there'sanappforthat

Considering how many people apply, I'm not that surprised.

I know I need to practice, but I am actually quite relieved to hear that!! Thanks!!!!

Same here. It's awful. And then once we find out we might have 5 or so months of agony as we wait until our departure!! Aaaaaaaagh!

I am dying here. I NEED to know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was wondering that myself... thanks for asking!

Psssh. Done and done. I did that months ago. But yeah, you are right

I have not heard this. I think I might contact my FPA and ask about it. I hope that's not true! While I definitely have some places that I would like to go to the most, I would not turn anything down!!!

I spent a few months in Bavaria, about an hour south of Munich, in Regensburg. I am really tempted to put Bavaria as my first choice, but I kind of wnat to experience another part of Germany. Living further south would be great though, as I have family in Croatia that I plan on revisiting as much as possible if I am picked. It was only (ha) an 8 hour train ride from Munich to Zagreb, which is close to where my family lives. I know I can't make that a priority, but I can't help but want to factor it in.

OOh. cool! I was in Bavaria for a while, but only took a day trip to Nuernberg. I'd really like to try and check that park out! Thanks for the tip!

I'm not sure yet. My knee jerk reaction is to put Bavaria as my first choice, because I spent 3 months there and loved it. I kind of feel like I should go somewhere else to get a new experience. Here is what I am most likely going to do though: My side project is going to volunteer at a therepeutic horseback riding center in Germany. I started volunteering at a center in the US recently, and have a horse background, so that's covered. Therepeutic riding started in Germany, so there are quite a few centers. I've been looking at the website for Germany's therepeutic riding association, and it has lists of all the affiliated centers per state. I will probably choose the ones that have those most centers as my top three. I believe they were North Rhine Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Bavaria, in that order. I want to get my masters in Speech Language pathology, and work at a therepeutic riding center later. From what I have experienced so far, there are a lot of Physical and Occupational therapists who work in this type of therapy , but not as many Speech pathologists. That is probably just my own anecdotal evidence but whatever. Phew. If that doesn't work out though, I hope to volunteer/job shadow a Speech Pathologist in the German school system. Speech pathology is covered under Germany's health care system, so it seems like there might be a decent number in the school system. So I'm hoping that is a good back up plan!! Sorry for the lengthy answer

Same here. Do know which Bundeslaender you will be putting down?

It's a requirement from the German agency that works with Fulbright. They use it to gauge where we would be best placed; More proficient, I'd wager you'd be placed with younger students whose English is not so great yet. Just a guess though.

To show your language proficiency.

I'm going for the same; I have heard that you have to rewrite your essays in German as well. Not sure where that comes up in the time line though.

I'm sorry to hear you didn't make it. KEEP TRYING!!. .. and.. YAY! Another Whovian!! High five!

You make some really good points! I'd say, my second time around, I went with the second example you gave..trying to sell my project as important from my standpoint. So if I don't make it past the next round, I will try and keep that in mind

Uggh. Your FPA sounds like a real peach. I'm really sorry to heat about your experience. That's really unfortunate that you have such a horrible FPA, I might suggest contacting someone in your honors department to proof your essays if you try again. Or maybe someone in a grant writing department? There were three different contacts for me at my school, the FPA, the head of the Scholarships and Grants dept, and then an honors English professor who had been brought on to help by the head of the Scholarships department. The honors professor who helped me with proofing and rewriting my essays was SUPER helpful. That really sucks that you had such a bad FPA. Had you had a decent one who was dedicated to helping you with your application, I'm sure you could have made it past the first round! I would try again, see if you can't find someone else to help you the next time around.

Woot! Congrats!!!

Yess! keep that attitude, and lots of luck for the next time around!! And the sooner you start, the more rounds of revisions you can cram in! I know last time, I felt like I could keep working my essays. This time around, I felt like my advisor and I both got to a point where we felt like it was ready to go! It also has a lot to do with where you are in life. Last time, I really wanted to go, but I didn't think my reasons for wanting to go were as solid. If I dont' make it through the final process, I can only imagine that I would feel that much stronger about applying for a third time!

I know, it's hard not knowing why. I think the most you can do is talk to you FPA's really. Were you applying for a Full scholarship or an ETA? I hope this doesn't sound mean, but maybe you put too much emphasis on your amazing credentials, and not enough on your project? That would be my only guess, because you sound like a good candidate! I know I was kind of hesitant to apply, because I went to a state school, but my FPA's kept telling me that they try to keep a balance of state schools/ top private schools. So maybe it had something to do with that as well? Just keep trying!

I just want to give big big internet hugs to all the people who were rejected. It's really difficult to hear, I know, after waiting and waiting, putting things on hold, telling friends and family. It's rough. But try again! This was my second time, and I felt SO MUCH more confident applying this time than I did last. I may not make it through the next round, but at least I made it a little further this time!! Just keep a positive attitude , and it doesn't hurt to mention in your essays that you are going to keep trying until you get it. For what it's worth, the FPA on my campus had to apply like.. seven times?! I think, before he was awarded a grant! Crazy, I know!

*hugs* I'm so sorry. That work is not for nothing though, if you reapply, I PROMISE it will be a huge help your next time around. I made a huge deal to my friends and family the first time I applied too. Trying to keep it a little more hush hush this time, I remember how hard it was to tell people. Hang in there!! And try again, gosh darn it!

I'm really sorry, it sucks, I know. This is my second time around.

Heck yeah that's a silver lining! I put my graduation back to study in Germany for a semester, and I would do it again in a HEARTBEAT!! It was so worth it! Keep trying!

Hahah. I thought my head was going to explode!