Kerly_Cue

My parents explained it to me like this: Being designated as an alternate is actually an accomplishment, though obviously not as big as being named a principal. It means that you made it through the selection round at your school, through the initial round of applications, beat out a few thousand to be named a finalist and then managed to not be cut during the final round. While we didn't get the grant we still technically were never rejected. I think since most of us are pretty Type-A overachievers, being named an alternate kind of seems like a fail ... but in light of how vigorous the application process is and how competetive the Fulbright is, being named an altnerate can be seen as a pretty big deal. The senior management at my internship seemed to think it was pretty impressive (even though I didn't) as did my parents (though I took it with a grain of salt because ... well they're my parents). It's kind of like winning a silver medal in a sporting event. I think I'll be listing it on my resume under honors: Fulbright Program 2012-2013, Designated Alternate

Well this actually made me feel better about it. And it makes sense. So I guess maybe all the SSA finalists were put into a pool (let's say 100 of us) and ranked with the top 40 given Principal status, the next 10 or so (numbers 41-51) given Alternate status and the remaining (in this example those ranked 52-100) rejected? And in the event that more funding is made available, they'll move on down the list.

FWIW, I don't think there's any financial or legal obligation if you never leave the country. Especially if the reason has to do with health issues of any kind. In the alternate e-mail it said people often officially accept the award and then turn it down for a host of reasons, leaving a spot open for an alternate, so I'm sure its come up before. Besides, I can't see them forcing someone who doesn't feel well to uproot their lives and move to a foreign country for a year.

So, I'm assuming each SSA country desginated 1 or more alternates which go on the regional alternate list. But I'm confused about the rankings...who did it? How can applicants to different countries with different projects & motivations for choosing their countries all get put into one list? There'd have to be some sort of objective, easily applicable criteria, right? And in the event that more funding was given to the SSA region as a whole, would each country get to invite an alternate off the list or would they just take the highest ranked five or so off the list? And since I applied for South Africa's ETA program, which doesn't start until next January does that mean that I could potentially be waiting up until around December to see if someone declines their award or if extra money is given? I think this is why I didn't e-mail Jermaine to ask about the way alternates work, I knew it would raise more questions than it would answer. I've just gotta let this go, stop dwelling on it and move on. If it get a call that's great, if not ... oh well. At least I can technically say I never got rejected from the Fulbright.

Alternate for South Africa ETA. Congrats to those who were selected! For those who were rejected: It only means that there is something else planned for you in life right now. Cliche, but the truth. Go out and buy a cupcake!! As for us alternates: The wait continues... Edited to Add - Found out 12:05 pm (CST) from Jermaine Jones, subject: "Your Fulbright Candidacy (A)"

It got so bad that I went to my supervisors and asked for work away from the computer. I'm now spending the day filing papers. Luckily I found out that there's going to be a new addition to our family (I'll be an aunt!) so I'm trying to keep my mind on that. Man I hope so.

I haven't. And now of course I'm having trouble concentrating on anything at work...

I'm not a Social Work person, but I have quite a few friends who are. Look $80,000 is too much debt for a master's degree. I'm one of those people that firmly believes in following your passion, especially if it's for social justice and making a difference (I'll more than likely be teaching for the next few years or so ... absolutely no money there, but I enjoy it). But you have to balance that with the reality of what your life will be like when you follow your heart. You'll be carrying $80,000 + whatever loans you have from undergrad + credit card debt + car loans + a mortgage + health insurance + groceries + utilities + etc. Not sure if you're married, but also imagine paying for a wedding with all those expenses, or bringing that much debt into a marriage and then having kids... My advice to you would be to find a cheaper program. An MSW doesn't have to be from USC (where I also imagine the cost of living is quite high). I would decide where I want to practice and then find a program there, so that I could establish connections and tell the financial aid department at my school that I intend to stay in the area and any grant to me would be an investment in the community. There's always another option, you may not like it ... but there's another option (and believe me, I'm being faced with a situation like this right now). I understand having no money for grad school. Why is it that you have to go to grad school in DC? That city and its surrounding area are ridiculously expensive. It's beautiful and fun, but I know right now I could never afford to live there. Add to that the fact that nearly half that city has a B.A. in International Studies or something comparable and it make sense that the jobs are scarce: you're competing with every GWU, American U, Georgetown, Howard undergrad with an International Studies, Political Science, Political Economy, Urban Studies, Economics, Public Policy major since they can all pretty much be used interchangably for the kind of jobs you're looking for plus all the kids with those degrees who went to school somewhere else but are trying to break into the DC scene.

^^^ THIS. Such diverse cultures & countries with completely different histories, languages (South Africa has about 11 official languges since its population is so incredibly diverse and consists of multiple major ethnic groups ... Xhosa, Khoisan, Zulu, etc) and cultural values are just grouped together as one monolithic group. Can you imagine just lumping western Europe -- Spain, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium etc -- together? For one, the Germans would throw a fit if the fate of any of their programs was tied to France. Damn. That sucks.

I applied to South Africa. I know the wait is really difficult for some, but I wouldn't talk to the head of the Fulbright, besides chances are he/she know nothing about your application since each region/country is pretty self contained. That said, you aren't alone in the waiting game. I've been pretty good so far about not obsessing but as the year starts wrapping up, I have to figure out how long to extend my lease and the urgency is becoming a little greater. But really there's nothing we can do but sit & chill so ... that's what I'll do. Plus it looks like SSA won't be notified until early next week since it seems like our regional director is out of the office until then. My guess would be Tuesday. My birthday is also Tuesday ... so this should be interetsting...

I didn't apply for any of those countries, however I'm an undergrad applicant and I did transfer schools. I seem to remember though that the Fulbright only asked for a transcript from the school from which you'll be earning your degree. Are you worrying that your original school didn't send a copy to the them? Because I don't think that was actually necessary.

Congrats!! I applied for South Africa but I'm a Russian minor, so the country has a special place in my heart.

Oh wow, this is the most SSA applicants I think I've seen on this board. Anyone else apply to South Africa? I had pretty much anticipated sometime within the next two weeks or so... luckily these next few weeks will be ridiculously full for me. By the way did anyone else notice the PDO was an entire week? I thought it would be more like two days at the most.

Former lurker turned into first time poster here. I was recommended for an ETA to South Africa, and I just got one of those very cruel "save the date" e-mails for the PDO. I've been extremely good about almost forgetting the Fulbright in the midst of trying to graduate, work, school and paying for school...but I've had a bad day and opening my email to see the subject: "SAVE THE DATE -- FULBRIGHT ETA" and then realizing it wasn't anything official just felt mean. I'm right in assuming they sent that to everyone who's a finalist right?