Preparing Your FULBRIGHT Application

What to do this summer to prepare your Fulbright application.

The 2009-2010 Fulbright competition opened on May 1, 2008, with applications due in mid-October 2008. Visit www.fulbrightonline.org/us for more details.

Fulbright Applications are due to Paul Fogleman, Indiana University’s Fulbright Program Adviser not later than 5:00 p.m. Monday, September 15th. To build the most effective Fulbright application possible, do not wait until the last minute. Use your summer months to do some of the following:

- Familiarize yourself with the components of the Fulbright application, and with the types of grants offered in your target country at www.fulbrightonline.org/us
- Brainstorm with your advisor to develop your proposal and make in-country contacts who can assist in realizing your Fulbright proposal.
- If your proposed work can be done in a number of countries, do the research necessary to select the ONE country where you’ll do your study or research (unless you’re building a multi-country proposal). Begin to build a proposal that argues why you must be given a Fulbright grant to go to that particular country. For example, in your proposal, you must be able to answer the question, “Why Sweden? Or Why Kazakhstan?” (for example)
- Develop first drafts of your proposal. Then…
- Have your faculty recommenders read and comment on drafts of your Fulbright proposal. THIS IS VERY VALUABLE! Have as many eyeballs as possible view your proposal. Get as much feedback on your proposal as possible from colleagues inside and outside your field and your area.
- Your Fulbright application includes a “Narrative cv” (as opposed to a traditional cv) which in part replaces an interview with the NY Fulbright Committee. In this freeform cv, you are free to be creative about how you present your motivations, background, and goals for your Fulbright proposal. Start to think about how you will present yourself in your “Narrative cv”
- Investigate in-country resources for your proposed work – you’ll need to show the Fulbright committees how knowledgeable you are about your target country.
 Begin to develop institutional affiliations in your target country. Advance networking is important for soliciting valuable letters of support for your application from in-country individuals and institutions.
- Clear “Incompletes” from your transcripts! They negatively impact your application.
- Ask your Fulbright Program Adviser review drafts of your proposal (I am happy to receive drafts of your proposal via e-mail and to meet with you to review them.)
- Request and collect transcripts from past university work, to submit with your application. NB: Transcripts are required for all post-high school work.
- Take language courses where possible to brush up on your language skills
- Performing and creative artists: Begin to select or produce the materials you will include in your supplemental materials to be reviewed by the committee:
Music CD or cassette, photo portfolio, writing samples, slides, etc.
- Visit the Fulbright Program Adviser’s office to review successful past proposals.