[Fulbright 2015-2016]

Hi all! I'm yet another lurker drawn out by a recommendation (Spain ETA) and the anxiety of waiting. I had a question: is there a place where the stipend by country/type of grant is stated? I'd like to have an idea of how much my partner and I might want to start putting aside now for any additional living expenses, should I receive the grant.

 

Hi Lime! I got excited when I saw Sociolinguistics under your name! My interest is Psycholinguistics, but one of my most influential mentors is a Sociolinguist. Good luck in your studies, and I'd love to chat about your program/research if you want to PM me sometime! 

 

As far as Spain ETA goes, are you familiar with the Cultural Ambassadors Program? Of course, it does not have the same prestige or honor as the Fulbright program, but if you are set on teaching English in Spain for a year, it is definitely an excellent, nearly fool-proof back up plan. You receive approximately 900Euro/month, depending on your region of placement, and you are placed in a primary or secondary school to provide English Conversation practice. My best friend has been doing this in Madrid for 2 years now, and is about to renew for a 3rd year. Actually, one of the other assistants at her school doing the same thing she is doing is a Fulbright ETA!  Applications aren't due until April, so if you want something productive to do to pass the time until you hear about Fulbright, that's definitely an option!

 

Good luck! If you haven't been to Spain before, you are in for a treat (I'm just assuming you and your partner will end up there!) It's an amazing place with wonderful people (and food..and mountains..and language...and music...)

[Fulbright 2015-2016]

Speaking of interviews, I have to pass on my good news for today! I just received my interview invitation for the UK! Gulp! 

[Fulbright 2015-2016]

Yes we shall! I had my mock interview today. It was incredibly helpful, and I would encourage you to set one up as well. My professors' questions helped me think about the points of my application that I hope to highlight, as well as things I should prepare to explain.

 

They also told me things about Skype etiquette that I had never heard... just little things like look right into the camera, prepare a short introduction, wear a good headset, etc.

 

Anyway, I wish you the best of luck!

 

That's great information! I definitely agree that the most important thing is to look right into the camera.  It feels like eye contact.

 

I had a Skype interview for a research internship this summer. It was a bit awkward, just because there were two people interviewing me trying to fit onto the screen together, and it felt a little artificial.  However, if you expect it to feel artificial and just accept that it will never be quite the same as interviewing in person, then you should be fine. If you don't skype with friends often, I recommend practicing skyping with people you know a few times first, so that you are used to seeing other people (and yourself!) in that situation. I don't think I executed the interview perfectly, and there are a lot of things I would like to do differently, if given the opportunity for a Fulbright interview, but I did get the internship position. I guess I did something right!

 

Other suggestions: 

• Always pause briefly before answering a question! Sometimes there is a slight lag between sides, and you do not want to end up speaking over the person interviewing you. Even if there is not a lag, it gives you a moment to collect your thoughts instead of rushing into an answer.

 

• Keep one, small list of bullet points near you to jog your memory.  You don't want to be shuffling papers or looking down very often, but if you forget one of your points, it may be helpful. (I'm curious to hear other people's opinions on this method, though!) I had a whole notebook in front of me in my last interview and when I got nervous, I started frantically looking through things. Please don't do this! I know I looked SO unprofessional.

 

• If you are worried about confidence, set yourself up so that you can stand during the interview instead of sitting. This may sound absurd,  but there is something about standing that makes you feel you are owning what you are saying.  That being said, I can only stand during phone interviews-- I move too much to stand still while someone is watching me!

 

• Practice telling your friends (via skype!) about your project, about the country you want to do it in, and about yourself.  Have a friend ask you a question or two you are not expecting. Practice collecting your thoughts and answering calmly.

 

• I think this is the most important: Be Sincere. Don't lie, don't tell them what you think they want to hear. They will be able to tell, and it won't look good for you! If they ask what you like to do in your free time, and it's going out for a drink with your friends, don't tell them you spend your time reading encyclopedias or creating plans for world peace! Find a way to explain who you actually are with diplomacy. Think about how your actual identity fits the bill for a Fulbrighter and practice describing yourself that way.

 

• Dress like you were going to an interview in person! Except.... My trick is that if I already know they can't see my legs, I wear sweatpants with my blazer and sweater.  That's my own personal comfort zone. Find something that works for you!

Good luck everyone! This community has helped me so much... I wish there were Fulbrights for all of us

[Fulbright 2015-2016]

Rosy I hope you get the chance to work with the professor.

Thank you! I wish you the best of luck on your interview! Here's to hoping we both end up in the UK this fall!

[Fulbright 2015-2016]

 

I spent a year in Germany as an exchange student in between high school and college, on scholarship from the US and German governments, and I was recommended for the Fulbright Study/Research Grant to work on my PhD.  Perhaps a year is not enough of an extended time?

 

Hello champ!

Did you do the Congress-Bundestag young professionals exchange, by any chance?

[Fulbright 2015-2016]

Hi Che! I'm applying to a Psyc program at Sheffield. There's a professor there doing my dream research!

 

Also Hi all fellow Fulbright hopefuls!! Please don't forget to update your status on the spreadsheet as you hear any news! 

[Fulbright 2015-2016]

Hey Rosy!I am applying for a partnership study award. I agree it's award-by-award basis. A friend also applying for the UK is yet to hear about an interview. There seems to be consensus that everyone gets interviewed.

Oh good! Thank you! Which school did you apply with and what are you studying?

[Fulbright 2015-2016]

I would email someone. Last year all applicants had interviews. I don't know of anyone who was recommended and didn't get an interview.

Oh gosh. Ok! I wonder if we will all get notified on the same day about our interviews or if they do it on an award-by-award basis.

does anyone know about that? And have any of the other UK partnership applicants that were recommended heard anything about an interview? Or are any of you in my position?

[Fulbright 2015-2016]

[Fulbright 2015-2016]

So this morning I got the email inviting me to telephone interview on the 23rd. I am applying to the UK. I am nervous but at the same time excited. If there are any applicants from last year who could give me a rough picture of the process (setting, the tone of the questions, etc), I will be most grateful.BTW are any other UK applicants interviewing the same week?