General Eligibility
• Gathering
information
• Making
an informed decision: Should I apply?
• Getting started on your application
• Review
and revise your draft application
• Your campus application
• Your national application
• Review at the national level
• Questions???
GENERAL
ELIGIBILITY
- U.S. citizen
at the time of application.
- Normally,
no upper age limit. However, some German grants do have age
restrictions.
- Preference
will be given to applicants whose higher education was received
primarily at educational institutions in the United States.
Foreign study during the junior year or other periods of undergraduate
study that are integral parts of the curricula of American institutions
will not be considered disqualifying.
- Bachelor's
degree or equivalent professional experience before the beginning
date of the grant. Applicants may not hold a doctoral degree
at the time of application, unless otherwise noted in the official
IIE Fulbright Program
Book.
- Sufficient
proficiency in written and spoken language of the host country
to communicate with the people and to carry out the proposed
project. Reviewers at all levels place great emphasis on the
project's feasibility.
- Good health.
Grantees will be required to submit a satisfactory Certificate
of Health from a physician.
- In addition
to these general eligibility requirements and those in the Fulbright
booklet, there are many specifications made for individual countries
and by grant sponsors. Please read the country sections of the
IIE Fulbright Program
Book carefully.
Ineligibility
(Applicable to Fulbright Grants and Foreign Grants Supplemented
by Fulbright)
- Anyone
who has already held a Fulbright full grant administered by
IIE is ineligible for a second grant. However, grantees who
have held travel-only grants and teaching assistantships are
eligible to apply for a Fulbright full grant, provided that
three years have elapsed since the first grant.
- For further
information on ineligibility, please consult the official IIE Fulbright Program Book.
Steps in
application
Where do
I apply???
If you are
an enrolled Stanford student, you MUST apply through the Overseas
Resource Center (ORC) and meet the campus deadline. Information,
applications, and advising are available at the ORC for Stanford
applicants.
If you are
a recent Stanford graduate, you have the option of applying directly
to the Institute of International
Education (IIE) as an at-large applicant or applying through
the ORC. Please note, however, that the ORC staff will not be
able to offer advice on essays, courses of study, etc. to recent
Stanford graduates who choose to apply through IIE. At-large applicants
should contact IIE at (212) 984-5330 for more information and
an application.
PLEASE
NOTE: IF YOU ARE APPLYING THROUGH STANFORD IT IS IMPORTANT YOU
UNDERSTAND THAT YOU NEED TO SUBMIT A COMPLETE APPLICATION (AS
DESCRIBED BELOW) TO THE ORC BY THE CAMPUS DEADLINE.
THIS IS
TRUE EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE BEGUN TO COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION ON
LINE WITH IIE
1.
First Steps: Gathering Information
The following
is a list of preliminary steps to take if you are interested in
applying:
- Attend
a Fulbright Information Session. Staff at the ORC will hold
weekly information sessions for all interested students throughout
Winter and Spring Quarters. At these sessions, the staff will
cover all of the "ins and outs" (e.g., deadlines,
procedures, resources) of preparing and applying for the Fulbright
Scholarship*. For a list of the upcoming information sessions,
please call the ORC or subscribe to the ORC's
electronic newsletter. Or, see the Schedule of upcoming
scholarship information
meetings.
- Meet with
an ORC advisor. This is your opportunity to ask more in-depth
questions regarding the Fulbright application process.
- Subscribe
to ORC-News.
The ORC-News is an electronic newsletter which features overseas
study, work, and scholarship opportunities. During the scholarship
season, upcoming information sessions for Fulbright and other
scholarships are announced in ORC-News. To subscribe to ORC-News,
please send the following e-mail message: SUBSCRIBE ORC-NEWS
to: <majordomo@lists.stanford.edu>:
- Consult
helpful booklets, handouts, and reference materials available
at the ORC. The following items are available in the ORC's Scholarship
Section:
- Fulbright
U.S. Student Program: Fulbright and Related Grants for Graduate
Study and Research Abroad (official IIE Fulbright Program Book)
- IIE
Fulbright Scholarship Handbook: A comprehensive guide for the
Stanford applicant
- Fulbright:
Successful Proposals. In the Scholarship Section of the ORC,
there are four binders containing statements of study proposals
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. They are organized by country.
- Check out
useful Web sites such as...
- United
Kingdom Fulbright Commission (for updates on U.K. program)
- DAAD:
German Academic Exchange Service Awards
- Fastweb:
Financial Aid Search Through the Web
- Explore
additional sources of funding. Consult the Awards database
on Folio, your academic advisor, faculty, Undergraduate
Advising Center, Institute for International Studies, and
other academic departments.
- Consult
your academic advisor and professors about your plans for
graduate study. Get them acquainted with your ideas. The
ORC can also help put you in touch with Stanford faculty,
staff, and students (including international visiting scholars
) who have indicated a willingness to advise students with
the Fulbright application process. Please do not hesitate
to contact them.
2.
Making an Informed Decision: Should I Apply?
Now that you
have gathered all the appropriate information, researched the
possibilities of study and research overseas and consulted with
advisors, YOU have a decision to make as to whether or not you
will apply. A good starting point might be to ask yourself (and
be honest!)the following questions:
Will I
be on campus during the spring or summer to prepare my application?
If you will
not be here during the spring or summer, you must seriously consider
what steps you will need to take before you leave campus at the
end of Winter or Spring Quarter. Please be aware that many former
applicants have found it difficult to consult with advisors, professors,
and potential recommenders long distance. You should take care
of many details (i.e., prospective program research, contact faculty)
before you leave campus. If you are interested in applying and
will be away from campus during the spring or summer, please contact
the ORC Coordinator for advising.
Will I
be away from campus during the fall for campus interviews and
deadlines?
Many former
applicants who were away from campus during the fall have had
difficulties putting together competitive applications ¡’ from
submitting application materials on time to soliciting recommendations
from faculty. Keep in mind that no matter how much work is done
during the spring and summer, there are always last minute details
to complete around the time of the campus deadline and interviews.
If you will be away from campus during the fall quarter, PLEASE
stay in close touch with and seek advice from the ORC Coordinator.
If you are
overseas or otherwise away from campus during the fall campus
interviews, the Coordinator may waive your interview and submit
your application to the Fulbright Campus Screening Committee for
a paper review and evaluation.
Do I find
it difficult to meet deadlines or complete applications on time?
During the
scholarship process, there will be numerous deadlines that need
to be met ¡’- campus deadlines, national deadlines ¡’- where no
exceptions will be made. Applications which look rushed, unpolished,
and are incomplete will be a waste of time for you, your recommenders,
and the selection committees.
Do I have
the time and energy to commit to this process?
Participating
in the Fulbright competition demands considerable time and energy.
Most people who have participated in the process through its final
stages have compared it to five units of coursework, spread out
over three quarters. For those applicants who plan ahead, the
deadline in the first days of Fall Quarter won't be quite
as daunting! Most of spring and early summer should be spent researching
study options and meeting with advisors and potential recommenders.
Over the summer, you may work on writing and fine-tuning your
essays. Early Fall Quarter, you will turn
in your application and prepare for campus (and, in a few cases,
national) interviews.
It has been
our experience that candidates who try to add applying for these
awards on top of all their other commitments (without prioritizing
and cutting back) end up producing weaker applications. The time
commitment during spring and summer are manageable (if spread
out over time), but during the first few weeks of Fall Quarter,
you will be required to give a lot of time and energy, concentrated
in a smaller time period, to the application process.
Do I know
what I want to study overseas and why? Am I prepared to research
my options?
A vital part
of any application is the enthusiasm for, and understanding of,
a period of study overseas. This is true whether you are applying
as a graduating senior or as an advanced graduate student. The
core of an IIE Fulbright application is the argument that you
make for the importance of your academic study overseas. While
it is true that the Fulbright does consider other aspects of an
application, these cannot take priority over academic goals. Our
advice is to forget the name of the award and focus on the academic
opportunities that the award makes possible.
Is my academic
record strong enough?
The Fulbright
Awards are academically competitive although there is no minimum
grade point requirement. However, in addition to a strong academic
record, your project proposal must be organized and well-presented.
Also, you should have strong support for your project from your
faculty recommenders.
Do I come
across as someone who is interested in things outside of the academic
area?
The Fulbright
does look for evidence of non-academic interests and pursuits.
Your extracurricular involvement and achievements can be in any
area (e.g., volunteer activities, student organizations, work,
sports), but they should be aspects of your life that mean a lot
to you and which you are comfortable writing and talking about.
Do I know
enough faculty members or advisors well enough to ask for the
number of references (and advice on essays and programs of study)
required?
The Fulbright
requires three academic references and, where appropriate, a language
evaluation. These references should be from those who have known
you in an academic setting and can also comment on your other
characteristics.
It has been
our experience that students who are successful in these competitions
receive very detailed references from faculty, supervisors, advisors,
etc. References should provide the selection committee with an
in-depth evaluation of a student based on a close and often long
term relationship. References from faculty who have taught you
in one large class often do not convey the kind of information
a selection committee needs.
Do I take
advice well?
The Fulbright
competition is one that involves many people giving you advice,
much of it based on their own experiences. Advice may be minimal
and specific. It might take the form of a suggestion that you
re-write your whole essay. It might involve a very tough campus
interview and follow-up advice. It is our experience that very
few winners of these awards were successful without listening
to, and benefiting from, advice.
Am I someone
who is able to move from the "micro" of my college work
to the "macro" of world events by drawing comparisons?
One of the
things that we have noticed is that a number of very qualified
applicants have had difficult interviews because they have not
been able to move from the specifics of their academic/personal
interests to more national or worldly considerations. For example,
if you are a student who is somehow involved in medical research,
can you discuss the need for a national health care system? Another way of looking at this is to ask yourself have you considered
the broader, societal implications of your interests.
Do I defend
and articulate my views well?
We have never
noticed any trends for "right" or "wrong" opinions in the campus interviews. We have, however, seen many
examples where committees have strongly questioned applicants
on their views or intentions. For instance, if you are interested
in studying a potentially sensitive subject in Country X, your
interview committee may question you on this aspect of your application.
You should be ready to defend and articulate any decisions you
have made or avenues you hope to pursue. Keep in mind: Your aim
is not to please a committee, but to gain its respect.
Can I see
similarities between myself and the profiles of previous winners?
Consult the "Fulbright: Successful Proposals" Binders in the Scholarship
Section at the ORC. These sample essays will give you a good idea
of what the past Stanford winners are like ¡’- what they were
involved in, what they studied at Stanford, what they studied
(or are studying) overseas, and how they argued their academic
proposal. As you look through the profiles, don't compare yourself
in terms of having the same interests, but in having the same
commitment to interests.
If you have
asked yourself the above questions, you are now ready to make
your final decision as to whether or not you will apply. If you
are ready to begin the application process, please read on. If
you have any further questions, please contact the ORC Coordinator.
3.
Next Steps: Getting Started on Your Application
- START
EARLY! Since forms change very little from year to year,
do not feel that you need the current application in order to
proceed. Start thinking about your plans and drafting the materials
necessary for the campus application as early as possible to
allow for reflection and revision.
- Write a
1 page, single-spaced personal essay.
- Research
and organize your plan of study and draft an academic proposal
- Gather
materials for the campus deadline.
- Line up
recommendations.
- Start taking
care of the above items before you leave for the summer. Unless
you will be in the Bay Area or at least close enough to use
ORC and Stanford's resources often, it will be difficult to
research your options and to line up recommendations from a
distance. If you put all this off until fall quarter, you are
likely to find yourself in the unfortunate position of scrambling
to complete your application.
- Make an
individual appointment with an ORC advisor. During the spring
and summer, students may set up individual appointments with
the advisor as necessary. Please call (650) 725-0881 to arrange
an appointment.
- Submit
an IIE Fulbright Preapplication Form. In order
to establish a file at the ORC and to obtain the official application,
you must fill out and return a completed preapplication form.
Forms are available at the ORC.
- Review
the "Fulbright Scholarships Handbook:
A comprehensive guide for the Stanford applicant". Stanford
applicants should refer to this handbook for instructions and
helpful advice (on essays, references, and interviews) when
preparing their applications for the IIE Fulbright Scholarships.
4.
Review and Revise Your Draft Application
Seek advice!
We advise you to seek the advice of faculty, staff (both at the
ORC and at large), and other students while you craft your application
essays. You will have to rewrite your application several times
as you accept and respond to their advice. A great number of faculty
and staff members at Stanford, some of whom are past Fulbright
Scholars, are willing to assist you in your efforts and you would
be wise to take advantage of this resource. Time spent incorporating
suggestions into your application will be invaluable.
Staff members
at the Overseas Resource Center are available throughout spring
and summer to meet with you, review your application, critique
your essays, discuss issues that arise from your application and,
wherever possible, direct you to faculty, staff and students around
campus who will be able to serve in an advising capacity.
FEEDBACK
ON ESSAYS from ORC Staff
Staff members
at the Overseas Resource Center will be available to critique
essays throughout the summer. Students may submit essays for review
by mail, e-mail, fax, or in person. The turn-around time for review
is usually 3 - 5 working days.
PLEASE SUBMIT
DRAFT ESSAYS TO keroute@stanford.edu
LAST
DAY to SUBMIT ESSAYS for ORC REVIEW:
Mid Sept. 2005
5.
YOUR CAMPUS APPLICATION
Campus
Deadline: September 26, 2005 at 4pm
Please
turn in the following by the campus deadline (exact instructions
are in the IIE Fulbright Handbook):
- IIE
Fulbright
Cover Sheet (6 copies)
- Official
IIE Fulbright Application (6 copies)
- 3 Letters
of Recommendation ( NO COPIES NEEDED)
- Foreign
Language Report(s) (NO COPIES NEEDED)
- Official
Transcript(s) from institutions attended since high school ( NO COPIES NEEDED)
At the
time that you turn in your application, you may sign up for a
campus interview. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE CANNOT PROVIDE AN
INTERVIEW TIME WITHOUT A COMPLETE APPLICATION BEING SUBMITTED.
Campus
Interviews: Early October, 2004
Each applicant
will be interviewed individually for about 20 minutes by a campus
IIE Fulbright Panel (consisting of 3 Stanford faculty and staff
members). If you will be away from campus during Fall Quarter,
please notify the Coordinator immediately.
The Panel's
decision on whether or not to recommend your application is based
on an evaluation of your essay, transcripts, letters of recommendation,
foreign language report(s), and the campus interview. The panel
completes a rating form (ratings are from "excellent"
to "not recommended") supplied by IIE and provides detailed
comments on its appraisal of your academic proposal, motivation,
etc. Please note: Students will be rated, not ranked, at this
stage of the competition. Following the campus interview,all students'
applications will be forwarded to the National Screening Committee.
Please note:
Recommendation is NOT automatic. However, we are asked by IIE
to forward all applications submitted, regardless of the rating
given by the campus committee. It is not possible to disclose
the rating information to applicants.
6.
YOUR NATIONAL APPLICATION
IIE
Fulbright National Deadline: October 21, 2005
The ORC is
responsible for forwarding all applications to the Institute for
International Education as well as any subsequent materials that
are turned in after the national deadline.
7.
Review at the National Level
Your application
will be reviewed by a nationally appointed committee in the United
States. Except in a few cases (e.g., performing arts applicants
and finalists for the U.K.), you will not be asked for any further
interviews. If your application is successful at the national
stage, it will be forwarded to the country committee where the
final decisions will be made.
Final decisions
will be announced beginning in April 2006.
QUESTIONS???
Staff members
at the ORC are available to assist you during the application
process throughout the spring, summer, and early fall. If you
have questions at any point during the application process, please
do not hesitate to contact: Katie Route (650)723-0856, -OR- stop by
the ORC. (The Overseas Resource Center is open 10 AM - 5 PM, Monday
- Friday.) Please keep in touch with the ORC staff in case of
changes or developments in the Fulbright application process.
Remember, it is your responsibility to check with the ORC on the
completeness of your file.
Good luck!
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