Fulbright 2015-2016

[cloudysky16]

I wonder if there's a way to figure out the typical gap between last interview date and notification date, i.e. how long it takes the State Department to approve. For Belgium, Luxembourg, the gap was 14 days or less (the two people who were accepted may not have been the last interview). But for Russia and Greece, they had interviews in the first week of February and presumably still haven't heard yet. Are they still interviewing as well? Thoughts?

[RosyPosy68]

For those of you that were worrying about transcripts, I just came across this on one of my many re-reads of the Fulbright website.

 

 *Please note that IIE cannot confirm the receipt of individual transcripts. IIE will notify you after the listed deadline if a required transcript is missing.

 

So if you didn't get a notification, you're all good!

[alifbaarbie]

I wonder if there's a way to figure out the typical gap between last interview date and notification date, i.e. how long it takes the State Department to approve. For Belgium, Luxembourg, the gap was 14 days or less (the two people who were accepted may not have been the last interview). But for Russia and Greece, they had interviews in the first week of February and presumably still haven't heard yet. Are they still interviewing as well? Thoughts?

I know that interviews for Greece were happening up until Feb. 19th, maybe even after that. But I have not heard back as of 4:00PM 3/5/2015.

[RNM2015]

No emails yet : ( I literally checked all day.

[meowsica]

the fact that belgium/luxembourg were notified today when in previous years they haven't found out until late march-early april (even may!) has upended my peaceful façade. i was all prepared to hold in the anxiety and obsessive e-mail checking for another couple of weeks at least, since my country (south korea) has a history of late march notification... now that's all in the trash. anything can happen. past record indicates nothing. my (admittedly fake) zen outlook has been disrupted. thanks a lot, fulbright.   hmph!

[danmuji]

the fact that belgium/luxembourg were notified today when in previous years they haven't found out until late march-early april (even may!) has upended my peaceful façade. i was all prepared to hold in the anxiety and obsessive e-mail checking for another couple of weeks at least, since my country (south korea) has a history of late march notification... now that's all in the trash. anything can happen. past record indicates nothing. my (admittedly fake) zen outlook has been disrupted. thanks a lot, fulbright. hmph!

Another Korea ETA applicant! Hi!!! Best of luck!

[irvine36]

the fact that belgium/luxembourg were notified today when in previous years they haven't found out until late march-early april (even may!) has upended my peaceful façade. i was all prepared to hold in the anxiety and obsessive e-mail checking for another couple of weeks at least, since my country (south korea) has a history of late march notification... now that's all in the trash. anything can happen. past record indicates nothing. my (admittedly fake) zen outlook has been disrupted. thanks a lot, fulbright.   hmph!

 

I completely agree! I wasn't planned on checking (Germany ETA) until at least mid March since last year applicants seemed to get notified around late March/Early April. Now that countries are starting to send out acceptances, I'll probably be checking every day!

[georgesand]

I wonder if there's a way to figure out the typical gap between last interview date and notification date, i.e. how long it takes the State Department to approve. For Belgium, Luxembourg, the gap was 14 days or less (the two people who were accepted may not have been the last interview). But for Russia and Greece, they had interviews in the first week of February and presumably still haven't heard yet. Are they still interviewing as well? Thoughts?

 

when I interviewed, the panel told me that they had one more interview after me and then they were finished. there were presumably not a ton of finalists for belgium - maybe 4-6? - so it's probably not an accurate way to guess, since lots of countries will take weeks to interview everyone. and they told me that they'd get back to me "in the next few days" but it turned out being about two weeks!

 

also my email came from belgium, so it was in the morning for me (EST).

[bailey24]

Hi Everyone!

 

An eager Germany ETA applicant here.

 

I wanted to pick everyone's brains about three fellowship opportunities. I've applied for the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX), Germany ETA, and Austria USTA (which is Fulbright- sponsored). I've been awarded the CBYX, and I need to let them know about my decision by March 18th. 

 

Does anyone have any insight about which of the three programs would be best, if I am fortunate enough to get them all? I want to attend graduate school for education policy the following year. 

[meowsica]

Another Korea ETA applicant! Hi!!! Best of luck!

 

graduate degree grant applicant, actually! but it's always nice to know others interested in korea, as well good luck to you too!!!! fingers crossed that we find out sooner rather than later.

[bailey24]

I talked to my mom yesterday and told her I'm a finalist. She wasn't happy. 

She called back yesterday and said that she had thought about it more, and she was proud of me and would support me if I went. But she still didn't want me to go. 

She didn't mention anything about my dad, so I asked what his thoughts were, she just said "he's really upset."

I hadn't kept it a secret from them that I applied, I guess they just assumed I wouldn't get it since the chances are so slim.

I'm super close with my parents so this is pretty tough for me. I started having self-doubts after the conversation. I have perfectly good other options, why should I put my family through this? What if they're right and it's horrible?

 

Is anyone else dealing with family or loved ones that aren't so thrilled about your decision to apply for the Fulbright?

My parents were less than thrilled with my decision to forego law school acceptances and do Teach for America. Eventually, they cam around. If you a persistent and explain why you want to do a Fulbright, I am confident that eventually they will see your enthusiasm and embrace it. That's what happened with my folks. Good luck!

[bailey24]

Hi laurajean_p! I also applied for the USTA but haven't had any luck finding stats either... I'm going to try to do some research now, so I'll post here if I find anything.

Hi! 

 

Have either of you found out any additional information on the USTA? I've been recommended for the ETA in Germany, and got the CBYX in Germany. Anxiously await ETA decisions!

[bailey24]

Hello! I have also applied for both the ETA and the USTA programs and am really happy to have found some other people freaking out, however slightly, as well! 

My preferences were BW, NRW, and Sachsen for Germany.  

For the USTA App I chose Vorarlberg and Tirol. The only stats I could find were this year's placement numbers by state, but I could not find anything about total applicant numbers.

 

Do we know for sure that Germany will get back to us in March? In the past I know it has been this early, but I'm kind of nervous about hearing about Fulbright AFTER the April due dates for the USTA acceptance (in case I get accepted to that program). Does anyone have any reassurance? 

Do you remember where you found those stats about this year's placement numbers by state?

[bailey24]

Awesome!!! Where were you placed? I have a very dear friend who I met this year, and he is one of the participants from Germany in the same program! 

If either of you would be willing to weigh in on CBYX vs. Fulbright ETA in Germany, I'd be really, really grateful. 

[RosyPosy68]

If either of you would be willing to weigh in on CBYX vs. Fulbright ETA in Germany, I'd be really, really grateful.

Hi! I don't know a whole lot about either, but I will send you a message in a little bit! Anything I know about CBYX is based on the experiences of a German participant in the US. As far as the Fulbright goes, I am an applicant to the UK rather than Germany, and I don't know anyone who has done Fulbright to Germany. It seems to me that they at both prestigious and both based on promoting cultural exchange and understanding. If it were me, Fulbright would be my first choice. But that is ONLY because CBYX is, by definition, for young professionals, and I'm not at a point in my field where I could enter the workforce in a job I actually wanted. I also love language, so teaching english and learning german would be perfect for me. I think it probably comes down to "fit". What do you think each program is looking for in a participant, and which one fits what you can give and what

Experience you are looking for.

[taiwantroubadour]

dear fulbright false deity/idol(s),

 

could you please bestow us with some friday acceptances to get us through the weekend? pretty please?

 

mkay, coolthxbye

[larajean_p]

Do you remember where you found those stats about this year's placement numbers by state?

 

Scroll down to the bottom for current participants: https://www.usta-austria.at/site/resources/participants?SWS=9ptr8ieo6pturbbvurivb20bd5

[irvine36]

Hi! 

 

Have either of you found out any additional information on the USTA? I've been recommended for the ETA in Germany, and got the CBYX in Germany. Anxiously await ETA decisions!

 

 

Hi bailey24,

 

Congrats on the acceptance! It’s nice to know that one way or another you’re going to be in Europe in the fall! I'm not personally familiar with the CBYX for young professionals, however a girl I knew my freshman year at college took a gap year to do the CBYX youth program before starting school. Granted it's a bit of a different environment/feel than the professional program, but she loved it. She came back fluent in German due to the language classes they provide and from living with a host family.

 

I haven’t heard anything yet about the USTA – I think notifications are supposed to be sent starting April 1. Who knows if I’ll get accepted to either one, but I’m not sure what I’d choose if I’m lucky enough to get chosen for both the USTA and ETA. I’d probably go with the Fulbright because of my ties to Germany and the prestige it holds… but I’m still not sure! Either scholarship would be amazing.

 

Do you know anyone who has done the USTA before? It sounds like a great experience, but I don’t know too much about it aside from reading the website and from filling out everything on the application.

Edited March 6, 2015 by irvine36

[TheExile0901]

dear fulbright false deity/idol(s),

 

You're calling them false, meanwhile I've got a shrine set up with incense...

[alifbaarbie]

You're calling them false, meanwhile I've got a shrine set up with incense...

 LOL. Day 4.... *law and order dun dun*

[Damis]

Hi Everyone!

 

An eager Germany ETA applicant here.

 

I wanted to pick everyone's brains about three fellowship opportunities. I've applied for the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX), Germany ETA, and Austria USTA (which is Fulbright- sponsored). I've been awarded the CBYX, and I need to let them know about my decision by March 18th. 

 

Does anyone have any insight about which of the three programs would be best, if I am fortunate enough to get them all? I want to attend graduate school for education policy the following year. 

 

I did CBYX in HS and Germany ETA.

 

It depends on what you want from the experience, but ultimately as an ETA you'll be teaching at a school while with the CBYX you'll be a student/intern. The Fulbright is much more known name recognition wise, but if you don't care about that you're good.

 

I don't know for sure, but is it even guaranteed that you can do an education type internship for that portion of the scholarship? CBYX seems to be a bit regimented while Fulbright offers you a bunch of flexibility. For instance, I taught, did research, and interned during my time. This was mostly because I only had to teach 15 hours a week with Fulbright.

 

CBYX is awesome though. It changed my life. I wouldn't be typing on here without it. Came out the perfect time in High School.

 

I don't check this near enough, but feel free to PM me if you have more questions!

[MikeP3121]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I wanted to share a cool project my students in Bulgaria are starting! We're trying to raise $25,000 to build a school through the Pencils of Promise organization. Read more about our story here, and click follow on the blog to join us on our journey! Shoot me a note if you'd like to get more involved or help spread the word!

michael.j.pelehach@gmail.com

 

Any Bulgaria ETAs on here? Let me know if you have questions about the program in Bulgaria! I'm happy to be a resource.

[cloudysky16]

Alright guys, who wants to waste time learning about the selection process this weekend?! I found this online.

 

http://us.fulbrightonline.org/country-review-resources

 

You can find out who was on the NSC committee, some stuff about the FFSB, the ranking system, etc. I should work on my thesis instead of reading this, but ...

[jadesg1]

Alright guys, who wants to waste time learning about the selection process this weekend?! I found this online.

 

http://us.fulbrightonline.org/country-review-resources

 

You can find out who was on the NSC committee, some stuff about the FFSB, the ranking system, etc. I should work on my thesis instead of reading this, but ...

Oh good, I was needing something else to obsessively pore over each night instead of neurotically reading my own Fulbright essays and the country page three separate times before bed. 

[taiwantroubadour]

thanks cloudysky16! like jadesg1 i was suffering from a lack of fresh reading material. (i thought i was the only one who neurotically read my own Fulbright essays and country page before bed.)