summernights77kt

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Very, very helpful. Please keep them coming.

Actually, I'm not taking the GRE until the very last possible minute- probably around Nov. 20th and all my applications are due on Dec. 1st. The reason I only have four weeks to study is because I don't get back to the country until mid-September. I'm currently abroad on a Fulbright scholarship and have no time or resources to prepare for the GRE. I have exactly four weeks between when I get back and the latest possible test date. Sadly, even if I do poorly, I won't actually have time to retake it. Ugh!!!!!!!!!

After doing a lot of research on mean/median GRE scores for accepted applications in Clinical Psychology, I think it is about 1350 for competitive schools. Yuck, I think I'll go kill myself now. Don't worry, I'm not serious.

Hello Everyone, I only have exactly 4 weeks to prep for the GRE. I've only taken a practice test so far and I need to improve my score by about 200 points ATLEAST! What should I do? Is this even possible? Should I be memorizing words day and night? What's the best way to prep for the math section? How much time do people generally prep for the GREs? Thanks for the advice in advance!

Amazing post! I think it's great that you're reaching out to others and helping people with suggestions. Very kind of you! It also shows great leadership- it's Fulbright's loss if they end up passing you up.

Ann Arbor, Michigan

After what seems like an eternity of waiting, I finally got my manila envelope. I'm going to Sri Lanka!!! After constant phone calls to IIE, incessantly checking this forum 24/7, and living in complete anxiety of the past month and a half, I'm glad the end has FINALLY come. I've been fantasizing about this moment for so long.....I'm truly grateful. Details about the mail. As someone mentioned before, the manila envelope was surprisingly small. It was postmarked April 16th (a Thursday). When I called the Fulbright office last week, they said it would be mailed on Wednesday. When I called the Fulbright office this morning, they sent it was sent out on Friday. I guess it was neither. The envelope contains a letter congratulating you and talking about how the Fulbright is amazing and you should be proud. Another letter explaining the medical clearance and they're not responsible for costs. Another letter about how graduating seniors must send them a final transcript so they know you have a bachelors at least. Lastly, the actual medical form which is 4 pages long. To all those still waiting to hear from the Fulbright, either for the first time or as an alternate, I wish you all the luck in the world. If all else fails, you can come visit me in Sri Lanka

Are you kidding me? That's just cruel and ridiculous! I really shouldn't complain then.

I just called Charles Restrepo's office about Sri Lanka. They said that they mailed out the letters on Friday of last week. When I called last week, they told me that they would 100% send it out on Wednesday. I'm not sure why they waited until Friday. I can't really complain because at least they've been sent out, but if I had known that they were sent out on Friday, I wouldn't have checked the mailbox 6 times on Saturday. Grrrr...more waiting, more waiting.

I checked the mail 6 times today. The first five times there was nothing in my maibox, but that gave me hope that the mail had yet to be delivered and mail from the Fulbright with it. The 6th time I check, there was mail, including a large sized envelope. But nothing about the Fulbright. Sigh...soo disappointing. When I called Restrepo's office, they said the would mail out notifications on Wednesday. I was really, really, really hoping today would be it.

100% agreed. My idea for a petition was not to petition to hear about OUR results. That is way too risky. I absolutely would not want them getting pissed off at me before they send out their results. My idea for a petition was for ALL of the finalists to come together and petition that in the future, IIE and the Fulbright committee notify grantees sooner so that they don't have to lose other opportunities like many people have. It was meant to be as a favor for future applicants, not ourselves...unless one of us applies in the future.

I'm IN- Sri Lanka

I think we should put together an email about the issue- kinda like a petition- and have all the Fulbright finalists add their names to it and send it to as many high-up employees as possible who are working on the Fulbright at IIE. We would have to put our heads together to make it very compelling.

I agree. I know there are a lot of you out there who read the forum but don't make posts. I'm sure you have similar experiences that would be very helpful for people to hear. So start posting please!

It's absolutely crazy how similar our interests are. I have so much to say, I'm gonna email you. I really hope we're both successful in getting the fulbright!

I'm glad you finally decided to make a post and a worthwhile one at that. I know I've been terribly worried about getting a alternate status. For the longest time I felt like a rejection would be much better that way I can move on with my life but I want this Fulbright so badly that it would be much more heartbreaking to get a rejection than to have at least hope by being an alternate. Good luck to you- I really hope that you get it and sounds like you're a good position by being on the principle list.

Oh my goodness, I'm so excited to hear from someone else applying to SL. Where have you been hiding?? I'm proposing a psychology research project looking at meditation based therapy for people with depression. If I get the FB, I'll be in Kandy. I'm affiliating with a professor at the University of Peradeniya in Kandy. I am also affiliating with an NGO focusing on mental health called Basic Needs. I speak Tamil, but it's Indian Tamil and I've been warned that Sri Lankan tamil is very different. I don't know any Sinhala (except for "Ayubowan" which means hello ). What about you? What, where, with whom? How badly do you wanna go to SL? I pretty much have all my hope pinned on this Fulbright to SL. I'm gonna be CRUSHED if don't get it. I guess we'll find out very, very soon!!

Agreed...this weekend is going to seem like forever. Maybe...just maybe we'll get something in the mail on Saturday.

Hey mkurti, I just called Rachel Holskin's office. Some lady picked up (assuming a secretary?) and I asked for Rachel and she that Rachel was on the other line. I've had more luck talking to secretaries than with the actual program managers so I decided to ask her for info about Albania. She told me that she would be glad to look up that information and asked me for my last name (?!!!). I totally froze...I didn't know what to say...and very awkwardly told her that I didn't want to share that information but just wanted general information about Albania's letters. She said that if I wanted specific information I should talk to Rachel Holskin and that Rachel wouldn't give out that information unless she "had the applicant's name directly". By that time, Rachel had gotten off the phone and I was transferred to her. Rachel was very sweet and said that the letters for Albania will NOT be mailed out this week but will most likely be mailed out next week. I asked when it would be mailed out next week and she said that it would Wednesdays because, as we all know, they only mail out letters on Wednesdays. I asked her if they would for sure be mailed out next week and she said that it's never for sure. I then asked her if she would give me a percentage estimate to which she started laughing and reluctantly said 80% chance that they will be mailed out next week. She said that the letters to Albania have been ready for a really, really long time but they're just waiting for "go ahead" from the State Dept to mail them out. She even used the phrase "poor Albania". I did think it was weird that the secretary asked for a name.....hmm...

okay fine, I'll call. I have, surprisingly, talked to some nice people at the Fulbright office recently. What's the number and what information are you looking for exactly?

I'm reposing this link in case people want to look up when they should receive mail that is mailed out tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll see my manilla envelope this Friday (bearing good news).

I called Charles Restrepo's office again after being blue balled by a manila envelope in my mailbox containing junk mail. I spoke with a really nice women who took the time to figure out what's going on with the notifications for my specific country (Sri Lanka). She said it will be mailed out tomorrow (eeeks!). For those of you still waiting, I would recommend calling the Fulbright office and asking them about your specific country.

That's pretty good news...the wait would be the hardest part.

I'm wondering the same thing. Any more updates on South Asia?

Yea, I don't think I could handle waiting any longer than these "two weeks". I really hope that good news is in the mail for all of us. *fingers crossed*