jahanzlik

Both of you have great credentials, it seems like Fulbright is also looking for a personal connection to the country. A reason why the grant will is a necessary experience in your life. If you dont mind me asking, personally and professionally how will the fulbright help you? I spent the last few months really thinking about that and am very interested in what others are thinking.

No matter what country, they usually give finalist status to about 2 times the awards. So if a country is giving out 10 awards, they will pass on possibly 20 finalist to that specific country. The Fellowships director at my school says that finalists have a 50-66% chance of getting the award once they are a finalist.

I wouldnt worry that much, the essays speak more about you. The affiliation aspect was out of your hands. Dont stress more. I was an alternate last year and now trying again. Once I put in the application last year, I completely stopped thinking about it until I found out I was a finalist. This year, I am spending time trying to find other ways to get to the Netherlands. At this point, worrying about that letter wont help. The whole point of Fulbright is to look at you as a person so I am sure you will be fine!

1) You can also make a pdf of multiple transcripts. I have them from my undergraduate school BS/MS and then my PhD transcripts. Worst case, you can put a piece of paper with typed out message of what the second transcript is. 2) You should try and not have much space left over. If you do have space, think about how you can describe yourself or a situation better. They are looking for the trajectory of you career/path, the better you describe each situation the easier they can visualize it. I applied last year and got Fulbright Alternate. I am trying again this year and have already re-written my essays 15 times and had over 10 different people read them. It takes a lot of effort and time, but these essays are supposed to speak for you since you dont get a normal interview.

Is it better to know or not to know. Once you are an alternate you can spend months just hoping for another email. Hoping that get the notifications out for the rest of you soon, its driving me mad just watching you all going mad.

It shouldnt say what alternate number you are. I tried asking so that you have an idea if you have a chance. They wouldnt tell me. Im pretty sure they dont release that information.

Yes, the fellowships office director at my school called and asked. They dont release that information.

Update on the alternates, they wont tell you what rank you are..... so I guess we sit and wait!

What I know so far, is those accepted are asked to respond within a month if they want to decline. Then usually there are some alternates upgraded to accepted. Then anytime between now and even into September if something happens, emergency, etc, you could be told you can go now (up to September or so). How many for each country is not clear.

I havent seen an answer to this yet. I guess it depends on the country. Someone told me we can call and ask where we are ranked in terms of alternates but I feel so weird doing that. Any other opinions? I am happy being an alternate but now we could wait as long as August to hear anything else.

Sorry to hear that! I wish they would have told us why, or some suggestions for improvement! Good luck and I hope you get the Fulbright.

Rejected by Whitaker and alternate for Netherlands. Here's hoping, worst case I continue and hopefully finish this PhD. Congratulations to everyone else!

Dont feel too bad. Both my sisters, one was a law student and other was a physician assistant's students took out some loans and my parents helped pay their rent during school. Eventually things turned around and they found good paying jobs. You will find one too!

Is this for a fellowship or starting graduate school? Either way, waiting until Monday is probably better since some people are off today or have taken off. Always keep the emails positive and not too pushy.

Wow, I havent heard yet either. What country did you apply to?

Anyone else applying for the Whitaker Fellowship, can you also update if you have heard results from that as well!

Has anyone heard anything from Whitaker yet?

There has been rejections, if you check this years and previous years results. I dont think they release how they rank people.

Thanks for the updated! Congratulations again!

For those who got accepted, how long does it say you have before you have to decide? I think some of us "alternates" would like to know how long we should plan on waiting. Congrats to everyone!

Congratulations! Alternate is better than rejected. I am waiting on the Whitaker results also.

Same here! Its hard to say since it depends if they started with 2 times the number of applicants and if they rejected any of the students.

I agree with this image!

Based on the previous years it looks like they wait a few weeks. Is there a week deadline for people to accept? For those who have gotten accepted, did they give you a time period in which you had to respond "Yes, I am taking this!"

Congratulations and great planning by the Husband!