It’s August (gasp!) and this is usually a time when I get questions from students and alumni wanting to apply for a Fulbright or Watson fellowship. Below are some frequently asked questions about applying for Watson or Fulbright fellowships. Read on–and read carefully! It is long.
How do I speak with Dean Gates? Check out go.middlebury.edu/appt for open appointments. You can also email me with good dates/times (M-F, 9am-5pm ET only). Appointment hours for Sept. will be posted later in August.
I missed the preliminary deadline for Watson or Fulbright. Can I still apply?
Yes, you can! The HARD deadlines coming up are Middlebury’s internal deadlines:
- Thursday 9/4/25 at noon for Watson
- Wednesday 9/10/25 at noon for Fulbright
We strongly encourage Fulbright applicants to complete the August 15 tasks in MiddApply with drafts of their essays–this will ensure you receive feedback before the internal deadline.
I’m just thinking about applying for a Watson or Fulbright right now. How do I get started?
Review the information and directions at go/fulbright or go/watson and start the application processes in MiddApply. Some application types may be more feasible at this point in time, so it’s important you get feedback.
Watson FAQs
I want to apply for the Watson and need access to the Watson online application. How do I do this?
If you are not yet registered for the Watson online application, contact fellowships@middlebury.edu. Read the instructions at go.middlebury.edu/watson carefully regarding which application sections to complete for the internal deadline. Again, instructions are available in your MiddApply (go/middapply) portal as you complete your Watson materials there.
Where do I find info about the Watson internal application process?
Instructions for nomination materials and submission are online at go.middlebury.edu/watson. Please review the linked Google documents carefully–there’s useful info there and answers to commonly-asked questions. You will need to complete the tasks in MiddApply (go/middapply) and selected sections of the Watson online application.
Is the Watson Internal Deadline (Thursday September 4, 2025 at noon) a hard deadline?
Yes. If you anticipate any difficulties with this, talk with us.
Fulbright FAQs
I’m an alum and interested in the Fulbright. Can I still apply through Middlebury?
Yes! You will need to adhere to our internal deadline and interview with our campus committee via Zoom in September.
What is the August 15 “Intent to Apply” deadline? What do I do? What happens if I miss it?
This deadline tells us who is planning to apply in this cycle. This deadline gives us a sense of the number of Fulbright applicants we will interview and, most importantly, TIME to send you feedback on your drafts before the internal deadline. If you miss our “intent to apply” deadline, you can still apply for the Fulbright, and you can decide in September that you don’t want to proceed–just tell us.
For August 15, complete the tasks in your MiddApply (go.middleury.edu/middapply ) portal. Follow the instructions carefully. You will provide your abstract, statement of grant purpose, short answers in a Google doc. This gives us the materials we need to review! Note: Make sure you review the guidance at go/fulbright (see Fulbright Guidance Google doc) before sending to us. Recommendations, transcripts, affiliation letters, etc. are not needed at this time (but if you have an affiliation lined up, include a copy of that). We will review your materials, send comments as needed, and you can continue working on your application. We will provide official transcripts for those who complete the August 15 tasks in MiddApply.
If you do not complete your August 15 tasks in MiddApply, we may not be able to provide substantive comments on your essays. You will also need to obtain your own transcript (unofficial or official). If you discontinue your application after this point, that is also fine, just let us know.
Is September 10 at noon (Wednesday) a hard deadline for my Fulbright application? Yes, this is a hard deadline. Please mark your application “ready for campus review” by this deadline. If you want to apply after this deadline, you may do so, but will not be able to participate in the campus review process and may not receive feedback. As always, if you have questions or issues, talk with us.
What if I’m missing some recommendations or a letter of affiliation on September 10?
If you have a letter (recommendation, affiliation) that will be late, email us at fellowships@middlebury.edu.
Are you expecting a complete and polished Fulbright application on September 10?
Yes. Everything in your control should be done and finalized at this point. Essays must be polished with no grammatical or spelling errors. You will be able to continue working on your materials after this date. During your campus committee interview, you may also receive suggestions and incorporate this feedback.
How do I learn more about Fulbright?
Webinars and tutorials are ongoing this summer. Check out http://us.fulbrightonline.org/about/videos-tutorials and http://us.fulbrightonline.org/applicants/information-sessions (click on webinars to see schedule).
