Hi guys,
I'm applying for a Fulbright-Fogarty research grant in Sub-Saharan Africa and didn't even know this forum existed until now. After reading through I just wanted to add that I called and spoke with an SSA coordinator and she said we should hear within 10 days. And that was yesterday.
that is the end of the useful information- the following is just obsessive stressing.
The waiting really is just so terrible.... am a 4th year PhD student and it seems like I've spent the last 10 years of my life applying for things... schools, then scholarships, then grants and fellowships, internships.... sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. My birthday is in February and for the past 10 years I've spent that time waiting to hear about something or, having just received a decision and either celebrating or wallowing accordingly. Some applications have meant more to me than others but I would honestly say that this application means more to me than any of the previous ones.
I hate applying for nation-wide things. The decisions always seem to take so agonizingly long, you know so little about the other applicants and have almost no information in the interim but of course, winning a nation-wide academic honor is well worth the agony. I used to stress so badly I couldn't sleep. But now I just try to remind myself that if I don't get it, I must not have been the most qualified person and next time, I will be.
Anyway, this is probably really depressing but I've come to the point where I almost cherish these final moments before any type of "elimination-round" because at least I still have the fantasy of success :-) Right now, I can still daydream about the awesome research project and fantastic horizon-broadening experiences to be had. I can still hope for the best and think of the possibilities. So, I guess what I'm getting at is that as horrible as the waiting is, I've learned that in the "sometimes-ya-win-sometimes-ya-lose" scenario, after the decisions are handed out you no longer have the luxury of curiosity. right now, this agonizing waiting is the middle ground. You know nothing, but you can still hope. after decisions are made, either
A: you get rejected and lose the possibility of even fantasizing about getting the award or
B: cloud nine
So at least, right now, this minute, we are all still on equal ground. Nobody needs consoled, congratulated or counseled. We can all still hope that we get it and think of the wonderful things we will do. I personally am going to cling to these last few days and try my very best not to re-read my applicaiton, or think of it at all because I know 100% for sure I did the best I could and that they will chose someone qualified and if that person isn't me then they must be pretty darn good ;-)
in summary.... they say the waiting gets easier but it doesn't feel like it.
good luck to all!
ps. in totally unrelated new; does anyone know if you can set an iphone to check email every 30 seconds?
