jg33

I'll have to wait until the final statistics are posted on the Boren website, but I am going to venture a guess that the fellowship to grant ratio was much higher this year than in past years (most likely due to the poor economy and people being unable to enter the workforce). Of course, we could just have a poor sampling of applicants, but I don't think this is the case. If you look at the number of people that were accepted after being sent a follow-up email, there is quite a difference for different types of applicants. For fellowship applicants, it was around 35%, but for scholarship applicants, it was around 60%. We'll just have to wait and see what the official statistics look like. I'll post again when I have them. Another scenario could be that there were a lot more people forwarded to the 'finals' for fellowships than there were for scholarships, but I don't see why this would be...

This echoes what other successful applicants have told me from my university. There were a few people that were awarded a scholarship or a fellowship without receiving a follow-up email. But, it should be noted that receiving a follow-up email is definitely a good sign.

No problem! I'm glad I was able to help.

If you haven't emailed your results in or posted them here yet, please do so. There are still quite a few blank spots on the spreadsheet. Thanks!

Dang, sorry to hear this! I didn't think eligibility for Fulbright hinged on financial status, I'd check into that if I was you.

Good idea! I had just started to do this when you posted. I added two sheets to the spreadsheet, so there are three total now. One for everybody, one for fellowships, and one for scholarships. Then, I'll be calculating the numbers from there. Alright, just finished doing the numbers... You can see the numbers on Sheets 2 and 3 of the spreadsheet (Fellowships and Scholarships, respectively). Each column has its own 'description', and the percentage of the column shows the number of applicants that fell into each 'description'. So far, there has been one person who did not receive an email update that ended up being an alternate. Everyone else who didn't receive an email update has been rejected.

No problem! The acceptances make me happy, so keep those coming!

Can you email (boren2011.2012@gmail.com) or post your information here for the spreadsheet? Thanks!

Okay, well, good luck to you! Please post your results when you hear them, that way I can update the spreadsheet. I agree with your idea about the future career... Unless if we plan on going into intelligence of some sort, the language skills we develop may go by the wayside. Most scientists communicate in English, regardless of their native language.

I felt like I was a pretty strong candidate as well. I have a small amount of language experience, but my advisor didn't seem to think that was a huge deal, so long as you show an ability and desire to learn (this doesn't seem to be the case though). I was thinking other parts of my application would make up for it... I have been working with, but not for, the federal government for the past two and a half years as a student researcher in a field that was identical to my research proposal (GPS). I had a hard time explaining my project as well (hardest part of the application for me as well).

I definitely understand where you are coming from. I'm kind of interested to see what the statistics end up looking like for everyone when this is all said and done with... I am an engineering student as well, and was also rejected. If all of the science/engineering people get rejected, I'm going to be thoroughly confused because they were asking for people like us to apply. From a language point-of-view, I think the majority of science/engineering students are going to have a much weaker application. There is really no way for us to incorporate language studies into our degree plans because we don't receive credit for them (at least it is that way at my school), unless if we want to take 6 years to finish our degree. For many of us, it's not feasible to spend a semester or a summer in a language immersion program because we are expected to get internships that will prepare us for the job market upon graduation. Just my two-cents though.

Can you post your information for the spreadsheet? Unless if you are already on there... Some usernames are portions of actual names (from the emails you sent me), and not the username on the forum, so it is kind of confusing...

First rejection here. Good luck to all the other candidates! Please post your updates on the forum or email them to boren2011.2012@gmail.com, so I can update the spreadsheet! Plan B for me is graduate school and a research assistantship. I have a GRA already, so no big deal on the rejection (although it would have been nice to win). I'll try again next year!

If I was you, I'd move along with other plans as if you have no chance of getting the scholarship. That way, it is out of sight, out of mind. If you do get it, it will be a nice surprise!

My bad. Didn't see you. Congratulations!