Fulbright 2010-2011

[Sally]

For those applicants hoping to go to Germany - does everyone speak German?? (I don't speak a word :-( just curious).

Also, anyone here apply for a DAAD grant as well?

To weigh in on the language issue, I'm a finalist for Spain. At the time of my application, my only experience with the language was three years rusty of high school Spanish. (It's been eight years since then). And a little bit of self study that mostly consisted of listening to audio CDs in my car. I was (and am) by no means fluent. On my application I said I planned to continue my self study in order to improve my Spanish before the fall.

Well, I tried that for awhile, but realized that I needed more structure to really learn. So, I ended up enrolling in a formal class at a local community college. It has been totally worth it -- I had never looked into community college classes before.. but it was only $240 and I am learning a ton. So, for those of us who'll need more commonly taught languages (Spanish, French, German, and maybe Chinese), that's a cheap option!

Part of my motivation for going to Spain is to learn the language, and I mentioned that in my application. (Also, part of my proposal involves taking language courses while in Spain.)

[mogo]

anyone hear about uk interviews yet?

[eastokes]

A UK finalist from my school had been contacted for an interview as of early last week (ca. Feb. 21).

[lale108]

I spoke with one of the program managers at IIE and she said that notifications from countries differ from year to year so it can be hard to predict when you'll hear back. However, I would contact the program manager for Macau and see if she/he can tell you where they are in the selection process. A week and a half ago I contacted the program manager for Turkey, and she told me she had not heard of any updates yet, but that I can e-mail her periodically to see if there are.

did you email rachel holskin? have you contacted her again?

[Wagwan]

did you email rachel holskin? have you contacted her again?

I have not. I was thinking of contacting her again sometime this week. Have you contacted her?

[Sally]

Guys, chill out! You'll hear when you hear! I would just assume it'll be late April/early May. If you hear earlier than that, then yay!

[zachidacki]

Hey,

Another question. I currently have apps out to Johns Hopkins-SAIS, Syracuse-PD, and Georgetown MSFS for my masters (I will attempt to defer if I get the Fulbright as well as get into one of these programs, but I may be counting my chickens before they're hatched). My question is, since I probably won't hear from these programs until mid-March would it be a good idea to let their respective admissions offices know that I am an ETA finalist for Macau to bolster my application? or would it hurt me in the end because they might not want to offer me admission if I am just going to defer if I end up getting the Fulbright?

thanks

Hi there, I'm a current Fulbright ETA in Belgium, so I empathize with the wait you are all going through. In response to the quoted post, I would definitely e-mail them. The fact you are a Finalist is a huge accomplishment, and many graduate programs will take this into consideration during the admissions process. I did the same thing last year and was admitted to all my schools. Unfortunately, I could defer admissions but not funding. I ended up applying this year while abroad to different schools and got really great funding. So, you could defer, apply again to other schools as a full-fledged Fulbright Scholar, and your application will be that much stronger.

And just for some reference: I received a notification by snail mail that I had been awarded the grant the first week of April, and it came directly from the Fulbright Commission in Belgium. They sent it to my permanent address (not the address I was currently living at), so you will have to keep your eye on two mailboxes.

Good luck!

[BMCGirl10]

I'm so excited that it's finally March! Some of the finalists from the 2008-2009 round heard back about their Fulbright status as early as March 16th! Anyway I just wanted to remind everybody to use Sally's fabulous Google spreadsheet! You can fill in information like the country you applied to and the date of notification.

Please remember that the spreadsheet is only for FINAL notifications - so whether or not you've been accepted/declined/waitlisted for a grant NOT if you're a finalist for the country. I think the sheet will be really helpful for next year's group - so they can see when to expect notification from their country. Not that it'll make them any less frazzled.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=taWW8xiKve1Tm6Ow6bHdhYA&hl=en#

[mogo]

are they still notifying people for uk interviews?

[knownothing]

That also sounds like an excellent project! Was migration studies not an option? Ah well, sounds like something that falls vaguely under anthropology, which tends to be a vague field in general, haha. I love Boudha...hoping to be living there for the next year! How is your Nepali language? Good luck, I'm right there with you--here's to getting the grants and meeting in Nepal.

I honestly have no idea. But I'm totally with you on the anthropology thing. Way too broad. Plus the way I was looking at it, it seemed more human geography than anything else. Bah. Who knows. My Nepali's alright. I've been taking lessons for awhile. Last year I was decent, had to be for my other research project. Though at the time I was also learning Tibetan which just turned out to be impossible. So really compared to my Tibetan skills, Nepali definitely wins hahaha. How about you? I'm very seriously contemplating living in Boudha again...even though it's kinda far from where my project would take place. I just loved that stupa! it was so lovely.

Edited March 1, 2010 by knownothing

[Lauren287]

Hello All!

I am so excited that I found this chat from fellow Fulbright applicants! I wish you all the best of luck. I think the worst part is this waiting game. But, it is already March! Time goes by so fast. We will get through it!

I am a finalist for the ETA in Brazil. Does anyone have any experience with applying for a fulbright to Brazil? Or, does anyone know another person who applied to Brazil? Let me know! Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[Pooja_2010]

Hey everyone!

So glad to have found this forum...we can all be impatient with each other! I found out at the end of January that I am a finalist for India (research grant). Does anyone know (either from talking to an advisor or from past years) how long it normally takes for India to send out their decisions? Also, is anyone applying to medical schools on this forum?

Good luck to everyone....hang in there, we'll get through this

[mmclean0260]

Hello All!

I am so excited that I found this chat from fellow Fulbright applicants! I wish you all the best of luck. I think the worst part is this waiting game. But, it is already March! Time goes by so fast. We will get through it!

I am a finalist for the ETA in Brazil. Does anyone have any experience with applying for a fulbright to Brazil? Or, does anyone know another person who applied to Brazil? Let me know! Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Hey,

Im not a finalist for Brazil, but I lived in Minas Gerias for a year in high school (rotary youth exchange) and spent last summer interning at the US Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro. I cant answer anything really about the Fulbright Commission in Brazil, although I know the Fulbrighters in Rio this summer worked with Pontifícia Universidade Católica. However if you have any questions about Brazilian culture, Portuguese, living in Brazil....ect just let me know!

-mike

[Sally]

I'm so excited that it's finally March! Some of the finalists from the 2008-2009 round heard back about their Fulbright status as early as March 16th! Anyway I just wanted to remind everybody to use Sally's fabulous Google spreadsheet! You can fill in information like the country you applied to and the date of notification.

Please remember that the spreadsheet is only for FINAL notifications - so whether or not you've been accepted/declined/waitlisted for a grant NOT if you're a finalist for the country. I think the sheet will be really helpful for next year's group - so they can see when to expect notification from their country. Not that it'll make them any less frazzled.

https://spreadsheets...w6bHdhYA&hl=en#

I can't wait to make a bunch of cool charts based on the data! It's going to be awesome! haha

[Venkatmr99]

Hi All, I'm so glad to have found this forum. This is awesome.

I'm a full grant finalist for Switzerland. I received paperwork from the Swiss embassy in mid-December. Anyone else experience similar? Different? Any idea on when Switzerland notifies?

Thanks, and good luck to everyone!

[lale108]

Hello All!

I am so excited that I found this chat from fellow Fulbright applicants! I wish you all the best of luck. I think the worst part is this waiting game. But, it is already March! Time goes by so fast. We will get through it!

I am a finalist for the ETA in Brazil. Does anyone have any experience with applying for a fulbright to Brazil? Or, does anyone know another person who applied to Brazil? Let me know! Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Two people from my school got the Fulbright to Brazil last year. They found out early, right after spring break, on 3/16! So you might be hearing back in a matter of weeks!!

[holahnyoung]

Hi All, I'm so glad to have found this forum. This is awesome.

I'm a full grant finalist for Switzerland. I received paperwork from the Swiss embassy in mid-December. Anyone else experience similar? Different? Any idea on when Switzerland notifies?

Thanks, and good luck to everyone!

Is it normal to receive paperwork from the Swiss side that early? I thought most applicants were contacted after the final decisions were made. Earlier in the thread, some German applicants got word from the German side though so the procedure probably is different for every country. But it can't hurt to be hearing from them so early on. Best of luckk!

[holahnyoung]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently an applicant for a research and study grant to Germany but I was an applicant last year as well so I thought I'd lend my rusted two cents.

Regarding how you will be informed, I was an "alternate" and my first communication after the first round was via snail mail, a simple letter from the IIE that frankly stopped my heart for a second (quick note, while it was definitely an honor to be named an alternate candidate, it was quite possibly the worst route cause they don't ever tell you "no", they just say maybe all the way through the summer - obviously I didn't get it in the end). I received that letter during the first week of April so I'd expect something similar this year. Also, I believe the admissions are on a rolling basis (per someone at the Fulbright office in NY) so surely we'll hear about successful grantees as soon as they start rolling out, guessing sometime in March.

Regarding the passport photo email, I downloaded the CC list (can't believe she didn't BLIND CC!!!) and messed with it in excel and indeed there are roughly 220 names on it. Kind of discouraging since there really should have been a max of 120 - 160 per their email right? (the website says 90 but if you click on it 10 are non research grants). I received the same email last year however they definitely BCC'd everyone so no clue how many there were.

I believe this was mentioned already but just wanted to reiterate - there are actually two boards left to clear ater the first round. The in country one (so in my case Germany's) and one more here in the states. This is directly from someone in the NY office. She was super friendly and said most people don't realize that.

Hope this was helpful.

For those applicants hoping to go to Germany - does everyone speak German?? (I don't speak a word :-( just curious).

Also, anyone here apply for a DAAD grant as well?

Kudos for fessing up that you messed with 220 names in an email that was accidentally not bcced. Because clearly everyone else on this forum probably would have done the same.

[Venkatmr99]

Is it normal to receive paperwork from the Swiss side that early? I thought most applicants were contacted after the final decisions were made. Earlier in the thread, some German applicants got word from the German side though so the procedure probably is different for every country. But it can't hurt to be hearing from them so early on. Best of luckk!

My FPA on campus checked with other FPA's... apparently it is normal to receive the paperwork in mid-December... it's just that no one remembers (or has an idea) as to when candidates are notified of their final status. I might give Ms. Holskin a call today.

[Lauren287]

Two people from my school got the Fulbright to Brazil last year. They found out early, right after spring break, on 3/16! So you might be hearing back in a matter of weeks!!

Wow, thank you for the info! I appreciate it. I cannot believe how soon that is! Do you know if they received research grants or ETA grants? Do you know where they were placed? Thank you so much again for your reply!

[Venkatmr99]

By the way, I looked back at my December letter -- it said "applicants *may* be interviewed in early January..." and then describes a brief, informal interview. Did any Swiss applicants get interviewed yet? AH!

[Sally]

Kudos for fessing up that you messed with 220 names in an email that was accidentally not bcced. Because clearly everyone else on this forum probably would have done the same.

"Messed with" means he counted all the names. What's wrong with that? Not like he e-mailed everyone, or sold the addresses to an advertising agency...

If I were a Germany finalist, I would have counted the names too! Wouldn't you?

Also, I would mind slightly that my e-mail address was being shared with hundreds of people.. but if someone else mistakenly got my name among a list, I wouldn't mind if they counted it!

I'm confused about what you're implying here... ?

[fondue_lover]

By the way, I looked back at my December letter -- it said "applicants *may* be interviewed in early January..." and then describes a brief, informal interview. Did any Swiss applicants get interviewed yet? AH!

I've been following this forum for weeks, but now that another Swiss finalist has made him-/herself known, I think it's time I join the conversation! Venkatmer99 - it's nice to meet you! I'm also a full grant finalist for Switzerland, and yes, I also received a request for additional materials back in December. I read somewhere that they request additional documents from anyone they're considering for the finalist round.

Not to scare you, but I was contacted by someone at the Swiss Embassy for an interview in mid-January. It was merely to discuss my language background, because apparently I'm being considered for an additional grant for intensive language study over the summer (if you check the Swiss Fulbright website, it says in the language requirements section that some Swiss Fulbrighters might get this). We chatted about a couple of other things, but mainly it was just about the language thing. And yes, it was really informal! I really wouldn't stress about not getting a call. Maybe your knowledge of French/German/Italian is much stronger than mine!

Also, I contacted a past Swiss Fulbrighter several weeks ago, and she told me that she was informed of a final decision in early April. But, that was two years ago, so I don't know if that will still be the case this year, but hopefully it will. The guy I spoke with at the Swiss Embassy in January told me to expect a notification in May, but I think they just say that because its the latest time you would expect to hear a notification (as in, you might hear earlier, but don't freak out if you don't).

We should definitely exchange emails so we can commisserate/freak out together!

[Power2Change]

"Messed with" means he counted all the names. What's wrong with that? Not like he e-mailed everyone, or sold the addresses to an advertising agency...

If I were a Germany finalist, I would have counted the names too! Wouldn't you?

Also, I would mind slightly that my e-mail address was being shared with hundreds of people.. but if someone else mistakenly got my name among a list, I wouldn't mind if they counted it!

I'm confused about what you're implying here... ?

I'm the Germany applicant who "messed" with the BCC'd email so I thought I'd clarify and clear up the confusion (particularly for the person who said "kudos" because I'm confused about the implications as well). By "mess" I simply meant I quickly copied and pasted all the emails into Excel, transposed them, filtered them and then simply looked at the number of rows - 220 (I removed duplicates as well so they were all unique emails).

I'm not going to post the excel file cause I think that'd be wrong - kind of like it was probably wrong to BCC everyone in the first place :-) All I will say is that the list of schools that the applicants come from (determined by cutting off the first half of each email, or what comes before the @ in each address) was intimidating to say the least - Berkeleys, Harvards, Princetons, Browns, etc. etc. I don't hail from a school like that so it was intimidating to say the least.

Finally, before thinking I have way too much time on my hands, this all took about two minutes with Excel (I'm a financial analyst who works with Excel all day long) - so I didn't actually sit there and count 220 emails :-)

Cheers

[der Träumer]

I'm the Germany applicant who "messed" with the BCC'd email so I thought I'd clarify and clear up the confusion (particularly for the person who said "kudos" because I'm confused about the implications as well). By "mess" I simply meant I quickly copied and pasted all the emails into Excel, transposed them, filtered them and then simply looked at the number of rows - 220 (I removed duplicates as well so they were all unique emails).

I'm not going to post the excel file cause I think that'd be wrong - kind of like it was probably wrong to BCC everyone in the first place :-) All I will say is that the list of schools that the applicants come from (determined by cutting off the first half of each email, or what comes before the @ in each address) was intimidating to say the least - Berkeleys, Harvards, Princetons, Browns, etc. etc. I don't hail from a school like that so it was intimidating to say the least.

Finally, before thinking I have way too much time on my hands, this all took about two minutes with Excel (I'm a financial analyst who works with Excel all day long) - so I didn't actually sit there and count 220 emails :-)

Cheers

Meh....Don't feel bad, I did it too. Being resourceful is not a crime!