Applying for a Fulbright?

Note:  This post, and indeed the entirety of this blog, is written solely by me and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Fulbright committee, IIE or the State Department.

Perhaps you’re graduating from university soon and want to go abroad, but not to teach English.  Maybe you’re planning to apply to graduate school and want to make your application more competitive. Or you’ve been out of school for a few years and want the chance to improve a foreign language and research a specific issue in the region.

These are the types of things the Fulbright program was designed for, and if you have a recent Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, are a US citizen with skills or interest in learning a specific foreign language and a research question that interests you, there’s no reason you shouldn’t apply.  Find out more about the Fulbright program on its website.

In the meantime, here are a few things to keep in mind during the process. 

APPLYING

1. Start early.  You need time to make connections in your host country, get letters and write up a workable project proposal.
   
2.  Prioritize the letter of affiliation.  Even if your host country doesn’t list this document as mandatory, consider it so.  It will set you apart from candidates who haven’t done their homework by showing initiative and a genuine desire to get your feet on the ground as quickly as possible.  If you're not sure who to contact, spend some time searching for organizations, scholars and universities in your host country.
   
3. Complete the language forms.  Get these done, even if you have very weak skills in the language.  Coupled with evidence of language lessons or future coursework, this will be a big plus in your column.
   
4.  Be specific in your project statement.  Provide a timeline to show you have thought through all steps of your research.  Give concrete goals, keeping in mind you can change them once you’re on the ground.  Have someone with knowledge of the region or discipline give you feedback, and try to find letters of recommendation from people who know your area enough to comment on your project.  They also may have ideas of people for you to get in contact with in country.
   
5. Show all you have to offer.  If you have ideas on how you might spend your free time in country, write about that too.  Maybe you have an interest in opera, boat racing or volunteering at a youth center.  Fulbright wants people who will get involved, not just sit in a library.
   
6. Beware of sensitive issues.  Check with a professor if you think your host country might be offended by your project proposal.
   
7.  Through your school or At-Large? If you’ve been out of school for a while, you have two options:  submitting a proposal through your school, or applying on your own.  Check with the Fulbright Director at your university to see if you will be able to apply through the school – it may give you a leg up on applicants applying without the university stamp of approval.

CHOOSING A PROJECT

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1.  Keep statistics in mind.  Some countries are much more competitive than others.  If you speak Russian, consider applying to another Russian-speaking country (but be sensitive to the local language in your application, and begin to study it if at all possible).  If you speak German, you'll fare much better in a pool of applicants to Austria than to Germany.  Speak French?  Why not go to Africa?
   
2. Read the web page of your host country's Fulbright Office.  They have have hints about the kind of projects they are looking for, or other tips for applicants.  You could even get in touch with them with any questions you may have.  Perhaps they can connect you with former Fulbright students and scholars or others in your area of interest.
   
3. Draw on skills and experiences.  Maybe your degree is in political science, but you've spent every summer for the past 4 years volunteering at an orphanage.  Rather than a project centered in an archive or library, think about  basing your project in an NGO or other institution.  The Fulbright program is a cultural exchange program in addition to a research opportunity, so don't be afraid to draw on your life experiences in addition to your education.

AFTER YOU’VE APPLIED

1. Take a deep breath.  You’ll be waiting until winter to hear if you made the first cut, and then until late spring for the final word.
   
2. Make a Plan B.  Having other options in mind ease your anxiety as you wait to get that email. 
   
3.  Don’t lose momentum.  Keep working on language preparation, and read about the host country.  You should be interested in the place regardless of whether or not your application makes the cut!
   
4. Keep in touch.  Inform your contacts that you’ve applied, and let them know about the long decision timeline.  They might think you’ve forgotten about them!  Also be on the look out for more in-country contacts.  Even if you don’t end up a Fulbright Student, you may get the chance to go where you’ve applied on another grant.

IF YOU'RE STARTING A FEW YEARS AHEAD

1. Work language and area studies courses  into your schedule.  This will show a long-term commitment to the area.
   
2. Follow current events and scholarly work related to your area of interest.  When the time comes to write your proposal, you want to make sure you can situate your research interests within the country's past and recent history.
   
3. Make connections at your own university.  While professors won't want to help you on your application just a week before it's due, many will be impressed if you approach them a year or so ahead of time with your plans.  They may even have connections in the country, or know of specific courses available to help you hone your project.

And of course, good luck!

Any more ideas?  Let me know in the comments!

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