psych_33

Thank you all for your responses! I guess I'm still just lost as to what to say in the email, as the ones I had written before at least had the goal of finding out if they were accepting students and they came off as more professional. Now that I already know that they're accepting students, I just feel awkward writing the emails because it feels like I've skipped the introduction and I'm just trying to sell myself to them or something. I don't know, it's really hard for me to explain. I sat here trying to re-write one of my emails for about 2 hours and still hated it to be honest. Unfortunately no, they aren't close-by at all. I am about 4,300+ miles away until I finish my Master's thesis and return to the US next month. I won't be in the area until about 5 days prior to the application deadlines, and I suffer from pretty bad jetlag when I travel back west too (not only being really sleepy, but just generally feeling "off" and not being at my normal mental capacity for about two weeks), so I think setting up an in-person meeting before the deadline would be pretty difficult for me. Skype is definitely still an option, but I honestly still feel awkward skipping the question about accepting students and going straight to something like "here's why I'm a good fit, can we skype?" in my emails. It just feels like a more natural step to take after already making the initial contact via email to see if they were accepting students. That was like my "icebreaker," if you will. Do you know what I mean? I guess a good analogy for how I feel about this would be like if I had went to a party and met someone new, but I completely skipped over introducing myself and having initial "small talk" with them and just started telling them my whole life's story instead. It's awkward. That's the best way I can think to describe it, I hope that makes sense.

I would greatly appreciate some advice/input here. I'm applying to a few clinical psychology PhD programs this season and all of them have professors who are accepting students for fall 2018 listed on their websites. When I was initially writing my email drafts to POIs a few weeks back, only one of the universities' websites had this information listed and the other universities have since updated their websites with this info. I got a bit busy with working on a publication and my master's thesis in that meantime, so I am just now revisiting my email drafts and application materials. However, I'm beginning to question whether I should even email these POIs now, given that they're already listed on the website as accepting students and my email drafts have followed the format of "I am currently studying X and researching Y at such-and-such university. I am writing to inquire if you anticipate accepting students for the fall 2018 term, as I am very intrigued by your work on Z. [Details about the project and why I am interested]. Short explanation of my previous work and how it relates, blah blah blah. I have attached a copy of my CV for your consideration." (oversimplified, but you get the point.) I actually already sent my first email to a POI last week (literally the day before I noticed the website was recently updated with professors taking students too) and I got a response back almost immediately (within 1 hour). It was nicely worded and enthusiastic, but the professor didn't respond to my question regarding their research, nor did they directly address anything else that I mentioned in the email, just said "It looks like you have had wonderful training experiences and it sounds like your interests could fit well with the ongoing projects here at [university]. It is likely I will be taking students for fall 2018. As you are preparing your application, feel free to check my lab's website for more information at [website]." The font size for the greeting was different from that of the body of the email too, so I can't help but assume this POI just copied and pasted this generic response to my email and others. (It's quite obvious from what I wrote that I had already checked the lab's website and read quite a few of their papers, so that last sentence kinda bummed me out. I was hoping to speak with this professor about their research a bit and if the email interaction went well, I was considering possibly even requesting to schedule a skype meeting or something if they were willing to discuss their work and lab opportunities in more detail with me.) What I'm wondering is, should I even bother sending any more emails to POIs that are already listed as accepting students? I know it's generally a pretty good idea to email POIs, especially because program websites often don't list professors accepting students, or if they are listed, there's a chance the information may not be current. However, in my case, I know the information is current since I have been checking these websites fairly often throughout the last year and noticed the updates, and now I just feel a bit awkward emailing a professor knowing they are already planning to take students. My whole approach to this process was going to be: 1) see if they are taking students and demonstrate good fit, 2) discuss their work and potential projects in more detail, and 3) if all goes well, see if they would like to arrange a skype call or meeting to discuss things further. Trying to write the initial email without asking about whether they are taking students just feels awkward. Taking that part out just makes me feel like I'm skipping a huge step and saying "Hi Professor, here's my background and my CV, I will fit well with your lab." I don't know, I just don't like it no matter how I word it. I also don't think that it will give me any huge advantage in the admissions process if all of them respond in the same manner as the professor I've already contacted did either. I mean, I highly doubt this person is going to remember my name or anything about me if all they did was copy and paste a reply to my email. I can't really blame them for doing so because I'm sure that they get a lot of these emails, but I kind of feel like contacting these professors could even be a waste of my time. What do you think? Should I still contact these other POIs? Do you think it would necessarily decrease my admission chances if I didn't contact them, but rather mentioned a few names in my essays?

Hey brokecollegegrad, I'm in a similar situation, considering self-funding (somehow) to get my Master's if I'm accepted to LMU-Munich since I don't have certainty that I will have any sort of funding for it. Unfortunately though, I found out that students are only permitted to work 180 days each year, so it may not be very feasible to go without having a considerable amount of money saved up first--Germany requires that international students can show proof of having at least $8000 for the academic year. :/ I've been frantically searching for some other last-minute scholarship/fellowship programs, but all of the ones that I've found have already completed their application seasons. If I find anything, I will definitely let you know! Please let me know if you figure out something as well! I am seriously desperate to go to LMU-Munich if I get in; funding or not, I want to make it happen! Viel Glück!

It is really tough to estimate, but you could look through the Fulbright spreadsheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/t9xTrTMFEvKlBgJlTAN33iw/htmlview?pli=1) and see how many alternates have been promoted in previous years. It's honestly not easy to estimate though, since this spreadsheet only includes the people who have added their information, and I'm sure there are plenty of others out there who haven't participated in this forum. As a fellow alternate, I'm panicking right there with you. I'm actually interviewing with the university in about a week without any certainty about funding. It's seriously terrifying, and I'm really hoping that some people will withdraw or accept other offers soon so I can attend my dream program. The limbo of being an alternate is so frustrating. I'll definitely keep my fingers crossed for you!!!

Soo I'm being interviewed by the University of Munich about a week from now without knowing for sure if I'll be funded for my degree (I'm an alternate to Germany and Fulbright is my only possible funding option). I am seriously panicking, and I really hope that any of you principal candidates to Germany who might be on the fence, or considering other offers, will make up your minds soon so I can get funding! Pleeeease, Fulbright gods, don't let me down! This is seriously my dream program, I will be so crushed if I get accepted but can't attend because of funding. This whole process is just so frustrating. :/

Ugh, I'm right there with you. I had the rejection status on the portal a few weeks ago too and I hoped it wouldn't turn out that way, but I still had a feeling that it would. I'm so bummed. I still have a tiny gleam of hope for getting funding through Fulbright as an alternate candidate, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up since it could go either way. In a way, it's almost a relief for me to have been rejected by the DAAD though. Being an alternate for Fulbright didn't really change anything for me since I still have to obsessively check my e-mail and make sure my voicemail isn't full every day, on the off-chance that they decide to contact me. At least with the DAAD rejection, I no longer have to check the portal all the time and I can stop checking my e-mail as frantically as I have been. It's still disappointing, but relieving in a strange way. Anyways, you should do something fun to take your mind off of the rejection. You deserve to relax after the news. I'm planning on having a beer or three myself after I finish my paper tonight.

I'm really hoping for notifications tomorrow. I have a thesis due in the next week, so I'd really love to free myself from the need to compulsively check my e-mail every 10 seconds. Come on DAAD, please let us all have our sanity back this week!!

I just tried to log in to the portal but it says it is in service mode right now---maybe this means that they're updating our notifications?! I really hope so!

I wish I could say the same, I've applied for both this year and I have become the most compulsive email checker around. Especially after finding out that I'm designated an alternate for Fulbright, it has become even worse now that the notification could come through at any time, or not at all. The waiting game is stressful and it sucks. I'm supposed to be finishing up a thesis and graduating within the next month, but I can't stop compulsively checking my email all the time. I just want to know whether I'll be on this continent in 6 months or not! Here's to hoping we all hear from DAAD this week! Meine Daumen Sind für uns alle gedrückt!

As far as notifying Fulbright, the e-mail I received (as an alternate candidate) stated that principal candidates have about a month from the time they are notified to make a decision. I don't think it would reflect poorly at all if you accepted the CBYX and withdrew from Fulbright. In fact, I'm pretty certain that's why they select so many alternates, being that many of us have applied for other funding/grad school programs as well. Considering there is an age limit on CBYX, if you are really into that program, I would probably go for that, just because it's possible to receive for a Fulbright again at a later time and you could still put your Fulbright status on your resume/CV. (I'm a little biased though--As an alternate candidate, I am desperately hoping in the back of my mind that Germany will somehow end up with enough funding to bump me up to P status before the end of this summer. *wishful thinking*)

Would anyone happen to know how many alternates are typically named for a country? I'm bummed to be an alternate, I only applied to one master program in Munich this year, so I have no idea what I'll be doing if the DAAD doesn't come through, or if I don't get moved up from alternate status. I really can't picture another person turning down a grant to Germany unless something crazy happened, but I'm curious as to how many alternates there might be. Trying to find some sort of hope on this disappointing day...

Just found out I am an alternate for study/research in Germany. I'm devastated, to say the least. I mean, I know someone could withdraw, but I just don't see it as being very likely.

Oh my god, seriously!!!! This is the best thing I've seen all day. Haha Honestly, I almost regret telling so many people about my application. It's nice that people care and all, but every five minutes, someone's like "so, have you heard yet?!" and I'm just like... "FOR THE MILLIONTH TIME, I WILL TELL YOU WHEN I KNOW, OKAY?!?!!"

In theory, yes, but will I stop refreshing my inbox between now and then? Likely not. Fulbright problems. Haha.

The clinic I'm doing my research practicum at also does a lot of work on autism! My primary research interest is neurodevelopmental disorders in general (though I've done a little more research on ADHD than I have on others like ASD or dyslexia) but I'm actually planning to conduct neuroimaging research on dyslexia and dyscalculia during my Master's studies if I do end up getting the Fulbright to LMU-Munich. Last August, I contacted a professor there who was in the process of moving her lab from Harvard's medical school back to LMU-Munich permanently and she offered me a research assistant position in her lab! I'm really hoping that her affiliation letter will weigh heavily on the commission's decision because she's worked with some Fulbrighters before. It's rad that there are so many like-minded individuals here! If I'm not mistaken, I think I read somewhere that Fulbright organizes meetings in the host countries either halfway through or at the end of the Fulbright year (I can't remember which), either way, I'd love to meet all of you there if we make it through!

I am using a similar "writing" process, haha! My thesis is on ADHD and neuropsychological assessment (more specifically the executive functioning deficits associated with the disorder and how they differ among the subtypes of ADHD in clinical testing.) luckily, I'm using data from a pre-compiled database at a neuropsych clinic, so I really just need to do a bunch of literature review stuff and data analysis. I'm SO glad I don't have to collect any new data because I know I'd never finish on time if that were the case. What's your thesis on? I actually applied for the Fulbright study/research grant to enroll in a Master's program in Neuro-Cognitive Paychology at LMU-Munich. If I end up getting it, I am going to be so ecstatic! What could possibly be better than spending time in Munich AND getting a graduate degree with minimal expenses, right?!

Yess, I'm right there with you, I can't wait much longer! & Geh blau!!! I am soon to be a Michigan alumna, so long as I am able to keep my mind off of fulbright/DAAD/grad school applications long enough to finish my honors thesis this semester Which city are you hoping to go to?

Who knows, applicants for Germany just might find out today--not that this is a solid prediction, but in previous years, Spain's ETAs and Germany's grantees found out on the same day, soooo let's hope the Commission is running on a similar timeline this year. My sanity depends on it. Haha.

Come on Fulbright, give us more good news!!!! I dreamt that today would be the day I find out, so this wait is absolutely killing me! I think I have spent more time refreshing my e-mail than I have on studying/homework this entire semester. I can't wait to find out so I can finally go back to being a good student! Haha. Fingers crossed for everyone!!!! (or, as the Germans say, Daumen drücken!)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! That is so exciting!!!!!! This secretly gives me hope that research candidates for Germany will be notified soon. In previous years, it seems Germany and Japan both notified their research candidates around the same time. If not today, I'm really hoping for next week. I don't think I can stand compulsively checking my e-mail for much longer!

Ugh, me too! The stress is unreal!!!! I'm constantly checking my e-mail for notifications, even at 2am when it's not at all likely that anything would even come through. I wish it was easier to deal with all of this uncertainty!

Oddly enough, I logged in to the DAAD portal today out of habit of frantically checking on my applications and my application status has switched back to "application submitted!" I'm wondering if the rejection status that I saw was accidental because I've been seeing notices on the portal homepage that they have been working on training and editing parts of the site lately. I'm going to cross my fingers once again for both DAAD and Fulbright and hope that at least one of them comes through for me. Thank you for being so supportive, RosyPosy68! I love that everyone on this thread is so helpful!

Aww, thank you! I really hope so!

Are any of you also waiting for notification from DAAD for studies/research in Germany? Sadly, I decided to log in to the DAAD application portal today and I saw the dreaded words "application rejected" under application status. :'( Although I haven't heard from the DAAD directly yet, I'm not going to get my hopes up after seeing that. BUT, luckily I'm still a finalist for Fulbright, and I'm kind of curious if anyone on here can confirm this--a few people that I know said that, since the DAAD and Fulbright grants are both decided by the same committees, it's possible that the DAAD could have rejected my application if they considered my Fulbright application to be exceptionally strong (which, presumably it was, since I got two letters of affiliation from faculty at the German university). Are any of you past applicants lurking around that would like to share your experiences? (i.e. did any of you get rejected by DAAD but still get the Fulbright?!) I'm just trying to find a gleam of hope here. Life was much less stressful before, knowing I was still a candidate for both fellowships... seeing the word "rejected" has officially killed my mood for the day.

Herzlichen Glückwunsch!! I've also been recommended for a Fulbright to Germany for study/research in Munich! I graduate in May as well, so it's exciting, yet so scary at the time! Viel Glück!