Mozartgirl53

Hello my Sub Saharan Africa colleagues! Has anyone heard anything yet?

Hi ririannie, I'm really sorry you're so sad about your alternate status, but I do get it. In some ways I think an outright non-select would be easier. Since Fulbright does not ever contact alternates again unless they get accepted later on, you kinda are left hanging on... how long do you wait for making alternate plans, how long do you wait before giving up hope? I'm afraid this isn't much of a pep talk, ririannie, but I just wanted you to know that I and many others in this forum empathize with your emotions.

CONGRATS TO THE MALAYSIA GRANTEES! I'm so glad you found out today! You must all be so excited. For those whose projects weren't funded, my heart goes out to you and I'm sending virtual hugs your way!

NardDawg, way to go! I'm very happy for you!

Sorubo, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Woot! Woot!

YES IT WOULD! Any news out there from Sub Saharan Africa yet?

That should have said, SSA-ers.

Hi all my fellow SSA-era, Meshia, thanks!! We'll all be looking forward to your report tomorrow! I'm really starting to get freaked out now, so I hope we learn SOMETHING, anything tangible! Meshia, what is your country and project?

Hi kbui, I'm so terribly sad for you! I know you really wanted this. I don't know if you want to hear this again, but you're a BOREN ALUM and got into the YALE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH!! You are already a superstar! Once you're in grad school I bet you'll encounter many, many topics that would be perfect for a study/ research grant. I would humbly suggest that you not put yourself through this again next year, but wait a year or two until you've got some grad school under your belt and have an amazing project to propose. Public Health is a perennial favorite with Fulbright, so I know you're gonna do this! I wish you all the best in the awesome future I KNOW is ahead of you.

CONGRATULATIONS to all those who made team Thailand! Sincere and heart-felt condolences to those whose projects weren't selected. It sure would be great if those Asian countries start coming in fast...I know there are a lot of you on this board. SubSaharan Africa is often the last to hear, so I rejoice when any country or region starts sending out notifications, knowing that means we're one step closer for SSA! I havent been too anxious...until now. Notifications for SSA were on the 10th a couple years back; however, one year they went out on the 26th. BUT...the 15th is a recurring date, so I hope, hope, hope...And yes, NOW I'm officially anxious and keep checking this board to see those notifications coming in. LOL I know it does absolutely no good to fret over it, but I can't help myself! I also want to say THANK YOU EVERYONE here on this board! Just reading about everyone's situations and soaking up the positive energy has truly been helpful and I appreciate it very much!

Hi Maliyazi and jrk2115, Thanks so much, Maliyzi, for sharing that info about SubSaharan Africa! Our little SSA thegradcafe.com group is waiting anxiously for any word! I very much hope it's the 15th-- my birthday is the 16th and getting a Fulbright for my birthday would be awesome! Of course, it could also be a rather sad birthday if it goes the other way. After you talk to Jermaine, I think it's probably my turn to bother them next, depending on what you learn. It's been hard to sit here as many other countries/regions have sent out notifications, knowing that we are most likely going to be the last to hear! Could the 15th be the magical number??Here's wishing!

And congratulations to all the Bulgaria recipients too!!!

Hi BeatriceHolm, I understand where you are coming from. Yesterday my dissertation chair said, "You're already such a star on campus [more like big fish in a very little pond, heh heh] and when you get the Fulbright you'll be an even bigger star; the administration will want to trot you out for fundraisers and everything." Geeeez, no pressure there!! All you present and future professors, please don't do that. Yes, he was trying to give me a compliment and trying to make me feel good during this insufferable waiting, but the effect was to make me even more anxious. If I don't get it, now I feel like I'm letting the entire university down! However, unlike you, I do really, really, really want this. Not because they want me to get it, but because I think my project is important and will contribute to helping the Zambian government in making policy decisions about subsistence farming techniques and will contribute to our own government in making foreign aid decisions. I hope the above doesn't make me sound like a horribly self-centered person; I don't mean it that way at all. Just that probably everyone on this discussion board is likely getting pressure not just internally but externally too, which seems to be the case with you, BeatriceHolm. I'm glad you're relieved! And glad you can settle down close to home-- my university is also not in my home town and I really get the lonliness factor! blue_bird, congratulations!! I'm excited for you and for your project in Norway! Way to go!

Yeah, I agree that's a good idea. Just mark it somewhere on the sheet that it's EST.

Hi olioliwoo, I think that's a great idea! I think there should also be room to write what time zone we are in. I'm on the left coast and therefore three hours behind the east coast, and there's mountain and central time in between.

Congratulations, Starlettmimi, on your Alternate status! Bittersweet indeed-- now you have to sit on the edge of your seat again, for who knows how long! I am hoping for the very best for you, that you end up getting to go to Laos.

india_applicant, I am so sorry. However, I firmly believe you will do great things in your life! Remember we are not defined by our Fulbright status!! Another path will open for you to do the research so important to you. JacquiC and fulbright_to_India, I give you my sincere congratulations! I'm so excited for you! So much is going on in India right now and your contributions will be invaluable. I've never been to India but it's definitely on my bucket list. Now go eat that cake someone posted above!

Hi Fingers Crossed, I completely agree with Secret Ninja 100%. Your advisor might not like it if you back out of the other fellowship to take the Fulbright, but that does not mean it's unethical. It is like getting a really really good job and a month later being offered your dream job, the one you've waited for all your life. Are you going to turn it down because it will piss off the really really good job people if you quit? Of course not! Same thing here. As someone said, people do this all the time. That's why alternates are even a thing. Life happens. While the decision is completely yours, don't let your advisor get to you and sway your opinion by claiming "ethical issues." If you want and get the Fulbright, go for it!

Wow, those both sound like great projects! Historically speaking, proposals or projects around the subject of HIV/AIDS seem to fare well with the Fulbright folks, so I think you both have an excellent chance! Community health projects are also popular. I do worry that my project, under the heading of Cultural and Intellectual History, might not seem exciting enough or important enough to fund. Also, I'm concerned that my age (I'll be 54 in April) might be a negative. jrk2115, thanks for emailing the SSA officer and sharing the results. From the excel speadsheet, it does indeed look like results generally go out between the 15th and 30th of April, so I'm not too anxious at this point...I mean, yes I'm anxious!... but not freaking out that we haven't heard yet. I'll start getting really anxious the closer we get to the 15th.