So, you want to get a Fulbright Open Research/Study grant…
But you don’t know where to start? Trust me, I know exactly how you feel! You probably found this post because you’re feeling lost. Don’t worry, that’s what I’m here for. Even with all the resources at my two different institutions to help me apply, it took several rounds—and then first-hand experience as a Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar—to understand what goes into being a “Fulbrighter.”
Lord only knows how many different drafts I have on my computer of all the iterations I had to go through for three different Fulbright applications. In fall 2015, 2022, and 2023, I hit “submit” on that online submission portal, but only one of them stuck. Why is that? I’m pretty sure I know exactly the reasons, and specifically why my final attempt was successful. I’ll get into all those juicy details on another post though, so stay tuned.
One of the most important things I did while preparing was to chat with as many former Fulbright recipients as possible, and some were even kind enough to share their application materials with me. As part of my services through Mayron Academic Consulting, I offer a peek at my winning materials to those looking to apply to the Fulbright. And even if you’re not a paying client of mine, I have some advice here on this blog that can help you move in the right direction.
Laura’s Fulbright Recommendations
Follow your curiosity: if you could study anything, anywhere, what would it be? You probably have an answer to that question already if you’re here. Maybe you’re passionate about pre-colonization foods in Peru, textiles in Egypt, 20th-century French musical theater, contemporary art in Iceland, or any of a million other exciting things. Maybe you’re interested in going to grad school but want to try having first-hand experience in your field of interest first. Maybe you’re a doctoral student looking for a life-changing postdoc experience. Maybe you’re an artist who is seeking out community and a residency space. Whatever it might be, the first step is always to focus in on what you want to be doing, and where you want to do it. Who you’ll be working with comes next, and is usually one of the more daunting parts of the process.
Talk to others: if you’re an undergraduate or graduate student, your college or university might have an on-campus Fulbright program with application advisors. If they do, absolutely start there first. These are people with a lot of experience, and I mean a lot, at helping people win the grant of their dreams. Maybe a professor or advisor of yours has had a Fulbright in the past and can offer advice And regardless, also go check the Fulbright website of prior grantees. It’s an incredible resource, and you can see who has been where, doing what. If you’re not sure where to start with regards to an institution to support you, taking a look at who has already had a Fulbright grantee work with them can help offer ideas.
Shoot your shot: I know, I know, cold-emailing is terrifying. I dislike it as much as anyone, but sometimes you simply have to shoot your shot. I’m comforted by thinking about how many former Fulbrighters who have set up longstanding relationships with different institutions had to be the first person to contact them. Remember, these institutions are lucky to have you. As much as it can feel like begging for support out of the blue, keep in mind that if you’re applying for a Fulbright (or a similar grant with international prestige), you’re someone that people are going to want to have around. It’s big bragging rights for an institution to claim they’ve hosted a Fulbright researcher! It looks just as good for them as it does for you; the relationship is symbiotic. And on a more personal side, these are people too—people who love what they do and are excited to share it. More often than not, these universities, cultural centers, archives, and other institutions will jump at the opportunity to share their passion and hard work with similarly passionate scholars and creatives. Especially since you’re coming from abroad, it’s exciting! Everyone is excited, so use that!
Contacting institutions and setting up exactly what you’ll be doing during your grant year is one of the more difficult parts of this process for most applicants. That’s where I come in. As your friendly academic consultant, helping you research institutions and draft a compelling initial email is exactly what I’m here for. Scared of cold-emailing? I’ll make sure you feel confident when it comes time to contact your potential partner institution. If you’re looking for free advice, I can recommend the following:
Clearly identify who you are: aside from your name, don’t forget to mention where you’re a student/what you do. “Hi, I’m Laura and I study Lorca” isn’t quite it. Rather “My name is (first and last) and I’m a (____ major/master’s student/doctoral student) at _______ College/University studying ________” is already more compelling.
State how you found them and what your interest is: obviously, if you have a connection with the institution, lead with that. If not, something along the lines of “while conducting research for my Fulbright application, I discovered your organization and believe it will be an ideal fit for my project because of ________ (BE SPECIFIC).”
Assert your independence: remember, while you’re looking for a supervising institution, you’re driving the boat. This project is yours, and yours to propel forward as you see fit. Whatever institution you’re working with isn’t your university or graduate advisor, nor are they really your boss; they’re your collaborators and helpers Therefore, try to be as clear as possible about what you’d like to do at their institution and how they can best help you with your work. You’re coming in as an equal with a clear vision, even if it doesn’t always feel like that when you’re applying. Therefore, it’s very important to show that you have a plan of what you want to do. The more specific you can get, the better. Even then, don’t feel like you’re trapping yourself by writing about very specific things you want to do; every grant is organic and things will always shake out differently once you get there.
Brainstorm, freely: the best piece of advice I got from a former Fulbrighter (thanks, Tania!) was: “if you could live your dream grant year, what would it be? Write that.” First, I just brainstormed everything that sounded amazing to me: doing archival work, meeting other scholars, immersion in local culture through learning flamenco singing, travel to conferences, etc. I got wild and crazy with it, especially when brainstorming the application that was accepted, and I believe that part of the reason I got it was my willingness to dream big.
Get specific: now that you’ve brainstormed your dream year, hone it. Like I said above, don’t feel like this is written in stone/blood. The Fulbright Committee isn’t going to be going back over your application essay to check that you’ve done everything you’ve laid out. They know that a lot changes between the idealized space of the application and the reality of your grant year. Rather, use your dream brainstorm to start getting specific. You want to travel to conferences to present your work? Okay, time to research and then name specific conferences thatyou’d be interested in applying to. Want to meet other scholars? Name them and what you will meet with them about. Is there an upcoming museum exhibit that you want to use as part of your work? A local organization you want to partner with in your downtime? Lay it all out like it’s all going to happen, because you actually can make it happen!
Tell a story: as tough as it is to write about yourself, it’s key to getting the grant. How has your life path lead to this moment of applying, and what do you hope to gain from it? Above all, any good grant application is about narrative. What do you love about your field? What got you interested in this passion of yours? What from your background supports this dream grant? What skills do you have that make you the kind of person who can live abroad and conduct an independent project for an entire academic year? If you can answer these questions, you’re well on your way to writing a great application.
Make sure your recommenders know your story: this is something that often falls by the wayside, but is incredibly important. Your Fulbright references are one of the most key parts of your application, and for them to write the best letter, they need to know as much as possible about your project. Their letters should be as specifically tailored to your grant’s objectives as possible, so before you reach out to your recommenders I advise that you have at least a solid draft of your project proposal to send along with your request. This means starting early! In an ideal timeline, you’d be brainstorming and putting together the initial parts of your project in spring, and contacting your recommenders over the summer for your fall application deadline. (Also, don’t forget that if you’re applying for a Postdoctoral Research Grant as a Fulbright Scholar instead of Student Open Study/Research the deadline is in September, not October!)
Get eyes on it: one of the best things you can do is have a lot of people read over your application materials, especially people who know you and your intellectual/creative journey. Of course it’s paramount that you have readers check for spelling, grammar, and formatting errors, but beyond copy edits, what truly matters is the story you’re telling about who you are, what you love, and what you want to do. If the Committee doesn’t have a clear picture of that, chances are you won’t make it to the final round.
I’d love if one of those pairs of eyes happened to be mine, and I think you’ll be happy you asked! As part of my services, I offer both copy editing and content-based proofreading for your grant application. Not only am I a Fulbright grant recipient, but I’m also a trained university Writing Lecturer. I know how to help you craft an excellent application essay while simultaneously approaching your writing with the same specialized attention I’d give to any of my students who are nervous about their written work. Writing is a really vulnerable process! It can be so scary to show your work to someone else (especially when writing about yourself!) but I’m here to help, not judge.
Keep trying: “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” is actually really true. It took me three tries to get the Fulbright! I’ve had current applicants ask me if they have any idea why the first two didn’t stick, and I have a pretty good idea why. This has been a long enough post already though, so if you’re interested in my getting into the nitty-gritty of what worked and what didn’t, that’ll be a whole other post, complete with actual examples.
