RosyPosy68

Scotch as a contingency plan... Excellent. And If I get funded, I'll go directly to Scotland for a celebration Scotch (3 hours by train from my research location---WOO!). Anyway, thanks for the pep talk! You're awesome! This is going to be your successful year---I believe it! Yes! I highly recommend reading the 2014-2015 thread to anyone wondering about timelines and notifications and stuff. Thanks for the well-wishes! Hugs and luck all around! Yes! It really is an honor (honour---I'm practicing), isn't it? Cheers!

Stunt Double

shotgun wedding

Major, Major congrats!!!!! I remember feeling like waiting for Fulbright overshadowed the excitement I felt about being accepted into my dream MSc program-- But why?! It's a huge deal! We got into GRAD SCHOOL! **happy dance** Cheers, and best of luck in the rest of this waiting game! On another note, I haven't sent my offer letter to IIE, and now I'm thinking maybe I should/should've. I got my offer the day before my interview, so I did mention it to them. Now I am thinking that, perhaps, I should send it to Maria Mazer as well. Did you speak with Jeana for your interview? She's the one I told-- I emailed her that morning.

Ball bearings

I wouldn't say I was bullied into it, but for my undergraduate honors thesis, I picked up a project that another lab member dropped after very preliminary planning stages (first draft of survey was written). I did the whole project myself with little help or guidance from my PI (PI was pushing for me to finish someone else's paper for a project that they preferred...and so did I, to be honest, but I wanted to do the work myself). So instead of bullying me into my thesis, I felt like PI was trying to bully me OUT of my thesis. Now that I finished and graduated several years ago and am now on the grad school track, PI is suddenly pushing me --HEAVILY-- to publish my senior thesis or remove it from my resume (...?! I did the whole project myself, for a grade, through a different department. It will always be my senior thesis.) Now that I have more research experience, I don't like the paper or want it published. I have changed fields, so it is no longer relevant to my resume, and I think that although it was a good example of my research and writing abilities, it is not a study that will contribute to research. However, I've heard there hasn't been a lot of product coming out of that lab lately, so I understand her frantic worry. This probably just seems like a venting anecdote (Ok, it totally is...) But I have a point: The best and the worst PI's have an agenda. They have quotas they have to meet, grants they want to obtain for the future, and a research resume they are constantly building. I like to believe that most of the time, they don't realize they are pushing their agendas and truly think they are advising in our best interest. But at some point, we have to decide how much it is work appeasing them and how much we can push for our own agendas as emerging researchers. That being said: I have NO IDEA where that balance is....

utter rubbish

I really wish I could know about everyone's projects!! Do you guys think there's any danger/disadvantage to sharing our project plans publicly at this point? I've been back and forth about it in my head. I suppose interviews will be over next week, as far as I can tell so far--at least for the UK. What do you all think? I see that almost nobody has shared any details about their proposals, so I'm guessing you've all been thinking about it like I have. What are your opinions about it? (Also, if anyone is just dying to tell someone about their awesome and exciting project, feel free to message me! I LOVE talking research!)

Hello! I'm starting an MSc at Sheffield in September. Anyone else attending? I will be an international student from the U.S. I hope to know at least one person when I make the leap!

Eeeek!!! This is your week, rockermaster! Keeping my fingers crossed for you! Can't wait to hear about your PRINCIPLE STATUS! I agree--- I'm predicting that week, also. Except I'm guessing the 17th. I think I remember reading someone's obsessive analysis on last year's forum saying notifications always seem to go out on Tuesdays and Fridays. Maybe that was just for recommendations, though. As anxious as I am, I decided not to go actually check on that.

Hi Everyone! I accepted an unconditional offer to study for my MSc in Psyc Research at the University of Sheffield this Fall. Is anyone else on here a postgrad student (or future student!) at the University of Sheffield? I would love to hear any information about the school and the Psychology department, the city, and--if possible-- the transition from a U.S. undergraduate program to a MSc here! Thank you! Edit: Sorry, I just realized I didn't format this topic name properly! I was just nervous and excited and posted without seeing that there was a requested method. However: I did search for the city first! So hopefully that's less obnoxious

I haven't heard anything either and I sent mine the day they sent out recommendation emails.... I'm going to assume they only notify us if they still need it. However, I wouldn't worry about reaching out. In the recommendation email, it specifically said something along the lines of "We are unable to answer questions about whether or not we have received transcripts until after February 20th," which I'm assuming means after that, they are able to answer questions.

Any news yet, Bluefit?? Anxious for you!

Hello! Thanks for letting us know! Good luck with your interview! Which UK grant are you going for? A general UK or a partnership? And if partnership, which one?

That makes sense. I just know March marks the beginning of notification season. That's enough to put me on edge! I see you study Linguistics! What domains of language are you interested in?

Hi everyone! Please make sure you update your information on this spreadsheet! It really helps people in next year's application process to get an idea of what to expect. And if you're a UK applicant, it helps me guess the timeline for when we will get answers below! You don't have to have an account to fill it out, and you can do it anonymously! There's just a few of us who are wondering what institutions other grad-café-lurkers are applying for, whether or not they've been interviewed, etc! Wishing you all good luck! Can you believe next week is March? I know I've been wishing for March for SO long in anticipation, but now that it's approaching, I want to pump the brakes! Anyone else feeling that way, too?

I had an interview last week for a Fulbright scholarship for a MSc in the UK, and three days before the interview (still hadn't heard back from the actual University about acceptance, either, but had already been planning a master's thesis with my PI) I had this dream: I had already had the interview, and in order to find out about whether or not I got the Fulbright, I had to fly out to England for a meeting with my PI. I got into this huge laboratory room with really bright lights and sat down at a table with a stack of folders in front of me. My PI quickly pulled the papers away from me like she was hiding them. Then she said "Well... you had one of the best interviews we've ever heard. Seriously, you should hear the other people I've talked to." I was so excited, waiting for her to tell me I got the scholarship. Then she said "However, I gave your application to the head of our department, and he says that everything you say in your PS goes against everything this department stands for (what?! I'm still not sure how this makes sense). We could NEVER give you a Fulbright. How could you use profanity in this statement (once again...WHAT?!)...so incredibly unprofessional. In fact, don't even bother to apply to the master's here. You made a TERRIBLE impression." I was so spooked by that dream that I couldn't even make myself prepare for my interview anymore. I woke up crying, and I was irritable with my SO all day because I was so upset. Fortunately I got my acceptance letter from the University the day before the Fulbright interview, or I swear, I would've still been too dejected to function. What a mess!

Y'all, this is exactly how I feel! I have a full time job and I still feel like I have to fill every second outside of work with stuff to keep my mind off of waiting. And just so everyone knows, since 2008, the only countries that have been notified before March have been Ireland (last year), Indonesia (twice), Austria (Back in like 2010) and Belgium(2008). So... I'm guessing we should at least stay away from the "refresh" button obsession until March. Yeah.. that logic still isn't helping, is it?

^^^ YES! At least 15 times a day, even though I know they're still doing interviews and that they've never notified for my country before March before!

Hi Erynfe! I hope you've found the more recent Fulbright thread! It's more relevant to your post! Fulbright 2015-2016! Good luck

Medievalist and DBloom--Any news on the interviews for you yet? Fingers crossed for you!

Congrats on making it through your interview, Alifbaarbie! I just survived mine about 2 hours ago for the UK. I was surprised how little response/feedback I received beyond the questions, but everyone was kind and clear with their questions. Best of luck to all of you.... !especially if you're not going for the same partnership award I want... I'd love to hear how your interviews go! Make sure you all practice an "Elevator speech" about your proposed project and its impact! Hugs and best wishes, RP68

Oh gosh. I've been back and forth about how to prepare, honestly. I'm worried about over preparing and coming across as artificial. But I met with my (amazing) FPA --she was a Marshall scholar and her husband was a Fulbrighter-- so she's full of great advice, and other than that I'm consulting my mentors about things they think I should highlight about myself and rereading the binder I made with all my application materials and Fulbright info. What are your thoughts on preparing?

Medievalist- (Cool name, by the way! Is the MA you applied for studying Medieval ages from a history or literature perspective?) I received my notification on the 5th, and my interview is the 17th, so maybe they just notify a week and a half to two weeks before your interview? That seems like a fair possibility. I still can't seem to figure out if every UK award requires an interview. I've heard so much conflicting information. I know that the UK-US partnership website says the following: Q: I haven't been selected for a telephone interview. Can I find out why? A: The application pool is large and highly competitive. Given the number of applications received, It is not possible for the Commission to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications. However... I'm also under the impression that "unsuccessful applications" refers to those that were not recommended, as I have heard that all recommended applicants receive the final email stating "Not Selected," "Alternate," or "Principle." It also says elsewhere on the website: "Following the application deadline and subsequent review of applications, successful applicants may be invited for telephone interviews by the Fulbright Commission" I have heard that interpreted in two ways: 1) That some applicants may be successful (recommended), and some or all of those will be interviewed depending on the program. OR 2) That those who are recommended may or may not be interviewed, depending on whether or not the next step of review finds them successful. Is this information helpful? Probably not. But that is what I kept rereading (OVER AND OVER), and I can't seem to get anything clearer out of it than that. As for my application--- University of Sheffield. I don't think anyone on here yet has posted about Exeter interviews. I hope that means good news for you!

Awesome!!! Where were you placed? I have a very dear friend who I met this year, and he is one of the participants from Germany in the same program!