[Fulbright 2012-2013]

So update from yesterday....I got awarded an ETA to Hungary!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy!

So glad I waited until I was home to open it with my husband. After opening it he unveiled a bottle of champagne and a big sign that said Congratulations _____! You did it!! I think the cutest thing though was that he had a box of popsicles in the freezer with a note on it that said "It's OK sweetheart. I still believe in you." Just in case I didn't get it!

I've already received a couple more emails about placement information and so forth. I got my initial notification from Rachel Holskin at 11:57 (on 4/4). Then another email from Rachel came at 6pm which gave links to various information such as medical clearance, consent form, address change, etc. and explaining that I would be getting more information from Hungary about in-country orientation and other items of business.

Then this morning I got an email from the American program manager in Hungary which had my Letter of Notification in PDF format attached to the email. In this email it notified me that I would be placed at the EducationUSA Advising Center in Budapest (which is what I was expecting because I asked about it before applying, but it's nice to know that hasn't changed), and they also explained that they are still talking with different universities to secure my second placement (which is where I will teach two college classes of my choice each semester). They gave me contact information of who my supervisor would be and said more materials would be sent to me in the mail. I will say, they seem to be pretty on top of it...Probably doesn't hurt having the European IIE office stationed in Budapest

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

I got notification today at 11:57am from Rachel about my application status for an ETA to Hungary....

Because I like to torture myself (and love my husband so much), I am continuing this waiting game and am going to open it tonight when I am home with my husband

I'll let you know the results tomorrow

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

Hey guys! I'm a finalist for an ETA in South Korea, but haven't heard anything back yet as many people did on March 27. Does that mean alternate or rejection? or have they sent out the alternates already too? I assume it is probably a bad sign, but was wondering if anyone else had any more information.

Also check your spam/junk folder on your email (although I'm sure you've already thought of this)

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

So I've been doing a little procrastinating at work by looking through the spreadsheet to see how many countries have notified vs. not notified thus far (based on information offered by people on this forum, which obviously does not include all countries)

31 countries have notified while 41 countries have not.

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

I finally gave in and called Rachel about Hungary ETA notifications. She said probably sometime next week or maybe even the week after (not the news I wanted).

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

Hey everyone! I sent a very quick email to Rachel inquiring about Armenia notifications, and got an email back within about 12 hours letting me know her "best guess" was mid-late April.

I don't want to sound like I'm encouraging everyone to barrage her with messages, but I don't think she would have replied/replied with information if it wasn't her job/if she didn't have time/if it's not allowed/etc. If you're really going crazy, I'd suggest you ask. It makes me feel a lot better knowing I have a few more weeks, so I wanted to pass that along.

You're lucky you got a response. I really hate bothering people, but my husband is a teacher and he needs to notify his school by April 13 about whether he will be returning next year or not (and I wanted to get a sense of whether I should expect to even hear about the Fulbright before then). So instead of calling (hoping this would be less bothersome), I sent a really nice email (on Tuesday morning) first stating how I understand she must be so busy and receive tons of phone calls and emails from prospectives, and so if she doesn't have time to respond, I will completely understand. Then asking if she had any timeline or estimate of when Hungary ETA's might find out.

I'm OK with the fact that she didn't respond (this is what I was expecting), but now a little frustrated knowing that she responded to others. I thought being nice and understanding was going to work in my favor [sigh]

So the wait in the dark continues....

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

Can you get a loan deferment with a Fulbright Full Grant award?

From what I understand, most people are able to defer their loans. It is technically at the discretion of your loan provider, but I believe most loan providers are ok with classifying the Fulbright as a 'graduate fellowship' which qualifies for deferment.

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

I'm out of lurkerdom to say...

I GOT THE ETA CZECH REPUBLIC!!!!

Best wishes to everyone!

Congrats! I'm curious as to whether you were notified today or yesterday (trying to gauge if they are sending any notifications today besides Germany)

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

And who in this forum is still waiting?

Portugal

France

Romania

Spain

All of the Middle East

All of SSA

Any E. Europe except for Bulgaria heard?

Still waiting on Hungary (ETA)

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

Truly?!?! You got the impression that we'll be hearing back from the whole lot of countries, not just one? (I ask out of nervous/anxious anticipation.)

There is a grant that is offered for the EU where the research proposals focus on EU affairs or US-EU relations (in the same way that specific countries offer full grants towards research projects related to their country)

Here is the link from Fulbright: http://us.fulbrightonline.org/program_country.html?id=131 ('country' summary)

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

just talked to rachel H. She said probably not for a week or so for Romania...

Did she seem annoyed that you called, or was she quite pleasant about it all? I don't want to be a bother, but I'm tempted to call because my husband has to give notice to his school by April 15 on whether or not he will be coming back to teach next year (which hinges on whether I get the Fulbright or not), and the lack of timeline is stressful for both of us.

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

so do you think it would be similar since final decisions have to be processed by them anyway? and they, too, would be mass emails, though on a much smaller scale?

I was maybe thinking this too. My guess is that a handful of people applying to countries that historically notify earlier might be getting an email on Friday (both this Friday and next). It would make sense to do all the prep during the week and then just focus on sending all of the emails (those that were processed during the week)

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

I'm in the same boat with Romania - only one previous award listed on the spreadsheet, and it was an ETA (I'm waiting to hear about a full grant!)...that date was the 14th. I was hopeful I would hear this week, but as Thursday drags on (it is already 6 PM in Romania right now), I'm less and less hopeful.

The email notification will be coming from the United States, not the host country.

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

Anyone else hoping to hear this week?

(Based on Spreadsheet)

I applied to Hungary for an ETA (2 positions available). I got in contact with one of the current fulbrighters there and he said he heard around March 21st last year, but that the second fulbrighter didn't hear until May (he assumed the issue with the second one was funding, but it could have also been an alternate to offer type of thing). (The past notifications tab on the spreadsheet says March 11 from last year, but that could be a non-ETA). So I would love to hear in the next two weeks, but I am bracing myself for mid-April because it seems pretty mixed bag and I don't have a lot of information since there are so few grants in Hungary.

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

"Past Notification Dates" go as far back as 07-08... Imagine, a thread like this was started 5 years ago and all that was said in that thread is being used in 2012 to help the neurotic, anxious recommended Fulbrighters come up with some kind of timeline...

Wow, I just now noticed that there is a whole tab compiling the past notification dates. How were those dates gathered? I would assume they were taken from the inidividual spreadsheets from years past, but the weird thing is that on the "Past Notification Dates" tab, in 2011-2012 there is a notification date listed for Hungary (March 11), but on the main 2011-2012 spreadsheet Hungary isn't even on the list?? I'm confused.

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

I got this too and e-mailed them back right away. They checked my physical file and it was there. Maybe have them do that?

I may be thinking too much into this....but I'd say if they are asking about your transcripts, there's a very good chance you're going to get offered the grant. If they checked that EVERYONE who was recommended had their transcripts in, don't you think they would have done it closer to the March 1st deadline? It would make sense that they would be checking on the transcripts of those that they would be sending the offers to (like a last check that is necessary for the US comission to give their 'official stamp of approval').

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

Is there anyone on this forum who has dependents that would be joining them to their prospective host country?

The worst part of the wait for me is knowing that the final decision will be affecting two people. I'm trying to figure out how to balance doing some initial planning for my spouse to have some work opportunities, but also feel a little silly doing all this work considering there is a very good chance I won't necessarily receive the Fulbright (but also don't want to feel completely unprepared if I do get it).

Anyone else in this situation?

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

Does anyone know if Fulbright will still reimburse you for a ticket to your host country if you were to depart from a country other than the United States?

I read through the Fly America Act ( and understand about the need to fly on American carriers in most situations), but wasn't sure if Fulbright had some policy about the flight needing to originate in the United States.

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

Ahhh I'm so happy. I got recommended for an ETA in Hungary

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

I think the element of surprise is endearing.....

They will come when they come

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

Happy Birthday by the way!! May this be the perfect gift!

Thanks, Ikahmil. Based on your location and the message you sent out about what you received from your FPA, I believe we are at the same university

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

Oh my, it's almost here! I've been pretty calm throughout this waiting game because I've had so much going on, but I have a feeling these next 36 hours or so are going to keep me quite distracted from everything I should be doing.

I'm glad it will be Thursday because my birthday is on Friday, and if I don't get recommended , I would prefer to just forget it and move forward celebrating something that involves no merit at all.

Good luck to everyone!

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

I'm applying for an ETA to Hungary.

Based on the discussion boards from last year, it looks like the first round notifications went out on a rolling basis starting at around 10:30pm on the night of January 20th (Thursday) and most everyone found out by 5pm on Friday, January 21. So if everything is on the same schedule and pattern of last year we might be hearing by January 20th!!