Insider Advice to Strengthen Essays, Stand out to Committes, and Maximize Success.
Written by Kaelie Piscitello
Every fall, students from all over the United States carefully craft applications for the prestigious chance to study or teach abroad through the Fulbright program. People read Reddit posts, join Slack groups, and message random Fulbright grantees on LinkedIn looking for any advice that might help them. However, the application process remains a mystery to everyone, including successful applicants.
While no one really knows what goes on in the decision rooms that can change lives, everyone can enhance an application and increase their chances of obtaining a coveted grant. While I don’t claim to be a Fulbright application expert, I hope my tips will help someone looking to fulfill their dreams by getting into the program.
Disclaimer: This article does not represent the views of the Fulbright program. All information in this article is based on my own experiences and advice given to me by advisors at the time I applied two years ago.
1. Pick a Country that Makes Sense for You
I strongly recommend against applying to a random country to get a grant. The committee will know if an applicant’s heart is not fully committed to the country they apply because the application will lack depth and passion. Besides, it doesn’t make sense to go somewhere you don’t have an interest in. Fulbright doesn’t want to send people to a country who do not wish to engage with the culture and make friends.
Look for logical qualities and skills you have that connect you to a program. For example, if you have a family heritage connection or have previously stayed in the country for a short period, please mention this in your application.
Language connections can also strengthen an application. For example, if you studied Spanish in high school, your application will appear stronger to a Spanish-speaking country than it will to France. Additionally, if you receive the Fulbright, you will feel more prepared to navigate daily life in your host country.
You should also pay attention to the country’s language requirements. Some countries have language requirements, so stand out by having some knowledge of a country’s non-required language. I took Mandarin lessons in high school, and Taiwan did not have a language requirement for admission. My Mandarin knowledge made me stand out. However, if I applied to Italy, where the committee highly recommends applicants speak Italian at an intermediate proficiency level, my lack of Italian skills would work against me.
2. Pay Attention to a Country’s Statistics
Some countries’ programs have less competition than others because some have fewer applicants overall, or others have larger programs with more grantees. For example, most Western European countries have the most applicants and accept the fewest, making their grants more challenging to obtain.
To determine the chances of obtaining a Fulbright grant, look up the number of applicants and accepted grantees from past years. For example, a country with 17 spots and 500 applicants will have more competition than a country with 100 spots and 300 applicants. If you feel very passionate about a country, then apply despite the statistics. You never know, but stay aware of what your chances are to avoid disappointment.
3. Really Do Your Research and Know Your Prospective Host Country!
Alright, don’t expect to know everything about where you will go. Chances are, you’re applying because you want to learn more about the country and their region of the world. However, you reseraching where you want to go will help you effectively emphasize your reasons for wanting to go there throughout the application.
If you have a genuine interest in the country, you can showcase it through your application by discussing the activities you want to participate in and the experiences you hope to have. Community engagement is an essential application piece, and ideas should go beyond “I want to travel around the cities and countryside.”
Ask yourself: what cultural celebrations do you want to experience? Do you plan to join any sports teams that the country really enjoys watching? (For example, a club soccer team in the UK or baseball in Taiwan). Is there a cooking class for a specific dish or style of food you’d like to learn? Write about it!
4. Determine Skills to Develop that Will Benefit the US and Your Host Country.
When I applied to become an ETA in Taiwan, I knew I wanted to acquire skills for teaching English learners. I could take this skill with me anywhere, including into American schools with increasing numbers of English learners, so I emphasized it in my essays.
Think of ways that your host country will continue to stay in your life after you leave. It may seem early to understand how Fulbright will impact your future, but the US and your host country want to send people who hope to improve both countries.
Fulbright grantees embark on a mission to improve relationships between the US and other countries. If you go, your most important job is to make friends. Consider how you will maintain and nurture relationships, both within and outside the workplace, after you leave, and include this in your application.
5. Brag About Your Interests and Talents
Fulbright likes to send the best and brightest, meaning people with many talents. So, weave your extracurricular interests into your application. Of course, relate everything to the experience you plan to have. Connect hobbies back to the host country community engagement section. For example, if you played soccer in high school, you could mention plans to join a recreational team abroad or participate in a benefit tournament.
That said, in the community engagement application section, remember to connect at least one interest back to community service. All Fulbrighters are required to complete a set number of community service hours during their grant, so applicants can enhance their applications by outlining how they plan to utilize these hours.
6. Remain Flexible.
Not all Fulbright grantees receive placements in their host country’s capital city with all of its glamour and convenience. Some people venture into remote places, and others stay in the suburbs. Know what kind of environment you want to stay in, but give the illusion of flexibility when mentioning a preference.
For example, if you want to stay in a city, mention you’d like to stay in an urban location and then list a few places. Adaptability demonstrates to the application committee that the applicant has researched the country and is eager to acclimate to life there. After all, whether you are a Fulbrighter or a regular expat, you must have the ability to adjust.
If you have any more questions about Fulbright applications, please contact me. I am happy to help! Xoxo, Kaelie
