mgurmend Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Hi Everyone, I've been selected as a Fulbright Student (Foreign Program). Does this increase my chances of admission? I have a CS engineering degree (5-year course) from Uruguay. I have a converted GPA of 3.8 or 3.9. GRE: Q750 (did not do well here :rolleyes: ) V620 and W5.0. iBT Toefl: 117 (30 wri, 30 list, 28 speak, 29 read) I plan to focus on the design of Groupware-mediated collaborative web tools. I am applying to the following universities (for an M.S.): MIT (Media Lab) Columbia University New York University New Jersey Institute of Technology Brandeis University Northeastern University Penn State - University Park Polytechnic University NY I have 3 published articles. Fulbright covers my living expenses but I need to find a tuition waiver. 5 year industry experience (worked while studying) Can you please rate my chances? Thanks Mortimer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmLogic Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 It raises your chances immensely. It's not the fact that you are partially funded as much as the fact that you have been singled out as being a "top dog": Today, the Fulbright Programme is one of the most prestigious awards programmes world-wide, operating in 144 countries and with 51 commissions. More Fulbright alumni have won Nobel Prizes than those of any other academic programme, including two in 2002. Fulbright Program - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia172172172 You should be able to get into all the univerities on your list. The only question I would have would be MIT's Media Lab. Regarding funding, I don't know but you seem to be the type of person that would attract at least a partial tuition waiver. Also, after the first semester, you are more likely to get a TA position if one is not offered to you initially. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgurmend Posted January 10, 2008 Author Share Posted January 10, 2008 Thanks a lot, CalmLogic, for your prompt response. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon The Black Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 mgurmend: Well, this is certainly interesting. I have applied to the media lab as well. Which groups did you apply in because my interests lie in the exact same topic that you mentioned. Incidentally, is your 5 year cs course equivalent to a masters in the US, like in the German system? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon The Black Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 I had thought about the Fulbright program myself but unfortunately, it is not available for MS students in India... :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgurmend Posted January 11, 2008 Author Share Posted January 11, 2008 Hi Ancalagon, I applied to the following groups: Physical Language Workshop Sociable Media Lifelong Kindergaten To tell the truth, I'm not very optimistic about MIT, even though it clearly is the dream option. Apparently just a few students are accepted each year. Regarding the 5-year course, it seems reasonable to think it is equivalent to a masters degree but there is no official statement about this and thus I have to consider my degree as a BS. At least that's what they told me. What groups are you applying to? Mortimer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon The Black Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 Well, I applied to (in order of preference) Sociable Media Software Agents Lifelong Kindergarten :D lol... more or less similar. :D I don't have a stellar profile like yours. (No fulbright, only 3 years experience, like you I also worked whilst studying. But, I have 9 publications and coauthored a book) I am just harping on the fact that my sister used to work and research in the media lab and an alumni from my school is also working in it. Did you directly contact the professors like they said you should? Did they reply? I have seen them scooting around my e-portfolio though. I am jittery. All they seem to be doing is to download my rock band videos and see them ... :( If you are up to it, would you mind exchanging e-portfolio links in a private message? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgurmend Posted January 12, 2008 Author Share Posted January 12, 2008 Wow, thats coincidence. Amazing! You have great chances I believe. I'm sure that having friends on the inside can help. They haven't looked at my portfolio as far as I know at least from the MIT servers. I did try contacting but had no answer. Then the deadline came in and I heard that it was not ethically correct to contact them once the application was submitted. Is this true? I have no problem exchanging e-portfolio links. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon The Black Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 Great, I am pming you... Well, they encourage students to directly contact the faculty but since the media lab is a bit different from other courses, then I guess its ok to contact the faculty at every stage. (but I could be wrong) Only Professor Donath contacted me back but she just encouraged me to apply saying that Sociable Media is one of the most difficult groups to get into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgurmend Posted April 28, 2008 Author Share Posted April 28, 2008 It raises your chances immensely. It's not the fact that you are partially funded as much as the fact that you have been singled out as being a "top dog": You should be able to get into all the univerities on your list. The only question I would have would be MIT's Media Lab. Regarding funding, I don't know but you seem to be the type of person that would attract at least a partial tuition waiver. Also, after the first semester, you are more likely to get a TA position if one is not offered to you initially. Calmlogic, Thanks for your advice back in Jan. I must say that what you predicted became true. I got into all of the schools except the media lab (which I heard accepted very few MS students). I also got tuition waivers from most schools. Now I am basically between Columbia or NYU and Northeastern. My wife got a scholarship from Northeastern which makes the budget difference between NY and Northeastern greater than 60K. I guess the debt is be too much so I'm inclined towards Northeastern. The university seems great, I wonder why it got ranked so low by USNews... (any idea?) Am I making the right choice? Thanks. Mortimer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mahammad Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 Hello guys, I am going to apply for Fulbright student program.I have written my draft essays.Is there anyone experienced in revising and editing fulbright essays? Could you please help me? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swapna31 Posted August 22, 2019 Share Posted August 22, 2019 Excellent thread...!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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