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This article is reprinted with permission from The Prospector, the student
newspaper of The University of Texas at El Paso. The original article, Fulbright
Scholarship Program taking applications, was published on 4/29/08.
Additional Information about Fulbright Scholarships can be found at the Fulbright Program for U.S. Students page. The Institute of International Education contains information about more international programs and scholarships.
Fulbright, the foremost leading
scholarship program for international education in the United States,
will begin its competitive application process on May 1.
The program offers grants for graduate study, research or English teaching assistantships abroad to current students, as well as graduates of the 2009-10 year. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and funded by Congress, the program is geared toward the exchange of ideas as a means of fostering good relationships and mutual understanding between countries through education.
"UTEP hasn't sent a Fulbright in quite some time and we're very determined to get us back on the radar for this," said Nick Zweig, senior international student advisor and Fulbright Program advisor. "UTEP has only, in the last year or two, been able to focus more resources and energy, and we have gradually been increasing the awareness of the program."
The program was founded by Sen. J. William Fulbright in 1946 after World War II and has developed into a worldwide collaborative between 150 countries. It is considered the flagship of the federal programs available to students wanting to study abroad and is very competitive, Zweig said.
Although not sponsored by UTEP, education professor William Robertson was recently awarded a Fulbright scholarship for research and a teaching seminar program at the Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación in Santiago, Chile. Although he has a doctorate in science and technology education, Robertson felt he did not have the experience necessary and was not academically advanced enough to receive the honor compared to other colleagues who have more far-reaching accomplishments, Robertson said. He was eventually persuaded to apply by a friend, who considered him a perfect candidate for the Fulbright.
"It was a pretty long process," Robertson said. "I had a lot of steps that I had to go through. It was just insane and the application is very long."
Applicants have to go through a three-step process that evaluates the candidate's educational merit and leadership skills, language proficiency and overall health. Enrolled students considering applying must first present a project idea to a committee from their sponsoring university and establish a valid reason for the exchange in their particular field of study, as well as demonstrate a commitment to the host country's community.
"They usually avoid putting people in large cities, especially the really famous ones," Zweig said. "They want you out on the country where you can really get exposed to the local culture in a much different way."
Applicants who have already graduated are considered at-large candidates and don't have to go through the Office of International Programs as is required for non-graduates. With assistance and direction from Zweig, students prepare their project proposal, discuss its feasibility and create a nomination packet, and finally send it to the national Fulbright office.
Once the application has been submitted, there are three more stages for final selection that are evaluated by the National Screening Committee, the Fulbright Commissions/U.S. Embassies abroad and, finally, the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Making it through the selection process is not easy, but being awarded a Fulbright scholarship is an academic honor worth the initial difficulties, Zweig said. He said students should not be discouraged by the long process or misconceptions of their own merit.
"I felt like I'm a younger professor and so as someone who is just beginning, I didn't know that I could compete, but I found out I can," Robertson said.
He encourages students to develop partnerships outside UTEP, to challenge themselves, take advantage of the resources available and take risks. Robertson considers an opportunity like Fulbright to be a transformative experience.
"I think I'm going to go in being one thing and come out being something completely different," Robertson said. "I've done science education for a number of years, but I've never put myself on the line like this."
Last year only three applications were submitted out of eight serious inquiries, Zweig said. This year they are hoping to double the number of applications with the hopes of having a UTEP Fulbright nominee awarded the Fulbright scholarship. The application period ends Oct. 8, 2008.
For more information about the program, contact the Office of International Programs at 747-5664 or visit http://studentaffairs.utep.edu/oip.
Rebeca Romero may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.
The program offers grants for graduate study, research or English teaching assistantships abroad to current students, as well as graduates of the 2009-10 year. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and funded by Congress, the program is geared toward the exchange of ideas as a means of fostering good relationships and mutual understanding between countries through education.
"UTEP hasn't sent a Fulbright in quite some time and we're very determined to get us back on the radar for this," said Nick Zweig, senior international student advisor and Fulbright Program advisor. "UTEP has only, in the last year or two, been able to focus more resources and energy, and we have gradually been increasing the awareness of the program."
The program was founded by Sen. J. William Fulbright in 1946 after World War II and has developed into a worldwide collaborative between 150 countries. It is considered the flagship of the federal programs available to students wanting to study abroad and is very competitive, Zweig said.
Although not sponsored by UTEP, education professor William Robertson was recently awarded a Fulbright scholarship for research and a teaching seminar program at the Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación in Santiago, Chile. Although he has a doctorate in science and technology education, Robertson felt he did not have the experience necessary and was not academically advanced enough to receive the honor compared to other colleagues who have more far-reaching accomplishments, Robertson said. He was eventually persuaded to apply by a friend, who considered him a perfect candidate for the Fulbright.
"It was a pretty long process," Robertson said. "I had a lot of steps that I had to go through. It was just insane and the application is very long."
Applicants have to go through a three-step process that evaluates the candidate's educational merit and leadership skills, language proficiency and overall health. Enrolled students considering applying must first present a project idea to a committee from their sponsoring university and establish a valid reason for the exchange in their particular field of study, as well as demonstrate a commitment to the host country's community.
"They usually avoid putting people in large cities, especially the really famous ones," Zweig said. "They want you out on the country where you can really get exposed to the local culture in a much different way."
Applicants who have already graduated are considered at-large candidates and don't have to go through the Office of International Programs as is required for non-graduates. With assistance and direction from Zweig, students prepare their project proposal, discuss its feasibility and create a nomination packet, and finally send it to the national Fulbright office.
Once the application has been submitted, there are three more stages for final selection that are evaluated by the National Screening Committee, the Fulbright Commissions/U.S. Embassies abroad and, finally, the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Making it through the selection process is not easy, but being awarded a Fulbright scholarship is an academic honor worth the initial difficulties, Zweig said. He said students should not be discouraged by the long process or misconceptions of their own merit.
"I felt like I'm a younger professor and so as someone who is just beginning, I didn't know that I could compete, but I found out I can," Robertson said.
He encourages students to develop partnerships outside UTEP, to challenge themselves, take advantage of the resources available and take risks. Robertson considers an opportunity like Fulbright to be a transformative experience.
"I think I'm going to go in being one thing and come out being something completely different," Robertson said. "I've done science education for a number of years, but I've never put myself on the line like this."
Last year only three applications were submitted out of eight serious inquiries, Zweig said. This year they are hoping to double the number of applications with the hopes of having a UTEP Fulbright nominee awarded the Fulbright scholarship. The application period ends Oct. 8, 2008.
For more information about the program, contact the Office of International Programs at 747-5664 or visit http://studentaffairs.utep.edu/oip.
Rebeca Romero may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.
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