GUIDE FOR THE STANFORD APPLICANT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• Now That You've Decided To Apply
• Researching Your Options
SECTION I: Putting Together a Competitive Application
• Essays (Statement of Purpose and Curriculum Vitae)
• Letters of Reference
• Foreign Language Reports
• Transcripts
• Supplementary Information
SECTION II: Preparing and Submitting Your Application
• Stanford Campus Deadline
• General Tips for Preparing Your Application
• Properly Submitting Letters of Reference, Foreign Language Reports, and Transcripts
SECTION III: Final Stages of the Application Process
• Campus Interview
• Tips for a Better Interview
• National Screening Process
• Last Thoughts...
NOW THAT YOU'VE DECIDED TO APPLY…
We cannot over-emphasize that you should start your application as far in advance of the deadline as possible. Although we have known a few candidates who have been successful in the competition for these awards after only a limited period of preparation, these students are the exception. Preparing a competitive application takes a great deal of time and effort.
Applicants have also told us that the time spent thinking and writing about their future plans--whether, in the end, they were awarded a scholarship or not--was well worth the effort. If you plan to apply to graduate schools or interview with prospective employers, the IIE Fulbright application process can provide you with a head start on written application materials and interview experience. Most importantly, when you write these essays, you will have to consider and then reconsider your future plans and goals. In this way, applying for the IIE Fulbright Scholarship can help you to further define both your academic and career goals.
This handbook is designed to assist you in this long, often complicated, application process. Not only will you find an outline of the application procedures and deadlines, but you will also find an accumulation of advice on essays, interviews, etc., from ORC advisors, faculty, and former Stanford IIE Fulbright Scholars.
This handbook assumes that you have read "What is the IIE Fulbright Scholarship?" and "Should I apply?," (icenter.stanford.edu/orc/scholarships/fulbright.html) consulted with advisors, and decided to apply for the scholarship. It is important that you have read this document as it contains pertinent information for the application process. In conjunction with this handbook, always read the official IIE Application Instructions, which outline the specific details for each country program.
This handbook is intended to help graduating seniors through Ph.D. students applying for the Institute of International Education (IIE) Fulbright Grants. It may also be useful for students applying for awards such as the DAAD and Bundeskanzler. It is NOT intended for those applying for the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Award, more commonly known as the Department of Education Fulbright-Hays.
KEEP IN MIND...
A strong application is made up of essays, references, language evaluation, transcripts, and interviews. All these aspects are important and it is important not to focus on, or worry about, only one aspect. Do not hesitate to ask for assistance or advice from your advisor, faculty, staff, family, friends, and ORC advisors.
Many students have worked with us during the summer when they are away from campus. We encourage you to submit drafts of essays, ask questions, request advice and information. We can be reached by phone or e-mail, and will respond to you as quickly as possible.
RESEARCHING YOUR OPTIONS
WHERE AND WHAT TO STUDY AND/OR RESEARCH OVERSEAS???
Applicants for the IIE Fulbright must determine where and what to study and/or research overseas. Applicants who have familiarized themselves with the educational opportunities in the country of interest will be in a position to prepare stronger applications. Talk to Stanford faculty and the ORC staff about your study, research, and country interests. Since choosing the appropriate course of study/research and the country of interest will greatly affect the competitiveness of your application, it is important to survey all viable opportunities available in the country of interest before making major decisions. For instance, students who are interested in studying in the U.K. should investigate other universities in addition to those as well known as Oxford or Cambridge. Also, please read the information thoroughly in the Fulbright Program Book as requirements and restrictions vary country to country. It may impact the decision about your qualifications for certain countries as well as your competitiveness for selected countries.
EXPLORE OVERSEAS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
It is important for applicants interested in overseas study and/or research to familiarize themselves with the educational resources (universities, research institutes, faculty, archives, etc.) available in the country of interest. This familiarity with the "ins and outs" of studying in a foreign educational system will, no doubt, help you with essays and the campus interview. If your proposal also includes studying or conducting research at a particular overseas university or institute, it is your responsibility to gain admission or access to that institution. As such, IIE Fulbright applicants should try to obtain detailed knowledge of programs, courses, or other educational opportunities (particularly faculty members) available at their chosen institution. The web is a valuable tool in learning about these essentials.
The ORC has quite a bit of information to get you started on this process, including an extensive collection of overseas university catalogs. Don't miss the following helpful publications at the ORC:
• Commonwealth Universities Yearbook (2 volumes) lists universities, addresses, contact numbers, departments, faculty, and general study information for universities of the former Commonwealth countries (e.g., U.K., India, Zimbabwe, Australia).
• International Handbook of Universities lists universities, addresses, contact numbers, departments, and general study information for most overseas universities.
• The World of Learning provides detailed information on universities, colleges, schools of art and music, libraries, archives, learned societies, research institutes, museums and art galleries in more than 180 countries.
• The Europa World Year Book provides detailed information on the political, economic, and commercial institutions of the world.
• The Middle East and North Africa 1995 is a good reference source on countries in the region; consists of essays on regional affairs; information on the major organizations active within the region; essays on geography, recent history and economy; a directory of names and addresses of government, legislature, political organizations, religious groups, media, finance, and more.
• The Far East and Australasia 1995 is a reference guide which provides detailed information on each of the countries in this area of the world. This edition contains information on physical and social geography, its history and its economy; descriptions of the judicial and educational systems; and a directory covering the government, diplomatic corps, political organizations, media, finance, and more.
• The European Union Encyclopedia and Directory 1996 is a guide to information on the European Union, its member states, organizations, policies, etc. It contains an extensive directory of information, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and fax numbers to all the major Union organizations and its officials. It alsoprovides statistical data on trade, employment, and industrial production.
• An International Students Guide to Mexican Universities, published by Mexico's Secretary of Education, provides an introductory guide to Mexico's system of higher education and profiles on Mexico's public and private universities.
DEVELOP AND UTILIZE FACULTY CONTACTS
It is important, throughout all levels of the application process, to use faculty members as a source for advising and support. What faculty resources are available?
Stanford Faculty
Work closely with a Stanford faculty member to polish your project idea as well as to develop a network of faculty contacts. If you have not already identified a Stanford faculty member that may have interests similar to yours, try searching through the "Faculty Interests" database on Folio. You may search for faculty by various sub-headings, including country or field of interest. Also, be sure to contact the appropriate faculty in your department as well as area specialists at the Institute for International Studies, Center for East Asian Studies, Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, etc.for advice.
When contacting a Stanford faculty member, introduce yourself, briefly explain your project idea, and ask them whether or not they would be willing to give you some advice. Prior to your meeting, give the faculty member a copy of your proposal. Some of the questions that you may want to ask are the following:
• Based on their experiences, how would they evaluate the academic content of the proposal?
• Is the project feasible for someone at your level to complete in 9 months?
• Do they have any suggestions on how you might improve your proposal or prepare for such a project?
• Does s/he have any suggestions on which overseas institutions or faculty contacts might be suitable for conducting such study or research?
Overseas Faculty
If any part of a student's proposal includes working closely with or taking classes from a particular overseas faculty member, it is critical for that student to make contact and develop a relationship with said faculty member. Students should first solicit general information by writing to the institution of choice and requesting informational materials such as an application, university catalog, or departmental literature. Study the literature and write letters to the department and/or faculty members that interest you. Send them a copy of your research proposal and request support for your Fulbright application.
Hopefully, the overseas faculty member will respond positively and more or less "invite" you to study or conduct research at their institution under his/her supervision. If so, ask them if they would be willing to formally invite you by writing a letter of support on your behalf. A copy of this letter, stating their support of your project and their intent to mentor or supervise you, can be included in your IIE Fulbright application.
SECTION I: PUTTING TOGETHER A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION
Essays
Letters of Reference
Foreign Language Reports
Transcripts
Supplementary Information
ESSAYS
Your IIE Fulbright application requires two essays: a statement of proposed study and a curriculum vitae (personal statement). The essays are your opportunity to state who you are and what you want to do. Since you will not have any interviews after the campus level, you should put as much time and energy into these essays as possible.
Writing these essays can be a frustrating, interesting, and revealing experience. Your final essays should produce a picture of you as a person, a student, a potential scholarship winner, and (looking into the future) as a former scholarship recipient. Following is some advice on elements which, combined with your research, thoughts, and personality, may produce compelling scholarship essays. In addition, we will make you aware of some of the mistakes students should avoid in writing essays.
Think carefully about the approach you should take to each essay - the academic proposal vs. the personal statement - because each will serve a different purpose in your application. Each essay should make a statement about your academic life and plans, as well as your personal goals and beliefs. This statement, regardless of how you combine the following components, should grab the interest of the reader and make him or her want to meet you (even if there's not necessarily an interview process). Be simple and direct, and do your best to strike that difficult balance between modesty and persuasiveness.
Read Past Successful Fulbright Essays
On file at the Overseas Resource Center, you will find binders entitled "Fulbright: Successful Proposals" which contain sample statements of proposed study and curricula vitae (personal statements) written by successful Stanford Fulbright applicants. These essays will give you an idea of the range of successful proposals submitted in recent years. Essays are organized by country of application. Tip: Be sure that you are reading successful essays corresponding to your academic level (e.g., graduating senior, Ph.D. student).
STATEMENT OF PROPOSED STUDY
"Describe your study or research plans and your reasons for wishing to undertake them in the country of your choice. Outline a plan that realistically can be completed in one academic year abroad. Graduating seniors, applicants in the creative or performing arts, and applicants for teaching awards are not expected to formulate detailed research projects. Graduating seniors should describe the study programs they wish to follow in terms as specific as possible."
Whether you are a graduating senior, recent graduate, or a doctoral student, you will want to show that what you wish to study and/or research can best--if not only--be done in the place you wish to go. In addition, you should show how your proposal justifies or necessitates the use of foreign archives or foreign faculty contacts. The further along in your academic career you are, the more certain of these points you will have to be. Keep in mind some other questions that could be asked of your application:
• Is the project realistic?
• Is the site appropriate?
• Are you in contact with foreign faculty or can you make foreign faculty contacts?
• Could this work be done in the U.S.?
• Are you linguistically qualified to carry out your project?
• Are you academically qualified to study or conduct the research in the place you propose?
• Is this project the appropriate "next step" in your academic and intellectual development?
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE STATEMENT OF PROPOSED STUDY
• State clearly and specifically what you expect to do during the scholarship period. Students should be able to give some details of the methodology of the proposed work. In some cases, additional material can be submitted (see section on supplementary information).
• Explain why your research needs to be conducted overseas and why you have chosen the particular country. It is most essential to be able to show that what you wish to do should be done at the institution and the country you have named. Make a strong case for the suitability of the suggested place of study/research.
• Convince the reader that your project is feasible in the time designated, and that it is acceptable and appropriate in the country concerned.
• Demonstrate that you have the academic and linguistic background necessary for your project.
• Make reference to any contacts you have established to determine resource availability and general feasibility of your project. You should attach copies of any letters of acceptance from institutions or positive letters from prospective sponsors or mentors.
This is linked with the need for students (especially graduate students) to have concrete connections overseas. It is possible that the foreign faculty member is well qualified to comment on the plausibility of the applicant's proposal, as s/he is most familiar with the programs and resources of that university. In addition, a personal invitation by a faculty member to study at the institution lends credence to the quality of the candidate and his/her proposal.
If you need to conduct research in government, university or private archives, you should ask yourself the following questions:
• Do you know for certain that you have access to these archives?
• Is there a specific faculty member or researcher at the institution with whom you wish to work?
• Have you made contact with this person and has there been a positive response?
You should mention any contacts (or access) you may have in your statement of proposed study even if you have not had a definite response. If you have only identified the person and written to them at the time of your application, mention this and submit a copy of your letter with your application. If you have received a positive response from an overseas faculty member or researcher, you may include a copy of their letter to you in your Fulbright application as a letter of support.
• Sensitive topic: Sometimes, the research you wish to conduct may cover issues that are sensitive to the people or government of the country you wish to work in (again, check the Fulbright Program Book for the specifics on the country you have selected). Have you made plans to obtain research clearance from the prospective country? Be specific about why you wish to do this research and exactly what you plan to do when you get there. A proposal that is a "wish list" but lacks methodology is not likely to be successful.
• Overall, the statement of purpose should be compelling and easily understood by the educated "lay" person and experts in your field. Since you will have no idea exactly who will read your application at the national level, make sure that your application is clear and comprehensible to someone who knows nothing about your subject while also specific and detailed enough to convince an expert. Do not be afraid to use language or concepts specific to your field and to reference the work of other authors. On the other hand, don't be condescending. The following question is often asked: "How much detail should go in the academic proposal?" Many successful academic proposals will include the following elements:
• Explanation of the field of study.
• Explanation of your study/research within this field and how your work will bring something new to the field.
• Details of what you wish to do, where you wish to do it, and how you wish to accomplish it.
• Your qualifications to undertake this project.
• Contacts at host institution and how you will work with them.
• Reasons for why the scholarship committee-or anybody-should consider funding such a proposal.
This is a very general outline, but the main idea is to lead your readers in a systematic, logical fashion through the various components of your project. If your readers feel confident in the idea you've presented, the methodology, your qualifications, and your overseas support, you are more likely to win an award. If your statement of proposed study is confusing, raises a lot of questions, and does not inspire confidence in the readers, you're not likely to get very far in the application process.
Additional Tips for GRADUATING SENIOR Applicants
Graduating seniors and recent graduates will not be required to continue in the exact fields in which they have received their bachelor’s degrees. In other words, it is not necessary for your proposal to be an extension of your honors thesis. It is necessary, however, to propose a course of study for which you are academically prepared.
In terms of research, it should be detailed and well thought out and it should make a case as to why a particular university or institution is suitable for your study or research. For example:
• Are there certain faculty who are conducting important research in your field at that institution?
• Is there a department which has unique course offerings that could further your study in a
particular field?
These sorts of questions should be answered in detail. It is important-at all academic levels-to make a strong case for the institution that you have chosen. If you do not know the answer to these questions, you should start researching foreign universities, research institutes, departments and faculty contacts that are relevant to your proposal. Keep in mind that it is quite feasible, as a graduating senior, to apply for a Fulbright just to take classes at a foreign university in order to further your academic interest.
Since graduating seniors do not have the same research experience as graduate students, graduating seniors should rely more heavily on their academic advisors to build feasible proposals and to develop a focus for their research. In addition, graduating seniors should get an academic advisor to write a letter of reference, since s/he will be most familiar with the proposal. While the proposal seems to be the most difficult aspect of the Fulbright application for graduating seniors, logistics for the rest of the application are the same for graduating seniors and graduate students. Graduating seniors should explain how the year overseas will prepare them for the "next step" and give a general description of their plans upon return to the U.S.
Additional Tips for GRADUATE STUDENT Applicants
The further along you are in your academic career, the more substantive information you will need in order to justify your choice of institution. For instance,
• Are there necessary research documents or archival resources only available at the foreign institution?
• Is there a particular faculty member with whom you wish or need to work?
• Have you been in contact with the institution or a faculty member? (If not, you should make specific plans to do so.) It is essential to have thought through some of these questions and to be able to give specific information in your essays.
CURRICULUM VITAE
"This statement should be a narrative giving a picture of yourself as an individual. It should deal with your personal history, family background, influences on your intellectual development, the educational and cultural opportunities (or lack of them) to which you have been exposed, and the ways in which these experiences have affected you. Also include your special interests and abilities, career plans, and life goals, etc. It should not be a recording of facts already listed on the application or an elaboration of your statement of proposed study. Please limit to the space provided [1 page]. "
The Curriculum Vitae (personal statement) is often the most difficult to write. "What do they want to know about me?" "How can I tell them about myself in one page?" The c.v. should not be a reiteration of the data on your application form; rather, it should be an "intellectual biography". This is your opportunity to let your personality come through on paper. The following are some good guidelines to this essay.
• Do not make this essay a mirror image of your academic essay or resume. Your personal statement should complement the rest of your application instead of restating it. Do not turn the personal statement into another argument for why you need a Fulbright to conduct your study. Instead, it should be a stand alone essay, giving a good picture of you as an individual. By all means, refer to an interest that has led you to your present field of study, but do not make the entire essay a statement about your interest in the field. Rather, it should be more balanced between your interests and your personal growth and development. Your statement could include personal histories, realizations, and stories, in order to make it personal and to get the readers interested in you.
• Maintain some sort of theme or connecting concept throughout the essay.
• Representative of the U.S.: One of the important aspects of a Fulbright award, and an aspect that is covered in the evaluation form, is the concept of a Fulbright scholar being an "ambassador" for the U.S. It is hard to know how important this aspect is in the final decision; however, the personal essay gives you room to describe yourself in a way that will make you seem interesting and interested in other cultures, societies, etc.
• What should I include? There is only a small part of the application where you can list honors, activities, etc. The essay should describe events, people, decisions and interests that have had a major impact on you. Some of these will be very personal and others will be more descriptive and evaluative. Some personal essays are written in a very informal manner while others are of a more formal nature. They should NOT be along the lines of "I did this, then joined this club, at college I was a member of..." They should be interesting statements about yourself, giving a picture of your intellectual and personal growth.
• Explore connections between your academic life and the rest of your life. Connect what you do in school to your beliefs, your passions and the rest of the world. As you read drafts of your essay, be critical of the ways in which you have discussed your academic and intellectual interests. Ask yourself: "What matters to me?" "Why does it matter to me?" "Who cares?" and "If they don’t care, why do they need to care?"
• Incorporate your personality into your essays.
• Be honest about your personal growth and development. What factors or experiences influenced your personal growth? What has made you who you are? Paint a true picture of your development. Try to show your strengths and weaknesses (nothing glaring, but areas which show that you are human). Assume that your interests are relevant and of interest to those reading your application.
• Provide a distinct picture of you as a person of character. Perhaps discuss an issue of great importance to you, or an issue which troubles you or restores you. Your essay should make readers interested in discussing your beliefs and interests with you.
• How will a year studying abroad enhance my future plans?
Be aware of how your proposed year as a Fulbright Scholar relates to your future goals and aspirations, both personal and academic. Examine the way in which your proposed course of study will enhance your future plans. It is often difficult, especially for graduating seniors, to identify such goals and plans, but it is important to do so. Keep in mind that the scholarship committees want to give the awards to people who will use the Fulbright as building blocks for their futures. Therefore, it is essential that you have thought through how you see your proposed studies connecting to the overall course of your life. In other words, what you are doing now, what you wish to do as a Fulbright Scholar, and what you will do later must all fit together somehow.
Mistakes often made by applicants when writing essays:
• Turning the essay into an extended (or an exaggerated) version of a resume. Applicants often ask how they should incorporate activities into their essay when they have already listed them separately on the application. The most effective solution is to incorporate only those activities or interests that are extremely important to you into your essay. Leave less important things to other portions of your application. In your essays, talk only about what has real significance for you. For example, if you swam on the varsity team at Stanford and practiced five hours a day, it would be logical to incorporate this into the essay as one of your major achievements, contributions, or passions. However, if you participated in intramural field hockey on a less than regular basis, then this perhaps could be left out.
• Exaggerating their histories and situations. Do not believe that all applicants expand on the truth and that if they do, you may as well expand too. Experienced interviewers often uncover exaggeration during interviews. This can be embarrassing and disastrous for an applicant.
• Being overly clever in writing the essays. Interviewers have read quite literally hundreds of essays and they find overly clever essays annoying. This reaction can do nothing but harm the future of your application. Be honest with your comments in your essays. Be amusingly clever and witty if this is your characteristic style of writing, but do not try to pull the wool over your reader’s eyes. REMEMBER: It is substance, not style, that is important.
• Suggesting a future with no evidence of preparation. If you write that you wish to be a journalist but have never been involved with any newspaper, or if you write that you are concerned about the environment but have taken no science courses, the screening committees may decide that you have little intention of truly pursuing the goals you suggest. Whatever future plans you write about, try to make sure that you have had some experience with the issues involved, at an academic, extracurricular, or personal level.
Many readers contribute to good essays!
We cannot over-emphasize the importance of having a variety of people read your essays. Readers should be people whose opinions you respect. They also should be people with whom you have already discussed both the scholarship for which you are applying and the course of study you wish to pursue. If you ask people to read your statements out of the context of the award, you are asking for trouble because the selection criteria differs for each award. Ask your advisor, faculty members, classmates, roommates, and friends to read your essay, but explain the essay’s context first.
This process can be incredibly rewarding and yet frustrating. Each time you show your drafts to someone, s/he will suggest changes and you will have to weigh their suggestions against others. It is up to you to decide when you think your essays are ready for submission, but it is important to listen to faculty, staff, and peers as you craft your essays.
Feedback on Essays from ORC Staff: Staff members at the Overseas Resource Center are available to critique essays throughout the summer. Students may submit essays for review by e-mail to keroute@stanford.edu. The turn-around time is usually 3-5 working days. If you are in the area during the summer, please feel free to make an appointment to discuss your essays with an ORC advisor; please be sure to submit your essays the day before your appointment.
Last Day to Submit Essays for Review: Mid-Sept.
Unfortunately, due to the hectic nature of the scholarship season, the ORC staff will not be able to review and critique essays after this date.
LETTERS OF REFERENCE
Three Academic Letters of Reference
You are asked to submit three academic letters of reference for the IIE Fulbright Scholarship. The IIE Fulbright is primarily an academic scholarship, so the selection committee is looking for honest appraisals of your academic abilities. You should keep the following points in mind when selecting recommenders:
•References should be from faculty members with whom you have worked, had a class, or conducted a research project. At least two of the letters should be from professors in your major or field who are familiar with your abilities and proposed project. With no disrespect intended, references should not be from Teaching Assistants. If this cannot be avoided, you may want to have your TA and your professor write a letter together.
• Choose people whom know you well--academically, extracurricularly, and personally. A letter of recommendation is most useful when it includes specific comments on the strength of your IIE Fulbright application. Recommenders should be able to comment on your ability to carry out the proposed course of study and the suitability of the country or institution chosen.
• Identify your recommenders and contact them as early in the process as possible. Brief them on the overall timeline, expectations, and opportunities with regard to the IIE Fulbright Scholarship. If your recommenders are familiar with your plans and the application process, they will be more helpful to you when providing feedback and constructive criticism.
• Give them as much information about yourself as possible. The following is a list of helpful items to give to your selected recommenders:
* Draft essay(s) and application.
* Reference form.
* A stamped envelope, properly addressed to the ORC. Please note that letters sent via US Mail can take up to a week to arrive at the ORC when mailed from on campus. OR suggest that you will pick up the letter (in a sign, sealed envelope) when it is completed and hand deliver it to the ORC.
* Copy of transcript.
* Background information on the scholarship.
• It is important to show your recommender a copy of the final draft of your proposal; the academic references should be about your proposal and how qualified you are to carry out that proposal, and not just how good a student you are. A good academic reference for an IIE Fulbright puts the faculty member's knowledge of you in the context of your proposal and your future potential.
• Be sure to clarify whether you might call on them again for letters to other scholarship competitions. Make sure that your recommenders understand that no copies of their letters will be kept or returned to them. After the campus evaluation, all references are mailed to IIE in New York. If you plan to use the same recommender for other scholarships, you should ask, in advance, that they maintain a copy for future reference. References WILL NOT be copied for other scholarships.
• Keep recommenders up to date with the progress of your application. If you have any questions about how to select your recommenders, please see an ORC staff member. Please note: Staff at the ORC cannot provide any information as to the relative strengths of confidential references.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE REPORTS
The Foreign Language Report, whenever possible, should be from a faculty member. However, in a number of cases, the language concerned is not taught by faculty at Stanford. In these cases, it is possible to submit a Foreign Language Report from a native speaker. On the form, it should state clearly that the evaluator is a native speaker. Also, indicate how the reference was completed (e.g., an interview, general conversation, written materials). Such a reference should still be completed in a professional manner.
Note the following:
• A Foreign Language Report is NOT necessary for countries that accept English as a substitute.
• If your project requires skill in more than one language, you may submit a separate Foreign Language Report for each language needed.
TRANSCRIPTS
Submit official transcript(s) from all institutions you have attended since high school. Transcripts should be sent directly to the ORC from the institution. If you have sealed, official transcripts in your possession, you may submit those to be included in your IIE Fulbright Application instead of requesting new copies to be sent by your institution. You do not need to use the transcript forms (Form 11) provided in the application.
Tip: Request transcripts early, as it often takes several days (or weeks!) for institutions to process and fulfill requests.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
The advisors at the ORC are often asked about the possibility of submitting extra materials with an application. There is no simple answer, but there are some general guidelines:
1. Remember that all of your materials have to be copied and read by the national screening committee. Too much material that is not directly relevant to the application will likely be discarded.
2. Relevant Supplemental information Would Include:
• Letters of support from institutions, overseas researchers, and/or prospective sponsors or mentors. You may include copies of letters that you have written to establish foreign contacts, if there has been no reply at the time of application.
• An extra, strong reference centering on your academic proposal.
• Copy of any questionnaire that will be part of your research.
3. Material that is questionable would be:
• Copies of papers that you have written that touch on the subject of your proposal.
• Additional references that do not center on the academic proposal.
• General letters from the country concerned that do not indicate the possibility, for example, of access to archives, research clearance or acknowledgement of availability of faculty contacts.
Supplementary Materials for Candidates in the Arts ONLY
Candidates in the creative or performing arts are evaluated first and foremost on the basis of their supplementary materials. Therefore, be sure to submit your finest work possible, with the best possible quality of reproduction. Follow the specifications for supplementary materials on the sheet accompanying the application form. Be sure that your card regarding your supplementary materials is filled out completely and correctly. Don't forget to label every item with your name, country, and field of interest.
If you would like your arts supplementary materials returned to you by NY, you must include return postage with your application.
SECTION II: PREPARING AND SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION
General Tips for Preparing Your Application
Properly Submitting Letters of Reference, Foreign Language Reports, and Transcripts
STANFORD CAMPUS DEADLINE
See DEADLINES page for exact dates
Applications are due at the Overseas Resource Center.
**YOU MUST MEET THIS DEADLINE; NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE!**
Please submit the following items collated properly (see below for instructions):
• IIE Fulbright Cover Sheet (6 copies)
• Official IIE Fulbright Application (6 copies)
• Supplementary Materials (6 copies)
Items to be mailed, sent, or hand-carried separately to ORC:
• 3 Academic Letters of Reference
• Foreign Language Report(s)
• Official Transcript(s)
IIE Fulbright Cover Sheet (for campus level only)... is available on the website. Please type the information requested on the IIE Fulbright Cover Sheet as it will accompany all your application materials at the campus level. Also, should any information (address, phone number, etc.) change after submission, please notify the ORC immediately.
Collated Materials... HOW?
The materials you hand in should be collated into 6 packets--each containing a cover sheet, application, and supplementary materials.
Sign-ups for the campus interview. When you turn in your campus level application, you will have the opportunity to sign-up for a campus interview.
GENERAL TIPS FOR PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION
Check the following before submitting your application:
• READ THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE ON-LINE APPLICATION FORM.
• BE CONSISTENT. Be sure that items such as your name, "Field of Study", and the name of the country are consistent throughout all pages of your application.
- If you were not born in the United States, it is imperative that you state, somewhere on your application, how you became a citizen.
• QUESTIONS ON FORM 1 and 1A:
• For Fulbright Program Advisor, type "John Pearson, Bechtel International Center, (650) 725-0889."
• For "Current Affiliation," Stanford students should write "Stanford University".
• CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: If you are registered to vote at Stanford, you are part of the 14th Congressional District in California. Please write "CA 14" in the appropriate space on Form 1. If you are registered to vote elsewhere, logon to www.house.gov/writerep/, which will allow you to search for your district by entering your state and zip code.
• Type FULL DEPARTMENT NAMES when listing your references and when filling in information on the application forms. Readers outside of Stanford are often not familiar with our acronyms. This is also true when referring to departments and courses of study in your essays.
• DO NOT EXCEED THE SPACE LIMIT for your essays. The Statement of Proposed Study may be up to two pages. The Curriculum Vitae is limited to one page.
• PROOFREAD your application carefully. Make sure your application is free of spelling, grammatical, and typographical errors.
• READ, SIGN AND DATE the statement on the bottom of Form 1. Also, make sure that your name, country, and field of interest appear on any attachment you include in your application.
• IS YOUR APPLICATION COMPLETE? Make sure that all the official forms are filled out completely and that all attachments are in order.
• LETTERS OF SUPPORT: (Not to be confused with letters of recommendation!) Please do not have them mailed to the ORC, but have them sent to you, keep a copy, and include the original in your completed application placed behind the Statement of Proposed Study.
• ALL MATERIALS MUST BE IN ENGLISH: Support and references letters submitted in foreign languages must be accompanied by an official translation in English. Campus and national committee members need to be able to read all parts of your application.
• SAVE a copy of your application for your own records. No part of your application will be saved or returned by the IIE office in NY, except certain supplementary materials (photo portfolio, video, etc.) for which you have included postage.
• FOLLOW-UP on your application materials. Do not assume that everything you have requested has arrived at the Overseas Resource Center. Please remember that YOU are responsible for checking to make sure that your application, letters of reference, language reference, and transcripts get to the right place and on time! Please call or come by the ORC to inquire about the status of your application.
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS:
• LEAVE NO BLANKS on your application form - write N/A where appropriate.
• SPACE BETWEEN PARAGRAPHS: If you are using single-spaced lines on your essays, be sure to put a space between your paragraphs. It's much easier on the eyes of the reader.
• Please note: IIE considers any font less than '10' to be "technically illegible".
PROPERLY SUBMITTING
Letters of Reference, Foreign Language Reports, and Transcripts
Each of the reference forms, Foreign Language Report, and transcript labels should be stamped with the Overseas Resource Center's address. To make sure that your letters are sent to the Overseas Resource Center (and not the IIE office in NY), give each recommender, language evaluator, and transcript request office a properly addressed, stamped envelope with the appropriate forms and deadlines attached. If they are on campus, we recommend picking up the reference in a signed, sealed envelope and walking it to our office before the deadline.
Your letters of reference, Foreign Language Report(s), and official transcripts may be submitted to the ORC via...
Stanford inter-departmental mail .... MC: 8245
U.S. mail ......................................... IIE Fulbright Scholarship
Overseas Resource Center
P.O. Box 20227
Stanford, CA 94309
In person .......................................... 2nd Floor, Bechtel International Center
Fed Ex ............................................... 422 Lagunita Drive
Stanford CA 94305
OVERSEAS and LAST MINUTE REFERENCES
If your recommender is overseas or experiencing time constraints, you may want to suggest that s/he first fax a copy of the letter before mailing the original version to the Overseas Resource Center. This will insure that the letter will be available for the campus evaluation process. Please note: Your recommender MUST send the original letter of reference or Foreign Language Report to the ORC. When the original arrives at the ORC, the staff will replace the fax copy with the original copy in your application. Recommenders and language evaluators may fax materials to:
ORC FAX ....................................... (650) 725-0886
All references, language reports, and transcripts must ARRIVE at the ORC by the
IIE Fulbright Campus Deadline:
Late Support Materials
It is very important that your letters of reference, Foreign Language Report(s), and official transcripts arrive at the ORC by the campus deadline. Applicants with incomplete files at the time of the campus evaluation are at a disadvantage for the campus interview. Although the ORC does not grant extensions, we will accept late support (references, language reports, and transcripts). However, please note that the later support materials arrive at the ORC, the more likely it is that it will reflect poorly on your application. Rule of thumb: Get your letters of reference, foreign language reports, and official transcripts in by the campus deadline or as soon as possible thereafter.
Please Note...
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to make sure that all of your letters of reference, foreign language report(s), and official transcripts are received by the ORC by the campus deadline. You will be at a DECIDED DISADVANTAGE during the campus evaluation without them. Please call the ORC periodically to check on the completeness of your file.
CAMPUS INTERVIEW
The purpose of the campus interview is to provide additional information about your candidacy to the National Screening Committee. The interviews are your only chance to articulate, in person, your reasons for wanting to study or conduct research abroad. Each Stanford applicant will be interviewed individually for about 20 minutes by a panel (3-4 members) of the Stanford IIE Fulbright Screening Committee. Panelists may question students on contacts they have made overseas, academic preparation for the study, knowledge of the host country, and language training. The interview, in general, is the student's chance to talk about his/her project with a group of knowledgeable, interested Stanford faculty and staff.
Interview Information:
- Interviews will be given in half-hour intervals from 3 — 6 PM
- Location: Overseas Resource Center, Bechtel International Center
- Wear clothing in which you feel comfortable, but presentable. Formal attire is optional.
- You will have an opportunity to sign-up for an interview time when you turn in your application on the day of the campus deadline.
The panel's rating of your application is based on an evaluation of your complete application-essays, transcripts, letters of reference, language evaluation, and the campus interview. A panel of the Stanford IIE Fulbright Screening Committee will assess the content and feasibility of your proposal, your language preparation, your knowledge of the host country, etc., and then complete the Campus Committee Evaluation Form (form 10 of the official application). The panel will rate your candidacy on a scale from "excellent" to "not recommended". The campus interview is NOT a mechanism for disqualifying applicants, but it is a mechanism for rating-not ranking-the applicants. Your rating will not be disclosed to you at any time, nor will you be given feedback regarding the Campus Committee Evaluation Form; this information will be kept confidential.
Please note: No one is eliminated from the competition at the campus level. Stanford is asked by IIE to forward all applications submitted, regardless of the rating given by the campus committee.
Panel Makeup: Based on last year’s applicant pool, we should point out that Stanford has approximately 70 applications a year for the IIE Fulbright Scholarship. While we do have a large number of faculty and staff who serve as committee members, it is not always possible to be interviewed by someone in your field. Committee members have often had years of experience in working with Fulbright applications, and they are very aware of what makes a good application. In addition, your application at the national level will not only be read by people specifically in your academic field, but by others who have knowledge of the country or area where you wish to go.
Please do not worry if your campus interview panel is made up of faculty and staff from outside your area of study. In fact, one of the key concepts of the Fulbright is to be able to articulate your proposal to a "lay" audience. Those applicants who can do this successfully are themselves often successful applicants. Conversely, a committee of specialists in your field can make for a very argumentative interview. As far as we can tell, there is no correlation between the make-up of the campus committee and the final results.
Please be aware that the campus interview is meant to support your application and is not the deciding factor in your application The application is meant to give the National Screening Committee as much information to work with as possible, and is, thus, very important. The campus level interviews will be your only interview through the IIE Fulbright process, except in a few cases (e.g., the performing arts).
AWAY FROM CAMPUS FALL QUARTER? If you will be away from campus during Fall Quarter, please notify the ORC Manager immediately. Most students who apply for the IIE Fulbright at Stanford have a campus interview. In some circumstances, when the applicant cannot make it back to campus for the interview, the individual's application will be "paper screened" by the IIE Campus Screening Committee. In other words, the Committee will read and discuss your application, and provide a rating based on your complete, written file. If you have a legitimate reason for missing the campus interview (e.g, studying at Stanford-in-Oxford, Stanford-in-Washington) and your application is "paper screened", you will not be at a disadvantage. However, if you will be in the area and it is possible for you to interview, we recommend that you go through the campus interview process.
TIPS FOR A BETTER INTERVIEW
• Be yourself! If you are not, it is likely you will not have a great interview. Do not forget, however, that you are being interviewed in a formal situation. It is important to be yourself, but if you are the type who feels comfortable with your feet propped up on the table, chair leaning back, suppress the urge! To quote one scholarship winner, "My feeling on interviews is that attitude is everything. It is important to project your vitality and energy - [no scholarship] committee wants to give its money to some blah who’s going to mope around all day."
• Dress code: Do not dress in a manner which will make you feel uncomfortable, but do not dress too informally.
• Theme... Go into the interview with a general "theme" in mind. Try to make connections between your responses so that your overall interview has a cogency to it.
• Don’t worry about being nervous. Everyone is. The interviewers want to challenge you, but they certainly will not be confrontational.
• Language Ability: IIE places great emphasis on the feasibility of your proposal when evaluating each application. For this reason, they stress the importance of foreign language skills if you are going to a country where the native language is not English. The interviewers may ask you questions in the language of your country. Always reply in the language in which you are asked a question, even if it is to ask the committee member to repeat the question. The committee is not so much looking for fluency, but more for your potential to communicate in the language.
• Know something about the country to which you are applying. Familiarize yourself with current events, politics, literature, cultural events and what is going on in your field in that country. Some interviews will not go into these subjects in much depth, but some will.
• Know something about what is going on in the U.S. (especially issues relevant to what you study). Read a paper that reports on international news as well as national news.
• Before you go into the interview, re-read your application (including your transcript). Interviewers may ask you about any and all parts of your application, and you need to be prepared to talk about any statement you have made. It is so easy to forget a seemingly insignificant point you may have made, and it is quite embarrassing to draw a blank on your own writing. When you reread the application, try to examine what some of the ramifications of each sentence might be and how it might be interpreted by an outside reader. Try to read each sentence (or paragraph) and think of at least one possible question the interviewers might ask. Be sure you can completely and concisely answer all of your own questions. This may be difficult, so consider having a friend read your essay and comment or question you on points he or she finds particularly interesting or unusual. Know what it is you wish to study and be prepared to discuss it. If you have written your essay well, you will be able to guide the interviewers to the questions you want to answer!
• Body language is important! Don’t slouch. Eye contact is important; look your interviewers in the eye. It is good to firmly clasp your hands in your lap, especially if they are shaking. Don’t be too stiff, however.
• Stand by your convictions, but remember to acknowledge other people’s viewpoints as well. Do not be dogmatic or defensive. Show you are able to hold a strong opinion while also understanding and valuing the merit of other viewpoints.
• Do not be afraid to state your opinions and argue them. As long as you are able to support your opinions, and do so without becoming angry or defensive, you will do fine. Some interviewers are curious to know how you will react in a situation where your beliefs are being questioned. The same interviewer who presses you to the wall about your thoughts on a particular matter may agree with you completely, so don’t waffle for the sake of agreement (i.e., don't give them the answer you think they expect to hear). Just be straightforward and stand by your convictions. You will not be able to snow the committee.
• Channel your nervous energy into enthusiasm. Be genuinely enthusiastic about the scholarship and the opportunities they can afford you. Be positive and don’t hesitate to let them know you really want the scholarship.
• Unsure of a question? If you are unsure of what a question is getting at, you can do one of two things: take a definite line on what you thought the question was, or ask politely and briefly for clarification. Some applicants, when asked an especially tough question, request clarification in order to gain a little time to think. It’s not a good idea to risk this tactic more than once in an interview, because you may wind up looking like you don’t understand anything.
• Do not rush your answers, and don’t babble on about nothing as you rack your brains for an answer. Consider each question and provide a thoughtful answer. Don’t be verbose. If an interviewer wants more information, he or she will ask for it. Don’t wait too long, however, to reply to questions, or you will run the risk of wasting your interview time on expectant silence.
• Feel free to say "I don’t know." The interview should be approached as a conversation, not as an oral exam. Never go into an interview worried about failing on one question--everybody does.
• Humor is important. Don’t take it all too seriously. Your interviewers will enjoy an amusing comment and it makes the interview situation much more human. Keep a sense of humor.
• Tired panelists... Remember that the panel will be interviewing a number of candidates. Make allowances for the possibility that the panel may be tired. Let the interviewer determine the interview pace. Treat all of the panelists’ questions with respect. And--it really doesn’t matter when you are interviewed; there is no advantage to being first or last.
• Know something about the origin and intent of the scholarships.
• How you enter and exit is important. Smile at everyone when you come in and leave time for a casual or humorous comment or two at the beginning. Let them set the pace. Thank them and make a polite exit when they indicate the interview is over, but don’t rush out the door.
• If you're really nervous... have a mock interview with friends or faculty to get prepared for the real interview. Mock interviewers should have ready your proposal and should try to ask you questions both about your work and yourself.
• Don’t try to analyze the interview afterwards by wondering "WHAT IF?" Many applicants dwell on less-than-articulate answers and pregnant pauses and do not realize that their interviews went quite well.
• We will end our interview advice on the point we started out with: BE YOURSELF! You really can’t have a good interview without doing this. Remember that the panel is looking forward to meeting you and will enjoy interviewing you.
NATIONAL SCREENING PROCESS
IIE Fulbright Scholarship National Deadline
After the campus interview, the ORC will forward your entire application, including references and transcripts, and the Campus Committee Evaluation Form to IIE in New York by the national deadline.
Your application will first be reviewed by a nationally appointed committee in the United States. Except in a few cases (e.g., performing arts), you will not be asked for any further interviews. IIE will notify you directly in late January or early February whether or not you have passed national screenings. If you pass, your application will be sent to the supervising agency in the country to which you are applying, and the final decisions will be made. (In recent years, almost one half of all Stanford applicants have passed the national screening process. Of those that pass, between 15 - 18 Stanford students are awarded IIE Fulbright Scholarships each year.)
You will receive final notification from a commission abroad, the U.S. Information Agency, or IIE beginning in April. Students sometimes receive notification as late as June or July. There is no standard timeline by which country committees make their decisions.
Please contact the ORC when you receive official notification, as we are often not informed until a later date.
LAST THOUGHTS...
• Make this scholarship application a priority and manage your time well! This process won't seem so daunting or tiring if you stay on top of things.
• Details! Details! Details! Whether it's completing your application or following-up on your references, pay attention to the details! Make your application as neat, tidy, and easy to read as possible. You don't want to come across as sloppy or lacking in seriousness of purpose.
• Get everything in on time. Supporting materials can be submitted late, but you should make every effort to have a completed application by the time of the campus deadline. Incomplete applications will reflect poorly on you at the campus and national levels.
BEST OF LUCK!
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