DePauw was named in the Chronicle of Higher Education’s annual list of “Institutions Producing the Most Fulbright Students” for the ninth time in the last 10 years. The list, which is divided into “research institutions,” “master’s institutions,” “bachelor’s institutions,” “community colleges” and “specialized institutions” categories, recognized DePauw on its “bachelor’s institutions” list for the 2015-16 academic year.
For last year's 2014-2015 academic year, four students were accepted to the program out of the 21 that applied. Of the current academic year's 26 applicants, 12 have made it to the next round.
Kandyce Anderson is conducting Fulbright research in New Zealand; Kacy Rauschenberger is teaching English in Malaysia through the program; Natalie Weilandt is teaching English in Turkey; and Savon Jackson is teaching English in India.
According to Fulbright's website, the program "facilitates cultural exchange through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, field, home, and in routine tasks, allowing the grantee to gain an appreciation of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think. Through engagement in the community, the individual will interact with their hosts on a one-to-one basis in an atmosphere of openness, academic integrity, and intellectual freedom, thereby promoting mutual understanding."
Over the past 10 years, the number of Fulbright applicants on campus has significantly increased. In 2007, the number of applications hit double digits. Every year since then, with the exception of one year, the University has had over 20 applicants for the Fulbright.
This rise in application numbers can be attributed to the recent efforts to push students through the application process. A quarter credit class was created in order to help students apply, and students were encouraged to visit the Hubbard Center for additional help.
“I can’t even count amount of times I went to talk with Kate Knaul and other Hubbard Center Staff about what to include and how to approach writing my application,” Jackson wrote in an email. “The hardest part about applying for Fulbright was the amount of time it takes to finally reach a point where you believe you have an application that is both concise and competitive. I think I had to go through at least 15-20 different drafts of my two essays before I felt confident enough to finally submit it.”
The award is accessible for students across disciplines and is mostly directed at those who have an interest in working and living abroad.
“I think the beauty of Fulbright is that the requirement is really about students who have an interest in a particular subject area, or a particular part of the world, and that’s what DePauw is really about,” Knaul said. “It’s part of the very nature of DePauw that our students are interested in study abroad, and I think our faculty do a really great job in all of the departments infusing a notion that we are part of the bigger world and there is a place to be active in that.”
People can apply for the Fulbright grant either senior year or as alumni. Alumni can apply at any point as long as they do not have a PhD.
Applications have to be approved by the the national screening committee before being sent on to the chosen country, where the decision to accept the student is made based on what the country needs and is able to take on.
Most students apply to teach English in their chosen countries, but students can apply for research positions as well. While the teaching position requires a screening by the country, research applicants must apply to a particular city to receive the award, and they must have a specific person sponsor them within the country of choice. There is also an option to apply to a university for a post-graduate degree.
“We had again and again and again really impressive undergraduate proposals, but one of the things I took away from my three years on the National Screening Committee was just how much great work is being done out there by undergraduates,” said Brett O’Bannon, director of the Conflict Studies program and a member of the National Screening Committee for three years.
The National Screening Committee looks for several different traits in applicants. In addition to strong proposals and quality academic achievement, the committee also focuses on diplomacy. Cynthia Fulbright, the founder of the scholarship, wanted young adults to foster relationships across countries and show the world what everyday Americans are like.
“We weren’t just looking for the best academic or best intellectual profile. We want those things, we want smart people doing interesting projects, but there was always this quick question of how this person will represent the United States,” O’Bannon said.
“Fulbright looks for a sincere interest in that culture and that country and the ability to develop relationships,” Knaul added.
Jackson advises students who are interested in applying for Fulbright to think hard about what passions they want to pursue with the grant and take advantage of the resources that the Hubbard Center offers.
“First start thinking about where you want to go and also whether you want to apply as a researcher or an English Teaching Assistant,” Jackson said. “My most important piece of advice would be to go to the Hubbard Center and talk to the staff there.”