Horb

Thanks! Do you mind sharing what your process is like at your uni? At mine, our deadline was the start of September and we had interviews the second/third week. I'm curious what other processes are like.

Yeah, it is country dependent. It would have mentioned interviews on the country page, though in theory, they could decide to add it, I suppose.

I'm more concerned about mucking it up and, like, being disqualified. And of course, you're never told why you lost.

There's no language because it is country specific. Mexico, Russia, UK, and Australia Interview (among a few others). The Netherlands do not. So you wait til January. Hear back. Wait some more if you're through to round two. Thus: no more interviews.

So jealous! I wish my uni was a partner uni. Alas! Good luck on your app and for anyone else who doesn't know: the double space is up to you; the max is 5 pages.

In my experience, they will look at the language evaluation as the level you are at. If your person put Advanced in two, intermediate in two, then that is how they will think you are. So I would recommend choosing based on how many years you've studied (2+ they list as advanced).

I need to see if my FB people would be willing to do letters for DAAD. I didn't want to apply through them because of the negative experiences I have had with them, but it is kind of stupid not to. Also: I received a response. Basically, they said I should have known the checklist was the way to go because it say it was for North American applicants...they also said the website says we can choose single or double spaced. I'm already a little annoyed, as I've been on the DAAD.org and they pulled from the English version of DAAD.de...

I'm confused...you went to college in the 60s and 70s, but are just now applying for another grad program? And while I understand the hardship, college was still way more affordable in the 1960s and 1970s than it is now.

I always assume single if they don't specify. That is my biggest issue with DAAD. They are really a mess. I've applied for grants from them before (unsuccessful, but I know they are super competitive). Each year, I haven't received the promised "6 weeks have passed, and we got your application" notification. I've also had issues in which they don't specify something (like last year, they didn't have the foreign language evaluation form up weeks before the deadline. I have to email for it). It makes me wonder what winning one is like if this is how their administration is handled...

I also wrote them yesterday...maybe they should have updated the website....

Thanks for posting this! I've struggled for a while to sort out why my writing and vocabulary in general was lacking. I never once really thought about the educational background of my family being a factor.

Re: discrepancy --> welcome to DAAD.

I was under the impression only some people (based on country) have to go to the Washington Orientation...am I wrong?

It is highly competitive. Most schools have internal deadlines to nominate candidates (seniors and alums), and I'd be surprised if they haven't passed already. Additionally, your reasoning for why Ireland has to be air tight. They are looking for people with strong connections to Ireland and for future leaders.

It was one of those things where he said he'd do it right away and, I'm sure, completely forgot, because life. Thanks for the reinforcement!

Hi all! I have a question: I took my Language Eval at the end of July. My professor still hasn't submitted it. I emailed him Thursday and it still isn't done. The deadline is Sept. 9th for my school. Is it appropriate to send another email on Tuesday, marked high urgency, to remind him? I did really well on the exam, so I don't want to have to retake with someone else (I was a nervous wreck...). I don't want to be rude, but I do really need the evaluation.

First, you should make sure you're allowed to apply at large. There are a few restrictions. Second, the main drawback is that you do not get advice from the selection committee of your home institution. You also don't have them fill out a page 10, which is essentially another recommendation form catering to particular questions the Fulbright is interested in (feasibility, ambassadorial potential, etc.). It doesn't mean you are less likely to get it, just because you're At-Large, but candidates applying through their Unis generally have more resources.

You can ALWAYS reapply. You could get the award, say nah, and reapply. They do not hold it against you (I think partly because some people don't hear back until June and we have lives). There's a different selection committee each year, so it is highly unlikely you'd have the exact same readers and/or that they'd remember you. That said, if you do get it one year, it is entirely possible you won't the next year. You could be up against stronger applicants or have a committee that didn't love your essays like the previous one did.

Hey all! So we are in the home stretch! How is everyone doing? I finally have my letters sorted and my language eval done and my essays are almost done to. I'm so happy it is almost over and that I'll have free time, but waiting will also kill me, I fear.

One thing I tell people is that if you are going to right something critical, you frame it as aid. "By looking at X, I can aid future policies regarding X." And also as building upon something. "Current policies focus on X. This study builds upon that foundational work by looking at Y, so that we may revise Z policies after we've gathered more information." Things like that tend to make it look like you respect (and know) what has been done, but that you want to use your particular skills to assist, rather than control, reform.

If you set up a pen pal network, how are YOU engaging with the community? It sounds like you wouldn't be. You'd be pairing other people with US students. My suggestion would be to think about what you'll be doing for fun and to meet people. Joining a rec league? Joining a choir? A book club? They want to know you won't be hanging out in your apartment all day and that you'll interact with the local community.

I know not all schools are eligible for it or don't apply for it (such as my university) and thus I know you can apply to other schools for the summer programs, but I've had no idea beyond that.

For me: PhD Student (pre-candidacy) PhD Candidate (ABD Status) For fellowships, I don't put a title. I put it under my Awards and Honors section, because that is where it will go after I get a new funding source. The only people I know who use "fellow" or a full title like that are full professors or, like, an Andrew Mellon Fellow.

Ok, dumb question, can someone explain to me how FLAS works? I've tried looking it up, and I'm just a little confused. I'll jot down what I think I know so far: Summer Grants: you apply to a university (your own if it offers FLAS funding or, in some cases, another if they are open to outside applicants, but not all are). If you get it, huzzah, a summer of language study funded. Year Long Grants: you apply for an MA or something in a language and the FLAS funds it. Thus, it seems, when you apply to FLAS you are applying for a grad program as well? Or could you apply for a year long FLAS and be a visiting student? (like if you're a PhD candidate at X Uni applying for a FLAS at Y uni?) Sorry, I just don't understand it.

It really depends. The only situation where I can imagine it would matter would be if 1) you had citizenship there and/or 2) you were up against an identical candidate, only they didn't have that experience, in which case, they could even say hey, we know OrcaJoc will probably be able to adapt better, so go with them OR they could say give someone else a new experience.