
Damis
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Damis reacted to kbui in Fulbright 2015-2016
Oh no, I'm so sorry Meowsica. Devastation was what I felt back when I got rejected form Fulbright (three times) and it was very, very painful. However, what helped me was to realize that this is just one of the many, many hurdles that I will have to go through in life. And there's no good time for rejection, but it's so necessary to build up our resilience and determination.
If it made you feel any better, when I was rejected my first time I actually got a Boren scholarship to go to Taiwan, which was one of the best experiences of my life. Then when I got rejected a second time, I got a job away from my home state (MN) and moved to California. When I was rejected a third time, I got a position teaching English in Korea (but then miraculously I got a phone call from Jonathan that made my Fulbright dream come true).
Life is beautiful, and life is full of opportunities for those who are brave enough to risk their time and feelings to get it. Keep up your spirits! If you were truly meant for it, it will come. Trust me.
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Damis reacted to Boomshahkolaka in Fulbright 2015-2016
Congrats to all the new Fulbright recipients!!
Meanwhile, the rest of us checking email/this forum daily are like...
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Damis reacted to TravelingTeacher in Fulbright 2015-2016
I think it depends on the country and its specifications. For example, the ETA program that I am applying to wants students in the field of either American Studies or Education and prefers candidates at the Master's level and candidates with "extensive teaching experience". I am doing my MA in Social Studies Education and am a finalist. I don't know how that will translate into actually getting the ETA (as far as I know, none of the ETAs in the past two years in my program have had a Master's in education) but it hasn't hurt me so far. Also, I was able to talk about my practicum placements on my application essays. However, some countries prefer candidates with "some teaching experience," and I read an interview with a higher-up in Fulbright who said that since it is a student program, they discourage experienced teachers (ie teachers who have taught in a K-12 classroom for more than 4 years) or students with masters' in TESOL to apply.
That being said, as somebody who is currently in a teacher prep program, I do NOT recommend that you wait to do Fulbright until after you do your master's, especially if you've already been accepted. Generally, you will get your teacher's license right after you graduate from a teacher's prep program, and you need to complete certain actions to keep your certification valid like professional development. Spending a year outside of the country makes it harder for you to keep your certification valid. Additionally, since most school districts only do in-person interviews, it is extremely hard for one to find a job if they are out of the country during teacher "hiring season." Teacher prep programs prepare you for the very specific task of teaching either elementary ed or a specific subject in an American school context, which is probably vastly different than the context you will encounter in your Fulbright (although I do not know the specifics for Germany). I have learned a lot in my teacher prep program and I know most of it will be helpful in any teaching context, but I am not quite sure at this point what I can apply from working with seventh graders if I end up getting the Fulbright and teaching college students. Finally, I feel that right now, a month and a half away from graduation and in the midst of student teaching, I am really ready to teach middle school in the US because I have lots of practice and am quite used to being observed. I'm used to the professional United States school context. I'm not sure I'll feel the same sense of preparation when I begin working in the US if I end up teaching abroad next year.
In short, I wish I had applied for Fulbright BEFORE doing a master's teacher-prep program. The only reason I didn't apply last year was because I ended up switching my undergrad graduation year at the last minute and I couldn't plan ahead like I wanted, but I am definitely regretting it now.
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Damis reacted to squidtown in Fulbright 2015-2016
Thanks so much for your help! That's a great relief to hear. I feel like I'll only be a better candidate after grad school because I'll have just completed a teacher prep program, but we'll just have to see how it all works out. Thanks again!
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Damis reacted to potatopower12 in Fulbright 2015-2016
Your application decision one year will never affect the next year. They cannot judge people because they had to turn it down for one reason or another. IIE is incredibly impartial and helpful. I had to deal with them when I won a Boren scholarship.
It's no harder as a grad student than it is as an undergraduate. If anything, it might be easier to win as a grad student because you have more experience. So no need to stress ☺️
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Damis reacted to TheExile0901 in Fulbright 2015-2016
I had a dream where, despite applying for an ETA, I got sent on a research/study to Bulgaria, and then suddenly my primary objective became raising an army and reuniting the kingdom of Croatia.
I woke up and thought, "Wtf?" I've been playing too much Crusader Kings II...
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Damis reacted to Kpriv in Fulbright 2015-2016
My FPA told me that she receives and email at the same time I do informing her of my status. I would assume it is the same across the board for all FPA. Fulbright is pretty consistent with everything they do.
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Damis reacted to TheExile0901 in Fulbright 2015-2016
Often times, for people who have applied to multiple programs, they receive a time-sensitive offer for another program before they hear if they are accepted at all into the Fulbright. So they sometimes go with the certain offer rather than the uncertain, future offer from Fulbright, thus leading them to withdraw later when they receive an acceptance notification. So, basically, there is hope.
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Damis got a reaction from SMartin11879 in Fulbright 2015-2016
Congrats everyone!
From what I remember, you're right that PAD takes over (they're actually the ones that select from the pool of recommended candidates), but in general everyone typically finds out at the same time regarding placement. At least that was how my year and the preceding year went.
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Damis reacted to irvine36 in Fulbright 2015-2016
ETA recipient to Germany!! It got sent to my spam mail though... double checked, triple checked, but it's real! Congratulations to everyone who has been accepted so far! And best of luck to the alternates!
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Damis got a reaction from mylime in Fulbright 2015-2016
Ah I'm sorry! Yes there is! My project, for instance, changed tremendously once I got to my school. I helped lead an after school tutoring program. Didn't even know I'd have an opportunity like that.
Sorry for the confusion on my end.
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Damis got a reaction from stillwriting in Fulbright 2015-2016
Hey! A friend of mine brought her husband with her while she was doing her ETA in Germany. If you have some specific questions I can forward to her I'm more than sure she'd be willing to answer them. Just PM them to me.
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Damis reacted to umamam in DAAD
What field are you looking to get an MA in?
As you'll see if you poke around this website, many of the better MA programs in most fields are fully funded including living stipends in the US. If it's a dual MA/PhD program, pretty much any good program is funded through fellowships, TAships, or RAships in most fields (and most will allow you to drop out and take the MA if you decide against the PhD).
In many fields, the financial situation for MAs is actually better here than in Germany - if I had done my MA in Germany, I would have had free tuition but would have had to pay plane ticket, living expenses, etc. Teaching is hard to come by, and MA students are rarely funded. Instead I got free tuition, a stipend large enough to save a little, and funding for a summer in Germany!
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Damis got a reaction from jadesg1 in Fulbright 2015-2016
You can always do Fulbright after (or even during) your graduate studies. I'd go with the guarantee, especially if it's going to work out to bring your lady.
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Damis reacted to ltsax in Fulbright 2015-2016
I just found out that I was named as a Principle candidate to do public health research in Japan! My notification status was in the email heading (P). I'm so excited I can hardly type!!!
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Damis reacted to meowsica in Fulbright 2015-2016
the program i applied for asks for one year of language study/a novice level.
for me, the best way to improve my foreign language skills has always been immersion. i studied abroad in beijing and my mandarin improved leaps and bounds just because i was forced to use it (my program made us sign a language pledge). having friends my own age who were native mandarin speakers and could teach me slang & how to really say things, instead of just textbook phrases, was also great. i also tried really really hard to not be afraid to start conversations with people in mandarin. like on the bullet train to nanjing one weekend i spent the whole 4 hours stretching my chinese to its limits to talk to the guy sitting next to me.
i think the only way to really improve is to get over the fear of being wrong and just chatter away as much as you can. i'll sometimes speak to myself in mandarin or korean, just to practice. adding a little alcohol into the situation if you dig that never hurts, either, because it makes you less nervous
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Damis got a reaction from lilymasala in Fulbright 2015-2016
Transcripts don't effect when decisions are released.
I have a harrowing story about transcripts involving down to the wire fighting during the first half of my year in Germany. Almost got me sent home through no fault of my own. Not fun. LOL!