smurfgurl22

I have to disagree that just because they are giving you money, they have the right to ask anything they want. That is a logical fallacy. And if that's the case that you have to disclose uncomfortable things in order to reap some sort of benefit, I'm not sure if the benefit is worth it to me. So there might be a full Germany grant coming available soon, for those of you who are alternates and for whom this would be a worthwhile sacrifice. Still deciding, but I don't feel good about this.

Ok, so two of you brought up that the second half of the form is meant to be filled out by a doctor, not myself, which I was aware of, thank you. But more importantly, that's fine and dandy, but I fail to see how this should make me feel any better. My medical information is still being sent out to people I don't want to have it. Period. I don't care who filled it out. Second, for the record, no, I have NOT been seeing doctors in the same clinic system for the last three years. Three years ago, I was in Germany (where I will be going again, and no, last time I went I was NOT asked to share this information with the funding body). Am I supposed to somehow contact the doctor I saw there? I have no idea anymore who they are or how to contact them. So no, it's not just a matter of going to see my doctor and them filling it out. I move around a lot. That's how my life is. Third, yes, it IS invasive. I've studied and lived abroad five times in three countries on two continents, all funded by various agencies, and never once have I been asked to share this kind of information with the scholarship committee. With my doctors there when it came up? Sure. But why with the scholarship committee?? THAT's the thing I am taking issue with. Obviously medical records need transferred and what not, but why is the scholarship committee involved with that? I can't be the only one who thinks this is strange. Fourth, clearly, I understand it is important to ensure that I am in good health before traveling. I'm not so stupid as to think that I don't need to go get some checkups before I go, just as I regularly do because yes, I get all of my checkups regularly. Duh. BUT I DON'T WANT TO SHARE THE RESULTS WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT MY DOCTOR. Why is that so difficult to understand? Finally, all those things you listed as things you would be concerned about are definitely things that would be worrisome. What I submit to you is that the things I have noted as worrisome to me are in the same category of things you listed. I am not making a mountain out of a molehill here. I am looking for information on this forum about this because my advisor was just as disturbed about the information they are requesting as I am, and we are both contacting people to figure out if this is really how they roll. So I'm not crazy for thinking this is weird. Rather I find it highly distressing that nobody else here does. Just because it's on official Fulbright paper doesn't mean it's ok that they are asking for this information. Just sayin'.

Hello there Fulbright friends, So today, Theresa Granza of Fulbright notification fame sent out a link to the medical evaluation form. Here is the link to the form in all its glory: http://us.fulbrightonline.org/documents/resources/Pre-Departure%20Medical.pdf I am a little bit, shall we say, concerned about and surprised at the depth of the information that they are asking for here. Just a few highlights: - They want to know your HIV status. I realize this is an issue for some countries, but why does Fulbright, as US-based funding agency, want to know? Wouldn't that be dealt with individually when applying for the visa? - They want women to have a gynecological exam, and give the results of the exam. Yes, the results. Because PAP smear results somehow reflect on one's ability to conduct research, apparently. - They want you to list all of the doctors you have seen in the last three years. No clue where to even start. My health insurance sends you to a clinic. I see a new doctor every time. - They want you to list all of the medications you have taken in the last three years. Seriously? I've been sick at least two or three times per year since I can remember with sinus infections, and I am supposed to figure out which antibiotics I took every f'ing time? - They want you to state if you have been hospitalized ever, for any reason. - They want you to state if you have ever seen a therapist or ever had depression or anxiety. I mean, is there ANYBODY on this forum who hasn't seen a therapist at least once? Probably as a result of the anxiety- and depression-inducing Fulbright application process!! - They want you to state the results of a psychiatric evaluation. Again, what? Ok, so I could go on and on here, but my basic point is, this really seems like a bit much. I can't even begin to remember all the doctors I've seen and antibiotics and what not I've taken for one reason or another. But beyond that, I certainly don't want to send PAP smear results to a SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE!! My question for the forum is that: Does anybody out there know if this is how it always is? Do you have a sense for how this runs from past Fulbrighters? Is this one of those things that people sort of fudge the truth on, with a nudge and a wink from the doctor? Or do they really honestly expect you to send all of this information? I really feel at a such a loss. I can't even begin to get some of this information, and other of it I simply feel incredibly uncomfortable sharing with somebody who's not my doctor. Thanks for your help!!

Yep, you're absolutely right. I was just talking about general trends. And funding does make a big difference. Also, the person who originally posted this question was saying that they weren't sure about the field and what one could do because they had a BA in a different subject, so in that case, I think an MA to start would make a lot more sense, hence my advice. But you're right, it does depend on the situation, and yours is a good example of why you might go with a PhD off the bat (know what you want for sure, experience in the field from the BA, and funding questions). And good luck! Awesome that you got into your dream school! :-)

Ok, just want to clarify: I think that there is a huge difference first of all between going from BA to PhD and going from BS to PhD. Basically, in the hard sciences, it is not AT ALL uncommon that you skip the MS and go straight to the research degree, especially if you are planning to stay in academia. The MS will only really prepare you for lower level tech jobs in labs and stuff like that, so it's really unneccesary, as far as I understand. But then again, I am not in the hard sciences, so this may not be universal. It's just what I've been told by people I know in the following fields: engineering, neuroscience, microbiology, and epidemiology. On the other hand, as far as my experience in the humanities has been, broadly defined, I see that MAs are very much expected in order to move to the PhD. Usually when you apply, you apply for the MA, and it is considered a step in the process on the way to a PhD. You basically do the MA and then you do the PhD directly after in the same field, so by virtue of applying to the MA, you are sort of in an extended sense indicating interest in the PhD, which you should state clearly in your statement of purpose. Also, you can do like I did and switch universities after the MA to a different PhD program, of course, but I only got into the new PhD program because I already had an MA in a closely related field (it was actually a stated requirement for admission, along with GPA, etc.). I guess the point I am trying to make is that, if you are going for a PhD in the humanities, you most likely should be applying to MA programs to start that have the option to continue on to a PhD, keeping in mind you can always switch later to other, potentially better, PhD programs later, especially if you do well in the MA to start. Also, another thing to keep in mind is that this is a good thing. If you get into the MA and then ecide after a few semesters that academia is not for you, which A LOT of people do, then you will have something to show for your effort because you can just wrap up the MA and go on. A common problem in the hard sciences is that people get started, but decide they don't want to continue in academia. Then they are faced with the incredibly difficult decision of continuing on with something they no longer want to do, or throwing away years of effort and having nothing to show for it other than a half completed degree. That's not a fun place to be in. So my advice is: apply for an MA, but always be looking towards the PhD, since that's your ultimate goal, and be sure to state this as your intention in the statement of puprose. Consider applying for backup programs also, since you may not get into your first choice MA/PhD program, and it's good to be able to go do another MA, and then transfer to the PhD you really want. I applied for several MA programs that I didn't really want, just to have this as an option (I didn't need it, since I got into my first choice, even though I ended up switching later anyway, but I know people that have needed it, and then were able to transfer). Hope this helps, and good luck!

a few thoughts: - usually you do the MA first, at least as far as the humanities go. PhD's without a master's is a hard sciences thing. so yes, you should be looking at MA programs to start. - MA programs can be funded also, especially if you are willing to teach. i didn't pay anything for my MA, and paid very little via student loans for my PhD to make ends meet. i've just been teaching as a TA the entire time, which has a tuition waiver. - yes, you should have a fairly concrete research idea in place for a PhD application; that's what they will be looking for in an application. it's understandable that you don't have anything concrete yet because you only have a BA. that's why you should get an MA first. it will give you an opportunity to try out grad school and learn more about the field. if you don't like it, you'll still have an upper level degree that less than 20% of the population has. if you do like it, you'll be prepared to apply to PhD programs with a tight research proposal in place. hope this helps!

according to this link, about 1.5 to 2 times the number of candidates are recommended as there are grants (see #3). http://us.fulbrightonline.org/info_recommended_candidates.html according to this link, last year there were 349 applicants to the germany ETA program, and 140 grants awarded; it also says there are 140 grants available this year. that means that we can assume that, last year and this year, approximately 210 to 280 applicants were recommended of the original applicant pool, and of those, one has probably a little bit better than a 50% chance of being awarded a grant. https://us.fulbrightonline.org/statistics_country_europe.html so, not the exact numbers, but probably pretty close... hope that helps... :-/

is that a requirement?? i finished mine in 2006, so 6 years ago now. or is that only for certain grants? the one i applied for only said i had to be enrolled in a phd program and abd at the time of proposed grant start, nothing about the ba.

yep, we've been talking about it. i'm just investigating and taking in info right now.

thank you! very helpful.

i didn't see this at first in the country summary either, but there was a link towards the bottom to the german fulbright website, which was http://www.fulbright.de/. just found it. try whatever the country ending for romania is, or look for a website like that in the country summary. i don't know why they didn't have that at the top or something. not like it's useful information or anything! :-S

did some more digging. amount is 750-1000 euros depending on academic background. since i'm at phd level, i am assuming i would land in the upper range? incidental allowance of 250 euros per semester (whatever that is....), health insurance, travel (no amounts given). so these are super comparable. hmmm.... that makes it tougher... though i'm not complaining by a long shot! i am thrilled to be in this position. i wish everybody on this discussion board had this problem!

yeah, and i think the prestige of it will come into play sort of a secondary level, as in, it won't be the sole reason why i pick one over the other, but certainly it'll be in the mix. i don't have dollar amounts on the funding for the fulbright. anybody know where one can find that out? one thing is that the daad is awarded in euros, so it could potentially be worth more (or less), depending on what the currencies do between now and then. i know that the daad i applied for awards the following: ca 1,000 euros monthly stipend, ca 800 euros for travel, and german health insurance. i don't know what the grant amounts look like, but i can say the insurance offer is better than what the fulbright website talks about that they give you. but i am thinking that might also be different country to country? because germany is fairly strict about you having their insurance, so i am wondering if that would be one of those extra country specific "perks" they mention that get thrown in? so that may be equal, if that is the case.

yeah, i've heard that, too. but this is not a deciding factor for me, i don't think. i need the year to collect my conversational data for the dissertation, but then i need to get back so i can do the writing and graduate. an extension wouldn't be something i'd be looking for, i don't think. but definitely something to consider, as i could tack on an extra semester or something in theory, which would give me more time to write without teaching responsibilities, and then come back in the spring before graduating. thanks for reminding me about that!

there is an alternate list for daad, so it would be the same either way, that somebody else can take the spot. so i won't be considering that in my decision, not that i don't care, but only because it is the same either way. :-/