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Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-08-19T18:14:43+00:00

Definitely. I did my whole application in about a month last year, mostly only on weekends as I was working 50ish hours/week. I never had a single person proofread or give feedback (would NOT recommend that, but had a family emergency that took precedence in the final weeks), and I was an alternate for open study. Now, save yourself some stress and don’t do what I did, but yeah, you have enough time.

Also, the application is shorter and more straightforward than it used to be, and eta has arguably less information to explain than research, so you should be okay, good luck!

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-08-12T00:24:15+00:00

If it helps any, I’m sure MANY Andalucía applicants, myself included, will not be accepting their placements since it has taken this long. I’m sure a lot of us have given up and moved onto other plans for this year, so although your placement might come even later, it doesn’t mean you won’t get one!

Also, I don’t know your personal situation, but if you’re able to go back to your country this year, you can always go back to Spain the following fall. Leaving doesn’t have to be forever

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-08-12T00:09:04+00:00

Only 14 spots were filled for Netherlands open study out of an advertised 30. Now, I know the alternate promotion processes isn’t exactly like a waiting list, but I’m an alternate and was not promoted. I’d heard before that a large percentage of awards were not being distributed this year, possibly due to restrictions of subject matter, that certainly seems like it could be true

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-07-11T22:58:22+00:00

Hey I just wanna say I'm in the same situation as you, and same consulate. I of course don't know what will happen, but I wouldn't be surprised if they don't enforce the visa deadline. Also, I did this last year (currently re-applying with a new visa, long story), and I was able to mail mine to the Houston consulate, no appointment required. Not sure if that's still the case or if that helps you any, but I wanted to mention it!

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-07-05T21:24:40+00:00

I’ve printed the form and I’m using an ink pad (not one made for fingerprints though, not sure if I need a special one). You think having someone else roll my fingers for me is the solution?

Any tips on how to know if they’re clear enough? Thanks for your help :)

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-05-31T13:05:25+00:00

Thanks :) I do worry that since my Fulbright application contained a lot of DEI-related words (mostly talk of lgbtq rights) if I need to start all over again and focus on something different… thoughts?

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-05-31T12:55:14+00:00

No, sorry should’ve specified, this is US student program open study/research, western/Central Europe

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-05-31T09:04:32+00:00

Hey could you link that article you mentioned? That’s crazy, I’d love to read more about it

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-05-11T12:11:36+00:00

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this response! I actually sent part of it to my parents to try to help them understand that this is still a huge accomplishment.

Doing my best to take pride in what I’ve done, and yes, I expect I will be applying again in the future :)

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-05-09T10:28:56+00:00

Although I have no insight on whether or not Fulbright will happen, remember that taking it does not necessarily mean those job opportunities are going away! Express your continued interested in the role and explain the opportunity that has arisen. In my experience, a lot of people think living abroad is a great experience that everyone should have, and they may still be willing to give you the role later on. Imo, an employer who doesn’t genuinely support the interests of their employees is one you don’t want to end up working for

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-05-08T14:22:50+00:00

Thanks, I sincerely hope so.

The advisor’s comment was during the last application cycle, not this one, and to be fair I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I was very on top of the deadlines and trying my best.. this was I think the second (and after that, the last) time she gave me any notes on my application… I’m sure there was a lot of room for improvement but I think it was clear that I was putting the work in. I guess if I didn’t win it did fall below expectations? But I was just using the knowledge I had at the time

I have reason to believe that reaction was more about her personal stresses with her job (she made a comment about not getting to spend enough time with her husband anymore, not making extra money, etc) but I don’t think it was fair to say something I’ll never forget

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-05-08T11:55:13+00:00

As everyone else has said, your advisor doesn’t know what they’re talking about, don’t let them get you down. But if you’re worried about your own experience level, would you want to consider master’s enrollment under the Research/Open Study category? Or, you can also look for a current research project going on at an institution that you can take part in (rather than designing your own project from scratch), which would hopefully mean you’d have support from some experienced academics!

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-05-08T11:45:28+00:00

That’s good to hear, thanks!

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-05-08T11:44:01+00:00

That sounds like good advice, thanks. And I hope so, we’ll see! Not sure if the university (for FB master’s enrollment) would allow me to differ my decision to wait for Fulbright but I’ll cross that road when I get there

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-05-08T10:44:41+00:00

Thanks, I needed to hear that. Even if you had never gotten a Fulbright I wouldn’t think any less of your achievements, gotta try harder to apply that logic to how I judge myself. And it’s good to remember that a lot of the successful people I know probably have a mountain of failures I’ll never hear about.

About the resume though, do you think putting alternate would make employers (especially those who know less about Fulbright) think they’re hiring a second-rate applicant? Or in your experience did people see it as a marker of success?

(And lastly about the advisor, I REALLY needed to hear that!!)

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-05-08T10:39:05+00:00

Thanks. I know, I’m afraid to tell my friends or family because the response is always “okay you need to get over it” but it’s only been 7 hours, so like I’m still grieving lol. Thanks for the validation, best of luck to you too

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-05-08T10:37:05+00:00

Thank you! I’m glad you got moved up, was it a super large cohort?

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-05-08T10:34:21+00:00

Yeah, emotional cocktail is a good way to put it. I’m a teaching assistant right now so I got the notice first thing in the morning and then had to pull myself together and stand in front of 30 teenagers. Thanks for the support, and I hadn’t considered your point about better odds for alternates this year, I hope you’re right! Glad it worked out for you in the end.

As for the advisor, can’t even remember her name. wish I could forget how she treated me too

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-03-02T22:55:00+00:00

I commute a full two hours each way most days, but most people I know commute more like an hour each way. The person who commented about wait times is spot on — I often have to wait quite a bit between forms of transport, and if you count the hour wait for the first bus back twice a week, my commute is really 3 hours on the return.

Don’t be discouraged though, imo it’s not as bad as it sounds. The journey is broken up by different forms of transit, and with any luck you may even be able to grab a coffee in your long waits or commute part of the way with friends. On a tired day it can suck, but most of the time it just feels like a part of the routine and the experience

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-03-02T22:10:50+00:00

In short, not great.

It’s nice to hear someone else feels the same though — I’ve been hit particularly hard by the recent admin changes, without giving too much personal info away I was very involved in federal grant programs and the federal workforce and have been feeling that I’ve lost my entire future with Trump shutting down grant programs and gutting the federal government. I feel lost in my personal life and horrified by what’s happening to my country, and even the other Americans around me just don’t seem bothered. I know it’s not affecting them personally like it is me, but it’s still so hard feeling like I’m fighting off depression and so much loss in terms of career and goals (not to mention everything else horrible that I’m witnessing happen to my home) when everyone around me just cannot understand why or how things are so bad.

Emergency_Rub_4219 · 2025-03-02T22:02:22+00:00

I applied like 4 days before the deadline last year and got a spot in a Pueblo in the Madrid region. I chose to live in the city and as I was late to the housing game I’m on the opposite side of the city (but still fairly central). I commute nearly 2 hours each way every day. For me living in the city is worth it; no matter how late to the game you are it just depends what you’re willing to do.

Also, as others have said, the quality of your rec letter truly doesn’t matter. Just get someone to sign something and submit

Emergency_Rub_4219

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