woodendress

I applied as an at-large both times when applying for the ETA in Germany. The second time, I actually wrote to someone at my university and while I still applied as an at-large, someone from the honors department looked over my application for me, which was super helpful. I would see if you could have someone at your university possibly do the same. It's worth a try!

I applied for the USTA Austrian Fulbright 3 times and mentioned that I was an alternate the previous year in my third application and I was accepted on my third try. I don't know for sure if it helped me or not, but I like to think it did. I don't think it will hurt to write that you were an alternate. It shows a lot of perseverance and dedication.

I'm not sure about the study scholarships, but I am pretty sure you can apply for both Austria and Germany at the same time, as they are separate programs. Good luck!

I would also suggest emailing professors in Austria! I know of several Fulbright scholars this year that went to Austria to study music.

I have a blog! Unfortunately, I haven't kept it as updated as I would like. You can also find other Fulbright blogs in my blog list: emiliainaustria.blogspot.com

There is already a Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/434901306592385/

The deadline for accepting the position or not (for the people initially offered a position) was a few weeks ago. I don't know for sure, but I would guess most positions have been reassigned, so if you have not heard anything by this point, it's probably a no. However, I have heard from past TAs that if you don't hear by June, you probably aren't going. However, I would encourage you to reapply if you aren't offered a position. I applied three times for the Austrian USTA. Rejected outright the first time, alternate the next time, but never was offered anything, and accepted my third time. I would say, if you are an alternate this year, your chances are pretty high to be accepted next year!

Someone from the honors department at my college told me that spending a lot of time in a country isn't a negative, but that you need to convey why you want to go back and spend more time in the country. For example, I had helped teach English for a month in Berlin, so the adviser told me to make sure I really write why I wanted to go back. If that makes sense. Otherwise, I have no idea if that is true. I had spent, at most, a month in a Germany, had never been to Austria and it took me three tries before I was accepted by Austria Fulbright as a USTA.

Oh exciting! Where were you placed?!

I know someone who came to the US from Russia, not on a Fulbright, but on a similar visa where she was required to go back to Russia for 2 years. She didn't want to go back to Russia and somehow lived in the US for 10 years, if not more. I'm not sure how she got around it. However, she was forced to leave the country last year, but luckily she married a Belgian, so she is currently residing in Belgium. Like others said, it's almost impossible to get around it!

Yes, apply again if you really want it! It took me three tries to get the Austrian USTA Fulbright. Good luck everyone!

The past two years, USTAs first year applicants were emailed on April 6th. That is on a Saturday this year, so I would hope for maybe an email on the 5th.

Actually, I found out last week, but I applied for a 2nd year in Austria, so people applying for a first year may be contacted at a later date. No idea!

For the record, I was a finalist for ETA Germany, but was accepted by Fulbright Austria as an USTA, after my third time applying. Good luck!

Yeah, I would say to anyone that doesn't get accept to try again if they really want it! I applied three times to the Austrian Fulbright and it wasn't until the third try that I got it. Maybe I was a little insane, but it finally paid off. And victory was just that much sweeter.

Definitely don't just bank on getting the Fulbright. One year I did that and I didn't get it and I was horribly disappointed. The next time I applied, I applied for the Germany and Austria ETA as well as grad school. I actually was already doing one semester of grad school when I found out I got Austria, so I had to leave the program for now. But at least I knew I had something to look forward to in case I didn't get anything.

There is a whole website about the J-1 Visa. I only know about my friend's experiences with it, so it may vary depending on where you are from. It does mention extensions on the website: http://j1visa.state.gov/ ETA: Just looked at the website and if you are on a program funded by your country or the US government, you have to go back for 2 years. I don't know how extensions figure into that. The J-1 Visa is supposed to be about cultural exchange, so I understand why the government has the 2 year requirement, but I know it was really frustrating for my friend who didn't want to go back to Russia.

Marrying isn't that simple, either! I have also known people that came to the US after marrying a US citizen and the stories I've heard are intense! I don't know how my friend was able to stay here so long on her visa, but she was also unable to leave the country, because she would be barred from returning. That is something else to think about. If you are able to stay and continue your studies, you won't be able to enter Canada and then come back to the US, from what I understand. This is only a problem if you want to visit family, for example, and then come back to continue your studies. I know my friend is really happy she was able to move to Belgium, because now she can visit her family in Russia.

I'm not Canadian or applying for this award, but I looked at the website and saw that you come in on a J-1 visa. I know someone who came from Russia on a J-1 visa and the US government is very, very strict about J-1 visa holders going back to their countries. This woman I knew did not want to go back to Russia, and she was able to stay here for quite a long time. I'm not sure of all the details or how she managed to stay here for so long, but she eventually was forced to leave. Luckily, she married a Belgian, and she will become a Belgian citizen, but according to her, she can never become a US citizen/legal resident until she fulfills the 2 years in Russia, even if she gets Belgian citizenship. I think she can visit the US, however.

I applied as an at-large both times for the Fulbright ETA, but the second time, I actually wrote to my university and asked if I could apply through them. However, because I graduated a few years ago, they told me I couldn't, but they did have someone in the honors program read over my statements. This was super helpful, and I don't know what I didn't do it sooner! I recommend anyone applying as an at-large contact your university and see if they can provide any guidance. I know most, if not all universities love to brag on their former students, so I would be surprised if they couldn't help. I actually was invited to an awards ceremony and got a letter from the president, which surprised me, because I graduated a few years ago. Some other good advice I got from the person that read my statements. She told me to try to write about things that no one else could write about, which sounds obvious, but hearing that advice really helped me. I think in my original applications, I went on too much about improving my German and as she told me, "everyone wants to improve their German!" so I cut most of that out of my essay and only mentioned it once or twice. Another thing my reviewer liked about my application was that I mentioned that I changed my major to German my senior year. Not many people can say that, so things like that can make you stand out. She also told me that the personal statement is more of an academic history, not really personal, so that statement ended up being heavily edited. I also made my future plans really concrete, even though in reality, I'm still not 100% sure what I want to do. I know I was wishy washy on this in my past applications. Hope that helps! I still think the best advice is not to give up if you really want a Fulbright. I know the director of the honors program told me that a lot of students ask her if they should apply again, and that I'm a good example of trying again and again isn't insanity, but actually can work. Good luck!

I wanted to pop into this thread and say good luck to everyone applying for a Fulbright. I am going to Austria on a English Teaching Assistantship this coming year. Anyone is welcome to come to me and ask for advice and questions. I've actually applied for a Germany ETA twice and the Austrian ETA three times and finally got it after the third time. I was rejected outright for a Germany Fulbright and the Austrian USTA when I applied a couple of years ago. I was an alternate last year for Austria, but was never offered a position. And I made it through the first round of the Germany Fulbright this past Spring, but was rejected after that. Luckily I got the Austria USTA the first time! I didn't know if I could handle being an alternate again. My best advice is to not give up after getting rejected and to not just apply for one program. I know you can't apply for multiple countries in a Fulbright, but apply for other programs/grad school/jobs! I feel somewhat like a loser for applying so many times, but I really wanted to teach English in a German speaking country and I worked really hard for this!