[Boren 2011-2012]

Just got my letter. Denied.

[Boren 2011-2012]

This being my first major scholarship that I have applied for, does anyone know if we can contact Boren and see how far we did get/what was lacking in our apps? I am still retaining some hope but am pretty sure I was not selected....

[Boren 2011-2012]

agreed...this is going to be hell if i have to wait another day just to find out I didn't get it.

same here. im getting a real bad feeling.

[Boren 2011-2012]

I have an internship setup for Belize next month so I at least have that to look forward to in case I don't get to go to South Africa for the fall. Also I am looking at some language immersion programs for either later in the summer or for winter break....

Man, is time standing still in any other states outside of California?! lol Ugh, talk about suspense. I'm surprised I haven't received a letter from Comcast telling me stop stop refreshing my inbox because nothing is there, lol. So, does anyone have any backup study abroad plans in case this doesn't work in your favor? If I don't receive a fellowship I will still go abroad but only for a few months of language study.

[Boren 2011-2012]

don't people think that we could get the email today though? like I feel that we will get emails before paper mail and this may be wrong but that we would get an email on D.C. time. so in that scenario we still could get notifications...? this is seriously so frustrating....if i dont get this i wont be able to go and will have to make a mad dash to finalize alternate plans and register for my fall semester....aaaaahhhhhhhh i really hope we find out today!

[Boren 2011-2012]

I feel like this was already covered but can we get a consensus of what undergrad scholarship applicants got follow up emails from Boren?

I didn't receive any email and pretty much figured I did not get past regional, but I feel like they would have contacted the outright rejections already...no?

Also I dont know about everyone else buy my advisor in international programs at my school has been pretty much zero help so this forum has been such a relief!

[Boren 2011-2012]

Thank you for this much needed comic relief amidst awaiting letters from Boren and finals....!!!!

And for the information!

In regards to the peace corps discussion and trips back home to the US. PC provides comprehensive health care coverage that in most circumstances you can request to have it treated in the US on PC's dime. So if you get home sick and funds are low just break your arm or try to contract hepatitis.

[Boren 2011-2012]

So did any of you that did PC make any trips back to the states? Or would it be possible if you saved to make like one trip back to the states each year? My sister just had twins and that is pretty much what is hindering me from finishing my PC app.....

I was in Azerbaijan and similarly had no problem with funds or time to travel. I managed to travel thoughout my country of service, and also went to Georgia, Turkey and the Balkans. I lived frugally at my site, but was still very comfortable. I didn't go into the PC with a huge amount of savings but did have a little $ from working the summer prior to my departure. You get two days of vacation for every month of service, so that adds up to like 48 days and I think there is even a small amount of money you get for your vacation days on top of your monthly allowance. Also, Erica11 is right, the readjustment allowance, which I think is up around $6,000 now, is pretty sweet when you return to the US post-service.

You pick a region and you pick a type of work - business, development, health, agriculture, youth, TEFL, etc. This means you definitely give input about what you want and know approximately where you will be . Some placements, i.e. Pacific Islands and South America, are much harder to get than others.

Riverguide, thanks for the interesting article. Welcome all newcomers! Less than a week (hopefully) until we hear something!

[Boren 2011-2012]

Thanks for this info! Yeah I have moderately glanced at PC info. I think it would be a phenomenal opportunity, but from what I understand, while you do get days off you don't get compensated enough while you are there to, say, travel back to the states to see family and friends. is that correct? I still think I may apply for it as an option after I graduate next spring, but am not 100 percent sure yet. Where did you serve?

Wow so many runners amongst us! Emilyestlerock good luck on the marathon! Talk about bad timing with the tapering though; I still have enough mileage for now to stay busy. Acg good luck with the half-marathon! And Jg33 congrats on the 5k! I think there is something about the discipline it takes to run, especially longer races, that really translates well into job and professional discipline.

Jkohls83 might I tempt you to apply for Peace Corps? Best thing I ever did in my entire life! And there are PC masters programs so when you come back you can get steep discounts on grad school, never mind the merit-based assistance b/c a lot of people are highly impressed when they see PC on a resume. You're definitely able to fluently learn a language during service if you apply yourself and to become an expert on your country of service. I should qualify all of this though by saying that for all you intel people out there this may not be for you b/c there is certain number of years after service that you are barred from doing intel work. However, things like FSO, etc. are NOT barred and they look quite positively on PC service.

[Boren 2011-2012]

This is great, thanks for the help!!!

Ok, I'm back. So here are a few things you can check out:

http://www.omprakash...travelresources

http://www.abroadreview.com

http://www.cev.be/29-links-EN.html

http://www.volunteer...uide/resources/

A great book to check out: 500 Places You Can Make a Difference

Also, this may be an obvious one, but check with your local Rotary Club to see if they have scholarships available to support your overseas program.

Hope this gives you a start. A word of warning: after taking my last trip to Tanzania in January I found that of the 15 volunteers who came and went while I was there we all paid different amounts of money to different organizations all owned and run by the same man. What a discouragement! Be careful. Do your homework and try to find an organization that is, at the very least, a nonprofit.

[Boren 2011-2012]

Thanks! I will check this out.

Some students I know who didn't want to study abroad interned abroad with AIESEC.

[Boren 2011-2012]

So I was wondering if anyone had any info on alternative abroad options outside of academia for undergraduates? I am looking at a masters program in development, hoping to get into democracy promotion, and the program I am applying into specified international professional experience as strongly preferred. I was going to spend the fall in South Africa, but am thinking that isn't happening now and have started to look at other options but can't really tell what's legit or not. I have been in contact with ProWorld. Anyone know anything about them, or any other programs that would still have openings for the summer?

Thanks!!

[Boren 2011-2012]

Thank you for setting this up. I am a undergraduate in Chicago and I applied to go abroad to Durban, South Africa, studying development in sub-Saharan Africa and south African culture.

on a side note, does anyone know if there is validity to the previous comment that stated an email was sent out in March about updating info and if you got that it meant you had proceeded to national reviews? i did not receive that email and am trying to figure out if i will be going to south Africa since this scholarship is my last hope for funding. There was a posting on the FB page of Boren that said they just send that out in some cases.

Does anyone know about this?

Thanks!

Justin