list you on their achievements because it makes them s more competitive professor/advisor. They have to have been the one that advised you through college, though. So my advisor now has me posted on her CV as a Fulbright alternate.

Been ten days since I was notified with the sinister (A). No word yet. Losing hope every day. (I've turned this into a diary)

Congrats Spain Fulbrighters!! And well wishes for alternates that additional funding will surface

I was looking at our own Google docs spread sheet. Aside from that, I've been looking at a lot of alternates stories and I also emailed my advisor of my status. We still have a good shot. Sometimes additional funding turns up last minute in April it's hard to know how many alternates there are, though, seeing as how not every Fulbrighter is on here. I would presume there are 2-3 for 20 grants? Perhaps I'm over estimating.
 
I sure hope so! I am keeping my fingers crossed. Congrats to you!

@AnnMarie My university scholarship advisor also told me that traditionally there is a lot of movement on alternate list and that I shouldn't be so down about my current status.
NOW we start the 10th circle of hell of waiting together. 

Thanks both of you! I convinced myself I would be a NP or an A.
@AnnMarie, Poland was only supposed to have 15 grants last year but there are 17 there now so extra funds may pop up!! I wish I had previous years data but there is a very good chance! I am crossing everything!

I am a finalist for the ETA. I just checked my email as I was leaving work...I am stunned. Maybe they made a mistake.

Oh sh*t! I just assumed that with so many new posts a bunch of people would have been notified and celebrating. Sorry for getting all crazy. @AnnMarie and @hank.img I still believe that we can share a coffee come this fall in beautiful Poland. Sending you positive energy!! <3

Me:
>Opens computer 
>Sees there are 30+ new posts in the forum
>Without even stopping to read what people said, open my email
>See a P..see Congratulations...
>Bring down the foundations of my house from jumping around and screaming at the top of my lungs scaring the crap out of my husband who's in the shower
I'M GOING TO POLAND MOTHER FULBRIGHTERS!!!!!!
 
>Sidenote: wanted to call mom, dad, and best friends to scream at them through the phone....NO ONE PICKS UP!!! 
WWWHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Ok, now I'm going to go back and read everyone's posts. Congrats to everyone who got good news today!

ETA Finalist for Czech Republic here too! WOO! Just a heads up everyone - I received 2 emails! The first one was with the subject line "Congratulations On Your Fulbright U.S. Student Award" and the next one was "Fulbright Application Status (P)." Not sure if this is the norm, but I know people have been curious about subject lines. 
Good luck to everyone!! <3 
 

CONGRATS ALL!

im going to open it and either have a drink of celebration or have a drink of sorrow

Research in Poland! I have been unable to keep myself from believing that I will get it, thus daydreaming about all the things I will do when over there! >< A rejection would be devastating at this point :/ 
Here's to the power of positive thinking!!

Austria notified!!!!