CollegeSkiBum

We can just use the Boren Facebook Group. They mention how to join up in the Handbook. Edit: Actually, the smaller groupme might be a better idea. I was just let into the Facebook group and it's freaking massive (probably should have predicted that). There are over 1,500 members, so the posting is a bit chaotic.

First, thanks for the well wishes from everyone that made them. I didn't want to throw out a giant "Thanks!" earlier when some were still in the midst of dealing with heartbreak (as persona_in_foro said, you guys are awesome regardless). Also, congrats to all the other awardees! As for the acceptance date, according to the pre-program checklist, declines must be made by May 2nd.

The email was in my other folder for over half an hour. I got it!

He included "Fellowship" at the end of his comments though.

Only one scholarship applicant on the sheet has received an email apparently, so I dunno.

That would be cruel and unusual

AFLI scholarship, still waiting.

I saw your post about the alternates awhile back. I think the woman meant that alternates will know if they will receive funding by the end of April/early May. In past years, they have informed every applicant of their status on the same day. I don't know why they would switch it up and further torture alternates for two weeks just so they can inform them that they are in fact alternates.

Feels like your entire life is up in the air, right? Been there for a few weeks at least.

Well, if we're hearing by the end of the day, that means they have the decisions made and are just having fun playing with our emotions at this point. I'm on the West Coast, and every email I have received has come between around 8:30 and 10:30, so maybe they're just waiting for everyone to wake up.

So who else barely managed any sleep?

@schoolcat It will place you outside the preferences in that category. Early in the process of applying, I found an info session on Youtube in which the presenter provided a thorough explanation of the evaluation process as it relates to the preferences, and I have watched it borderline religiously over the last three or four months (helped with the application and has been strangely useful for calming the nerves during the wait). Basically, the gist of the presenter's explanation was this: The committee will look to see if the application falls within the preferred fields of study, and if it doesn't, then that application is marked as "Not preferred" in that particular box. Now, this won't kill an application, as many applicants will fall outside one or two of the boxes, but the applicant must include a compelling argument regarding whichever preferences they miss. So, for example, if you are an English major, the committee is going to wonder "Why is an English major applying for this scholarship?" You can still be completely in contention, but it is predicated on convincing them either that your current study of English is critical to national security, or that your future study of some other field is a solid enough reason for them to justifiably forget about your current one. As a journalism major, I'm in kind of the same boat as you, although journalism is perhaps a bit easier to connect to international relations than English. My minors are international studies and anthropology, so I fall into the preferences regardless, but I still included some discussion of journalism in both my essays, as well as an explanation of my pursuing a degree in international development with a somewhat unrelated major. I wrote about how journalism has allowed me to both hone my writing and to interact with international students from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Nepal and Tunisia, and I told them that I moved from foreign correspondence to a career with the federal government because I wanted to directly impact lives whilst spreading values for which I am passionate. Also, my discussion of utilizing my journalism skills to write profiles about local community members took up a nice chunk of my second essay. As long as you explained it well enough in your essays, I bet you'll be fine. Here are a couple of helpful pages from Boren's site: https://www.borenawards.org/scholarships/thinking-applying/program-preferences/boren-scholarship-preferences https://www.borenawards.org/scholarships/thinking-applying/selection-process/boren-scholarship-selection-process And here is a link to the info session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRBP5IJc22E&t=2964s Discussion of fields of study begins at 37:08

Preachin' to the choir.

@Heidi Olsen I'm a senior at the University of Idaho. My major is journalism, with minors in international studies and anthropology. I was originally a broadcasting major, then switched to journalism after being recommended to by a few teachers and re-evaluating what I wanted out of a career. I heard about the Rangel Program early last September, and started becoming very intrigued by a career as a diplomat type. I have always wanted to travel and am passionate about foreign languages, and being able to pursue both whilst spreading U.S. values/promoting development jumped out as something that I would find incredibly fulfilling. I had originally been thinking about foreign correspondence when I switched to journalism, but realized that I didn't want to write about issues around the world and hope that someone would be motivated enough by said writing to take action. I wanted to take action myself. So, now I am hoping to get the Boren and with it jumpstart my path toward a career in international development, with a possible specialty in international emergencies.

What type of correspondence was it? I received an email asking me to ensure the accuracy of my program dates, costs and financial aid yesterday, but the correspondence has been brief. I responded and received an additional email today asking for confirmation of my edits. The email was sent with "high importance" according to Outlook. Trying not to read into it too much, but man being an alternate at this point would be a let down. I don't know why they would still be asking if I wasn't at least in contention, and the last second checking seems like unnecessary hastle for an alternate. Gahhh, this is KILLING me.

I would tell them about it, and maybe just mention that it likely wasn't because they wrote lackluster recommendations. The essays are by far the most important component of the application, at least from everything I have seen. If you don't craft strong enough arguments in the essays, there isn't much the letters can do for you.

That's what the butterflies are telling me, but my mind is telling me to cool the horses. Regardless, to play with my emotions like this is awfully cruel on the part of Boren, hehe.

It asked me to confirm the budget I had submitted back in February. They wanted me to make sure my financial aid information was correct, to ensure I had taken into account school study abroad fees, and to confirm the start and end dates of my Spring program. They also told me they needed a response no later than 11 a.m. eastern tomorrow. It came with the standard "We are spot checking... not all applicants receiving this message will receive the award" asterisk. One would think "spot checking" this late in the game would be pretty strange though.

I believe they send out all notifications in the 3rd week. That is what appears to be the case from perusing previous years' forums. I would assume she meant alternates will be informed whether they will receive funding by the end of the month, but will be notified of their alternate status along with everyone else.

With regard to the AFLI emails, I also received the health insurance query (posted the email in full on page 5). The wording implied logically that not all applicants received the email. I also just received a budget email earlier this morning, which is interesting. I'm trying not to read into it too much, but it's tough not to get my hopes up.

That's what I assumed as well.

Yeah, in past years it iooks as though they've been far more active on social media in the run-up to the deadline. Complete radio silence this year though. I actually think it's kind of amusing.

@zhaile I saw a Twitter post from Boren last year saying they were putting together mailed notices on Friday, the 14th. They sent out the email notifications on the 17th, so maybe @Rivai just had some nifty help from the USPS.

@zhaile From the looks of it, the specific insurance email I and several others have recieved seems AFLI-exclusive. That is likely why only a few on here have seen it. Then again, maybe they're just playing a cruel game with us.

Yeah, I don't know for the insurance info. I applied through AFLI in the fall and proposed a CIEE program for the Spring, so I don't believe my insurance was available to them via the application in any way. If anything, I would say for those in AFLI it means their application is still in the running at this point. It would be strange to spot check applications this late in the game with no possibility of their garnering an award.