[NDSEG 2013-2014]

I got offered the award!  But I also was offered the NSF GRFP, so it's decision time. 

 

I think you can actually accept both, since NSF allows you to defer funding for two years (it gives three years of funding over five years). Just defer the NSF for a year or two, depending on whether you're an undergraduate or first-year graduate student and use the NDSEG for your first year or two. Then start your NSF funding. Obviously you should check with your program director at your graduate institution to make sure everything's okay, but I'm pretty sure you can work it out. Congrats!

 

Note that the NDSEG is non-deferrable. So you have to use the NDSEG first. 

[DAAD Graduate Study Scholarship 2014-2015]

I have been awarded both a DAAD and Fulbright research grant. Besides prestige, what are the major differences between the two? The DAAD provides an 8-week language course, while Fulbright's is 6-weeks.

 

Furthermore, the Fulbright affiliates you with a university; does this mean we can enroll in classes of our choosing? I don't believe the DAAD provides this, but I could be wrong.

 

Any insight?

 

I received both the DAAD and Fulbright for 2012-2013. I ended up going with Fulbright. The stipends were the same for me, Fulbright provided me a 6-week language course before the grant started, and there's obviously the name recognition. I'm so glad I did- being part of the Fulbright community in Germany made a hugely positive impact on my experience (there's a midyear conference in Berlin, as well as the opportunity to make friends and connections across the country) and I've stayed in contact with fellow Fulbrighters after we left. 

 

I can confirm that you can enroll in classes at your affiliated university through the Fulbright. I had friends take both classes related to their research fields and "fun" classes (documentary films, Portuguese). In summary, I would take Fulbright unless you have a specific need for the DAAD.

 

Edit: Forgot to add that I think the name recognition of Fulbright has definitely helped me after leaving the country, both with grad school acceptances and further fellowships (NSF)

[Early Termination of Fulbright Grant]

My Fulbright year (Germany, last year) was really hard too. I had just graduated college and all my friends were thousands of miles away. Plus I was living in the "real world", away from the support of my undergraduate institution. Combine that with the longest winter Germany had faced in 43 years (the sun was only up from 8:30am-4pm) and you have a great recipe for a long and lonely winter.

 

That being said, the last 4 months were the best. I traveled, made more friends, and finally began to feel comfortable with where I was living. I think it just takes a lot of time to settle in to living abroad and if you terminate your grant now you would never get to experience the amazing wonderful things about living abroad. Of course, you know yourself best and if you think it won't get better, it might not. But I think your experience is not unique and it will get better in the second half. 

[Fulbright 2014-2015]

The Fulbright doesn't cover a masters degree. It funds different things like Independent research (while engaging in cultural exchange) or Language exchange (while engaging in cultural exchange). You would do your masters before or after the program, not during. 

 

Additionally, apply through your old school. You'll have a wealth of resources you wouldn't have otherwise... and it wouldn't make sense for them to not allow you to (unless they have an overwhelming number of applicants) as it looks good for any school to send someone into the Fulbright program (I graduated in May 2011, I applied (through my school) after August of 2012. 

 

Fulbright definitely covers masters degrees- I know several people who have used Fulbright funding to cover the first year of their masters degrees. However, you still need to have a research project in mind that either motivates your masters or that you can do at the same time, since Fulbright is a research grant. [Edit: You'll need to find different funding for the second year of your masters, since Fulbright won't cover two years.]

 

Also, I agree that you should apply through your school. The support (and application editing!) you receive is much better than doing it at-large.

[Fulbright 2013-2014]

What exactly is the DAAD study scholarship.. could it be used in conjunction with the funds received from Fulbright, or is it just something else entirely?

 

Which leads to another question I have been mulling over: In the Fulbright application, it asked if we were applying for any other scholarships. Would it be frowned upon to apply for another scholarship after the fact? As in, additional funds for additional traveling or what have you while overseas with a Fulbright?  I don't even know if there are any scholarships/grants that do that, are there?

 

The DAAD scholarship is administered by the German Academic Exchange Service and funds similar/identical projects to the Fulbright (I think 6-12 month research trips for post-graduate or dissertation work). Because they're both funded from a common source, you actually can't hold both fellowships simultaneously (I asked!). 

 

However, depending on funding sources, you can be receiving multiple grants during the same period. For example, it is possible to receive the Whitaker (for biomedical engineering) and the Fulbright at the same time. About traveling- my commission doesn't want me to leave Europe for more than 14 days during the year so a travel fellowship wouldn't really be practical. 

[Fall 2013 Chemistry and Biochemistry]

I was wondering if UCLA is a lost cause now? Why do they wait so long for decisions? Or perhaps I missed the cut. Looks like Yale it is!

 

When I called them on Tuesday they said I should "hear very soon". Still haven't heard anything though...

[Fall 2013 Chemistry and Biochemistry]

Has anyone heard from UCLA organic? They're the last program I'm waiting for and I need to buy plane tickets soon if I'm going to visit (international tickets are going up!)

[Fall 2013 Chemistry and Biochemistry]

For Scripps they said to dress business casual: "A combination of collared shirt (such as a dress shirt or polo shirt), cotton trousers (such as khakis) with a belt, and shoes (such as loafers) with socks is generally acceptable."

 

But I don't know how it is for other schools. But business casual is probably how I would dress regardless of how Scripps does it.

 

When I was visiting schools last year (decided to work abroad for a year, now going through the application process again) people mostly dressed like this. I (female) wore gray cords, a nice shirt + cardigan and flats for the day spent meeting professors and jeans for the second day (normally spent on a campus/city tour). There were definitely people pushing the casual side that didn't look completely out of place but it's always better to look nicer than too sloppy, in my opinion.

[Fulbright 2012-2013]

Hey guys! I've been stalking for a while but heard good news from Germany yesterday so I wanted to update the spreadsheet!

Full grant, no interview, notified Mar 13 via email, undergraduate, going to be working in a chemistry lab at the Universität Hamburg.

I also got the DAAD but barring drastic stipend differences I'll probably be going with the Fulbright. Has anyone else written a proposal for a hard science project? I'd be interested to see what the proportion is / what people think it's going to be like working in an international laboratory full-time. Also is anyone else waiting to hear about the six-week language course?