pelevinfan

You took the words out of my mouth.

Congratulations, Stately! I just visited a friend at BU, and it struck me how wonderful it would be to be a student there. Lovely atmosphere! And, I passed the English building and it was BEAUTIFUL. Enjoy!

Don't worry about that; no one else can see that on your post, just you. It shows up for every post you make, but you should only be worried if the bar isn't empty!

THIS is what this forum should be. Loving the support and positivity! And for the record, Stately, I totally agree with ashleytris!

I personally called because I was embarrassed and didn't want to give my name. I know how annoying and overwhelming all of these requests for more information must be, and I didn't want my name attached to the action. (only reason I called was because I needed to know if I would find out in time to sign a lease)

Total interloper on this thread and, like Silent_G, I only got one acceptance. So the decision was made for me! But anyway, barring a Fulbright acceptance, I will be starting at Yale in the fall (PhD in Russian literature and culture).

I have no excuse to be on this thread, other than that I am SO TOTALLY jealous of you! A friend of mine is going to an MA program at UCL, and I had had my eye on that program for the past two years. I keep wishing I could trade places with her! Wish I could just pick up and move like that...guess I lack the spontaneity, that certain je ne sais quoi required to be brave enough to make the leap across the pond Anyway, congratulations on an awesome decision, and I wish you best of luck!

Unfortunately so. I don't remember the 'July 2012' bit being there back when I applied, so it must have been added recently enough that it supercedes previous information. Ah, the joys of the Fulbright application process.

Thanks, belafish. I hope that's how it goes! Who even knows with this process anymore. Either way, it will be nice to hear soon.

Yep, pretty sure. Also from the Fulbright website, but the country-specific page Grant period 10 months, from September through June. Grantees may also be invited to work at English language summer camps sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Russia in summer 2013. In addition, all grantees are required to attend a Pre-departure Orientation in Washington DC in mid-July 2012 as a condition of their grants. Additionally, I have friends who have completed an ETA in Russia in the past, and they have all had a pre-departure orientation

Did not get the Save the Date email, honestly I'd like to hold out hope but that seems foolish, as Russia ETAs certainly do have a workshop. Oh well, I guess I'm lucky in that I have somewhere else to be. *sigh*

I had to answer this question when I applied for a study abroad program in Russia. The US-based program made it very clear that the program itself was not discriminating against HIV-positive students; however, acceptance into the program was contingent on being able to obtain a visa to Russia. Due to some very outdated laws, getting any sort of long-term visa (not sure about the tourist visas) to Russia requires one to be HIV-negative, and to show proof. Not sure if any other country has a law like this, but that may be one reason for that particular question. Also, I've now started getting the line 'Oh, so-and-so posted that they got a Fulbright yesterday! You must have heard too, right? Oh, if you don't want to talk about it....' THIS IS NOT FUN. I know it is far from common knowledge that countries notify on their own time line, and I certainly cannot fault my friends for not knowing that. I'm getting kind of tired of explaining that over and over again, though...

Belafish, I called up to see what the deal is. Rachel was in a meeting, but some really nice guy said that the hold-up was on Russia's end. Said we should be hearing in the next two weeks, 'hopefully sooner'. Hope that helps!

Had a Hunger Games-style nightmare about finding out the Fulbright decision...what? This process has made me so weird.

Pretty sure that opinion comes from the recommended email we got back in January. Pulled it up on my email, it said "If you are selected for an award, you will receive notification of your status from the FSB. If you are named an alternate or are not selected, you will be notified by IIE." So, there ya go!

Anyone else struggling with trying to plan for next year while simultaneously adding to the end of every plan 'but if I get the Fulbright...'? I've realized that apartment hunting for my grad program is essentially useless until I hear. Either way, I can't exactly put a non-refundable deposit down for an apartment that there is only a 50% chance I'll need this August. I don't want to be 'that person' who calls up Fulbright and asks for information when I know I won't get any answers, but it would sure be nice to be able to start planning either way...

I really don't mean to be negative, but this thread keeps getting bumped. Wherever this person ended up, they made their decision almost two years ago! All of the advice offered sounds like it would have been very helpful to the OP at the time, but none of us can really help someone whose decision was made in 2010.

Got mine last week! (Been away from the boards in honor of finals). It was exciting for about 30 seconds, then heart-breaking for another 30. Then I stopped caring and resumed going about my life. Who needs you, Harvard?

Ooh wow, that is so amazing! Congratulations!! I can see why it would be a definite dilemma to choose between the two - and that isn't even accounting for the whole waitlist/early notification date dilemma. FWIW, I don't know what on earth you're planning to do with your degree, but I've heard a lot more in the field about IU than about Duke. But, I'm only an undergrad, so I don't know all that much.

Hahaha, thanks Fiona!

Enzian, congratulations! I mean, that is obviously a problem, but a good problem to have. If you don't mind my asking, which PhD program?

I can't speak to UIC, but I can to Northwestern. (What the hell; I've already revealed enough personal details that anyone who wanted to could figure out who I am). I'm currently an undergrad at NU, and I can say with confidence that I've met maybe 5 people during my 3 1/2 years here that have any regular interaction with anything to do with UofC. 'Within half an hour' assumes that 1) You have a car, and 2) You don't hit traffic when traveling from Hyde Park to Evanston. Evanston is NOT Chicago. We don't have cross-registration with UofC, we really don't have many (any, in my experience) events held with UofC, and traveling to Hyde Park via public transit is an absolute nightmare. I've never been to North Carolina/the Triangle, but it sounds like they have much, much more crossover than the Chicago-area schools have. Of course, the schools actually in the city limits might have a very different relationship with one another - but if you're at UofC, don't plan on having much to do with Northwestern.

That's unreasonably late. Won't many/most applicants have decided by then? Wow.

That's the one I'm waiting on too! Harvard was my dream school. I know I'd be insane to complain about how fortunate I am to be going to a wonderful program, but I just want to be able to close the book on that dream and start getting excited about where I'll be next year!

Anyone else waiting for that last implicit rejection to become explicit? I'm 100% sure I didn't get into my last program, but until the letter comes, I just can't seem to let it go...