Here'sHopin'!

http://usfulbrightstudent.blogspot.com/2009/07/de-mystifying-fulbright-english.html?m=1 If you take a look at this link, you can see that, as some others mentioned, it sometimes depends on the program, although there is a general leaning towards the "student" as opposed to more experienced person who has already been out in the field. That doesn't make you a bad choice, it just makes you "overqualified" -again, depending on the country. I didn't take the time to go around asking each program which one my level of experience would be best suited for (I'm a French teacher, with 3 years, going on 4, of experience under my belt, but not OVER 4 years, as mentioned below). But honestly, since I have read the above link, I have really seriously begun to brace myself for disappointment. On the one hand, the country I applied to for an ETA prefers those who plan careers in teaching French (or German or Luxembourgish), which is obviously the case for me, but on the other hand, I've already been teaching and am a bit more experienced than the greener student, though not THAT much more experienced. (I'm turning 27 in May, so who knows.) I copied the relevant paragraphs from the link here: "*******Prior experience or training in teaching**** Experience or training in teaching may be required or strongly preferred in some countries and not particularly relevant in others. Read the Participating Country Summaries and speak to an IIE Program Manager when in doubt. ****EXTENSIVE experience or training in teaching**** ***Remember, this is a student program. *** For some country programs, persons with university-level teaching experience or more than four years of teaching in schools, as well as persons who have completed a master's degree in TESOL or a related field may be overqualified. In other cases, those with teaching experience are preferred. You may not fit perfectly the criteria of the country program to which you would like to apply, however, if you have specific reasons why you feel you would benefit from an ETA grant to that country then be sure to express this clearly in your Statement of Grant Purpose. Contact an IIE Program Manager if you have questions. We would encourage you to consider applying to those countries where your qualifications best match the requirements." The waiting game is almost over... That, or it is just beginning for a few of us, which I hope is the case for all of you. I feel much connection to you all as we try to pass the time on here together. My husband (good naturedly) makes fun of me for my continuing talk about fulbright, since he would rather just wait without thinking about it at all. (That's impossible for me. I just can't choose to not think about something so exciting.) But I assure him that there are other people out there just like me chatting about fulbright as we wait. (And we are not the only ones, since there was last year's group, and the year before..!)

Awesome! Congrats! I guess the arts that require auditions works a little differently than others. I wonder, does that mean it is already narrowed down to the finalists in the arts for Germany? That would mean you have about a 1 in 3 or 4 chance now. Usually you only hear if you reach this step in January! My husband applied for a Full to Ireland in the arts, specializing in photography. He had to upload photos to an online portfolio type thing. It seems like the arts are encouraged depending on the country. Hopefully that gives him a boost.... who knows! Also regarding the spreadsheet, it says to email fulbright.12.13@gmail.com to make changes. Maybe someone who'd like to volunteer to update that info can email that person to share/get permission to edit the file. The holidays will make this all go faster.

There is this google doc here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0AuGpbWEh-3b0dHZzTU1BN0lNLU1yeG5XWktnY2k3bmc which may be the exact one as the one you posted. If you look at the tabs, you can see that each yearly group for the past few years has not created a new speadsheet; to make it easier for us future applicants to find all the info, they started compiling it all in one place. Once it hits January and the first round is done, that's when those who have made the first cuts put their info in a new 13-14 tab on this spreadsheet- if they want. So in January we should just make sure that this link resurfaces. I believe the file is editable by anyone, since it's been passed down from several previous application years already. Ok, so before I said I would stay away from January... I'm mostly doing well at this! Haha... I've at least toned down the stress level. What will be, will be!

Haha- I will have to hide all of your comments from my husband! He is telling me to chill as well, since there's nothing to do but wait. I don't know how he does it. In fact, I don't know how I managed waiting 9 months to give birth. Interesting how Fulbright takes just as long- ha... Ok, we'll in an effort to relax I will have to make an effort to not post. See you all in January with a recommendation or rejection!

^ AWESOME. My thoughts exactly. Yes, kbui, my husband (Ireland Full) and I (Luxembourg ETA) are working on other plans... job applications out of state to teach at various universities. They begin the review process from November - January. So many things to think about, and all going in opposite directions. I guess part of the reason I'm so anxious is because we have several widely different possible futures, with so many things dependent on them (sale of a house, income, moving, with a 1 year old). I guess he and I should have tried to apply right out of college and had this be our second try had we not gotten one then. Oh well! Also, someone mentioned qualifications that we think would help our applications. I have no idea how qualified I am or not to receive an ETA compared to others. I think many of you are very well-qualified because you applied through a school, which made sure that you were before allowing you to continue. My husband and I are applying at-large, so we didn't have to do that. We both have our fair share of awards, scholarships, grants, international experience, and other achievements. I think we can assume that most of us are qualified for the award. But anyway, I'm applying for an ETA in Luxembourg, where French, among other languages, is spoken, and I am a tenured teacher of French in New Jersey. I don't know if that will hurt or help my application, but I imagine it will help give a context to my desire to go to Luxembourg.

In case anyone is wondering, here are a few things because I am going out of my mind. I just need to be put out of my misery- I almost don't care if I get a yes or a no in January. In fact I think an intitial yes in January might just be worse- more waiting! Here's a spreadsheet of when the people who got the first yes heard their second yes (or final no). https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0AuGpbWEh-3b0dHZzTU1BN0lNLU1yeG5XWktnY2k3bmc It's includes 10-11, 11-12, and 12-13. If you are recommended in January, I'll make sure that the spreadsheet resurfaces and we can (hopefully) fill it out in hopes of getting out final yes in march. Almost everyone heard the preliminary yes/no on January 19th 2012 for the 12-13 year, via email I believe. The first final acceptance/rejection/waiting list letters began to be received on March 5 2012 (Full to Belgium) . That person received a thick small white envelope, but no email, though most everyone else just received an email. (Basically, beligium sent the email before the commission could send out its own official email.) The next was march 9th, the march 13, and on from there even until The end of April and May. Good luck to all. Putting "faces" to the others applying for the grants helps me to realize how small my chances may be, while at the same time knowing I can be happy for others who may win even if I don't!

Hmm.. it looks like a few of them are the Student Full, Language, or Master's grants, while the rest of them are the actual "scholars". http://www.cies2.org/s/1064/index.aspx?sid=1064&gid=3&pgid=6&cid=41 That's why so many of them have PhD's. I know, it looks like there are so many openings!

Alright- is anyone interested in knowing how much competition we all have this year? We have a long time to wait until the first round and we've got to whittle away the time distracting ourselves somehow! For 2012/13, 24 people applied for an ETA to Luxembourg. How many of you have applied for an ETA to Luxembourg this year? I have. Total: 1 For 2012/13, 60-some people applied for a Fulbright Full (Student) to Ireland. How many of you have applied for a Full Grant to Ireland this year (13/14)? My husband has. Total: 1 Also, does anyone know of someone who has gotten a Fulbright (either ETA or Full) that has dependents (or even applied/rejected)? If I get it, my husband and at by that time 2 year old son will be my dependents, and vice versa. I have yet to read about a Fulbrighter with dependents. (Not counting the ones who have PhD's applying for the Fulbright Scholar Grant.) I'm very curious! Good luck to everyone. I wish we all could get one!