[Fulbright 2016 - 2017]

Ugh. I also had a horrible campus committee review. I had an evaluator ask me questions that had nothing to do with my proposal. I seriously had to question if he had even read my proposal at all. Did you decided to submit At Large ? Good luck ! 

I still applied through my school. (I think it's required when you're enrolled and not an alumni.) But my primary academic recommender, who is also a previous Fulbright winner, said that evaluations do carry weight and I may have to live with a no. In my case, I felt that the committee had made up their minds before giving me a chance and I don't know why. I hope they still gave you a decent evaluation! Do you know what it was? But regardless, I wouldn't give up hope. At least our applications are in! Good luck!! 

[Fulbright 2016 - 2017]

My question is: did you have a poor interview because of nerves or did you have a poor interview because they felt your application was weak? If it was weak, still apply, but do your best to fix what they found to be problems. If you apply at large it will look weird, as you would still list your current school somewhere in your application and Fulbright will know that they have a FPA. Additionally, are they still endorsing you or not endorsing you? If they are not endorsing you, apply at large. Even if you change nothing, apply at large.

Thank you for the response. Nerves definitely played a role, and a lot of points I could have said to make my case and win the committee over I wasn't able to articulate. I was so nervous that when one of the interviewees spoke to me in German I couldn't say anything. So it was a combination of both. It didn't help that I don't have a faculty from my new school involved with the project, it's primarily my professor from undergrad. The person I spoke with said the committee doesn't recommend I apply this year; however, if I choose to apply I can still apply through the school. So yes, I think they will still endorse me. I made a lot of changes that were suggested. I don't feel confident about applying anymore, but I will still apply! Thank you!

[Fulbright 2016 - 2017]

What a bummer, they explicitly told you they wouldn't be giving you a strong evaluation? I think you should definitely still apply, you can always still apply again next year and it wouldn't hurt your chances that you've applied twice. I'm applying Austria as well, but for the Community-based Combined Grant.

Good luck! Yes, someone from the fellowship committee spoke with me directly this Friday. Thank you, I will apply. I'm already feeling so discouraged about getting it though. 

[Fulbright 2016 - 2017]

Hi All,

I am hoping for some advice. My grad school's Fulbright campus committee is not giving me a strong  evaluation. I thought my application was strong, but they didn't think it was competitive and the interview didn't go as well as I hoped. I have worked really hard on the application. I am a new student at my current school and my affiliation letter and recommendations was all with the help of my undergraduate school. However, as I am a new grad student I thought I have to apply through school I am enrolled in and cannot apply at large? How much will this evaluation hurt my application? Should I wait until next year to apply?

ps. I'm applying for the Fulbright to Austria. Research/Study