Stay Calm: My Advice on the Fulbright Program Application
Being accepted to the Fulbright Program is a life-changing experience that will continue to shape your future in countless ways. It’s a chance to meet professionals in a specific field in a global setting. Of course, working with people from other parts of the world can come with its challenges, but more importantly, it brings enormous benefits. Studying abroad is easily one of the best ways to expand your professional and personal horizons, so I will try my best to provide tips on how you may become the next Fulbrighter, in this blog post.
I believe a good place to begin would be to clearly state your future goals. You don’t have to have everything figured out, but it’s very important to know what you want, and why you want to do it. I applied to Fulbright knowing that I wanted to make the transition from traditional, construction-based architecture into speculative architecture and worldbuilding in film. I knew that I had a lot to benefit from by going to the United States and finding programs that specialized in this, and that my vision was strong enough to make the case.
Making a case for what you want to study is one of the most important parts of the application. The application process is very competitive, and everyone will make sure to say that they are passionate about their field of study. You must figure out why your vision is more deserving of Fulbright’s support than others. What is it that makes your career goals stand out from those of the hundreds of applicants who have studied the same subject as you? It is very important to be able to make your case in both of your application essays, and the best place to start is by knowing what you really want, not just what you think the interviewers want to hear. The application readers are looking for people who stand out and are true to themselves.
Next are the recommendations. Believe me when I say that every student is getting recommendations that highlight how ideal they are to be a candidate for their program. Of the professors and supervisors you know, you must think about who is able to give the most interesting perspective possible about your achievements. For me, I decided to reach out to three recommenders who each knew me in different settings. One saw my social work in an international setting and commented on my passion for composing music. Another had worked directly on research with me and gave his insight into my research skills. The last was an instructor with whom I’d had many office-hour talks, who was very familiar with my future goals and could testify to my ambitions and passion. None of the recommendations could be simply boiled down to, “This individual is a great student, so you should consider them.” Make sure you choose recommenders who portray you as a well-rounded individual and not just two-dimensional.
Now, let’s say you got shortlisted for the program and your application was successful. Honestly, that’s half the work done. The interview is easy, just be yourself and be honest. If you know what you love and you know why you love it, you’ll be able to make a case regardless of what questions you get. Prepare mentally, but don’t prepare memorized answers for the interviewers. For me, the only restriction I placed on myself was the timing of my answers; I made sure my responses were not too long and not too brief. Besides that, I walked in feeling ready to take on any question, and so should you. Be true to yourself and just enjoy the conversation. Lastly, don’t forget to wear something nice!
I won’t lie, the process from start to finish can be quite stressful. You’ll spend about a year working for something that is not guaranteed, and you may be riddled with doubt. However, it is always worth reminding yourself that if you make it to the last round, then you’ve already passed the toughest selection stages and you’re much more likely than not to see your work pay off in the end. Stay calm, do well on your exams, impress the universities you’re applying to, and follow the process. Most importantly, trust yourself.
I hope these tips can help you refine your application and familiarize yourself with the Fulbright process. Good luck!
Nour is a Lebanese Fulbrighter who is studying for his M.S. AUD- Entertainment Studio from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
