cdchevri

Didn't get Malaysia ETA. Moving to Miami for TFA! The email does show up as being sent from the Fulbright commission though so don't get your hopes up when you see that it is Fulbright not IIE.

NO, I don't have any info on how soon we will get our answers. With that knowledge, continue reading if you want.. Hi friends, I am proficient in American Sign Language and I went to see a speaker at my alma mater as part of Deaf History Month (this is silly background information to give you an idea of how random what's to follow) and afterwards randomly struck up conversation with a couple because my friends were in line for food. After exchanging silly introductory information the husband asked what I did for a living and I explained what I am currently but that I was accepted to TFA and waiting impatiently to hear from Fulbright. Turns out that the husband was a Fulbright scholar when he was my age and has spent the last 22 years working for the US Department of State on the betterment of the Fulbright program! I thought I would share what I learned even though it is not going to add much clarity to what has been a very transparency-lacking application process. He assured me that there are many people who work tirelessly to ensure that the applications are treated as equitably as possible both in the US and in the commissions or determining committees of the respective countries. I was particularly interested in this because I have secretly been worried that I could be treated differently due to my religion and he assured me that this could never be the case. He also said that his time as a Fulbright scholar completely changed his life and caused him to work in the foreign service for years and he chose not to return to the states for 20 years. Good luck to all, Claire

Thank you! Sorry I could not respond earlier but I was on a business trip and had no service/internet. My only words of advice about your TFA interview tomorrow is be confident and look extremely organized. They know that it is a frazzling day but so is getting in front of a classroom of students. They want people who look comfortable. Also, I know this is really late notice, but make sure your teaching lesson is at least a little bit interactive. Don't just lecture for 5 minutes (you'd be surprised how many people do that). As for what I would do for the extra six months, I am currently a paralegal so I would just keep my job longer. What I would do when I get back in between Malaysia and TFA is a whole other story though. Good luck to all!

I am a Malaysia ETA applicant and have been recommended =) ! I, too, am wondering how many people have applied. I am also freaking out a little bit about when they will let us know. I have been accepted to Teach for America and accepted with the caveat that I will be able to defer if I am offered the Fulbright grant. However, I would have to find out from Fulbright before I start the TFA institute which means if I am given an alternate status I will likely not be able to accept even if I am ultimately offered it. Fingers crossed!