nemolover

My guess is that there isn't all that much for them to say on the blog, other than something along the lines of "we're working as fast as we can to get the results out." When I contacted the Admissions Office to ask about my weird communication with the MPA-DP Program Manager, Matt Clemons explained that I hadn't received any notification yet because I had received a scholarship as a Dean's Fellow and they were still preparing some of the letters for those receiving funding. So I'm speculating--and this is complete speculation, please don't think this is anything official--that there are 2 categories of people waiting to hear: (1) those receiving funding and whose letters are for some reason not yet prepared (maybe these letters have extra details? maybe exact scholarship amounts are yet to be decided for some people? I have no idea) and (2) those last few people on whose decisions they are still deliberating However, I do agree with you that it's annoying to read all this information intended for admitted students when we're still waiting. Up until yesterday, I didn't even want to open the blog emails anymore because I was convinced I was rejected or waitlisted, so what was the point in reading about current students or the welcome page? All I can say to you is don't give up hope yet! GOOD LUCK!!

I'm the one who received the weird email above from the MPA-DP Program Manager. I contacted the Admissions Office to ask them what was going on, and they told me I'm accepted as a Dean's Fellow with a $15,000 scholarship! But I have still not received any official admissions decision via applyyourself. So I would still be waiting as well if I hadn't asked. Some of you who haven't heard yet may be receiving funding!

I got a strange email dated on Friday March 18 from André Corrêa d'Almeida, the Program Manager of MPA-DP (didn't see it until today because I was away from Internet for the past few days). The email was informing admitted applicants to the MPA-DP program of a funding opportunity--but I have yet to receive any notification of my admission decision. Her email starts with "First of all, congratulations (!!!) for being accepted in our Master in Public Administration in Development Practice (MPA-DP) at Columbia University. Today I want to call your attention for..." Clearly it was written as if I had already received my acceptance, but I've actually heard nothing from SIPA (other than blog emails, of course) and I see nothing on the applyyourself website. Did this happen to anyone else? Anyone have any ideas about what might be going on?

well, if extra funding opens up in May, and they decide to give some of that to Albania, then you're in! but i would still try to figure out other plans just in case. on another note, this morning i officially accepted a job in India and now have to send an email to IIE to withdraw from the alternate list. so, i'm finally leaving this forum. thank you so much to everyone for all of your support throughout this painful process!! to those of you re-applying next year, i'm sure i'll see you here again.

"Campus rating" is the rating that your university gives you, on a scale of 1 to 5, based on your on-campus interview. It has nothing to do with rating the actual school.

If you care more about the goal of mutual understanding than receiving the Fulbright, then don't question whether or not you deserve one. You do.

my FPA told me that IIE won't give you any feedback... has anyone heard that it is possible to get feedback? and who do you ask for feedback? your region's program manager? i think it is also important to keep in mind the types of projects/areas of study that the country you are applying to usually funds. I may have made a mistake applying to Nepal as an engineering student, since they have given to a grant to only ONE engineering student since the program began ~15 years ago, and that was 10 years ago. that being said, they did make me an alternate, which means they think i'm "fundable," so i would really like some feedback. PS: sunbean8 - congratulations on finally getting funding after so many unsuccessful attempts!! your persistence sets an example for all of us. maybe i'll run into you in India next year!

I think this arguing needs to stop. This is completely ridiculous and out of hand. This board is supposed to be supportive, and you have violated that. None of you are so courageous to be speaking your mind on an anonymous message board. fulbrightest and rahkan, you are both full of shit. mkurti, you have every right to be upset. i think people (myself included) were just put off by the way you expressed your disappointment, which came across, perhaps unintentionally, as a sense of entitlement that no one should have for such a highly competitive award. but maybe your reaction to the news was healthier than mine: i cried myself to sleep several nights in a row. Whenever I am feeling like everything in life is working against me, I think of a message I saw painted on a rock in my host village in rural Bhutan (where I spent my past summer doing research). Hopefully it will make you feel a little bit better too: "The journey of life is long and yet the path unknown." - Guru Rinpoche (a.k.a. Padmasambhava) We don't know where life will take us. We don't know why things happen the way they do. No, I'm not really a believer in fate. I am a huge believer in hard work--but sometimes things are just beyond our control. I'm sure that you did everything you could, but we do not know why IIE makes the decisions it does. But you know what? We're young. We have our entire lives ahead of us. This was not our last chance to carry out a project abroad. As Bhutan's favorite guru says, life is long--so a setback now does not determine the success of the rest of our lives. I think the uncertainty of our future is what makes life exhilarating. You might not know what step to take next, but whatever path you choose will lead to exciting new possibilities, and you will learn a great deal from encountering and overcoming obstacles along the way. Mkurti, no one needs a Fulbright to do amazing things. You can still do incredible work without one. For all you know, not getting the Fulbright could be the best thing that ever happened to you. Now you have the opportunity to embark on a new path, a new adventure, that you might not have even considered otherwise. And who knows where that may lead! Not getting the Fulbright sucks; trust me, I'm in the same position and I feel your pain. It's ok to be upset for a little while. When you're ready to move on--and take all the time you need--you will be able to find something else fantastic to pursue. Just remember: You are an awesome person with incredible drive. And no one can take that away from you. Use that drive to do great things in your life. You don't need a silly grant to confirm your worth. Plus, you always have the option to apply again next year.

I cannot believe you just said that!!! YOU ARE AN ARROGANT ASSHOLE. (well, you made it obvious enough from your screen name. ful"brighest," really??) As an alternate, I found this board very supportive until now. I kept turning here for advice, and I shared my own bits of advice to others who needed it. I tried to reach out (except, admittedly, when I reacted to mkurti's initial outburst of anger--which was not as bad as what you just said). You are NOT better than anyone because you got a Fulbright. You are NOT better than mkurti. You are NOT better than Rahkan. And you are NOT better than me. And if you really think that, then you probably don't deserve a Fulbright. The Fulbright is about gaining an understanding of other human beings. Sure, they mean through cultural exchange, but that principle applies to your fellow Americans as well. I bet IIE would reconsider their decision if they knew your true disrespectful attitudes toward others. (By the way, I don't necessarily think Rahkan is much better.) A longer message from me to come...

um WOW. maybe you needed to get knocked down a few notches, geez. how does the fact that your father wrote a book on Albanian grammar reflect anything about you? and would you really want to ride on your father's accomplishments anyway? look, everyone who is an alternate or rejected has a right to be upset. but anger? really? this is the Fulbright, a highly competitive award. you shouldn't expect to win it, nor are you entitled to it. we all have great recommendations and qualifications--if we didn't, we wouldn't be finalists. you have to understand that being a Fulbright finalist is a fantastic accomplishment, even if you didn't actually win a grant. honestly, choosing from amongst the finalists is somewhat arbitrary (we are all awesome), and i'm sure a different group of readers would choose a different set of winners. not winning a Fulbright does not make you "second best." also, in the finalist round, i think it has more to do with our projects than with our qualifications (because every finalist is qualified). i am sorry that you are an alternate, but you're not alone here. and you shouldn't be angry. disappointed, upset, yes. but there is no reason to be angry, and you shouldn't feel like you deserved or were entitled to a grant just because you had good recs and a famous dad. and you can always re-apply again next year. if you were an alternate this year, i bet your chances of winning next year are pretty high.

i've decided to take the job in India. i'm really excited!! oddly, i may be more excited than i was about the Fulbright. this is the PERFECT job for me (energy research!). plus i've been studying Hindi for 2 years, so it probably makes more sense to go to Delhi than Kathmandu Valley anyway. but i do want to reapply for the Fulbright next year or the following year (the extra year might be worthwhile if i can make good connections through the institute i'm working at in Delhi). does anyone know how the process is different applying from abroad? and if living abroad for a year (or two) crosses the line into "extensive travel experience" that will count against me? i'm hoping that if i was the #1 or 2 alternate this year that i will have pretty good chances at actually winning a grant next year... thanks!

zach, did you have a research visa back then? there are different rules for each kind of visa. also, that was 4 years ago and i think the rules may have changed a little bit. and i'm pretty sure the only visa you can get in one day for India is a 6-month tourist visa. sitara, are you sure you need a research visa if you're teaching English? my impression is that research visas take so long for India because they need to clear the research for sensitive political and security reasons (for example, you can't do your research in any border areas with China, like Arunachal Pradesh or northern Sikkim), and unless i'm totally unaware of what you do in the ETA program, i don't think you're doing any research that would need clearance. also, it's possible to rush visas. when i studied abroad in India (Fall 2007), i was able to rush my student visa by paying an additional fee. the rushed visa took one week instead of 2-3 weeks. i imagine a rushed research visa would take longer than a rushed student visa, but it shouldn't take 6 weeks. it sucks to have to pay more, but it may be your only option. all this being said, India now outsources its visa processing to Travisa, and when I got my visa, the consulates were processing the visas themselves, so some of what I said may no longer be true. You should check out their website for more information: https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/

now i found out that my alternate position is "either #1 or #2." but i'm scared to give up this job, because what if the second round of funding in May never happens and no Nepal principal grantees turn it down... but then again, #1 or #2 are the best possible alternate positions... if i apply again next year, i should have a pretty good shot, right?? i'm just nervous that the number of applicants to Nepal will continue to increase (there was a 65.5% jump in applications this year; i assume this is because of the (rocky, somewhat abrupt) transition from monarchy to 'democracy' in March - May 2008 that has led to the perception that Nepal is now safer), and then maybe my chances really aren't so great next year. should i still take the job if i know i have a good alternate position? i'm leaning towards yes...

thanks for all the advice! i am going to take the job in India. i'm super excited about it! it's an energy research position, and i've been studying Hindi for 2 years, so this is pretty much perfect for me. if any of you India Fulbrighters will be based in Delhi, maybe i'll see you there! also, i will definitely apply again to the Fulbright next year. does anyone know if there are any rules about applying from abroad?

remember that sad post? well, i just got a phone call--they are offering me the job again! apparently the next person they offered it to turned it down. but now i don't know what to do. should i turn down the job to wait out the alternate thing, with the risk of having no plans for next year, or should i take the job and withdraw from the alternate list, giving up any chance i have at the Fulbright? i don't know what to do! (if i knew my position/number on the alternate list, this decision would be a lot easier to make.) what would you guys do in this situation?

regardless of whether or not the GRE measures anything, it's the reality of applying to grad school. everyone who wants to get a PhD has to take it. and if you really want to continue publishing articles, you're going to need that PhD. the Fulbright isn't a "way out." the Fulbright is only one year. you're still going to need to apply to PhD programs if you want to keep researching and publishing. and i know people with significantly higher GREs who got into very few PhD programs even though they applied to over 10; PhD programs are just very competitive, and applying to only one does not even make sense. so suck it up, study for the GRE, and apply to more schools!! the rewards will be more than worth it.

what about those of us not really into academia? my project was only partly research. i mean, it was research in order to carry out a sustainable development project (an education program to teach villagers how to use electricity for new income-generating activities; you can't do that without doing a ton of research first--how the villagers currently use electricity and existing barriers to more lucrative uses; possible income-generating opportunities that take advantage of their capacities and skills; and effective, culturally-appropriate education methods. and of course i need to do a couple test runs). i also applied to a public service grant and should hear the results next week (but i'm not too hopeful, because i'm not sure that my project is really "public service"). any ideas about how we can fund other, not-purely-academic projects? thanks for all your advice and suggestions!!

sunbeam8, rugby, and wishin&hopin, thanks so much for all the advice!! i actually have gotten a grant from my university before, to do research in Bhutan. they don't offer any grants for graduating seniors, though. also, they don't give money to students going to countries on the State Department's "Travel Warning" list--and Nepal is on that list, unfortunately. and, sunbean8, i totally feel ya on the difficulties of research in South Asia. if only the Bhutanese could give me a straight "no" when they can't help! hahaha. ...i love South Asia.

sunbeam, what other funding agencies do you recommend? i am not enrolled in graduate school (i'm a graduating senior), and Fulbright was the only option i could find. do you know of any that will fund someone who only has a BS and is not in grad school?

the fulbright advisor at your university can find out this number for you in May. apparently they are allowed to ask for a few "favors," and getting your waitlist number is one of them--but they have to wait until May, and they need a good excuse to call, like "jtb01 has a job offer and needs to make a decision." but i agree with you. we are entitled to know our position on the alternate list so that we can move on. being told that ~1/3 of alternates get it doesn't do much for us if we don't know how high or low on the list we are. i have decided to just move on as if i'm not going to get it. maybe i'll be presently surprised, but i probably won't be. i have been posting some non-Fulbright suggestions for how you can spend next year, so look through the past few pages of posts. and post your own ideas!

teo823 kindly provided me with this link for additional funding (scholarships, grants, fellowships, etc): http://www.studyabroadfunding.org/ i clicked on some of the links provided on that site, and it looks like some of the deadlines have not passed yet. good luck!

to the alternates/rejected finalists, again -- someone just suggested this book to me: Work Your Way Around the World http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/185458 ... 137615284/ so see, we could totally carry out our projects while funding ourselves with a job! i mean, we balance jobs and school at the same time here, right? so why can't we do the same abroad? i don't know about you guys, but i'm starting to get excited about figuring out how to fund my own way! this is much more of an adventure than a silly grant. also, to the India grantees: i lived in India for 6 months, so if you have any questions, feel free to message me. i love sharing India advice! ...i'm starting to feel a little silly continuing to post a week after being named an alternate. well, whatever. i'll keep posting as i discover more non-Fulbright opportunities, because i'm pretty sure alternates/rejected finalists are reading this forum.

PS: any of you other alternates or rejected finalists (or even grantees), if you have more suggestions for alternatives to the Fulbright, especially money-making ventures (meaning to fund ourselves for a year abroad, not to get rich), please share with everyone! i would greatly appreciate more ideas, and i bet other people would too.

i thought of another money-making idea: scuba diving. if you are certified as a Divemaster or Instructor, you can get a job in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, the South Pacific, the Caribbean, etc.--anywhere there is an awesome reef, there are dive jobs. plus you would be living near a gorgeous beach! i'm actually considering this, since i'm a certified Divemaster. however, i really want to do rural energy work and unlike the other job suggestions, this would probably take up the same hours of the day as any internship i did. but i do think scuba diving every single day would be a dream... (why do you think my screen name is nemolover? ) (by the way, if you're not certified, you should totally consider it. scuba diving = AMAZING.)

to all you alternates and rejected finalists out there: 1. thank you so much for bravely posting on this forum. it makes me feel better knowing there are other people in my situation. 2. to those of you who are ETA alternates or rejected finalists - there are still tons of English-teaching opportunities out there! Fulbright is by no means the only way to teach English abroad. Here is a short list of sites, and I know there are many more: http://www.eslcafe.com (worldwide) http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listin ... ites.shtml (database of websites) http://www.aclipse.net (Korea, Japan, China) http://www.worldteach.org (worldwide) http://www.teflasia.com/ (Asia) http://etis.sen.go.kr/ (Korea) http://reachtoteachrecruiting.com/ (Korea, Taiwan, China) 3. to my fellow research alternates or rejected finalists who have no interest in teaching English - i feel your pain. i don't know where we can get funding for our projects. i am now thinking of going to Nepal anyway, or going elsewhere in South or Southeast Asia for an unpaid internship (I have been unable to find a paid one in the kind of work I want to do) and fund myself by getting a job. some creative ideas i have come up with or friends have suggested to me: - work in a hotel geared towards Westerners. you could be a receptionist or concierge. they need people who can speak fluent English to their clients and you might not have to speak the local language, especially in Asia. also, if you work enough hours there, they may provide room and board. - if you go to India - work in a call center at night. you can skip the American accent training! and it should be enough to support yourself. the major call center cities are Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Pune. - tutor rich high school kids in English or other subjects. i know this sounds like you're widening the education gap and you don't want to be a part of that, but honestly those kids are getting tutors regardless of who tutors them, and there is a lot of money you could make to help support yourself (though you would probably need another source of income/funds too). i have been killing myself every day since i found out i was an alternate. i was absolutely devastated. but you know what? we are still awesome. all of the finalists--grantees, alternates, and rejected--are equally amazing. there comes a point where the decision of who's in and who's out is arbitrary, and different application readers may have chosen a different group of winners from the same pool. so just remember: you were a finalist for a fulbright!! please, realize how incredible you are!! and view this waitlisting/rejection as a new, exciting opportunity. you can still do whatever you want, and it will be all the better because you found your own way to do it. GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!! i still hope you get upgraded from alternate to grantee, but if you don't, i hope you can figure out another way to go where you want and do what you want! because you're awesome, you deserve it, and you can do it.