Advice and Guidelines

(compiled with the input and advice of Tony Claudino Project Manager for the Fulbright Student Program Outreach, and Alice Ilchman, former Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs)

These guidelines and advice apply specifically to the Fulbright Program for U.S. Students, which is the largest and most well-known of the programs. However, much of it applies to the other Fulbright Programs as well. For more program specific advice, visit the Fulbright website (www.fulbrightonline.org).

	Make sure the pieces fit: Each part of your application should “fit” well with the other parts – there should be no glaring gaps or incongruities. The different sections should work together to form a focused but well-rounded, convincing whole.
	Collaborate / Affiliation: Collaborative projects between U.S. scholar and an overseas organizations are more compelling to reviewers. [See the Fulbright website on affiliation].
	Know the statistics: With some countries/regions, there are a great number of applicants for a very limited number of spots (e.g., the United Kingdom). Unless you have a very long and impressive academic track record, such programs just aren’t realistic possibilities. Generally speaking, you can increase your odds of winning a Fulbright by applying to a program in one of the less sought-after countries or regions (though again, you must be able to demonstrate that you are a fitting candidate for that program in order to be competitive).
	Apply as both an academic and an ambassador: The Fulbright is both an academic program and an ambassadorial program, and in order to be competitive, you must be able to make a strong argument that you fit both criteria. For example, include in your application some specific examples of how you might become engaged with your host community outside the classroom.
	Know your program-specific country affiliation requirements: All Fulbright programs require you to be affiliated with some host country institution (universities, laboratories, libraries, non-governmental organizations, etc.), but whether or not you should seek out the affiliation yourself, as well as the required specifications for such affiliation, vary significantly from program to program.
	Make your application reader-friendly: Use a font that is at least 11-point, and print out your application on 8½ x 11 inch white bond paper, single-sided.
	Keep a paper copy of your application: Just in case.
	Choose a research project that is feasible: Make certain that it is something that can be done within the established Fulbright timeframe (one academic year), with the resources available to you, and in a single country (multi-country projects are very rarely funded). Additionally, there should be no doubt about your ability, qualifications, and preparedness to successfully carry out the project.

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