FingersCrossed_118

Hi Mozartgirl, I believe it applies to all countries, but since I'm sure this is hardship for most people - especially to a far away place like SSA, maybe contact Jeremy and see if it is possible for him/the Fulbright office to book the ticket. I'm sure it's a common issue for people. My fingers are still crossed for you! I hope everything works out with the transcript and that you hear back soon!!

Hey coffee_craver! First off, congratulations on the Brazil ETA! I will be joining you. Can't wait!! As for airfare, we pay for it out of pocket but we have to buy an economy ticket or use our own money for an upgrade. They then reimburse us. As for arrival/departure dates, the orientation handbook says it has to "more or less" correspond around the beginning and end of the country's school year, whatever that means. So excited to meet you! And we have a Facebook group - Fulbright ETA Brazil Grantees 2015. Parabéns!

Yay!!!! Congratulations GnosisExchange!!!!! That's fantastic news!!!

To everyone that is still waiting - I know you're all at the end of your ropes, but hang in there! Closure will come soon. My fingers are still crossed that you will get news this week so the anxiety goes down. You are all hardworking, deserving people or you wouldn't have made it this far!

My thoughts exactly! There are four people now but I swear I saw more people on this thread that got the ETA.

Obrigada, olioliwoo!!! I'm holding out so much hope for you!! I believe in karma and you're such a positive, motivated person I'm sending all the good energy your way. Keep me updated!!!

Attention Brazil ETA Grantees! We now have a Facebook group. The group name is: Fulbright Brazil ETA Grantees 2015. Here is the link! https://www.facebook.com/groups/250582515128325/

Maliyazi and Mozartgirl53, thank you both so much!! I really appreciate your support and this forum - it's been such a help throughout the process. I'm rooting for both of you so hard - I know how exhausting this wait can be, but you're almost there! You can do it! Keeping my fingers crossed for both of you!!

OF COURSE during the ONE HOUR I do not check my email because I am at Pilates class I get an email and a phone call from my FPA...... I'M GOING TO BRAZIL!!!!!!! Vamos, gente!!!!! SO excited and thrilled and ecstatic!!!!!! Congratulations to all my other Brazilian Fulbrighters!!!!! Shall we start a Facebook group?!?!?

Don't lose hope! Lots of grad schools have deposit deadlines of April 15th, so maybe there are people who were accepted to both grad school and Fulbright and will decide to put deposits down for grad school instead!

Congratulations!!!!! That is fantastic!!!!!! And (P) stands for Principle Candidate. There is also (NS) Non-Select or (A) Alternate.

I called Jody Dudderer, the Brazil program manager. Brazil has a different program manager than the rest of South America, but your person is Susan Muendi.

Brazil - it's this week. Not "soon" and not "hopefully this week". It's actually this week. I called and asked and she gave me a very definite "this week."

Feliz segunda-feira, Brazilian Fulbright waiters! Here's to hoping we hear back today - Mondays are historically the most common day Brazil people have been notified. And since last Monday Fulbright told me "hopefully this week!" then I'm hopeful it's today!

Congratulations, Malaysia Fulbrighters!!

I believe they sent it about three or four weeks ago - I ran into my FPA back then and asked him if he had any news and he said he got an email a few days earlier saying they were doing there very best to make sure all country notifications are sent out by April 15th.

They are trying hard to get all notifications out by April 15th (according to an email they sent to all FPAs)! It is now April 10th. Assuming that they don't work on weekends, I would imagine we'll have a big influx of notifications today, tomorrow, Monday or Tuesday! We're almost there!

I had to unsubscribe from those emails back when we were awaiting recommendation status - they drove me nuts! I jumped every time on popped up on my phone.

Congratulations, that's fantastic!! I have a good feeling about this week in terms of notifications being sent out. We're almost there everyone, hang in there!

Does anyone know (or have any idea) what exactly the State Department has to do to approve the countries' decisions? Is it just a formality or do you think they go through, one by one, and re-review the candidates that were selected?

I agree completely. Every recommendation writer, regardless of the outcome, has always gotten (at the very least) a nice card with a note in it. Sometimes I also do a gift card to a restaurant, or sometimes I go the the cupcake shop and buy them cupcakes Everyone loves cupcakes.

To all those waiting for news from Brazil - I called Jody Dudderer - the FPA for Brazil - and she told me that they are hoping to get all notifications out for ETAs and research this week! "Hoping" being the operative word - she really emphasized it.

Congratulations to everyone who got awards today!! And condolences to those who didn't - even being recommended is a huge honor and speaks volumes about your potential! Here's to hoping for good news for the rest of us this week!

Thanks again, everyone!! I really, really appreciate everyone's thoughtful and considerate input. A brand new week - bring on the good juju for everyone!

Thanks, Secret_Ninja. This is really helpful. What I was most strongly leaning toward was accepting the fellowship and then backing out if I get the Fulbright. I already have my student visa to Brazil from living there before, and I would be an ETA if I got the Fulbright. I also think my FPA might be biased in what he said because backing out of a promise to a fellowship would make him and my university look bad. Do you think there are legal consequences for doing so, should I be awarded the Fulbright?