lkahmil Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 i have a phone interview with TFA on friday, and theFulbright waiting game has been throwing off my preparation for that!!! ...wait this probably means our advisors will likely know the results by the end of today, right? Freaking out. This means our advisers will know today. Anyone else reading in to their adviser's silence as a rejection??? They'll let us know whether we're in the running, but certainty certainly won't be ours for a while..... Going to answer several posts at once. I can't believe how much all of you are freaking out. I just assumed that I wouldn't get the Fulbright and that either way I wouldn't know for sure until April so I went on with applying to other things and focusing on friends, family, working out, and school work. I honestly did NOT think about it as much as so many of you have. The subject of the email last year was "Your Fulbright Application" and the email was sent by "Fulbright U.S. Student Program" on January 20, 2011. Here are the first two lines of the email I got: "I am pleased to inform you that the National Screening Committee of the Institute of International Education (IIE) has recommended you for a grant under the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the academic year 2011-2012. Your application has been forwarded to the supervising agency abroad for final review. I was awarded a grant (packet arrived in the mail on April 5) and am currently abroad on my Fulbright. I'm not having the more typical experience because my country does not have a Fulbright Commission and there are very few Fulbrighters here at the moment. Anyway, best of luck to you all as you cope with the waiting period. Seriously, you have to find a distraction otherwise waiting until April/May/June is going to do bad things to your health, both physically and mentally. I just got a letter from my advisers stating the offices doesn't get notified until we do... oh brother!!! No help there... I agree with @msafiri... For those of us that make it to the next round... that wait may be unbearable... I have to admit, I feel a lot better knowing that it is going to be tomorrow... When I first read the post about the notification being tomorrow a rush of nervousness came over me... But knowing something is making me feel better... Knowing something is better than nothing at all... Now when tomorrow gets here I don't know if I will be so calm. But for now! I don't have to check my e-mail because I know it will be tomorrow! Thanks for the relief!!! Good Luck to everyone here!!! The fact we have made it this far speaks volumes!!
lkahmil Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 Oh my, it's almost here! I've been pretty calm throughout this waiting game because I've had so much going on, but I have a feeling these next 36 hours or so are going to keep me quite distracted from everything I should be doing. I'm glad it will be Thursday because my birthday is on Friday, and if I don't get recommended , I would prefer to just forget it and move forward celebrating something that involves no merit at all. Good luck to everyone! Happy Birthday by the way!! May this be the perfect gift!
T Pain Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 So...still nobody reading this thread is applying to Belgium/Lux?...
Jahiliyya Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 Going to answer several posts at once. I can't believe how much all of you are freaking out. I just assumed that I wouldn't get the Fulbright and that either way I wouldn't know for sure until April so I went on with applying to other things and focusing on friends, family, working out, and school work. I honestly did NOT think about it as much as so many of you have. The subject of the email last year was "Your Fulbright Application" and the email was sent by "Fulbright U.S. Student Program" on January 20, 2011. Here are the first two lines of the email I got: "I am pleased to inform you that the National Screening Committee of the Institute of International Education (IIE) has recommended you for a grant under the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the academic year 2011-2012. Your application has been forwarded to the supervising agency abroad for final review. I was awarded a grant (packet arrived in the mail on April 5) and am currently abroad on my Fulbright. I'm not having the more typical experience because my country does not have a Fulbright Commission and there are very few Fulbrighters here at the moment. Anyway, best of luck to you all as you cope with the waiting period. Seriously, you have to find a distraction otherwise waiting until April/May/June is going to do bad things to your health, both physically and mentally. I would echo this. Even if you are recommended in this stage, there is still only a 50% chance of receiving a grant, and you may not get a final yes or no until as late as May or June. In many cases, you will need to accept other graduate school, fellowship, or job offers, simply because the Fulbright process takes so long. Basically, the best thing for your mental well-being is to completely forget about Fulbright, and then see it as a potentially happy surprise if you get a grant notification in April/May.
RusPNI Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 I would echo this. Even if you are recommended in this stage, there is still only a 50% chance of receiving a grant, and you may not get a final yes or no until as late as May or June. In many cases, you will need to accept other graduate school, fellowship, or job offers, simply because the Fulbright process takes so long. Basically, the best thing for your mental well-being is to completely forget about Fulbright, and then see it as a potentially happy surprise if you get a grant notification in April/May. "Only" 50%?! 50% is a very high chance in the world of grant applications. I can't say that I can forget about the Fulbright application. I have had to make plans based on the assumption that I will receive the fellowship. I am in graduate school, and my mentor needs to know whether I plan to be gone for a year or not.
hopelovenow Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 This thread has been extremely helpful. My FPA definitely knows but she won't tell me whether or not I got it. I think she found out by going into the system and not through an email. Hope this helps.
T Pain Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 To all on this thread applying from the Midwestern region around Chicago/Wisconsin/Indiana, please let me know if you know of somebody applying to Belgium. Thanks!
TPliske8711 Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 "Only" 50%?! 50% is a very high chance in the world of grant applications. I can't say that I can forget about the Fulbright application. I have had to make plans based on the assumption that I will receive the fellowship. I am in graduate school, and my mentor needs to know whether I plan to be gone for a year or not. That is a mistake on your part. I too am very much eager to be accepted, however, I have to recognize the limits here. This is a prestigius national (and international) grant. You are competing with many people, all very eager. 50% chance is still 50%, which means the likelihood of it happening and not happening are about the same on an average level. When considering such grants, best not to assume things... its the setup for disaster. bdoll 1
fosgfp Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 Why is my FPA the only one not in the loop??? I have my fingers crossed for notification tonight
lkahmil Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 "Only" 50%?! 50% is a very high chance in the world of grant applications. I can't say that I can forget about the Fulbright application. I have had to make plans based on the assumption that I will receive the fellowship. I am in graduate school, and my mentor needs to know whether I plan to be gone for a year or not. That is a mistake on your part. I too am very much eager to be accepted, however, I have to recognize the limits here. This is a prestigius national (and international) grant. You are competing with many people, all very eager. 50% chance is still 50%, which means the likelihood of it happening and not happening are about the same on an average level. When considering such grants, best not to assume things... its the setup for disaster. I understand where RusPNI is coming from... Many people have their lives on hold not because they are waiting... I mean yes it's 50% but it's something... It's better than nothing... As I read this forum, I notice people putting other programs on hold until they hear about the Fulbright. Many people have a lot riding on this decision. I just hope the people on this forum can be just as supportive for those that don't make and for those that will be waiting during the next process.
lkahmil Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 Why is my FPA the only one not in the loop??? I have my fingers crossed for notification tonight They are not the only one... My adviser is not in the loop either... They have already told me they don't know until we know..
Molly Rowland Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 It's hard to know what to do in this situation. The thing is, you kind of do have to be under the assumption that you will receive it and make plans accordingly. On the other hand, it would be foolish not to have a back-up plan. It's just so difficult because they notify you so late! I personally am thankful that German lets the winners know in mid-March. That at least gives me a few months to plan before I fly off to Europe!
Jahiliyya Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 I understand where RusPNI is coming from... Many people have their lives on hold not because they are waiting... I mean yes it's 50% but it's something... It's better than nothing... As I read this forum, I notice people putting other programs on hold until they hear about the Fulbright. Many people have a lot riding on this decision. I just hope the people on this forum can be just as supportive for those that don't make and for those that will be waiting during the next process. The problem is, this initial stage and notification doesn't really help in clarifying life/academic plans, since it's not actually the decision. If you are not recommended, then you can carry on with fall-back plans. But if you are recommended, and face a wait that may last until June, very few other programs will you let you just stay "on hold." I'm on a Fulbright right now, but because I didn't hear until a week before graduation, I had already accepted a grad school offer. I do wish everyone the best, but I think I would have gone crazy if I hadn't done my best to push it to the back of my mind, given the odds and the ambiguous timeline.
jeb266 Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 Happy Birthday by the way!! May this be the perfect gift! Thanks, Ikahmil. Based on your location and the message you sent out about what you received from your FPA, I believe we are at the same university
jng1520 Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 Does anyone know the approximate time frame in which the emails will be sent?
MarcelloMarcelli Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 I think it's pretty safe to assume we won't hear until tomorrow, especially since they also notified on the 20th last year. Happy to be wrong of course -- but I think it's fairly certain. Good luck, everyone. And, Jahiliyya, I agree. Of course it's important -- but it's better to proceed as if it didn't exist until and unless it's actually in your pocket.
OliviaKate84 Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 One thing I want to suggest (as I am telling myself the same) is that you have to have faith that what will be will be. I am sure that everyone on this board and those just reading, are extremely talented and ambitious individuals, or else you wouldn't have applied to for a Fulbright in the first place. If you don't get it, it just wasnt meant to be, and you have to believe that there are other, perhaps even better, things around the next corner. Life is often unexpected. Congrats to everyone who applied and is hanging in there.
Molly Rowland Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 Anyone who is applying for the German ETA know of any statistics? I know that they have 140 spots, and that there are approx. 350 or so applicants for these positions. But how many are actually recommended for the second round?
lkahmil Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 The problem is, this initial stage and notification doesn't really help in clarifying life/academic plans, since it's not actually the decision. If you are not recommended, then you can carry on with fall-back plans. But if you are recommended, and face a wait that may last until June, very few other programs will you let you just stay "on hold." I'm on a Fulbright right now, but because I didn't hear until a week before graduation, I had already accepted a grad school offer. I do wish everyone the best, but I think I would have gone crazy if I hadn't done my best to push it to the back of my mind, given the odds and the ambiguous timeline. Doesn't it all depend on the program and the country you apply for? I mean someone said that Germany lets people know Mid-March... For argument sake, lets hope they applied for the countries that won't give them the late notification. In addition, help those in tough decisions and need help coping under the pressure of it all!!
lkahmil Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 Thanks, Ikahmil. Based on your location and the message you sent out about what you received from your FPA, I believe we are at the same university It just may be the Chicago area! lol
TPliske8711 Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 (edited) Anyone who is applying for the German ETA know of any statistics? I know that they have 140 spots, and that there are approx. 350 or so applicants for these positions. But how many are actually recommended for the second round? The first round accepts about 1.5x the total number of spaces. So the first round accepts atound 210 people or s0. This is then reduced to 140 during the second round. So if the number is the same as last year (350) then the chances of acceptance are rather high. But I presume there is also a university factor that is to be taken into account. I presume there is a university quota system whereby they accept a certain amount students proportional to the university so that the top tier schools do not dominate... a sort of equal opportunity thing so to speak. Edited January 18, 2012 by TheodPliske8711
Jahiliyya Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 Doesn't it all depend on the program and the country you apply for? I mean someone said that Germany lets people know Mid-March... For argument sake, lets hope they applied for the countries that won't give them the late notification. In addition, help those in tough decisions and need help coping under the pressure of it all!! Some countries are quite early (Germany), others are notoriously slow and problematic (Turkey). The other thing to keep in mind is the funding situation--I was told afterwards that a large reason for the long delays I and the applicants for many countries experienced last year was due to uncertainty over the budget situation.
Molly Rowland Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 Thanks, Theod! I just want it to be tomorrow already!!!
Molly Rowland Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 But who knows if they'll actually notify us tomorrow....
hi_there Posted January 18, 2012 Posted January 18, 2012 One thing I want to suggest (as I am telling myself the same) is that you have to have faith that what will be will be. I am sure that everyone on this board and those just reading, are extremely talented and ambitious individuals, or else you wouldn't have applied to for a Fulbright in the first place. If you don't get it, it just wasnt meant to be, and you have to believe that there are other, perhaps even better, things around the next corner. Life is often unexpected. Congrats to everyone who applied and is hanging in there. i totally agree and when i was working on the application, i went through an experience that put me in that frame of mind. after getting denied from a possible host institution, my first choice affiliation contacted me four or five months after i had sent an email and stated that she was happy to work with me which was quite the surprise. even if we don't get past the round tomorrow, be proud of the work you've done this far. i know i am. and it's true, getting it all out on paper, putting in the effort helped me to cement what i want to be doing and what i need to be doing in order to get there. don't let one 'no' discourage you from realizing the projects you need to make. there will be a 'yes' soon enough. also, i'm incredibly fascinated by the projects people are proposing. if you start/have a blog about it, link it someday please!
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