From Freshman to Fulbright:
Planning ahead for graduate study abroad

with a prestigious Fulbright fellowship

 

First Year

·         Study hard and get good grades, to create a solid foundation for a strong GPA.

·         Go to the study abroad fair in September to learn about the wide variety of programs offered by NIU.

·         Concentrate on learning to write clearly and concisely. 

·         Identify and participate in at least one campus or community activity. 

 

Sophomore Year

·         Study another language offered at NIU:  there are 16 languages to choose from!

·         Go to the study abroad fair early in September and choose a program for summer study abroad; by participating you will gain needed international experience.

·         Concentrate on improving your written communication skills.

·         Continue your campus or community activity. 

·         Enjoy a summer study abroad program led by an NIU faculty member!

 

Junior Year

·         Identify the country where you would like to do a Fulbright and choose a program by surfing this site:  http://us.fulbrightonline.org/home.html

·         Continue language study, preferably of a language spoken in your target country.

·         Continue your campus or community activity.

·         Talk with your major professors about the possibility of writing a proposal for the Fulbright; ask for their assistance and guidance.

·         Consider taking a semester abroad or another summer program abroad.

·         Meet with the Fulbright Program Advisor in International Programs to discuss your plans.

·         In the spring semester, explore potential universities for affiliation in your target country and learn how to apply to them for admission.

·         Over the summer, start writing your two essays for the Fulbright proposal:  a one-page intellectual history and a two-page description of what you plan to do.

 

Senior Year

·         Continue meeting with the Fulbright Program Advisor.

·         Continue your campus or community activity. 

·         Complete your essays; get them reviewed by your professors and by the Writing Center.

·         Complete the Foreign Language Report assessing your proficiency in the language of your target country.

·          Complete and submit your proposal by late September!

·         Interview with the campus Fulbright committee in October.

 

 

NIU Campus Fulbright Committee

Deb Pierce, Chair, 753-1989 dpierce@niu.edu