The 9 Stages of Applying for a Fulbright ETA Grant

Hi! If you're reading this, you're probably in the process of applying for a Fulbright ETA grant. As someone who just finished the application process for the 2018-19 grant year, I wanted to tell you the phases of the application process that you might not find on the website, so here are the 9 stages of applying for a Fulbright ETA grant!

1. Deciding which country to apply to

For some people, I imagine this step is quick and easy. You are either fluent in or are studying a language, so some countries are a natural fit. If you’re anything like me, however, you may have no idea which country you want to go to yet.

If that’s you, hi. It’s ok to not know yet.

First thing’s first, the Fulbright website is your new best friend. Every country has different requirements, and each program looks very different. Find a country that you think is a good fit for you. You don’t want to commit to a year in a place where you don’t think you’ll be happy, even if some countries have better odds than others. Just apply where you want to go.

2. Contacting your campus advisor // starting your application // doing your research

Ok, so you’ve decided where you want to go. Now what? The application can seem overwhelming, so contact your campus advisor about the next steps for your school.

Tip: do this as soon as you decide that you want to apply. Some schools have deadlines for the application as early as the summer between your junior and senior years in college.

3. Writing essays and getting recommendations

The next phase is the drafting phase aka the most important phase. I personally tend to put the pro in procrastination but trust me when I say that this is not something you can write in one sitting or at the last minute. The main components of the application are the Personal Statement and Statement of Grant Purpose, which are two one-page essays about who you are, why you want to go to that particular country and what you want to do when you’re there.

Basically, you have a whole lot you need to say and not a lot of space to say it.

I wrote at least 5 drafts of each essay, and it felt like a poured every inch of my soul into them. When it came time to proofread, I only let people who knew me very well read through them to make sure I was staying true to myself. Only then did I let strangers proofread them. Again, I wanted to give an accurate representation of myself because I wanted to be chosen, or not chosen, based on exactly who I am.

Finally, this is also the phase where you start securing your three recommendation letters. In truth, for ETAS, it’s a short recommendation form, so it shouldn’t be too much of an inconvenience for any professors or mentors. Be smart about who you choose, and make sure they can speak about you personally.

Tip: start the actual application early because there are a few short answer questions in addition to the Personal Statement and Statement of Grant Purpose.

4. When you submit application

Ok look, at this point, I was just happy that the process was done and out of my hands. If you just submitted, congratulations! Applying in of itself is an accomplishment, and, no matter the results, you did something incredible. Plus, there’s no way you can get a Fulbright if you don’t put in the work and apply.

*pops bottle of champagne*

5. Forgetting the Fulbright ever existed

BYEEEEEE Fulbright. After submitting the application, no one hears anything back from Fulbright for MONTHS. So, the only way to deal is to completely forget you applied, tbh.

Look for jobs, apply to grad school, and get a plan in place for the next year in case the Fulbright doesn’t work out.

6. “What are your plans for next year” phase

This phase starts around Thanksgiving time when you see all of your relatives and friends. They all seem to ask the same question: What are your plans for next year????

"Uhhh, I don’t know, Uncle Joe. I could be going to grad school in xyz city, or, you know, moving to Korea for a year. Honestly a toss up at this point."

*Cue horrified expressions from my relatives*

7. First round of notifications

At this point, I was waiting on pins and needles for an email from Fulbright. I knew that the email could come any day because of previous years’ notification dates (thanks Grad Café!). When I got my first email in mid-February, I was at a restaurant on a Friday afternoon, and I’m pretty sure I actually screamed.

Fortunately, it was good news. “Oh my gosh. Holy crap. Wow, this could actually happen,” I thought. I knew that I would be waiting for approval from the Korean commission now, but this first acceptance from the U.S. side of things validated all of the hard work and research I had poured into this grant, even if I hadn’t ended up getting through the final round.

8. Waiting for the next notification

All of the notification dates for the second round vary greatly because they are sent by the countries and not all at once by the U.S. like the first round. Because my program started in July, I figured I would be one of the first countries to be notified, but the month between the first and second notification was one of the longest of my life.

9. Final Notification

*screams*

"WOWOWOWOW alright this is real, this is happening, ok great, I need to learn Korean RIGHT NOW, I can’t believe this, oh my gosh…”

My Fulbright campus advisor actually contacted me before I got the chance to read the email, and I immediately sprinted to his office. I jumped, I danced like a kid on Christmas morning, and, yes, I popped another bottle of champagne.

I joined every Facebook group and Slack chat I could find to learn more, but more information came very soon from the Korean Commission.

Two months later, as I am preparing to leave for Korea, I look back at this whole process fondly. I learned a lot about myself through the application process, and this grant has already changed the trajectory of my life. At the beginning of this process, I thought I was severely underqualified, so my advice when you apply to is to just believe that you’re good enough for it. You never know how life will surprise you. Good luck! Be yourself! Have fun!