<p>Just curious to see if anyone on this board was thinking about applying for a Fulbright Scholarship after graduation. For those who don't know what it is, the US government sponsors a scholarship program for American students to go abroad and either pursue a research project or be a teaching assistant for an English as a Foreign Language program. </p>
<p>I'm personally probably going to apply for an ETA (English Teaching Assistantship) to Spain. I'd live in Madrid, and the Fulbright would cover my room and board. One of my friend was just accepted to be an ETA in Germany, and I have another friend who's applying for a project in Argentina.</p>
<p>I’m applying for an ETA in India! I started studying Hindi on my own at the beginning of the Summer, but at the moment I’m still working on just learning the script. Even if I don’t get it- and I’m not gonna hold my breath- I still want to go to India somehow. My best friend from high school spent a semester in Hyderabad and she’s gotten me all worked up over it.</p>
<p>I don’t speak any languages, so I was kind of limited in my choice of countries, but I was fine with that since I was looking to go some place more exotic anyway. </p>
<p>Apparently the statement of purpose wants us to outline how we’ll spend our time outside of the classroom. Aside from studying Hindi, I thought I would propose some kind of comparative religion studies, either with Hinduism and Islam or Hinduism and Christianity. I haven’t really fleshed that idea out yet, but I’m definitely interested in religion and ethics and world cultures, so I hope that generates some interest from the Fulbright decision-makers.</p>
<p>Have you given any thought to that question? How are you going to “sell” yourself in the statement of purpose? I’m assuming you already know Spanish pretty well…</p>
<p>I actually just finished my first draft of my Statement of Grant Purpose. My university’s office wanted it last week, my second draft in July, third draft in August. It was really difficult to fit everything on the one page. In terms of out-of-classroom stuff, I talked about just exploring the culture and setting up an language and cultural exchange between my Spanish classroom and an US classroom. Like by using Youtube, email, and other social networking. I also said I’ll be compiling education materials and stuff to bring back to help improve US ESL programs. </p>
<p>With my essay, I just tried to highlight any educational and international experience I have and tried to show how Fulbright ETA fits with my career goals. Also I love Spain.</p>
<p>Can you please tell the rest of us how difficult it was for your friend to get accepted? What did your friend propose to do in their time out of the classroom?</p>
<p>I’m not completely familiar with the process yet, but I know there our university makes a cut before forwarding the applications to the US government and the host countries. There is at least 1 interview with our scholarship committee; I’m not sure if there are others.</p>
<p>Her out of classroom idea was similar to mine–setting up an email or youtube exchange with an American classroom and create cultural lessons.</p>
<p>Bumping this old thread. Just submitted my final online to my school’s National Scholarships Office (they mail the hard copies to Fulbright’s NY office)! Good luck to anyone else who applied for Fulbright!</p>
<p>(Also, I was misinformed before–my school does not make any cuts and the interviews with scholarship committees were just meeting on how to improve my application.)</p>
<p>I applied for a ETA in Germany. I was also under the initial impression that my uni was going to make some cuts/rank us all 1,2,3 etc. after the campus interview, but it really was just an informative session on how to improve your application. I hope mine pulls through…first round notifications are so far away!</p>
<p>Chipotle was #1 on my list of things I missed when I studied abroad (not counting people) last year. I can’t imagine going an entire October-May without it haha. I need to learn the recipe, but I imagine finding burrito sized tortillas is difficult in Europe.</p>
<p>When I was in Austria for a year with my Uni, we had our parents send us taco seasoning and anything Mexican-food related and improvised with what we could get at the local SPAR. Tortillas were fortunately in the foreign foods aisle right next to the peanut butter which I could NOT go a year without.</p>
<p>I’m sorry to hear that! I am fortunate enough to be a finalist for Germany, although a lot of my friends who I thought were extremely qualified, failed to make the cut. I hope you try again next year!</p>
I want to go to India SO badly!! 
Thanks for the links!</p>