3 Myths Holding You Back From Applying For The Fulbright

If you are intimidated about applying for the Fulbright, know that you are not alone. Courage and commitment are the top things you need to apply for a Fulbright scholarship. Don't let these myths hold you back from applying. 

Myth #1: You have to go to a top university or be a top student to win a Fulbright award. 

Anyone who will graduate before the Fulbright begins and meets the eligibility requirements is capable of winning a Fulbright scholarship. The Fulbright-IIE even removed the minimum GPA requirement a few years ago. 

I didn't think someone like me could win a Fulbright. I was an average B student. I was not the kind of student professors nominated for awards. Then I met Adriana, a Ph.D student, who became my mentor and gave me the courage to apply. I would never have done it without her support. 

We saw a significant structural difference between the support Adriana received in her undergrad, a small private school, in applying for the Fulbright, compared to the lack of resources on my campus, a large public university. That is why we teamed up to create Win A Fulbright to encourage a more diverse applicant pool. Since then, we've helped dozens of students successfully win Fulbright scholarships, most of whom are first-generation college students from public universities. We even helped UC Merced's first ever undergrad win a research Fulbright Award. 

You don't even have to apply through your university! You can choose to apply at-large if you have graduated or don't have support from your alma mater.

Myth #2: You have to be a graduate student or have research experience to win a Research/Study Fulbright award

I had ZERO research experience. I studied architecture and won a Fulbright to do public health research when I had never even taken a public health class. 

Research can mean lots of things. There is capital-R "Research," which you might think of like working in a lab, and then there is "research," which is less formal and more about exploring a question and trying to understand a topic. 

Research can take on many forms, including interviews, storytelling, and participant observation. Also grouped with the Research/Study Fulbright awards are creative art awards where people make or study art forms in different cultures like dance, writing, and textiles. 

You don't have to default to applying for the English Teaching Awards just because you don't have research experience. All you have to do is identify a topic or question that you want to explore and make a plan for how you will go about trying to understand that topic. You don't have to be an expert; you just have to be open and curious about the process. 

Myth #3: You have to speak a second language or have a lot of international experience

It helps you if you can speak a second language and have travel abroad experience, but it's not required. At the core of Fulbright's mission is cultural exchange and mutual understanding across borders. Fulbright encourages people who have never had a chance to go abroad to get that experience. If you don't speak a second language, there are many countries where you can apply. If you are rusty on a second language, check out our tips on how to improve your second-language skills for a stronger application.

Still not convinced? Join our upcoming live office hours

Join our upcoming live office hours on June 18th at 5:30 PM  PT and discuss all your concerns with us!