jmv34

Current Fulbright-Nehru scholar here...for those applying to India, a little birdy (executive director of USIEF) told me last night at dinner that this year they're cutting back the number of research grants to 42.

This must depend on the country, because today I received my e-ticket to India, paid for by the India Fulbright staff.

Not sure what the latest time has been for final notifications, but the past two years I received first round notification emails from the IIE at around 6/630 EST, so their work day may be later than what we've been assuming as far as the daily 3-5pm nervous anticipation.

I changed everything content-wise both times, but this time I spent even more time choosing a topic of study, and I also changed my approach in general. Re topic, I learned this time that the right study topic will do half the work for you...I met with one of my interviewers a couple weeks after the interview and she confessed that there were parts of the interview I didn't do so hot on, but that they wrote me a strong rec. letter anyway because the proposal idea 'just made too much sense' to turn down. As for approach, as a student you get used to having applications be about selling yourself and your credentials, but that's where I realized I went wrong the first two times...the Fulbright committees don't care how great you are, they wanna know why they should care about your proposal here and abroad, and why you're the best person to facilitate the intercultural conversation your study topic is aimed at starting. I know that sounds obvious, but actually approaching the application from that angle is easier said than done, or was in my experience.

accepted full grant to India... to those who weren't successful this time, I know how you feel right now. this was my third attempt, and my only regret about the last two times was that I let the fulbright be a judgement on my intellectual and personal worth. don't let it. if you can apply again, do it, because you've learned more than you think you have by going through this grueling process, and your chances will be better next time. if you can't, you've still been through one of the most difficult application processes out there, and every scholarship/fellowship/grad school/grant application for from here on out will seem like child's play at best, par for the course at worst. chin up, chin up.

You finally broke me. I can't stand this forum any longer. Good luck everyone

Any India applicants brave enough to call/email the India office?

ahhhh...I stand corrected...thank you!

nope, different one...was just notification dates by country, not individual acceptance/rejection entries

Wasn't there a spreadsheet with, like, the last 5 years' notification dates by country?

I'd put folky beck up against ani any day of the week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiIugcrp4sI

ok then, best/fav songs/albums for calming frazzled fulbright nerves, Beck or otherwise?

seriously though...the Fulbright & Jaworski law firm must have like eight full time tweeters on staff

whoa...you just blew my mind

thrust my fist in the air in a show of impotent rage, cry, then probably return to this forum and continue hitting refresh

not *everyone* http://www.kindofcreepy.com/2011/02/11/creepy-michael-jordan-hitler-mustache/

know who else is a Saint? HITL...wait no that doesn't work

know who else liked pulling out yo' mama jokes? HITLER

Am I the only one scoping out Twitter and wondering why the Fulbright & Jaworski law firm has to tweet every friggin second of the day?

I'm bored...can we get another public thrashing going to kill some time between now and 3pm? Your turn, CrystalDee!

agree...guess the sarcasm of my RULUO!!! comment didn't translate...which is great cause instead I just sound totally unhinged

Yeah let's stop the personal attacks, RULUO!!!

Are all notification e-mails coming directly from host countries, as in the case of Austria? If so then I'm a total idiot, cause it means I've been getting nervous each day at about 1am Delhi time.

I'm hoping to do a study that'll use the droning sounds of North Indian/Hindustani ragas and related musical instruments as a bottom-up sensory/perceptual/cognitive/social therapy for children with autism in New Delhi. There'll be different conditions to compare ragas vs. sounds of single instruments, recordings vs. live listening, etc. If things go as planned there'll also be a condition where we'll try to teach some kids to apply their repetitive/OCD-like motor behaviors to the repetitive patterns used to play some of these instruments, essentially turning these problematic behaviors into the engine that drives the output of therapeutic sound.

Not to add to the FPA hearsay confusion, but my FPA's email from a couple weeks ago (prior to Indonesia notifications) seemed to imply that there'd be a general shift toward earlier notifications (with the disclaimer that some countries may still take a while). I pasted her message a while back but here it is again, verbatim: Dear Recommended Applicants, We have just heard from IIE and it appears that results may come in a bit earlier this year, beginning early March. Do not despair if you do not hear from IIE early. They are at the mercy of the host country which has until June to make their decision.