[Fulbright 2013-2014]

Am I the only one that's had the malevolent desire to pretend to have received notice from one of the countries that gives a lot of grants? I can't be the only sadist in the forum that would derive at least a little pleasure from causing such mayhem... O;) (Note: I posted this message in large part to stop myself from doing the above--I think this is actually a step in the right direction toward self control...heh...)

[Fulbright 2013-2014]

Ugh. It's rough. I feel bad for my boyfriend. Not only will he have to deal with me being gone for a year ( we did four and a half years of long distance in college..so.. I can't blame him for not wanting that again.) but I would not be contributing to things like rent, utilities, and cable. I know I am putting a large burden on him and I feel pretty crappy about that. I hate him having his life being put on hold as well. I feel pretty selfish.

Depending on how far out of school you two are and what his job/career path is, can he not find something interesting to do in Germany?

[Fulbright 2013-2014]

This person probably just doesn't know what he's talking about; however, clearly not encouraging: http://marplenewtown.patch.com/blog_posts/the-sequester-threatens-the-fulbright-exchange-program

[Fulbright 2013-2014]

Also, for the rest of us, would like to point out that if you compare with last year's spreadsheet, that's a couple weeks earlier for both Brazil and Peru. 

I was about to say that, but also point out that not only is it earlier than the release in the respective countries last year, but these releases are still more than a week earlier than the earliest releases last year...

[Fulbright 2013-2014]

Lol, it's not like your life has been put on hold, that's exactly it. My car is on its last legs, and I will definitely need to buy a new one soon. Who wants to be making car payments while they are abroad, though? So of course, I'm putting it off. I've been on my family's cell phone plan since I graduated, but my parents want me off when my contract expires. Should I get a new contract or get a month to month contract? BF and I are probably going to get a joint account if I stay... As well as getting a joint bank account.. Thinking about applying for a new job, but I don't want to start something new and then have to renig if I get the Fulbright...

And I know many of you are trying to figure out grad school and what you want to do after graduating and what not. We LITERALLY have to put everything on hold!

Agreed...I'm in a really good, stable job that I enjoy, and I still feel as though I'm in limbo. I'm obviously biased, but I think it's a harder wait for those of us who are graduated and working (not to diminish the suffering of graduating seniors...).

Also, is there anyone else that's worried about telling their employer if they get the grant...?

[Fulbright 2013-2014]

If anyone cares, I hopped on the bandwagon and called IIE about making sure my transcript is in, and I was told it's not a problem. They can't confirm it now, but if they haven't received it they'll just send a follow up e-mail--no automatic disqualification as the January e-mail suggests...heh...

[Fulbright 2013-2014]

I also heard that notifications will be coming out soon, but it will be the alternate/rejections. The 2nd round recommended candidates must go back around to IEE for whatever reason and will be coming a bit later.

From my FPA.

Whoa, any idea how soon "soon" is? Or did you just mean earlier than usual? Also, this is for all countries as far as you know, right?

[Fulbright 2013-2014]

I would be great if I knew who the other 35-40 finalists are who are applying for a full grant to Spain.

Are you sure it's that low at 35-40? When they say up to 2x the number of grants, I usually assume the worst and think its on the higher end, so closer to 50 maybe?

[Fulbright 2013-2014]

Recommended!!! actually somewhat anti-climactic... Heh

[Fulbright 2013-2014]

I mean, why would he tell you that if he just wanted to say "oh, I'm sorry!" At least that's how I see it

It's better to manage expectations... I could imagine an FPA wanting to talk in person to all the candidates, including those who did not get recommended... I know my FPA has said in the past he recognizes what a trying process this is, and I can literally see them making calls to everyone for mental health reasons.

[Fulbright 2013-2014]

Who is afraid of a revolution? haha...only those bastards at the top should be!

I know (at least I hope) this was said in jest, but why is there such overwhelming resentment directed at successful people? I've been exposed to highly successful, as well as unsuccessful, people, and on average the successful have been much more generous, dependable, and overall "high quality" as it is usually defined...

[Fulbright 2013-2014]

Here is a copy of the email: Good morning – We have been notified that the Fulbright National Screening Committee results will be distributed tomorrow, Friday, January 18th by the end of the day. It is not clear what end of the day means, but probably 5:00 p.m. EST since the results are coming out of NYC. You will receive an email so be sure to check the email account that you provided on your Fulbright application. The email will tell you whether or not you have been recommended. Please note: Recommendation indicates that the applicant will receive further consideration by the host country, the FSB and the Department of State. It is not an award notification. If you are recommended, you will then receive a review from the host country and will be notified in the spring, likely between March and May, whether or not you have been awarded a Fulbright grant. If you are not recommended to be reviewed by a host country, then your application will not be considered further. Although I am supposed to receive an email with your results as well, that system was very spotty last year so please contact me when you receive your notification. My fingers are crossed for all of you. Thank you for your tremendous hard work and good luck.

Are you an ETA applicant? Because supposedly those were released the day after last year; also, since someone already posted the email the FPAs got, I think your FPA might have misinterpreted the email to mean it's specifically this Friday, when it doesn't say that in the original email...

[Fulbright 2013-2014]

... and the FPAs already know. That's not very insightful. He/she is checking to see if you still have a pulse. 

Maybe you just have a sadistic FPA...

[Fulbright 2013-2014]

Hey, 

 

My proposal looks at the relationships between rising rates of non-communicable disease (namely diabetes and cardiovascular disease) and climate change.  Yours?

 

Good luck to you too. 

 

Apologies for the ignorance on my part, but this project sounds interesting, and I'd be curious to know how you're thinking about executing it. If you're trying to demonstrate a correlative effect, I'd assume you'd be using statistics?

 

It seems as though the available data sets would be very limiting (perhaps some measure of "severe weather events" and non-communicable disease rates among different subgroups of the population? I assume you've ruled out changes in global temperature since it has been stagnant/declining for the past 15 years or so, and you mentioned the rates of non-communicable disease are rising). If we're operating under the assumption that rates of these non-communicable diseases are increasing (possibly namely due to easier access to foods and/or worsening consumer behaviors), and we assume that measures of climate change are increasing (frankly whether it's due to natural climate change, human aggravated climate change, or selective usage of data), then I can imagine demonstrating a statistically significant correlation based on a basic linear model with a small set of variables.

 

If you don't mind, I'd be interested to know where you'd take it from there; it seems as though the correlation would disappear with the inclusion of other factors, and that even if there is a correlation, it might be a vacuous result without additional context. Sorry for the follow-up questions and the stream-of-consciousness post, but the topic(s) seem interesting.

[Fulbright 2013-2014]

I just got a call from my school's phone bank that asks alums for money; I thought it was going to be my FPA or someone in the office...my school can forget about contributions from me for about the next 10 years...

[Fulbright 2013-2014]

This means the FPAs already know whether we were recommended...

[Fulbright 2013-2014]

Here'sHopin'--I think what's strange is that for some of us, the odds for this first round aren't actually against us necessarily (or at least not badly against us). If our school's admittance rate is roughly 30% and they take about twice as many for the first round as there are spots, supposedly 60% of us will pass the first round (for an "average" country).

I think along those lines though, what's even stranger, is that I cannot visualize myself getting a congratulatory email for the first round and can very vividly imagine opening up a rejection--even though I have some pretty crazy affiliation letters and, according to my FPA, a strong project (which I would imagine would imply that I'm likely in the top 60% of my school...). Obviously there are a lot of factors involved and the process isn't all that transparent, but still...

[Fulbright 2013-2014]

Hi! New to the forum, but long time lurker--hoping for the results to come thursday Jan. 17th. I come baring gifts, a little information on how the selection committee works from a fulbright newsletter directed at advisors.

 

 

INSIGHTS FROM OBSERVING A FULBRIGHT NATIONAL SCREENING COMMITTEE

by Christina M. McIntyre, Associate Director, University Honors, Fulbright Program Adviser, Virginia Tech

 

    Christina M. McIntyre, Associate Director, University Honors, Fulbright Program Adviser, Virginia Tech  

This is my account of observing a National Screening Committee (NSC) for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.  First off, I’d highly encourage FPAs to observe an NSC if you haven’t done so before.  I was immediately impressed with the effort, energy and concern that the committee members took both in preparations for the meeting and the day long discussion to select the finalists.

The committee was comprised of three university faculty who had research and travel experience to the country or region being reviewed, and a Fulbright staff member from the Institute of International Education (IIE) facilitated the meeting.  The day started at 9:00 a.m. with a verbal confirmation of the committee scores for all of the candidates.  While these scores had been entered online, this step was a good check to confirm scores and catch any errors.  An Excel spreadsheet was generated with the scores tallied.  For example: 1.5 + 2.0 + 2.5 = 6.0; the lower the score, the better.

The committee proceeded to discuss the candidates who had large differences in their scores among committee members (e.g., 1.5, 2.0 and 3.5).  Some of these discussions resulted in committee members adjusting their individual scores.  These discussions took the entire morning.  At one point, I was excused from the room because a candidate from my university was being discussed.  I was impressed with the committee’s acknowledgement of their bias and their attempt not to let their individual disciplines or interests influence their decisions.

The charge for the afternoon was to identify ten candidates whose applications would be sent on to a committee in the country to which the candidates had applied.  In addition, these selected candidates were to be ranked (1 – 10).  The first two selected candidates, ranked #1 and #2, were straightforward based on scores.   Candidates ranked #3 - #6 all had a tally score of 5.0 and the committee discussed these candidates to sort them into ranked order.  The majority of the afternoon was spent selecting the final four candidates ranked #7 - #10.  There were twelve candidates with the same score of 5.5 and only four spots available.  The committee identified candidates who had been previously discussed that morning and focused their conversation on those who had not yet been discussed.  The aim was to eliminate candidates based on identifying weaknesses, and the feasibility of their proposal and background.  When one approach was exhausted, they would adopt another tactic.  At times, a committee member advocated for a candidate he or she felt strongly should be put forward.  This resulted in whittling it down to four candidates for two spots.  The committee looked at the diversity of the already selected eight candidates (discipline, U.S. geography and the country/region being discussed; institutions and ethnic/racial diversity).  This final step helped to decide the last two finalists.  The committee felt that all ten individuals and projects were deserving of a Fulbright grant.  They also expressed that if they had six more available spots, that they would have easily been filled.

I would like to acknowledge the time and effort of those who serve on the National Screening Committees.  While their travel, meals and lodging are covered, they are not compensated in any other way.  I acknowledge that the dynamics of each committee will be unique, and this account should not be considered globally representative.  There is great value in observing a National Screening Committee.  I applaud IIE for their efforts to make the National Screening Committee selection process as transparent as possible.

 

This is all well and good, but I'd be upset if the line in there regarding "ethnic/racial diversity" is true, considering the application explicitly stated that section, the one including the demographic information, would not even be given to the selection committee (that it was for internal use only)--let alone used in the decision making process. If that account is accurate, it's very unpleasant to hear there is discrimination in the selection process.