jg33
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Posts posted by jg33
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I know this isn't much help after the fact but I work with a woman who sits/sat on one of the Scholarship review panels. This is how she explained it:
A group gets together for one region and chooses 15 applicants (10 recipients and 5 alternates).
They send those 15 applications to the National Review Board where they just confirm that the regional panels made the best decision (apparently, there may be some switching out between alternates or awardees). People who were not among those 15 applicants are basically rejected. ( I find this to be the most frustrating part as people could've been told of this status in late March/early April.)
At no point did she say that they email applicants about updated funding but thinks that this must be done by the National panel. Speaking to a current Boren Fellow, she confirmed that she never received any emails from the Boren committee between the time she submitted her application and when she was told she was a 2010 Boren Fellow.
Anyways, I hope some of this information helps.
-Bibliotek
This echoes what other successful applicants have told me from my university. There were a few people that were awarded a scholarship or a fellowship without receiving a follow-up email. But, it should be noted that receiving a follow-up email is definitely a good sign.
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I haven’t been able to post much due to finals but I wanted to congratulate everyone who received an award and to encourage everyone else who did not receive an award or who was named an alternate to definitely reapply. For those who did receive the awards, I see people talking about the convocation already on Facebook – have any of you received information about this yet? I assumed it would be in acceptance packet that is forthcoming in the mail. Also, the email acceptance letters said they were “unofficial,” is anyone else waiting for the official acceptance before they start taking serious preparatory measures? Maybe I am just paranoid….
Finally, has anyone tried to join the Facebook Group for current Boren Fellows or do we not become current until after the convocation? Also I want to extend an extra-special thanks to jg33 for your amazing work on the spreadsheet!
Hi All! I need everyone's help - if you or anyone you know applied for a Boren Fellowship or Scholarship for any of the African Language Initiative Programs please get in touch with me immediately (by this Sunday night, May 8 at the latest). I have some exciting news and a potentially great alternate opportunity if you would still like to go!!
JG33 - thanks again for doing such a great job with the spreadsheets and getting this board up and running. I hope you know how much we all appreciate it!
ALI aplicants email me at: wilbergr@uwm.edu as soon as you can. Thanks!!
No problem! I'm glad I was able to help.
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If you haven't emailed your results in or posted them here yet, please do so. There are still quite a few blank spots on the spreadsheet. Thanks!
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I was denied the award.
But at least I am still going on my program as planned. Now I just don't owe my life to the government.
I think what's more important to add to the spread sheet is the program duration.
My downfall was most likely that I'm a STEM major and applied for only a 3 month summer program. Because I would have thought that speaking at an Advanced level would have been a big plus.
Does anybody know of other scholarships that are specific to studying abroad? I found that the Boren was the only award I was eligible for based on financial status, which ruled out the Gilman and the Fulbright.
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Dang, sorry to hear this! I didn't think eligibility for Fulbright hinged on financial status, I'd check into that if I was you.
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It may also be helpful if you could add a column which would calculate how many award recipients who DID receive the update email got the award, were named alternates, or were denied. This will give us a general idea of the ratio of finalists to award recipients.
(If you want me to help you keep the spreadsheet updated message me the login info and I'll do it for you).
Good idea! I had just started to do this when you posted. I added two sheets to the spreadsheet, so there are three total now. One for everybody, one for fellowships, and one for scholarships. Then, I'll be calculating the numbers from there.
Alright, just finished doing the numbers... You can see the numbers on Sheets 2 and 3 of the spreadsheet (Fellowships and Scholarships, respectively).
Each column has its own 'description', and the percentage of the column shows the number of applicants that fell into each 'description'. So far, there has been one person who did not receive an email update that ended up being an alternate. Everyone else who didn't receive an email update has been rejected.
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jg, although you did not receive the scholarship I'd still like to thank you for following through and completing the spreadsheet. It will be immensely helpful for applicants in the future.
No problem!
The acceptances make me happy, so keep those coming!
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Hey Guys,
I just joined as well but have been following along for the past week or so.
I got the Boren scholarship today as well, for studying Russian, Political Science, and Minority Demography in Russia over the next Summer and Fall. I will be taking classes at St. Petersburg State University.
Can't wait!
Can you email (boren2011.2012@gmail.com) or post your information here for the spreadsheet? Thanks!
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I'm a STEM major as well and am still waiting on the email. If I am rejected there might be a trend ....
I did have a strong language perspective (and have been studying it for 10 years and am at a very advanced level) ... I think what makes our STEM proposals weak is that our future career is more related to science than to government. idk ... that might be how mine came across.
Okay, well, good luck to you! Please post your results when you hear them, that way I can update the spreadsheet. I agree with your idea about the future career... Unless if we plan on going into intelligence of some sort, the language skills we develop may go by the wayside. Most scientists communicate in English, regardless of their native language.
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I couldn't agree with you more. To be honest, I felt like I was excellent candidate for an award because I speak two of the languages in the country I chose, I already have experience in the federal goverment, and I feel like I have an interesting project that I proposed. But my guess is that I didn't propose my project well in the essays. It was hard as a science/engineering student to explain my project with little scientific jargon to a panel that may not necessarily be familiar with the subject matter. That was the hardest part of the application for me.
I felt like I was a pretty strong candidate as well. I have a small amount of language experience, but my advisor didn't seem to think that was a huge deal, so long as you show an ability and desire to learn (this doesn't seem to be the case though). I was thinking other parts of my application would make up for it... I have been working with, but not for, the federal government for the past two and a half years as a student researcher in a field that was identical to my research proposal (GPS). I had a hard time explaining my project as well (hardest part of the application for me as well).
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Hey guys,
If anyone is willing to send me their proposal (just their essays), please let me know. I'd like to get an idea of what a successful application looks like before I apply again next year.
I am a science/engineering student, so if you are a completely different background its absolutely okay. I just wanted to get an idea.
-Thanks!!
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I definitely understand where you are coming from. I'm kind of interested to see what the statistics end up looking like for everyone when this is all said and done with... I am an engineering student as well, and was also rejected. If all of the science/engineering people get rejected, I'm going to be thoroughly confused because they were asking for people like us to apply.
From a language point-of-view, I think the majority of science/engineering students are going to have a much weaker application. There is really no way for us to incorporate language studies into our degree plans because we don't receive credit for them (at least it is that way at my school), unless if we want to take 6 years to finish our degree. For many of us, it's not feasible to spend a semester or a summer in a language immersion program because we are expected to get internships that will prepare us for the job market upon graduation.
Just my two-cents though.
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*got it*
DYIIIIINNNNGGGG
Can you post your information for the spreadsheet? Unless if you are already on there... Some usernames are portions of actual names (from the emails you sent me), and not the username on the forum, so it is kind of confusing...
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First rejection here. Good luck to all the other candidates! Please post your updates on the forum or email them to boren2011.2012@gmail.com, so I can update the spreadsheet!
Plan B for me is graduate school and a research assistantship. I have a GRA already, so no big deal on the rejection (although it would have been nice to win). I'll try again next year!
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This is a bit annoying. I don't know if you feel the same way, but I can't fathom the idea that a lot of people would refuse their scholarship. I'm wondering whether or not I should just get the ball rolling on contingency plans and not wait around to hear from Boren. I googled "boren scholarship alternate" and it seems that a lot of people have received such an accolade rather than the scholarship itself.
If I was you, I'd move along with other plans as if you have no chance of getting the scholarship. That way, it is out of sight, out of mind. If you do get it, it will be a nice surprise!
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Hi, I'm on there already
mzpeck My bad. Didn't see you. Congratulations!
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I got it!!!!! Email came in like 5 minutes ago. AIYA!!!!!!!!!! still can't believe it.
Can you give me your information for the spreadsheet?
^Spreadsheet
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Well, my heart just stopped. I gave my personal email address editing privileges over the spreadsheet, so I received an email with Boren in the subject line. I opened it thinking it was my notification, but of course, it wasn't. So, back to waiting...
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So far, we have notifications for both scholarships and fellowships (one each).
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I GOT IT!!!!
Congratulations! Looks like I have my first spreadsheet update. I'm assuming you got an email, if so, what time?
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So I have been waiting eagerly, but I decided to only check my email 3 times a day: once in the morning, once at midday, and once at night. The email will come, although the anticipation is hard. I just went on a 5 mile jog/walk because I have been so antsy.
Someone asked if anyone else has study abroad plans for the summer. I am a Boren Scholarship applicant for Arabic in Egypt. I have been accepted to Middlebury and AUC, but I need to let them know very soon about the results. I would love to be in Egypt (or Jordan if Egypt becomes closed to Boren applicants) for fall 2011-spring 2012. Even if I do not get the Boren, I will be spending three months studying Arabic in Amman, Jordan this summer. At least I have that to look forward to! I just need to know about whether I will be moving from Jordan immediately to another institution or if I will be coming back to the US.
This limbo situation is so funny, but I guess it is good training for life as we all will be applying for jobs in the future. It really teaches you that some things are out of your control. If I do not get the Boren, I cannot take it personally. I just have to move on and keep going. Good luck to all of you guys - whether you receive the Boren or not! I know you guys will do well in the future just because you had the dedication to complete the entire Boren scholarship. Not many people do! At FSU, only about 150 people actually applied for national scholarships/fellowships out of 40,000 students.
Did you receive a follow-up email about your budget or timeline (excluding the survey, which presumably a random sampling of people got)?
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Hey everyone,
I've been reading some of the discussion---there are a lot of Africa applicants on here! My Boren proposal is for Swahili at the University of Dar es Salaam. I also received an updated information request and a survey request so whoever is running the spreadsheet can add this info.
I also applied for funding for SCALI at the University of Florida, but I now have an internship during the time it is running. However, I do go to UF and know some of the teachers and admins for the SCALI program so if you guys have any questions about UF or the African languages program, I can try and help you out.
Hopefully we find out soon......
You're a scholarship applicant, correct?
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hey guys, I applied to the Boren Fellowship, studying in Kenya for Somali language. Just received the following email from my campus rep. This is what SHE REC'D from a Boren rep. when she asked about when we'll hear back:
"We will be notifying both fellowship and scholarship applicants this week via email and regular mail (we hope to email all applicants tomorrow). We will also send emails to campus representatives, but that most likely will not be until next week."
OK, I hate to get our hopes up b/c I know we are all extremely antsy about this, but I guess there is a chance emails will come today. Best wishes to everyone, and I hope we all have a chance to pursue our proposed programs.
Did you receive a follow-up email from Boren (excluding the survey email)?
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Lets not let our own delusions of grandeur up the anxiety at this point. Lets just cool it and wait for the announcement together.
Welcome, will all of the new members please email their information for the spreadsheet to boren2011.2012@gmail.com?
Thanks!
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Hello everyone!
I just finished finals (more or less...) and thought I would indulge my Boren anxiety by finally getting an account!
I applied for the year long scholarship in order to study Thai and the effects of sustainable development in rural Thai populations. Is anyone else looking to go to Asia? I feel slightly outnumbered on this board with regards to region of interest.
Also, would it be easier if I replied with my stats for the spreadsheet or emailed them? Or both for that matter.
Welcome! Please email your information to boren2011.2012@gmail.com.
Thanks!
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i'm a fellowship applicant for brazil - also struggling with the suspense! i hope they send notice by email tomorrow...the uncertainty is making it hard to concentrate for finals! good luck everyone
Welcome, and good luck! Can you please email your information for the spreadsheet (https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?hl=en&hl=en&key=t3qOsagddRpBd48y-yJ-aiA&authkey=CPu-4N4N#gid=0) to boren2011.2012@gmail.com?
Thanks!
Boren 2011-2012
in The Bank
Posted · Edited by jg33
I'll have to wait until the final statistics are posted on the Boren website, but I am going to venture a guess that the fellowship to grant ratio was much higher this year than in past years (most likely due to the poor economy and people being unable to enter the workforce). Of course, we could just have a poor sampling of applicants, but I don't think this is the case. If you look at the number of people that were accepted after being sent a follow-up email, there is quite a difference for different types of applicants. For fellowship applicants, it was around 35%, but for scholarship applicants, it was around 60%. We'll just have to wait and see what the official statistics look like. I'll post again when I have them.
Another scenario could be that there were a lot more people forwarded to the 'finals' for fellowships than there were for scholarships, but I don't see why this would be...