Information

Everything you need to know to apply for a Fulbright is provided here: http://us.fulbrightonline.org/home.html

Important facts:

• To be eligible for a Fulbright U.S. Student Program Fellowship you must be a U.S. citizen and be a graduating college senior at the time your application is submitted, and hold a Bachelor's degree by the start of your grant.
• There is no GPA requirement. However, it is recommended that applicants demonstrate strong academic achievement and leadership/cultural ambassadorial potential.
• Diversity is fundamental to the mission of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs looks for applicants who are from traditionally underrepresented audiences. These audiences include, but are not limited to women, persons belonging to racial and ethnic minorities, persons living in under-served geographic locations, persons belonging to religious minorities, persons of lower socio-economic status, and persons with disabilities.
• You should apply to Fulbright through Pace University, even after you graduate. If you will be pursing graduate studies at another university by fall of the year you are applying, you must apply for a Fulbright grant through your new institution and will need to abide by their institutional process/procedures.
• The official Fulbright Student Application will be available on May 1.

Getting Started: What Should You Do Now?

• Explore and get acquainted with the Fulbright website: http://us.fulbrightonline.org/home.html
• Decide between a Research/Study Grant or an English Teaching Assistantship (ETA).
• Pick a country. Review the Nature of Assignment, Language Requirements, Candidate Profile, and other special instructions provided on each country's webpage.
• Then email Dolores Alfieri (DAlfieri@pace.edu), indicating your choice of Research/Study Grant or ETA, and country. Include information about yourself: major, interests, language skills, previous travels, future plans, etc...
• Tell your adviser, mentors, and program chair about your intent to apply for a Fulbright. Ask them for suggestions, guidance, and support. This is especially important for graduating students if you intend to make your Fulbright research a part of your graduate studies.

Timeline:

• May 1: The Fulbright U.S. student competition opens.
• Please email dalfieri@pace.edu if you intend to apply for a Fulbright.
• Mid-June: First rough drafts of essays due for Research/Study applicants and ETAs. Email your essays to Dolores Alfieri (DAlfieri@pace.edu.) We will discuss your essays with you and make suggestions. Give names of your 3 potential recommenders, including their title and explanation of capacity in which you know each person.
• Late June: Research/Study applicants submit their intended affiliations to Pace rep. (Note: Make your contacts before the spring semester ends! Professors tend to disappear during the summer months.)
• August 1: You should have started the online application process on Embark.
• August 29: Deadline to complete Foreign Language Evaluation (if required).
• September 12: Pace Institutional Deadline! Your application must be submitted by this date through the Embark online application system, including all Application Components, for institutional review by Pace University's Fulbright committee.
• Late September-early October: On-campus Fulbright interviews will be held.
• October 14: Deadline for references to be submitted.
• October 14: Deadline for Pace's Fulbright Program Advisor (FPA) to submit students' applications to Fulbright.

History of the Fulbright US Student Program:

• 1945 idea of Senator J.William Fulbright.
• 1946 signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.
• Basic goal: "promotion of international good will through the exchange of students in the fields of education, culture, and science."
• Seek international partnerships.
• Run by a 12-member board appointed by the President of the U.S.
• Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
• Now offers c.1,900 grants each year, in more than 140 countries
• Recipients are selected on the basis of academic excellence and leadership potential.
• Foreign students also come to the US on Fulbright awards.

Fulbright US Student Program

Two basic types—you must pick one

• Study/Research project you design. Work with a foreign university.
  There are specialized grants in Business (specifically to Finland, Mexico, Netherlands, and Spain); Journalism (specifically to Germany, Spain, and the UK); Sciences and Public Health (especially to Australia, Canada, Chile, Indonesia, and Netherlands); and in Creative and Performing Arts.
• English Teaching Assistant. Assist a teacher of English language and serve as an ambassador for U.S. culture. Your students may range from kindergarten to university level. Click on link to list of ETA countries, number of applicants, and number of awards granted. Highly competitive.
  Valuable tip: The Study/Research grants require more of the applicant (2-page description of project and letter of affiliation from a foreign institution) than the English Teaching Assistantships. But, statistically, a greater percent of Study/Research applicants are successful.

Other types of Fulbrights:

• Fulbright mtvU Awards for music.
• Fulbright-Clinton Fellowships for public service
• Travel Grants, only to Germany, Hungary, and Italy
• Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship

A Fulbright usually lasts one academic year.

Eligibility:

• You must be a US citizen
• You should not have spent long period of time abroad, especially in the country of application. This excludes recent undergraduate study abroad.

When to apply:

Begin the application process in the spring semester of your junior year. Submit your complete application when in September of your senior year. It is possible to apply for a Fulbright later in your careers, but my comments today are intended for you—undergraduates.

You must select a destination country

Valuable tip: On Fulbright homepage, upper right, click on Statistics to learn how many students applied to a specific country, and how many of those applicants received awards.

Research Example:

• 2014-15, Ukraine, 14 students applied; 10 received awards
• 2014-15, Slovenia, 12 students applied; 2 received awards
• France, Germany, Italy and especially the United Kingdom get many applications, but they also give more awards.

ETA Example:

• 2014-15, Ukraine: 15 applied, 2 received awards
• France, Germany, Spain, and Turkey had many applicants; Germany gave the most awards.

• Several Tutorials are offered online on the Fulbright website at http://us.fulbrightonlone.org/tutorials
• Tutorial 1: Intro to the Fulbright US Student Program
• Tutorial 2: The Study/Research Award (Including Arts)
• Tutorial 3: The English Teaching Assistant Program (ETA)
• Tutorial 4: Intro to the Fulbright-Clinton Fellowship (Public Policy), (differs from traditional Fulbrights and ETAs)

Application components:

• Biographical data
• Statement of Grant Purpose in which you explain your intended activities and ideas. Research/Study - two pages, single-spaced. ETA – one page, single-spaced.
• Affiliation letter, for research/study grants; not required for ETA
• Personal statement describes your background, your motivation for applying, how your background relates to your project and your future goals. One page, single-spaced.
• Foreign language evaluation forms, if required
• References from 3 people who can write about your ability to carry out the proposed project for Research/Study applicants or to serve as an ETA.
• Transcripts
• Critical Language Enhancement Award Statement, only for select countries

Award benefits

All your expenses are covered: round-trip transportation; room, board, incidental expenses; health benefits; additional benefits depending on country and type of grant.

Fact Sheet

A Very Useful Source Of Information

Go to http://www.pace.edu/honors-college/nyc-students/ and click on Fellowships & Scholarships. This brings you to a list of Fellowship Databases and a list of Specific Fellowships.

Advice For You

• Plan to apply for 2 or more awards during your undergraduate career. You will need to answer the same or similar questions and can therefore re-use your work to apply for several awards.
• Carefully read through all relevant information.
• Determine what your own professional goals are. Aim high.
• Select the several awards that are most appropriate for your interests. Aim high!
• Plan ahead – if you are a first, second, or even third-year student, position yourself/prepare yourself so that you will have the necessary credentials to win specific awards.

Basic Application Components

• Online form: basic facts about yourself, your education, your accomplishments. Be scrupulously accurate.
• Supporting documents: transcripts; letters of recommendation (usually 2 or 3); resume.
• Essays: personal statement; research or project proposal. Writing the essays is the most difficult part of the application.
• Interview: not required by all awards.

Deadlines

• Check the application deadlines and begin planning now--the process is very time-consuming.
• Make an appointment to discuss your choice of awards.
• Draft your essays. Make another appointment to edit your essays and to discuss your choice of potential recommenders.

Undergraduate Nationally-Recognized Awards & Scholarships

International:

Gilman: Funds students receiving Federal Pell Grants who want to study abroad, worldwide. Requires Pace University nomination.

Boren & Critical Language: Funds 1 year of study abroad "in areas of the world that are critical to US interests and under-represented in study abroad." Requires Pace University nomination.

National:

Truman: Funds graduate study in public service fields: master's, doctorate, law school, MPA, MPH, MS, MEd, MPP, or MIA.

Udall: Funds study of the environment, tribal public policy, or Native American health care, requires 3.0 GPA.

Goldwater: Funds study of natural sciences, mathematics, or engineering.

Graduate Nationally-Recognized Awards & Scholarships

International

Fulbright: Provides 1 year abroad to teach English or research, worldwide. Requires 3.5 GPA, on-campus interview, and Pace University nomination. Watch the Fulbright US Student Program PowerPoint in the "Fulbright" section of the "Prestigious Fellowships/Scholarships" section of the "Division of Student Success" website. The Fulbright Program Advisors are Dr. Pradeep Gopalakrishna (Pleasantville) and Dr. Andrij Danylenko (NY).

Rhodes: 2 years of study at Oxford University, England. Requires Pace University nomination.

Marshall: 2 years of study at any British university. Requires 3.7 GPA and Pace University nomination.

Mitchell: 1 year of study at any Irish university. Requires Pace University nomination.

National

National Science Foundation(NSF), Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP): Supports research-based Master's and Doctoral degrees in science or engineering.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Apply for Graduate awards during the summer after your junior year; deadlines are during the fall semester.

Information about specific nationally-recognized awards/scholarships

For Undergraduates

International

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship: The Gilman International Scholarship Program sponsors a competition for awards in support of study abroad. The scholarship provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving federal Pell Grant funding at a 2-year or 4-year college or university to enable them to participate in study abroad programs worldwide. Over 2,300 scholarships of up to $5,000 will be awarded for this current academic year for U.S. citizen undergraduates to study abroad. Award amounts vary depending on the length of study and student need with the average award being $4,000.00. http://www.iie.org/gilman

NSEP/David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarship: The National Security Educational Program (NSEP) is a unique scholarship opportunity for U.S. undergraduates to gain knowledge of languages and cultures in areas of the world less frequently studied. The NSEP awards scholarships to American students for study of world regions critical to U.S. interests (including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East). The NSEP aims to build a strong base of future leaders with expertise in critical areas, as well as professionals in both the public and private sectors who have the international experience and language skills necessary for competitive performance and visionary leadership in the global arena. Duration of study may be a summer, semester or a full academic year; awards range from $8,000.00 to $20,000.00 for a full academic year. http://www.borenawards.org/boren_scholarship

Critical Languages Scholarship: The Critical Languages Scholarship was launched in 2006 and provides intensive overseas study in the critical need foreign languages of Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Punjab, Russian, Turkish, and Urdu. The Program is part of a U.S. government effort to expand dramatically the number of Americans studying and mastering critical need foreign languages, Undergraduates, master's and doctoral level students of diverse majors and disciplines are encouraged to apply for the seven to ten week program. Participants are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship period and later apply their critical language skills in their future professional careers. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Current undergraduate students must have completed at least one year of general college course work and be 18 by the program start date. http://www.clscholarship.org/

National

Harry S. Truman Scholarship: The Truman scholarship supports students who wish to pursue graduate degrees in public service fields. Each scholarship provides up to $30,000.00 for graduate study. Scholars also receive supplementary financial aid at leading graduate institutions, leadership training, career and graduate school counseling and special internship opportunities with the federal government. Applicants must have a strong academic and public service record and are required to work in public service for three of the seven years following completion of their degree program as a condition of receiving Truman funds. http://www.truman.gov/

Morris K. Udall Undergraduate Scholarship: The Morris K. Udall Foundation was established by an Act of Congress in 1992 to honor Morris Udall's thirty years of service in the House of Representatives. Its purpose is to support "Scholarship and Excellence in national environmental policy." Typically, the Foundation awards 80 scholarships on the basis of merit to outstanding sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue careers related to the natural environment; to Native American and Alaska Native students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to tribal public policy; or to Native American and Alaska Native students who have demonstrated a commitment to careers related to Native American health care. Applicants should have a GPA average of at least a "B" or the equivalent and should be pursuing a full-time course of study. Candidates must be U.S citizens, U.S. nationals or permanent residents. In 2014, the Foundation expects to award 50 scholarships of up to $5000 and 50 honorable mentions to sophomore and junior level college students committed to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy, or Native American health care. http://www.udall.gov/

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship: The Goldwater Scholarship provides up to $7,500.00 per year for educational expenses to 300 juniors and seniors. The purpose of the award is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Junior award winners receive two years of aid, seniors receive one year. Applicants should have a minimum GPA of 3.5 to be competitive. Most award winners have substantive, supervised undergraduate research experience. Candidates must be nominated by their college. Contact the Goldwater representative on your campus to begin the application process. http://www.act.org/goldwater/

For Graduates

International

Fulbright Grants: Fulbright grants support graduate study and research in over 100 foreign countries. Candidates must be U.S. citizens who will hold a bachelor's degree or its equivalent prior to receiving the grant. To be competitive, candidates should have a GPA of at least 3.3. College and university students must apply through their campus Fulbright Program advisor. Grants provide funds for transportation, language or orientation courses, where appropriate, tuition, books, maintenance for one academic year, and limited health and accident insurance. http://us.fulbrightonline.org/home.html

Rhodes Scholarship: Thirty-two scholarships are awarded for two or three years of study at Oxford University in a field of the candidate's own choosing. The scholarship pays for academic fees, plus an allowance to pay for travel fares and personal expenses. Candidates should have a GPA of 3.75 or higher and are selected on the basis of intellectual distinction, leadership, and service. The scholarship is highly competitive. http://www.rhodesscholar.org/

Marshall Scholarships for graduate study in the United Kingdom: The Marshall Scholarships were established in 1953 by the British government to express the gratitude of the British people for the Marshall Plan. The main objective of these scholarships is to enable intellectually distinguished young Americans to study in the UK.Up to forty Scholars are selected each year to study at graduate level at an UK institution in any field of study. Several Partnership Scholarships are available to specific institutions. Marshall Scholarships pay tuition and fees, personal travel and book allowances, and a living stipend. They may be renewed for a third year for certain programs. Candidates must be U.S. citizens who will have earned bachelor's degrees by the following spring or have been graduated within the past three years. A grade point average of 3.7 or higher is mandatory. http://www.marshallscholarship.org

George J. Mitchell Scholarship: The Mitchell scholarship is a national competitive fellowship sponsored by the US-Ireland Alliance. The Mitchell Scholarship, named to honor the former U.S. Senator's pivotal contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process, is designed to introduce and connect generations of future American leaders to the island of Ireland, while recognizing and fostering leadership and a commitment to public service and community. Twelve Mitchell Scholars between the ages of 18 and 30 are chosen annually to study in any discipline offered by higher education institutions in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Mitchell Scholarship provides tuition, housing, a living expenses stipend and an international travel stipend.Prospective Scholars apply directly to the US-Ireland Alliance which administers the Mitchell Scholarship program. A preliminary elimination will be made on the basis of submitted written materials. A selection committee will determine – based on the student's academic transcripts, a brief essay prepared by the applicants, and the applicant references – those students who will be invited to Washington, D.C., for an interview before the selection committee. The US-Ireland alliance will pay round-trip transportation costs for applicants invited to be interviewed. http://www.us-irelandalliance.org/

National

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship: The Graduate Research Fellowship recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in the relevant science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. See the NSF website for the list of supported fields. NSF Graduate Fellowships are intended for students at or near the beginning of their graduate study. Eligibility is limited to those individuals who, at the time of application, have completed no more than 20 semester hours or equivalent of graduate study in the fields supported by the program. In most cases, an individual has two opportunities to apply: during the senior year of college and in the first year of graduate school. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the United States.

Applications are reviewed by disciplinary panels of scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Panelists will consider the strength of the academic record, the proposed plan of research, previous research experience, the appropriateness of the choice of references and the extent to which they indicate merit, GRE general and subject test scores, and the appropriateness of the choice of institution for fellowship tenure relative to the proposed plan of research. The panelists may also consider contributions to the community, both social and scholarly as well as the unique characteristics of each applicant's background including, personal, professional, and educational experiences. The Fellows receive three years of support, $32,000 annual stipend and $12,000 cost-of-education allowance to the institution. http://www.nsfgrfp.org/