chethedoctor

I completely understand where you are coming from. I am contending with the same dilemmas. My BA is in Political Science and my Masters (the one I am working on now here in the UK) will be in IR. Until a few weeks ago I was very interested in the FS but now it is only one of several areas that I am considering. Much, if not all, will depend on funding. If I manage to find other funding sources other than the three fellowships (Rangel, Pickering and Payne), then I will most certainly go the Public Policy/Affairs route. In which case I will apply to places like Kennedy and Wilson. I plan to apply for the Soros but I hear it's even more selective than Fulbright UK. Of the three, Payne is my favourite. If I do get it, then I will probably do ID or Global Development. Then SFS and SAIS come into play. There is even a chance that I may forget all this and go with the UN language program since I speak a few languages. Conflicted and crazy does not even begin to cover it!

@mrs12 You are right. We can brainstorm. First, I need to get the dissertation out of the way. Not to mention the GRE. It appears it's going to be a busy year. What schools will you be applying to?

@mrs12 I echo the sentiments of @kbui. @kbui and the rest: I think I will also give the Pickering and especially the Rangel a shot. Having applied for these scholarships, could you please paint a picture of the application process? I am mostly interested in the mental state, what needs to be prioritized in the essays/statements and if there are things the people administering these fellowships are 'looking for'. How should I approach these fellowships? Thanks!

If I remember correctly, it was days after the deadline for submissions. So a week and half. Makes sense given the amount of paperwork involved. You are an alternate, aren't you?

@kbui Most likely Georgetown SFS.

@kbui more lucky than amazing but thank you very much for your kind words. I will let you know if I apply for the Payne. Will you be attending the Kennedy School?

I am a current recipient of the Fulbright (UK). Applying to a super competitive research scholarship offered by the Qatar Foundation. Given the profile of the current and past scholars, I am not really expecting much. Thus the interest in the Payne.

@Dilemma1 I think it is a good idea to remain positive. I know someone from a previous cohort who was moved up after a principal declined the offer. Yes I know it is just one case but it does happen some times and who knows lady luck might decide to shine on you! In case you are not elevated, I suggest that you re-apply. Good luck!

Congratulations @kbui I think you will make one hell of a fellow and USAID foreign service officer. If I don't get a research grant that makes it possible for me to do research in the Middle East, it is more than likely I will head back home and apply for the Payne fellowship and a couple other scholarships. If I do, could I get in touch to pick your brains? Once again congrats!!!

Thank you @ZebraFinch and @mrs12. I will keep this wonderful advice in mind as I consider the Payne. Good luck to you @ZebraFinch with your studies and the journey to the State. Good luck to you @mrs12 as well with your academic and professional goals.

Dear @ZebraFinch @kbui @mrs12 First, congratulations to all of you for your successes this year. You folks are amazing! So I need your advice. I am considering the Payne for next year or the year after. I am a current UK Fulbrighter, speak two of the so-called critical languages and have 5 years of experience working in the developing world. So as far as 'qualifications' go, I like to think I am relatively competitive. However, I am hesitant because I am concerned about the security clearance. I have lived outside the country for a significant amount of time. Given how much work goes into these applications, your experiences with the clearance system, and the threat of debt, would you advise me to give it a shot? Good luck to all of you!

Hey I am really liking it here in the UK. I was initially applying to Leicester but during the process I changed my program and now I am in Aberystwyth. Are you applying to the same program as my friend Jason is in now?

Oh hey I remember you from last year! I am really happy for you! How's your Swahili coming along? Excited about going to Kenya and doing what you love doing? Your project is really interesting! Is there anyway I can follow the journey? Like a website or a blog? Safari salama!

Hello there, It's really difficult to say. Once you are awarded the fellowship, there's no discussion of the application. Having said that, in speaking to the person who interviewed me (which I'm told is very rare) and other people at a reception in London, here's what I learned*: 1. For competitive countries like the UK, it pretty much comes down to the twin questions of why the UK and why a particular university/institution. Whoever makes the strongest and most concise case addressing these two questions has the advantage. Almost every paragraph in your statement of grant purpose must somehow speak to aspects of the two questions. Personally, once I researched every aspect of my program, I made a specific detailed outline for the two questions and then used it to write the essay. Some of the things in the outline were: the work of two specific scholars at the program I was applying to, specific modules, specific fora, how the program might (comparatively, that's) prepare me for my chosen career etc. 2. Something some of us did (it was quite a surprise because I thought I was the only crazy person doing it) was research the program of the competition. You can find out about the competition by reading the profiles of previous winners for your program. Knowing about the competition is helpful because you can approximate their sgr essay. It's a bit like going to war. The more you know about the opposition, the better. 3. There's a correlation between the ranking and the interview process. Unless the highest ranked person totally bombs the interview, they always get the award. In other words, the main objective of the interview is just to put a voice to the app. Is the applicant able to adumbrate without regurgitating what the interviewers already know? I don't know about you but my interview wasn't brutal at all. Other members of the cohort say the same. 4. From # 3, that would also explain why some are not interviewed. 5. The personal statement is not as important as the statement of grant purpose. That doesn't mean one should take it lightly but just that it doesn't have the same weight as the sgr. I'd say put 70% of your effort into the sgr. I hope this was helpful. If you have questions, do let me know. I stop by gradcafe every so often to see what others are saying about a fellowship I'm thinking of applying. Are you applying in the 2017-2018 cycle? * This is what I gleaned from conversations I've had with others.

Hello Everyone! Current UK Fulbrighter here. What a great resource this forum is! I just wanted to stop by and wish you all the best as you wait. If, after the recommended/not recommended phase, any of you wants to talk to me about the next phase of the process, please feel free to drop me a line. Once again, best of luck!