lalakey

Hi all. Music Fulbrighter here... applied last year, didn't make it to the final round (but did get an audition, which went meh). I just had my audition last Monday. I thought it went pretty well though could have gone better, but they always can it seems The interview lasted much longer than last year so I took that as a good sign... they seemed more interested in my topic. They were really drilling me though and I couldn't tell if it was because they were genuinely interested or just wanted to see how much I knew. I really cleaned up my application this year so I'm hoping really hard...

Guys I am stressing hardcore. I asked for affiliation letters in August and I got three yes replies. I emailed them to finalize a week ago and none of them have replied! I sent a follow up to the one I am most interested in but I don't want to be a nag... But I'm also only three weeks out from applying!! How nagging should I be? Should I assume they are no longer interested? One seemed especially enthusiastic so I am confused

Interesting. I actually was torn between going to Austria or Germany, and in the end chose Germany because my advisor said Germany gave out more awards... but I ended up looking it up and the chances are actually slightly better for Austria because there are less applicants... I emailed two professors in Austria but neither emailed me back. I have one other contact in Austria but I feel really awkward asking him for a letter of affiliation, but maybe I just have to hope for the best and do it. I was in touch with him last year and he didn't really seem to understand what the Fulbright was or how it would be appropriate for him to write me a letter saying I'd get in, but he was very encouraging and said he wanted me to come to Vienna... and I was like, well, if I get any money, then yes, I will... lol... Thanks for your response

Hi guys. No one's talking in the other thread so I wanted to ask advice. I sent out ten emails to German professors, all from recommendations that they were good, and gotten zero response... I am applying as a music applicant, so I sent my recordings, which have always impressed anyone I've ever sent them to, and still nothing. One professor responded and was, frankly, rude, and said I was too advanced for a Germany conservatory and should be getting an agent at this point in my life. (I know it sounds complimentary but it wasn't phrased very nicely.) So I figure that's a no. I can see from my youtube statistics (yes I'm a psycho) that someone from Austria and Germany viewed my videos... but no response. Should I start reaching out to more people? At this point the people I'm going to be contacting are randomer and randomer... like I have zero connection whatsoever to them and it is totally out of the blue...

Does anyone have advice about what to do for this affiliation letter? I've sent out 10 emails to different professors that were recommended to me and have gotten zero responses so far...

HEY! Fellow rejected person applying again! My project idea is way cooler this year, and I am currently going wild on emailing as many professors as possible to find a GREAT affiliation letter. I am also applying at large!!! My advisor last year was awful frankly. I might shoot an email to my undergrad Fulbright advisor to get her input. Other than that... Here goes nothing!

Hi all. Very excited this is started up again. I applied last year and was rejected, but I think I figured out my mistakes-- and would like to share if anyone is interested 1. I made the project all about me. Basically oh look how qualified I am, I went to all these fancy schools, I'm really awesome! Take me! When I realized what they really care about is how the money will be used to create a meaningful project that will look good both for the host country and for the U.S. when you return. Making an actual impact instead of just talking about how the money will help YOU. 2. My affiliation letter was pretty bland. Just "oh yes we'll accept her and support the project" but I think finding someone truly excited about the idea is crucial. 3. My project was also a bit bland. It was interesting but it wasn't particularly innovative. It had been done before and the music I was exploring (I applied in music) was done to death. Maybe the general public didn't appreciate them like I did, but the classical music world had already explored them. Also, I had to have an in-person audition, and my audition kind of sucked. Isn't that always the way? Sigh. I can sing like some glorious diva for the little opera company I don't give a crap about, but for the Fulbright... lol.

ughh here we go again. I was all heartbroken when I got rejected last year, but I have a new idea for a great project and realized my project last year was kind of boring. This year, I think my idea is actually pretty innovative... Basically I want to take operas by Jewish composers from the 1930s right before the Third Reich that were repressed or forbidden to be performed and make comprehensive copies of them (readable scores with an introduction and translation, so that people can use them more freely for performances) and also do perhaps one or two performances of these operas. I am still working on getting a letter of affiliation. Not sure how to start. I had one last year but realizing it was probably no where near detailed enough; all she said was that they'd accept me and support my project. I don't know if you need more than that. Also, I don't think I want to use the same person again. Part of me is embarrassed to reach out because I basically have to admit to everyone I reached out to last time that I was rejected But I'm going to keep trying... sigh. If I get rejected again, I guess it's not meant to be, but I want to try!