Planning Ahead for your Fulbright Application
Melissa’s Tips for Crafting a Successful Fulbright Application, Part 3
I’m sure it has become obvious to you that Fulbright projects are usually the result of years of preparation. While there have been successful Fulbright applications that have been put together in a matter of weeks, this is the exception, not the rule. It is essential to think months ahead so you don’t end up crunched for time at the end.
So, what components of the application are most time-consuming and/or require thoughtful planning? Here are my thoughts:
Connecting with an affiliate is easily one of the most exciting, stressful, and time-consuming parts of the process. I have dedicated a whole post to this here:
Essay writing: The Fulbright application essays are not easily thrown together in a day. They require crafting an comprehensive project proposal (Statement of Grant Purpose) and telling the narrative of your life (Personal Statement). More detailed posts with tips on writing both essays are coming soon!
Keep in mind that your recommenders and language evaluator should have a copy of your Statement of Grant Purpose. It is best to give at least one month for recommendations/evaluations. With that in mind, you will want to have an acceptable draft ready to go several months before the deadline.
Speaking of writing essays, I am offering a limited number of Fulbright essay coaching sessions this summer!
Language evaluation: Depending on the country you are applying to and the specifics of your project proposal, you may need a language evaluation. The semester before I applied for a Fulbright, I registered for a Spanish class in order to make a personal connection with a Spanish professor at my university. I knew I was going to apply for a Fulbright and that I would need a university professor to do my language evaluation. Now, you can always reach out to a professor you have never met to do the evaluation. However, it can’t hurt to have the personal connection, and if you want that, it means planning ahead by a semester or more.
Recommendation Letters are another aspect that may require a bit of planning. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program typically requires three recommendation letters. Think ahead about which professors should write these for you, and make intentional connections with them.
If you want a particular professor to write your recommendation letter, take the time to make yourself stand out. Visit their office hours. Ask them about their career trajectory. Inform them early that you’d like them to write a Fulbright recommendation letter and see if they would be willing to.