Graduate Fellowships Requiring Campus Review
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Purpose: To increase mutual understanding among nations through the exchange of scholars.
Eligibility: Candidate must be a U.S. citizen with a B.A. before the beginning date of the award and must have language proficiency to communicate with people of the host country to carry out the proposed study.
Description: In most cases, the grants cover one year of study at an academic institution in selected countries. The proposed project must be reasonable for a B.A. to undertake and complete in one academic year. Project feasibility relates not only to the resources of the host country or institution but may also involve the extent to which certain fields of study (e.g., investigation into contemporary or recent political or military issues) might be sensitive for the host country. Another aspect of feasibility is the proposed method of carrying out the project (e.g., some methodological techniques, such as extensive interviewing or the use of questionnaires, are inadvisable or unacceptable in some countries). Do not assume that you will have access to computer facilities. In planning, it is essential to discuss the project with professors in your field and with others familiar with your proposed country or region. Read the Fulbright Web site carefully and follow directions.
In most cases, graduating seniors will attend regular university lectures; it is important to specify the course work you plan to undertake. Be aware that in foreign university systems students do not enjoy close supervision from their professors and they must rely on their independent work to supplement material presented in lectures. If you know the name of a particular individual with whom you would like to study, be sure to mention the name in your proposal and include a copy of any correspondence from that person encouraging you to study with him or her. Candidates in the creative and performing arts are required to provide samples of their work. It is also important for all candidates to indicate how they plan to become involved in the local community during their Fulbright year.
You must determine whether or not it is necessary to apply separately to the universities you are considering; the procedure differs from country to country. Grantees are usually affiliated with institutions of higher learning in the host countries and, in certain countries, they must accept the institutional placements arranged for them as a condition of their grants. Since foreign universities generally do not give degrees after one year of study or research, applicants are advised not to make the attainment of a foreign degree the object of their study.
In certain countries, you may apply for an English teaching assistantship instead of a year of study (Andorra, Argentina, Belgium/Luxembourg, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Chile, Columbia, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Korea, Macau, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam and, on a modified basis, Austria). In this case, show that you want to teach, both in your written material and in your interview with the committee. Be ready to answer questions as if you think like a teacher.
Good letters of reference are extremely important, so recommenders should be familiar with your academic achievements and capabilities. Be sure your recommenders know what you propose to do in your field and why you are applying for the grant. Give recommenders a working draft of your proposal, both to inform them of your plans and to solicit their advice in perfecting your essay. Make sure they understand that you are open to revising the essay and proposal following suggestions you receive. Ask your recommenders to send an emailed version of their letter to eperkins@wellesley.edu in time for the campus interview (shortly after the campus deadline). We recommend that their letters be submitted electronically only after your interview, once you let them know that your plans are fully developed.
There is a single online application form for the various awards administered through this program: In most instances, students may submit an application to one country only and will be considered for all awards available in the country of their choice. Please note that these awards are NOT all called Fulbrights. All awards are described in the booklet Fulbright U.S. Student Program 2008-2009, published by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and available in the Center for Work and Service (CWS). Consult other publications on study abroad which are listed in the Subject Index in the CWS Library. Again, early in this process consult professors who are familiar with your field and the country in which you propose to study.
More information is available in the Selected Fellowships: Graduate notebook on Reserve in the CWS Library or visit www.iie.org/fulbright
WELLESLEY COLLEGE PROCEDURES FOR FULBRIGHT AWARDS
IMPORTANT: Before proceeding with your application, discuss your plans with the campus Fulbright Program Advisor, Ellie Perkins, in the CWS. Undergraduates enrolled at Wellesley College are expected to apply through the campus advisor and to comply with the requirements of the campus Fulbright Committee. If you are unable to meet the campus deadline, it may be possible for you to apply as an "at-large candidate," but if you choose to do so, Ellie Perkins will have to explain your special circumstances to the IIE. The campus committee welcomes applications from alumnae who should register online at the Fulbright Web site as if they are currently enrolled at Wellesley.
Generally, the only interview in the Fulbright competition is the campus committee interview which gives you a chance to defend your proposal orally and add an important element to your application. If possible, a portion of the interview will be conducted in the language of the host country. The committee interview does not seek to eliminate candidates, only to obtain further information about candidates' strengths and weaknesses. All applications will be sent on to the IIE by the Fulbright Program Advisor.
Please fill out and save your application using the form at the Fulbright Web site, but do not submit it at this time. Instead, print and sign a copy in PDF format to turn in to the CWS by the campus deadline. Do not submit your application online at this time. Please follow all directions and read carefully the instructions for writing the required Personal Statement and statement of Proposed Study or Research. The personal statement is a narrative statement (not a resume). It should be a brief intellectual history. Students are often advised to rewrite these essays following the campus interview. Get lots of help with essays and proofread, proofread, proofread!
Proposal Writing: Your proposal should clearly state the study and any independent research you wish to undertake, as well as indicate why it is necessary for you to do this in the country and at the institution you have selected. If possible state these essential aspects in the first sentence (what, where, when, why) and then develop your thoughts. You should discuss your preparation for the work and explain how the year of study or teaching will contribute to your future plans. Give shape to your experience and convey what is powerful and convincing about you. Don't just say why you want to go abroad; give a sense of what you hope to do with this opportunity.
Checklist:
__ Discuss your plans with Ellie Perkins. Be sure you are familiar with campus committee procedures and understand the online application. Do not submit your application electronically at the preliminary stage of this process.
__ Well in advance of the campus deadline, identify someone in your field of study and have a discussion with him or her about your plans for study abroad.
__ Research the country in which you propose to study as well as potential institutions which you would like to attend and faculty in your field with whom you would like to study. Contact them by email so that you can attach correspondence from them encouraging you to work or study with them.
__ Ask your major advisor to review and comment on drafts of your proposal and personal statement. Rewrite and revise your application seeking help where necessary.
__ For the preliminary application, ask your professor to send an emailed version of their letter to eperkins@wellesley.edu in time for your committee interview. After the interview, once your application is firm, you will need to ask them to upload their letter electronically into your application and send a signed copy to Ellie.You must make sure that we receive the signed version to complete your final application.
__ Form #2 of the application appears repetitive but it is designed to stand alone and must include the most significant info from your application if all does not fit.
__ If your Wellesley transcript is not complete by the campus deadline, submit a copy or grade report (not the Web version).
__ If you studied at an academic institution other than Wellesley as an undergraduate, or if you studied overseas, you will need to request an official transcript from that institution. If this is not available by our campus deadline, please furnish the committee with a list of courses taken and grades received.
__ Use spell check, friends, and reference books to avoid any grammar or spelling errors.
__ Confirm that your application is complete before your interview.
Fulbright Committee Requirements:
September 15, 2008- Complete applications are due in the CWS. This entails a printed hard copy of your online application as well as all supporting material. Do not submit your application electronically. All forms, including a #12 for each transcript requested, must be must be filled out and submitted with your application. Once we receive your application we will make arrangements for 15-minute committee interviews during the first two weeks of October. It is your responsibility to see that your application is complete and that all letters of reference have been received in the CWS before the date of your interview.
Late September, early October - Interviews with campus Fulbright Committee. Following your interview, the committee may recommend that you rework your proposal.