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Sine

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About Sine

  • Birthday 09/27/1987

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    tamara.sine

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  • Gender
    Woman
  • Location
    Clearwater, Florida
  • Application Season
    2019 Fall
  • Program
    Rangel & Pickering

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  1. Hi, all! ? m7752ne is absolutely correct. From everything that I've read online and from conversations with DIR's and my university's grant advisor, the single most important factor is the quality of writing in your application. Apparently there are many candidates that have stellar backgrounds who "should" be a shoe-in, but who can't write very well. This was pretty surprising information to learn. Anyway, you select your grad school after you've been offered one of the fellowships. Most of the time universities don't really care about your GPA or GRE scores because they're concerned with the prestige of hosting Rangel and Pickering fellows. A girl from my university was offered a Rangel fellowship last year and she had a cumulative 3.2 GPA. Once the official acceptance list was released, Harvard kept bugging her to the point where she completed an application just so they would stop harassing her! Many universities offer extra stipends to entice fellows to select them. I was told the only reason that a fellow even needs to take the GRE is because it's a traditional requirement for grad school admittance, and that the universities honestly don't look too closely at it. Rest assured, if you are a lucky recipient of a fellowship, you don't have to worry much about GPA or GRE. Your energy would be much better spent focusing on your writing within the application and preparing for your oral interview.
  2. You are correct! I read that too, but it was back when I applied so I've forgotten where as well.
  3. Well, you go nuts until you hear news in January. Then, if you are recommended you ride that high for a little while, and either 1) freak out until you complete your interview or 2) (if you don't have to do an interview) twiddle your thumbs crazily and obsessively research everything about your country until you *finally* hear an official answer. Then, it's a ton of paperwork, orientation in D.C. for a few days, connecting with past Fulbrighters in your country and networking with present PCV's and other NGO peeps, and boarding a plane and doing some amazing work!
  4. Good luck! Rootin' for ya!
  5. The way I've heard it is that each university submits applicants in ranked order without any attention to country. Not sure if there are separate lists by grant type, but I'd imagine so. This is how I've heard it done at my university. Check with your FPA to see if it's the same?
  6. Kmac, the short answers are very important! Your application is examined as a whole, and all too often applicants are neck in neck when it comes to their background and essays. Any little thing can be used to sway a judges decision one way or another. Do not skim over the short answers! View them as a way to add to your essays. Include information that had to be cut out for length. Also, include your foreign experience! This shows that you are able to "survive" abroad. If you studied abroad for a significant amount of time in the country you are applying to, this may hurt your chances though (unless you can prove that you need more time there to continue work that you started). I'd say one semester isn't that long though. Where did you study and what did you do there? I bet there is absolutely something there that can be applied to your grant.
  7. Hey there! There have been past applicants who have succeeded in getting a grant with an average GPA. Check this out: http://www.profellow.com/tips/5-things-they-dont-tell-you-about-the-fulbright-student-grant/ And this too: As for selecting a country...I say the safest bet is to pick the place with the most meaning to you and your goals where you can ALSO have a significant impact on the local population. Is that place Greece? Examine it and be honest with yourself and you'll find the answers to all of your questions. What worked for me was applying the Socratic method of questioning. Don't stop once you've asked yourself a question. Follow with the why to that answer, and the why to that one, and so on until you get to the heart of it.
  8. I don't know officially, but I would imagine your FPA could not write you a recommendation because they would be biased and are involved with the university's ranking process. I also wouldn't go with a family friend unless 1) you have worked with them as a student or colleague, or 2) they are a well-known, influential figure who you may not have worked with directly, but know quite well otherwise (meaning, they are very familiar with your goals). Also, I don't mind looking at your statements! My grant is still in its infancy, so I'm not TOO busy just yet
  9. Have you mentioned your idea to apply at-large to your FPA? What do they think? I would be hesitant to apply at-large if I have a solid committee at my university who would be able to give me notes before officially applying. Also...how many other candidates are applying at your school? Can you get info about them? If not that many people are applying, and/or you think you are noticeably more qualified than they are then I would stick with your university. The university sends Fulbright a ranked order of students. If you think you'd be at the top, then I wouldn't worry too much.
  10. I've always assumed (as have other Fulbrighters I've talked to) that the first number refers to the number of people that have applied, and not who's made it past the first round. The reason being, that's why the first spreadsheets were created - to offer more concrete numbers. Thank you so much for the nice compliment on the blog! It's very sweet of you
  11. If you are looking at the Fulbright ETA statistics website, then the first number is the number of applicants and the second is the number of grants given out. But, I know a few numbers are off. For instance, my country (Moldova) says 7/2, but it should say 7/3 because we have three ETA's here.
  12. Hey, thanks! That realllly stinks about the funds. Did you know that going in? Man, I would be ticked! Btw, I'm totally stealing the "silver spoon" recipient line! That's awesome No offense to any silver spooners out there...lol
  13. Yeah, the rule is no more than 14 days outside of your country. However, if you live close to a border and want to pop over for some coffee (haha) or a day trip then your embassy may allow more. Basically, it's the us embassy in your country that makes the call. I have in-country orientation here in Moldova tomorrow and I'll find out specifics about what they will allow for us tomorrow!
  14. Interesting dilemma! Right now there are no Fulbrighters in Ukraine. At least...there weren't any at the eastern europe/eurasia pdo. Maybe consider other countries surrounding it, like Moldova or Belarus. The thing with these countries though is that there are a small number of positions. Belarus only has one ETA, and Moldova has three. There are also a smaller number of applicants, but still...kinda competitive. If I were you I'd go with the Latin country. This is where you can show previous teaching experience and your language skills. Basically, if you can rock your interview by speaking very eloquently in either language you would stand out. This is ESPECIALLY impressive since I'm assuming you have no hispanic heritage, right? Because that would show a strong will and ability to learn and adapt. Plus, you studied abroad in Argentina. This shows that you survived in a different culture. Now you just need to show how you THRIVED there. That's what I would put on my personal statement. How did the study abroad affect you? What have you taken away from that experience that you could apply to another Latin country? If you're heart is really set on Ukraine though, I'd look more into it. You could always spin your success with learning Spanish and Portuguese and explain that you have a desire to duplicate the experience in a similar, interesting way in another area of the world. Perhaps there was something culturally interesting in Argentina that you could apply to Ukraine? I spoke a little about how my fiance is from the poorest country in Latin America (Nicaragua) and how I had spent a little time there, and then how it would be compelling to make comparisons between that country and Moldova (the poorest country in Europe).
  15. Hey!!! I am in ETA starting my position in Moldova now! If you have any specific questions or are curious about anything just let me know! I'm also keeping a blog if you wanna snoop on some pics, haha (like is in my signature). When I was in the application process other's blogs motivated me a lot and kept me focused. Here are some other Moldova blogs: http://jainmoldova.blogspot.com/ http://finallyafulbright.wordpress.com/ http://moldovamoldovamoldova.wordpress.com/ Good luck!
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