Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Prior to 2019, I had never heard of the Fulbright Program nor did I understand its global reach. However, on the afternoon of October 1st, 2019, I received a long distance call from my sweet friend, Max, in Germany. He started the conversation with “So I know I should have probably told you this sooner but….” (always a peculiar beginning). He went on to explain that Fulbright is a competitive, merit-based program that awards Continuing Education and English Teaching Assistant (ETA) grants in over 160 countries around the world, offering rich benefits to award recipients.
He mentions the prestigious nature of the award and the rigor involved in the application process. Moreover, he admits that Spain is Fulbright’s most competitive country as many bilingual Americans aspire to teach English there while bettering their Spanish speaking abilities. His closing statement lingered in my mind long after we hung up: “And I really think you should apply”.
Naturally curious, I googled the program to learn more details. What my sweet friend failed to relay during our conversation was that the application deadline was in 7 days. 7 DAYS. It originally opened in April 2019 and most applicants spend months revising their essays to perfection. The process appeared daunting and self-doubt surfaced immediately; however, the more I read, the more interested I became.
Advancing to Semi-Finalist
The eight days leading up to the application deadline consisted of little sleep, excruciating revisions, peer reviews, and frantic phone calls. For an application to be accepted, it must have a Personal Statement and Purpose of Grant Statement along with short answer questions, three Letters of Recommendation, and proof of language proficiency. Lord help me.
Despite the large undertaking, I submitted my application one day before the deadline. From there, I spent the next four months waiting for the National Screening Committee to review my materials. On January 22nd, I received a notification that I was selected as a Semi-Finalist! My application would be forwarded to the Commission in Spain for next steps in the review process.
Receiving Alternate Status
This wound still feels tender. Three months after receiving news of my Semi-Finalist status, another email arrived to my inbox. The email stated: “The Institute of International Education (IIE) wishes to inform you that you have been designated as an Alternate candidate for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for 2020-21.”
Truthfully, being selected as a Fulbright Alternate is a massive honor. The program receives thousands of applications every year and Alternate status signifies your application materials were compelling enough for the Commission to take notice. Logically, I knew this to be true. However, I was devastated.
After being selected as a Semi-Finalist, I thought that the next notification from Fulbright would provide some certainty one way or the other. Instead, the email explained that I would only be contacted again if a spot became available (likely from a Finalist withdrawing). At last, the reality set in. I could be waiting until July, September, or even, December for a status update.
Four week later…..Finalist!
The weeks that followed receiving the news of Alternate status were overwhelming as I grappled with changing emotions. Some days, I cried out to God in anger and disappointment. Was this really His plan for me? The program felt so well suited for my future ambitions. Some days, I sat in silence and allowed my mind to wander. Eventually, I came to a place of hopeful acceptance. I would eagerly check my inbox each day but grew more comfortable with the ambiguity. My worry wasn’t speeding up the process. I adopted a new mindset of cautious optimism.
On May 7th, 2020 at 11:55pm CST I received the long-awaited news.
We are delighted to inform you that you have been promoted from alternate and selected for a 2020-21 Fulbright U.S. Student Award to Spain. The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program of the United States and you will represent the country as a cultural ambassador while you are overseas, helping to enhance mutual understanding between Americans and the people in Spain.
I responded with disbelief then childlike excitement as the reality sunk in. There were still so many unanswered questions but in that moment, none of them mattered. I was receiving an opportunity of a lifetime. My heart was full and my mind expectant for what the future held.