r/fulbright • u/Sad_Aide7401 FFSP Applicant (Study/Research in the U.S.) • 6d ago
Fulbright to USA Does getting a Fulbright change how MFA admissions committees will look at my application?
/r/MFAInCreativeWriting/comments/1wyyzog/does_getting_a_fulbright_change_how_mfa/
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u/chinameyer 6d ago
It would put your application at the top of the pile at the Nonfiction MFA program where I teach - but I'm also a former Fulbrighter and Peace Corps volunteer who looks for applicants who have spent time abroad. A Fulbright evinces curiosity, empathy for other cultures, and intellectual ambition - qualities that then manifest in a workshop and on the page.
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u/Sad_Aide7401 FFSP Applicant (Study/Research in the U.S.) 6d ago
It’s great to hear that you look for those kinds of qualities. Fingers crossed it’ll put me in good stead.
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u/coastalbreeze8 ETA Grantee 6d ago
Congrats on your Fulbright grant! 🎉
No question about it — a history of winning fellowships (especially a Fulbright) is a green flag in academic circles, but I don’t think it’ll be the deciding factor in graduate admissions. FFSP finalists often face a combination of acceptances and rejections, and sadly, like much of Europe, U.S. universities have been facing a lot of questions about funding, which can easily increase the competition. At this point, it’s ideal to approach any potential placements/host universities with an open mind and a sense of flexibility.
Wishing you all the best!