START EARLY! Since Fulbright requirements change very little from year to year, you do not need the current application to begin the application process. Start drafting the materials necessary for the campus application as early as possible to allow for reflection and revision.
o Thoroughly review all pages on this website.
o Download and carefully study the relevant individual country and regional summaries for the 2007-2008 competition. Pay particular attention to the language and affiliation requirements, as well as to any other country-specific conditions.
o Attend a Duke Fulbright Information Session.
o Contact faculty at institutions you need to obtain an affiliation with. For advice on which faculty and institutions will best match your academic, professional and personal goals, you will need to consult your faculty adviser, mentor or other experts in your field.
o Contact potential referees.
o Draft a one-page single-spaced personal essay.
o Research your plan of study and draft a one-page single-spaced project proposal.
o GET ADVICE! Ask the Fulbright Program adviser, your referees, professors, and friends to review your application, critique your essays, and troubleshoot any problems that arise. Duke faculty, many of whom are past Fulbright winners, are prepared to help you craft a competitive application. Successful candidates typically rewrite their applications several times in order to incorporate their invaluable advice. Remember: Duke professors are often hard to reach during the summer. Try to give them your draft application before the end of the Spring Semester. If you cannot do that, make sure you obtain their summer contact information before leaving for the summer.
o Complete the application form, which is available online from the Institute of International Education (IIE). You are given access to the application form once you have completed the Fulbright registration process. For your application to be considered, you must submit it both electronically and in hard copy. http://www.iie.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Fulbright_Demo_Site/U_S__Student_Program/Application_Center/Application_Center.htm.
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