jtb01

I cannot believe some of you out there are STILL waiting to hear. That is a crime against your sanity! To Sweden Fulbrighters: How are you approaching your housing search? It seems all of the university housing in Stockholm is fully booked up. I have been looking on Bostad Direkt lately and been finding some decent places, but I have also been contacted by a number of obviously fraudulent scammers trying to get me to rent their apartment. This blog: http://chicaneryconsscams.blogspot.com/ has a list of recent scam related e-mails. Be on the lookout!

Hi Pitt, Maybe it was an Israeli Fulbrighter that made the post? Maybe it was a troll? Also, has anyone decided to turn down their Fulbright award yet (yes, I realize how crazy that sounds)? If so, how did you come to that decision?

Hello, Two days ago I was informed that I received a separate fellowship through IIE that I had applied to in January. IF i am awarded the fulbright, i would have to choose between the two, but now I will be heading to Stockholm no matter what! Note to all alternates: I also applied to this fellowship along with the Fulbright last year and did not receive either of them. Do not give up if you dont get it this time. I am one of numerous people this year that have received a fellowship after reapplying. Good luck!

Hi Pooja, So she said that a handful of the FSB board will review their set of applications independently? That does not sit well with me as individual reviews could result in high selection bias. I would have imagined the process to be more structured so that the group of FSB members were together when they reviewed their given apps. I guess it is out of our hands at this point though and all we can do is hope for the best. Good luck!

oops, sorry Sally. From what it sounds like both in the newsletter and from the European program manager I think it means that the country decisions are sent to IIE independent of the FSB approval. I guess the FSB just has to have final approval for some reason (maybe security clearances or something?). I am getting burned out from all of the speculation and waiting. On a more positive note: The waiting experience in the gradcafe this year has been much more positive and encouraging. We are a well-oiled, highly efficient online mob. The spread sheet was an excellent idea and will provide a great source of information to fulbright applicants for years to come!

Re: FSB approval Here is a Fulbright newsletter from 2005 that clearly explains the selection process: http://newsletter.fulbrightonline.org/31.html I think I am finally understanding it correctly. The foreign country will make the final nominations and the FSB has to make final approval of those nominations. At the same time, the Department of State determines final funding levels.

Has anyone asked a program manager when/how often the FSB meets? It seems like that is a bottle neck for the countries that have already selected their principal candidates.

Is it just me or does it seem like many of the European countries are sending out notifications earlier than they did last year?

To the lurkers on the forum: I completely understand if you wish to stay anonymous, but it would be very helpful to all of us if you could fill out your info on the spreadsheet! thanks.

Hi mcm, Based on my experience, I do not believe there is any accurate way to figure out alternate probabilities. It completely varies from country to country. Last year, I was notified that I was ranked second alternate and many people with credible Fulbright experience informed me that my chances of getting the grant were very high; however, the commission (still unsure if it was the host country or US committee) ended up awarding only 9 of the 10 available grants. I feel alternate status is the most difficult to handle. It was an additional two months of unwelcome limbo for me (I obviously didnt get it). My only advice would be to continue life as usual, and if you get promoted to principal status, then celebrate your ass off. I know that's not much for consolation, but that's about all you can do at this point. I hope you do get promoted, but if not, the sting of disappointment will fade with time.

Nice! I also like to ride! And I am also brewing up an oatmeal stout this weekend. I recently bought an accordion (Incredibly nerdy you say? Agreed.) to learn as another means to distract me from the wait. We are entering the home stretch! I am sure in about ten days the results will begin trickling in. Good luck!

i am applying to sweden again this year but through a different university to use new bioengineering techniques for identifying influenza vaccine targets. word of advice to all finalists: try to have patience and divert your thoughts while waiting to hear results. i would recommend picking up a new hobby or finding a new tv series. i went through this agonizing wait last year and it drove me up the wall...and i still didnt end up getting the grant. do your mental health a favor and go outside or learn a new instrument, anything that helps focus your thoughts away from this cursed wait!

hi all, is this anyones second time to apply for a fulbright? i made it to this stage last year and again this year. also, i was wondering if anybody has known of an applicant in the past that has been awarded a grant when reapplying.

nemolover: TAKE THE JOB!!! To Euro alternates: I e-mailed the European Program Manager (Rachel Holskin), and she will indeed give you your position on the alternate waitlist. It took her a few days to respond, but understandably so, as she is probably extremely busy right now. Don't give up hope just yet!

Do any full grant alternates out there know the reason why we cannot be told of our position on the alternate list for our particular country? I do not understand why they would withhold this from us. I feel entitled to have this information at this point, so that I can plan my summer and have a better idea about whether i should move on with my life...