magiaepasta

I don't know anything about the Anthro dept. at UW, but I can definitely answer any questions about the school in general, as well as the city of Seattle!

Congratulations to everybody! Let the acceptances keep on comin'!

Thank you much! Still reeling...I couldn't have sounded very eloquent on the phone. Best of luck to everybody still waiting to hear back!

I'm in too! Just got the phone call about 15 minutes ago!

Hi all! I decided to contact POIs and got a great response. Just sent out emails introducing myself and the type of research I was interested in pursuing, along with why I thought the professor/department/school was a good fit for what I wanted to do. Of the six I sent out, four have responded, and 3 were overwhelmingly positive and encouraging me to contact other members of the department who dovetail my research interests. I figure there's no harm, the worst that's going to happen is you won't get a response. A professor from my first choice school and I are arranging a time to Skype - so I say go for it!

I definitely see both sides to it and I find safety in numbers just because of the statistical comfort - I really don't want to have to reapply. Another reason why I am applying to so many is because I am applying to different programs and some of the same schools, so while the school list isn't enormous, there are several programs. My boyfriend is currently doing interviews for medical school and we are trying to apply to as many overlapping cities as possible to increase our chances of being near one another. That said, The schools on my list are not only there because of geographic preference, but also because I think they would be good fits. I think if I can get it down to 10 (maybe using the coin toss method you mentioned, pears) then I will feel a bit better.

How many schools are people applying to? I have about 12 different schools that I'm looking it (for Anthropology and MES), but it feels excessive. Thoughts?

Hi all! First timer over here as well - I'm applying to a mix of Anthropology and Middle East Studies programs. I don't have a background in anthropology aside from one class my freshman year. Research interests surround the creation and embodiment of regional identity through cuisine, focused in the MENA region. I am trying to narrow down my school list but I'm having a hard time figuring out which schools are realistic and which are way out of my league - anybody have any ideas? I know that most anthro programs don't require a background in the subject, but my lack of expertise in the field does make me nervous.

Me too! I live in D.C. and am taking the GRE Oct. 5.

Hi all, first time starting a forum on GradCafe - I poked around the site and haven't yet seen a NELC/MES forum for this year's application cycle yet so I thought I'd get a head start on it. Currently working on studying for the GRE exam that I'm taking October 5th. Would love to give/get support throughout the application process. First thing's first - a little about me: Undergrad: I graduated in 2012 from a big state school with a BA in NELC, 3.9 overall, 3.96 departmental GRE: Don't know what my GRE scores are yet, but I'm guessing it'll be in the 150-155Q and 165-170V. Languages: Italian, Arabic, French - in order of strength. Major awards/scholarship: Graduated magna cum lauder, Boren scholar, Phi Beta Kappa, Fulbright finalist Study abroad: Spent a year in Italy researching refugees seeking asylum from the Arab Spring revolutions Research interests: nationalism, intellectual constructs of ethnicity, culture and national identity in the Arab Middle East, post-colonial transculturation in the M.E., ethnogastronomy Applying to (list will likely be changed based on actual GRE scores): Harvard (PhD Anthro/MES) Washington (the only M.A. program I'm applying to) Berkeley (PhD NES) Georgetown (Joint degree, PhD Arabic/MA Arab Studies) NYU (PhD MES/Islamic Studies) Princeton (PhD NES) Michigan (PhD NES) U Penn (PhD NES) Chicago(PhD NES) Your turn!

Honeybunches, travellite, and Gardens, thank you for all your kind words! I feel much better knowing that rejection is just part of the business and perserverance is really the key. I am sure you will all achieve great success in your fields and I wish you (and everyone else on the forum) the best in all your endeavors

Hi all, just got the dreaded rejection email from Rachel. Definitely disappointed but also annoyed because of the numerous spelling and grammar mistakes in the email...haha. Best of luck to the rest of you, hope your news is better than mine!

Yay for contacting Rachel-I had been contemplating whether or not to do so, but I have exercised restraint thus far. I applied for a full-grant to Oxford under the open award--the Fulbright-Clarendon partnership for the 'fee waiver' is only applicable for those doing a DPhil and I am applying for an MSc. I am nervous because not only have I not heard back from Fulbright, but I also haven't heard from the admissions committee at Oxford yet. While I am hoping and praying that I will get both, if I don't get a Fulbright I am still eligible for funding through the university, so my eggs aren't all in one basket. So sick of the wait, though!! Best of luck to everybody and here's hoping that no news is good news...

Hi Gardens, I'm also a full-grant applicant to the UK and I haven't heard anything one way or the other and I wasn't interviewed after being recommended. It seems the only thing we can do now is wait...

Judehermes, keep your hopes up! As far as we know, nobody has heard anything from UK Fulbright, so we are all waiting on bated breath. Really wish the best for you and everyone else--here's to the hopes of being in the UK next year!

Well, I am in Rome right now so I'm awake when you're asleep and vice-versa...between the two of us, we've got it covered virtually 24 hours a day! It would make more sense for you to check very late night/very early morning rather than afternoon/evening...just to give the refresh button on your email a break

Hi all, just got an email from my adviser who was sent an email from Fulbright that says, "This year we will be informing principal candidates, alternate candidates and not selected candidates of their status by email. We will no longer inform candidates by regular mail. Fulbright Advisers will be Cc’d on the individual principal, alternate and non-select emails sent to students...Although the method of informing students and advisers will change; the process will not. Emails will be sent as country selections are complete and Board of Foreign Scholarship decisions are received." Not sure if this means that the no more regular mail applies to all countries, but just letting you know!

I'm going to say it's mostly fear...if I get accepted then the excitement will manifest. Many congratulations to T Pain, can't wait to hear about all the other acceptances that will be coming in (hopefully) soon!

Isn't it crazy the stuff your mind makes up when you're asleep? I will just be so thankful when the wait is over--I feel like I've been in limbo for months now. Urban law in the Middle Ages sounds fascinating--are you studying History at the moment? I am always so curious to hear about how people became interested in their projects.

Well, there's nothing I can do but wait at this point! My adviser forwarded the email that was sent to all Fulbright advisers by Michael Scott-Kline, who is the director of the Fulbright awards program and so that's where the information comes from. In his email he says: "To remind everyone, the selection process in the UK takes place from January to March, with some candidates called to interview in February. Not all IIE recommended candidates are interviewed and whether or not a candidate is called to interview does not mean they will be selected or not selected. Interviews in this context are simply intended as an additional information-gathering exercise in instances when the UK selection committee would like more detail from particular applicants. All candidates (principals, non-selects and alternates) will ultimately be notified by IIE, and all at the same time (likely in early March)." It may in fact be that the majority of those selected were also interviewed, but he didn't mention in the email that it was a good or bad thing to be interviewed. In any case, there's no sense in worrying about it now as there really isn't anything to be done. We will just have to see what happens! Best of luck!

Hey! I actually didn't have an interview. My adviser forwarded an email from the director of the program and he said: "Invitation to interview (only those candidates where the UK Selection Committee needs further info – all candidates still in play at this stage) sent by the end of January 4. Interviews (to gather additional info in some instances) 6-16 February (all candidates are still in play at this stage) 5. Further UK Selection Committee meetings will take place 17-25th February (all candidates are still in play at this stage) 6. A final shortlist is finalised by the UK Selection Committee by 25 February (those not on short-list will be notified by IIE shortly thereafter) 7. Final UK Selection Committee meetings take place 25 February - 3 March 8. Final UK selections are transmitted to IIE and FSB around 3-5 March 9. IIE and FSB send notification to all candidates shortly thereafter" My best guess then is that we'll hear back sometime next week! My project is about European asylum policy and Muslim integration in the UK, how about you? Best of luck to you!

Hello all! Brand new to this forum, found it courtesy of my Fulbright adviser. I am an American recommended for a full grant to study at Oxford but I'm currently doing an internship and a research project in Rome. I am so excited to FINALLY get a decision as I feel like I've been waiting for ages...any other UK-ers or Oxonian hopefuls out there? Good luck to everybody!