how to secure a fulbright fellowship
DESCRIPTION
As the most prestigious scholarship program offered by the US Government, The Fulbright Program strives to develop future leaders who can deepen bilateral ties with the United States. In this webinar I will outline winning strategies to help you appeal your candidacy through your CV, application essays, personal statement, study/research objectives, and interview. My goal is to teach concrete self-marketing and research techniques that can help qualified applicants secure a Fulbright award. I will help participants answer these questions: * What are your research and professional goals (and how are they connected)? * What are your technical, analytical and interpersonal skills that prepare you to succeed? * Why is it critical for you to study in the US (or outside the US if you are American), and why is now the best time to do so? * How can you contribute to enhance the mission and goals of the Fulbright Program? Regardless of the outcome, preparing the personal statements and application essays required by the Fulbright application gives applicants a headstart for MBA or graduation school applications. I encourage you to apply!TRANSCRIPT
Vince Ricci
How to
Secure a
Fulbright
Fellowship
Sign up here: http://bit.ly/FulbrightWebinar
AIGAC Summit2010
Vince RicciEducator, Entrepreneurhttp://VincePrep.com
Vince RicciEducator, Entrepreneurhttp://VincePrep.com
Vince RicciEducator, Entrepreneur
•Writing teacher since 1990http://VincePrep.com
Vince RicciEducator, Entrepreneur
•Writing teacher since 1990•Admissions counselor since 2002
http://VincePrep.com
Tokyo at night Shibuya U of T
Vince RicciEducator, Entrepreneur
•Writing teacher since 1990•Admissions counselor since 2002
•Helped 10+ Fulbrighters
http://VincePrep.com
Vince RicciEducator, Entrepreneur
•Writing teacher since 1990•Admissions counselor since 2002
•Helped 10+ Fulbrighters•University of Tokyo, Part-time Lecturer, Academic Writing + Presentations
http://VincePrep.com
Who are YOU?
Where are you?
What is Fulbright?
What Fulbright Wants
Your Name Here
Over 7,000
150+ countries
Easy to Access
Transparent
Contact them Directly
Our Focus Today1. Statement of Grant
Purpose (proposed future project)
Our Focus Today1. Statement of Grant
Purpose (proposed future project)
2. Personal Statement (about the past)
Our Focus Today1. Statement of Grant
Purpose (proposed future project)
Our Focus Today1. Statement of Grant
Purpose (proposed future project)
2. Personal Statement (about the past and present)
Statement of Grant Purpose (PROJECT)
Research Proposal
Statement of Grant Purpose (PROJECT)
Research Proposal
Study Plan
Statement of Grant Purpose (PROJECT)
Research Proposal
Study Plan
Goals
Statement of Grant Purpose (PROJECT)
Research Proposal
Study Plan
Goals
The Future
Statement of Grant Purpose (PROJECT)
Developing a strong, feasible and compelling project is the most important aspect of a successful Fulbright application
Statement of Grant Purpose (PROJECT)
Developing a strong, feasible and compelling project is the most important aspect of a successful Fulbright application
Statement of Grant Purpose (PROJECT)
Your first step should be to familiarize yourself with the program summary for the country to which you wish to apply
Photo of Tokyo subway map in Japanese
Easy to Access
Transparent
Statement of Grant Purpose (PROJECT)
Please ensure that your project design fits the program guidelines for your host country
Statement of Grant Purpose (PROJECT)
Here you demonstrate in detail what and how your research will contribute to your discipline
Statement of Grant Purpose (PROJECT)
Here you demonstrate in detail what and how your research will contribute to your discipline
Accepted Areas of Research
Make sure your proposed project will contribute to one of the designated project areas identified by the Fulbright commission of your country
Accepted Areas of Research
Make sure your proposed project will contribute to one of the designated project areas identified by the Fulbright commission of your country
How do you add value?
ContributionA contribution includes an addition to your field’s overall knowledge that also enhances understanding between the US and another nation
Something cute
Something cute
Ask Yourself Six Questions
① Who
② What
③ When
④ Where
⑤ Why
⑥ How
①Who②What③When
④ Where
⑤Why⑥How
Who?With whom do you propose to work?
What?What do you propose to do?
What?What is exciting, new or unique about your project?
What?What contribution will the project make to the Fulbright objective of promoting cross-cultural interaction and mutual understanding?
When?When will you carry out your study or research?
When?When will you carry out your study or research?
Include a timeline.
Why?Why do you want to do it?
Why?Why is your project important or significant?
Why?Why must you go abroad to carry out your project?
Add MU images / some kind of visual +/oranimation lessig style only words
Something cute
Why?What resources are available in your host country but not in your home country?
Why?How will you use these resources to better understand your subject matter?
How?How will you carry out your work?
How?What methodologies will you use?
How?What methodologies will you use? a) Access to archives &
specialists
How?What methodologies will you use? a) Access to archives &
specialistsb) Site visits
How?What methodologies will you use? a) Access to archives &
specialistsb) Site visitsc) Interviews
How?How will your Fulbright project help further your academic or professional development?
a b c
Link to Current Issues
In your home and/or host country, how can you contribute to issues such as
a)good governance
a)good governance
b)poverty alleviation
a)good governance
b)poverty alleviation
c)rule of law
(examples from social/political science)
This sounds important
but I am not sure why
Most interviewers hail from other disciplines
Something cute
Get FeedbackRemember your audience
Get FeedbackRemember your audience
Avoid academic or professional jargon
Keep It SimpleExamples are golden
“Writing for the outside world”
by Andrea Sims
Although intelligent people will be reading your proposed plan of study, few (if any) will be specialists in your field
“Writing for the outside world”
by Andrea Sims
The longer you spend in a field, the less you realize when you are using technical terms
“Writing for the outside world”
by Andrea Sims
My assigned mentor took my proposal, underlined everything she didn't understand and made me do it again.
“Writing for the outside world”
by Andrea Sims
My assigned mentor took my proposal, underlined everything she didn't understand and made me do it again.
And again.
“Writing for the outside world”
by Andrea Sims
Then I sent my proposal to my parents, who are also not linguists.
“Writing for the outside world”
by Andrea Sims
Then I sent my proposal to my parents, who are also not linguists.
And I wrote it again.
“Writing for the outside world”
by Andrea Sims
Then I sent my proposal to my parents, who are also not linguists.
And I wrote it again.
And yes, again
“Writing for the outside world”
by Andrea Sims
Each time I clarified the ideas while reducing the terminology
Something cute
“Writing for the outside world”
by Andrea Sims
Thanks to my simple example, one of the people who had read my application was able to intelligently explain my proposal to her boss based solely upon what I had written
That is the goal.
“Writing for the outside world”
by Andrea Sims
I will never again write a grant application without passing it in front of as many non-specialist eyes as are willing to read it
Get FeedbackThis advice also applies to most graduate school and other scholarship essays!
Get FeedbackThis advice also applies to most graduate school and other scholarship essays!
Even if not selected, the process will yield dividends
Something cute
Passion?
What Do You Want to Change?
How will your studies impact your field?
What Do You Want to Change?
How will your studies impact your field?
How will your studies and their impact change society?
What Do You Want to Change?
How will your studies impact your field?
How will your studies and their impact change society?
If teaching, what new perspectives will enter your curriculum?
Worthy?
Something cute
Is Your Project Feasible?
Account for resources, relevant to your project, of your host nation and host institution, as well as the time frame and funding of the grant
Is Your Project Feasible?
Demonstrate you have already taken enough steps to set up parts of your research
Is Your Project Feasible?
Any factor that could raise doubts about the likelihood of completing your project should be accounted for in your proposal
OK, now I understan
d.
Questions?
Statement of Grant
Purpose (Project)
Part II
Personal Statement
The Past
The Present
Personal Statement
Allows you to highlight the person-behind-the-project in no more than a single page
Personal Statement
A narrative giving a picture of you as an individual
Personal Statement
Your opportunity to tell the committee more about how you came to this point in your life and where you see yourself in the future
Personal Statement
Can 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
Personal Statement
Can deal with … 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
Personal Statement
Can deal with … 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
No Prior International Experience?
Chicken vs. Egg
Chicken vs. Egg
You don’t need
experience abroad to be a strong
candidate
On the contrary, the purpose of Fulbright is to expose Americans to the world
(and vice versa)
Personal Statement
It should not be a recording of facts already listed on the application or an elaboration of your Statement of Grant Purpose (Project)
boring
boring
Personal Statement
It is more of a biography, but specifically related to you and your aspirations relative to the Fulbright Program
Personal Statement
Show in detail what has made you successful in the past and will facilitate the success of your proposed project
Who are YOU?
What can you DO?
Why are you
insanely great?
a b c
Demonstrate That
• you achieve goals
Demonstrate That
• you prioritize and follow-through on your objectives
Demonstrate That
• you learn from your mistakes
Demonstrate That
• you have leadership and communication skills
a b c
Do I Believe You?
Can you help the Fulbright Committee understand how your background best prepares you to execute your plans?
Can you help the Fulbright Committee understand how your background best prepares you to execute your plans?
It is critical that your personal statement fully support your project proposal
Why are you uniquely qualified to realize your ideas?
Do I Care?
How can Vince help?
Admissions Counseling
① CV
Admissions Counseling
① CV
② Goals / Project clarification
Admissions Counseling
① CV
② Goals / Project clarification
③ Personal statement structuring
Admissions Counseling
① CV
② Goals / Project clarification
③ Personal statement structuring
④ Interview training
Admissions Counseling
① CV
② Goals / Project clarification
③ Personal statement structuring
④ Interview training
⑤ Second opinion
Next Steps
① Do CV and Personal Statement together
what how wo
w
Next Steps
① Do CV and Personal Statement together
② Research and write Project Proposal (Statement of Grant Purpose) with an eye towards interview preparation
Most interviewers hail from other disciplines
Next Steps
① Do CV and Personal Statement together
② Research and write Project Proposal (Statement of Grant Purpose) with an eye towards interview preparation
③ Enjoy the process!
Something cute
Next Steps
① Start early
Next Steps
① Start early
② Get help
Next Steps
① Start early
② Get help
③ Contact Fulbrighters
Vince’s Perspective
① Website
② Blog
③ VincePrep.com
AIGAC.org
• Experienced
AIGAC.org
• Experienced
• Ethical
AIGAC.org
• Experienced
• Ethical
http://www.aigac.org/membership.htm
Resources & Links
⑦ Special thanks to Adam and Steve
⑧ Blog link here http://adam-markus.blogspot.com/2009/04/steve-green-preparing-fulbright.html
Resources & Links
① http://www.iie.org/en/Fulbright
Resources & Links
① http://www.iie.org/en/Fulbright
② http://us.fulbrightonline.org/preparing_personalstatement.html
Resources & Links
① http://www.iie.org/en/Fulbright
② http://us.fulbrightonline.org/preparing_personalstatement.html
③ http://bit.ly/FulTips
Resources & Links
① http://www.iie.org/en/Fulbright
② http://us.fulbrightonline.org/preparing_personalstatement.html
③ http://bit.ly/FulTips
④ http://bit.ly/FulTipVids
Resources & Links
① http://www.iie.org/en/Fulbright
② http://us.fulbrightonline.org/preparing_personalstatement.html
③ http://bit.ly/FulTips
④ http://bit.ly/FulTipVids
⑤ http://twitter.com/TokyoVince/following
!
Good Luck!-Vince RicciAdmissions Advocate•Tokyo •San FranciscoVincePrep.com