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i got recommended for the European Union research grant! This is my 3rd year in a row applying and I send hope to all those who weren't recommended to don't give up on Fulbright if you really want it. Best of luck to everyone whose recommended and full encouragement to reapply for those who didn't!

HOLY CRAP I GOT IN! NOTE: For those waitlisted, keep hope! I am not accepting because I solely applied just to see if I got in. I already have the top fellowship & scholarship in my Georgetown program and want to be located in DC. Good luck and maybe my spot will become yours! Cheers!

The worst part is that MSFS alumni probably have the most weight in funding opportunities but I have no say so on how they are in funding as I didn't apply but know some people but they are Rangel or Pickering fellows so doesn't count :/ lol I will just see what happens I already took on a summer position with a federal agency that pays cause I couldn't turn down with having no end in sight with WH....we shall see though. If I am wrong I am definitely going to work it out to do WH though *sigh*

Epimetheus, I am not currently a Rangel Fellow, however I was a 2011 Rangel Scholar (the undergraduate program). I am pursuing a 1-year masters in Budapest, Hungary as a UNHCR/Helsinki Committee Policy Research Fellow. I applied to graduate schools and got into a majority last year, but chose to defer my admission into Georgetown SFS specifically with the MAGES program. To the contrary of what you are seeing Georgetown is one of the most generous in giving scholarships, fellowships, and stipends, etc. There are so many different MA programs in the School of Foreign Service and they are smaller. For example, MAGES program is only about 45-50 students maximum and so the allocation of scholarships is usually at least 90% or above at least get a scholarship (amount are varying levels). PS: People with graduate degrees can apply for Rangel/Pickering because they are agreeing to pursue another 2-year graduate degree from a US granting institution. Thus, why I chose to get a 1-year, non-Western perspective on IR and European Studies in Europe and then to Georgetown for the 2-year masters Good luck with the Pickering Fellowship Best of luck!

DaniCM - The selection committee meets and aren't allowed to leave to go home until the 40 finalist are selected (this is for both Rangel and Pickering). Yes, people have been rejected from Rangel (which always is the first to select finalist, interview, and select fellows) then move and get accepted as a finalist for Pickering. It is a possibility so don't lose hope and best of luck!

I was laptop-less using my iPad in a horrible WiFi connected hostel in Brussels all this week at European Parliament conference but I was selected as a finalist as well! myacu Yes! You will absolutely be fine! Won't hurt your chances doing the Rangel interview for Pickering. Rangel chooses first and communicates the 20 fellows they've selected to the Pickering staff prior to the Pickering interviews (at least in enough time)

I'm currently doing a master's fully-funded with a generous monthly stipend (not an assistantship or job - just a monthly direct deposited amount of money to my bank account). However, I am abroad in Budapest, Hungary. If you are interested (although the app deadline has passed) check out Central European University (they have a pretty good Sociology department). IT IS POSSIBLE, WITHOUT ANY DEBT! TRUST & BELIEVE AND LASTLY, APPLY APPLY APPLY FOR ALL SCHOLARSHIPS/FELLOWSHIPS!

Hey csalinas, Yes, I am studying in the MAGES program in SFS at Georgetown. I was deferred from last year to pursue a non-Western opinion graduate program here in Budapest and a research fellowship with UNHCR (Malta) and Helsinki Committee for Human Rights (Bosnia-Herzegovina). Thanks it's all a surprise still....I applied for both Rangel/Pickering and we should find out latest this coming Wednesday, but my mind will be at ease. I'm attending a conference at European Parliament in Brussels for the whole week next week so I will be occuppied and not stressing! I'm sure the weather in Madrid is so much better than in Budapest (lol)!

PrattIAFF good to see that you applied again man. Good luck to everyone! i applied and interviewed last year but was living in the US but this go round I am finishing up my 1st master's in Budapest, Hungary. Only a week and some days and we'll get some Rangel news! Good luck all!

Good luck to you. I hope you get Bosnia. I am doing my MA thesis and actually going to move there for the last two months of my program for field research at AUBiH. Keep me posted on your results definitely in the coming months, good luck! Do you know any Bosnian-Serbo-Croatian?

Fenderpete - I applied to WWS just to see what would happen. I do not know if you remember me but we were both posting during our fall 2011 applications and such to grad schools. You can see in my signature that I'm currently in Budapest, Hungary doing an intensive 1-year master's and just honeslty want to see what the news will be in March from WWS.

Definitely do not sale yourself out from the so called 'bigwig schools'. I was accepted to all the bigwigs except SAIS and I am currently doing my 1st MA in Budapest and then will return to SFS to do my 2nd MA this fall and BOTH are fully funded. Never ever think that just because you don't have WORK EXPERIENCE that you are not a competitive applicant. The bigger picture in the world of admissions is that the job market and industry is going through a whirlwind, therefore continuing in academia is a viable option so they are seeing higher percentages of recent college grads (with little to no exp) applying to grad school immediately (it's a normal ordeal now!). Best of luck to you though, remember this for the future and spread the word to your peers as well.

Just curious but your three tries at Fulbright, were they consecutive or no?

Email from my FPA (a minute ago): "xxx, I know this is a big disappointment. You will receive an official email from xxx and myself shortly, but I also wanted to send a personal note to say this: you did everything right. You worked incredibly hard and your work was strong. Fulbright can be a tricky, fickle beast. It's an awesome opportunity, but it's also awesomely competitive, and we never know exactly what that committee was looking for that particular year. You have great things ahead of you. Onward and upward!" The advice is right the best who knows is going to be your FPA. Fulbright you fickle beast

Not Recommended! My first time around and I didn't get Fulbright and then turned around and got admitted to a fully-funded graduate program here in Budapest, Hungary for the same time duration. Didn't get Fulbright this go round so I feel as the same is going to be repeated so I'm not upset or sad I'm content and looking for what's next because I've applied to several fellowships and my next master's is fully-funded already at G-town! Good luck to all those recommended and yeah those who like myself who didn't get recommended don't give up, but definitely when applying to this NEVER put your eggs in one basket, always apply to everything you qualify for. At least that's what I do. Who knows I may apply again to Fulbright 20 years from now when it's doctoral program time after my FSO career...we'll see! Cheers everyone!