my future is history

Nice~ If it's anything like Fulbright Japan, they'll have a welcoming party at the beginning where awardees get to meet people from the Oegyo Tongsangbu. BTW, for any Korean Americans, the A-3 visa has some weird stipulations, so it would be a good idea to call your nearest embassy and double check on things.

I think I figured out the trick to getting accepted. Last year when i applied for Japan, I didn't "like" Fulbright's Facebook page and I ended up as an alternate. This year, I "liked" their page and I got the grant. I'm pretty sure this did the trick. Also Misun, which school are you affiliated with? What's your research on? I'll be at Seoul National University~

awarded Fulbright Full grant, South Korea

Tough and fickle... My research topic fit the themes Fulbright was looking for (mentioned in the info packet pdf) and I ended up as alternate. My friend's topic didn't fit the theme and he got it. These things are mysterious, and it's not necessarily a reflection of the strength of your project. Alternate status for JF puts you in Fulbright-acceptable territory, so don't feel too bad. This is a total guess, but I think JF might put a greater emphasis on language ability while Fulbright might want a project with a broader scope. I think these were the two main points that separated my application from my friend's, but this is really a shot in the dark. Anyways, if you guys end up going on JF fellowships and have any questions feel free to PM.

Good luck! My friend was waitlisted for Japan Foundation and got a Fulbright, he's in Tokyo now. I was waitlisted for Fulbright, and got Japan Foundation and I'm in Tokyo now lol. Kind of speaks to the randomness of these decisions. It's hard to say what each group is looking for any given year.

It's the Madison guy. No problem! Good luck wherever you end up.

I don't think they will give you information on the final decisions even if another fellowship needs a decision, but to be honest I haven't tried. Speaking from experience, I would take the offer as long as it's somewhat comparable to the Fulbright. Last year, I received a Japan Foundation grant while still a finalist for the Fulbright-IIE, and they wanted an answer before Fulbright results came out. I went ahead and accepted the Japan Foundation grant, which was a good call because I ended up as an alternate for Fulbright. Unless the bird in hand is puny and emaciated, it's not worth going for ones in the bush, even if it is the legendary Aves fulbrighticus...

A bit late, but recommended for Full Grant to Korea at SNU (current PhD candidate on research in Japan)

Congrats you two~ DId you guys apply as graduating seniors or grad students? And I'm assuming you're both planning on accepting?

Fulbright Japan alternate full grant email received 11:34 CST.

Nice~ Good luck! And sorry to hear about your language prof, that seems like a nightmare...

Now that March has come and gone, it looks like Japan might be back on the late April timeframe...

Well, the letter seemed to be an "informal" notification from New York, with official notices coming from Tokyo in April. This may be what's going on.

I sure hope so. Do you mind if I ask what your project's on? I'm looking at Japanese educators in colonial Korea (at all levels, primary to tertiary) for my dissertation, but I might expand the project to look at education more broadly from the 1910s to 1930s.

I think the trick is to get them to make penis jokes in English...