Watson Fellowship Webinars: Sept 19, Oct 3, Oct 10

Lisa Gates / / Fellowships

Upcoming Watson Fellowship Webinars:

Watson’s Fall Informational Webinar will be tomorrow, Thursday, September 19th, from 3:30pm to 4:30pm ET. Watson Fellow Margaret Kraus ’23 will be joining as a guest speaker. In Margaret’s Watson project, Multispecies Kinship and Urban Animals, she explored explored human connections with nonhuman animals in major cities around the world, uncovering interspecies relationships within these concrete ecosystems that challenged the separation between humanity and nature. 

Application Tips Webinars will be on Thursday, October 3rd, from 3:30pm to 4:30pm ET and Thursday, October 10th, from 11:30am to 12:30pm ET. These webinars will offer support and advice on completing the Watson application, and offer live responses to questions. Both application tips webinars will cover the same topics. 

Webinar Registration Links

Fall Webinar Link

Application Tips Webinar #1

Application Tips Webinar #2

For Middlebury’s Watson application process, see go.middlebury.edu/Watson. Our internal deadline for the fall 2024 application cycle has already passed.

Fulbright and Watson Notes for Applicants

Lisa Gates / / Fellowships, Graduate School Funding, Postgraduate Opportunities, STEM, Teaching English Abroad

 It’s almost August (gasp!) and this is usually that time when I get a lot of questions from students and alumni wanting to apply for a Fulbright or Watson fellowship. It’s also a time of year when I am not always in the office so try to answer some frequently asked questions below. Read on–and read carefully! It is long.

How do I talk with Dean Gates? Check out go/appt for open appointments through Aug 13. You can also email me with good dates/times (M-F, 9am-5pm ET only). I will post appointment hours for Watson and Fulbright applicants (and UK nominees) the week of August 26 soon.  Appointment hours for Sept. will be posted later in August. Please note, I will be away from the office for parts of 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 deadline: Thursday 9/5 at noon for Watson, Sunday 9/8 at 11:59pm for Fulbright. We also 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 or less feasible at this point in time, so it’s important you get some feedback.

Watson FAQs

I want to apply for the Watson and need to get 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/watson carefully regarding which application sections to complete for the internal deadline. We ask you to complete abbreviated essays and only some sections of the Watson application for the internal deadline. Again, instructions are available in your MiddApply (go/middapply) portal as you complete the Watson materials there.

Where do I find info about the Watson internal application process? Instructions for nomination materials and submission are online at go/watson . Please review the linked Google documents carefully–there’s a lot of useful info there and answers to common 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 5, 2024 at noon) a hard deadline? Yes, it is. 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, and what happens if I miss it? This deadline tells us who is planning to apply in this cycle. You can still apply for the Fulbright if you miss it, and you can decide in September that you don’t want to proceed–just tell us. 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.  For the August 15 deadline, complete the tasks in your MiddApply (go/middapply) portal. This gives us the materials we need to review! Note: Drafts are fine at this point! Make sure you review the guidance at go/fulbright (see Fulbright Guidance Google doc) before sending to us, however. Make sure you are including the information required for the Statement of Grant Purpose in your draft. 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 Aug 15 tasks in MiddApply, we may be less able to provide substantive comments on your essays depending on when you send in your materials to review. You will also need to order your own transcript. If you discontinue your application after this point, that is also fine, just let us know.

Is September 8 at 11:59pm (Sunday) a hard deadline for my Fulbright application? What if I’m missing some recommendations or a letter of affiliation? Yes, this is a hard deadline. You will need to lock your application for campus review by this deadline. If you have a letter (recommendation, affiliation) that is late in arriving, just be in touch with us. 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.

Are you expecting a complete and polished Fulbright application on Sept 8? Yes. But see note above about missing letters–it does happen. But 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, however. You will often receive suggestions during your campus committee interview and may find things you want to tweak. 

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).

THE 2025 PICKERING FOREIGN AFFAIRS APPLICATION IS NOW OPEN!

Lisa Gates / / Fellowships, Graduate School Funding
The Pickering Fellowship is a premier U.S. Department of State initiative, aims to bring diverse talent into the Foreign Service. The program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need.

The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program seeks individuals committed to promoting positive change in the world as U.S. diplomats in the Foreign Service. Selected fellows will receive support for graduate school, internships, and professional development. The Fellowship provides a pathway to a uniquely rewarding career as a Foreign Service Officer representing the United States of America. Applicants must be college seniors or graduates. Applicants can come from any academic discipline and must be seeking entry into graduate school in fall 2025

PROGRAM BENEFITS 
Support of up to $42,000 per year for a two-year period for tuition, room, board, books, and mandatory fees for completion of two-year master’s degree in fields related to the Foreign Service such as business, economics, management science, organizational development/leadership, public policy, and international relations at a U.S.-based institution.
An orientation to the Fellowship and the Foreign Service in Washington, D.C.
Two summer internships, one at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. and one overseas at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
Mentoring from Foreign Service Officers throughout the Fellowship.
Employment in the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service, in accordance with applicable law and U.S. Department of State policy, for those who successfully complete the Fellowship and meet Foreign Service entry requirements. Fellows must commit to a minimum of five years of service.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 
September 26, 2024, AT 11:59 PM EST

ELIGIBILITY 

Must be a U.S. citizen.
Must be seeking admission to a two-year, fulltime, on-campus, master’s degree program at a U.S.-based graduate institution to begin in the fall of 2025 in an academic field relevant to the work of the Foreign Service.
Must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale at the time of application.

ABOUT THE FOREIGN SERVICE
Foreign Service Officers in the U.S. Department of State play a crucial role in formulating, implementing, and supporting U.S. foreign policy. Their responsibilities include analyzing global political and economic events, negotiating with foreign governments, assisting U.S. citizens abroad, educating foreign audiences about American culture and values, and managing embassy operations. They address key issues such as conflict resolution, human rights, environmental and health concerns, nuclear nonproliferation, and educational exchange. This demanding yet rewarding career involves working in Washington, D.C., and over 270 diplomatic posts worldwide, where officers directly impact lives, witness history, and shape U.S. policy.

STAY CONNECTED WITH PICKERING!

Be sure to visit our website and check out our social media to stay up to date on upcoming events. Our Frequently Asked Questions and Application Tips pages are highly recommended! 


https://pickeringfellowship.org/
pickeringfellowship@howard.edu

NPR Interview with Watson fellow Samara Gordon Wexler ’24

Lisa Gates / / Fellowships, Postgraduate Opportunities

Listen to an interview on NPR with Watson Fellow Samara Gordon Wexler ’24 about her upcoming Watson project “How We Die: Uncovering a ‘Good Death'”:
https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2024/07/05/end-of-life-practices

Congratulations to Sam and the newest cohort of Watson Fellows as they embark on their year-long journeys. Interested in applying to the Watson fellowship this fall? See go/watson for more information.

June 2024 Notes for Fulbright and Watson Applicants

Lisa Gates / / Fellowships, Graduate School Funding, Postgraduate Opportunities, STEM, Study Abroad, Teaching English Abroad

If you’re thinking about applying for a Fulbright grant or Watson nomination in the fall, let’s get moving! Summer goes fast. Many of you have already talked with me about your ideas or completed a preliminary application this spring–which is a great way to get started! And yes, you can absolutely still apply for these in the fall even if you did not submit a preliminary application! Below are a few notes for those of you just considering a Watson or Fulbright fellowship or those of you already working on the applications:

If you haven’t sent in a preliminary application for Watson or Fulbright, you can still apply! Alumni, you can apply for Fulbright through Middlebury; you just have to follow our internal process and deadlines. Fill out the Fulbright and/or Watson preliminary application at go/middapply .

Watson applicants only: I will need to register you for the Watson application however, so you’ll need to get in touch. I automatically register all students for the Watson online application if they complete the Watson preliminary application. As of today, everyone who has submitted a preliminary Watson application has been registered in the Watson application platform! If you can’t find your link, check your junk/clutter/spam filters. For technical or password problems with the Watson online system, you must contact the Watson office for help.

I am happy to talk with you, answer questions and review essay drafts during the summer. You can email questions to me fellowships@middlebury.edu and/or make appointments at go.middlebury.edu/appt . I have limited appointment hours during the summer–June and July appointment hours are posted! If you don’t find available appointments that work for you, you can email some good days/times. Zoom and in-person meetings are possible. Email works too–that’s a great way to get feedback on essays or ask quick questions. Please note, I will be out of the office June 19-July 4, so drafts submitted in that period will not be reviewed until after my return.

Make sure you know the internal deadlines and application processes! See https://go.middlebury.edu/fulbright and https://go.middlebury.edu/watson for details. I often get questions that can be answered by reviewing the information on these pages, so please review carefully and then send your questions. You will also find information about internal deadlines and application instructions on these pages. 

For more Fulbright info, check out the webinars offered by the Fulbright team–see the schedule here: https://us.fulbrightonline.org/applicants/information-sessions. There are some great sessions coming up, including answering the short answer questions on the Fulbright application and office hours focused on the Study/Research and ETA grants with program staff. For Fulbright applicants, the main dates to focus on now are the August 15 “Intent to Apply” deadline, which guarantees we can provide at least one full round of feedback on your materials.

Internal Deadlines for Fall 2024:

Fulbright: Sunday, Sept. 8 at 11:59 pm (aka midnight!). For this deadline, you must LOCK your application. DO NOT CLICK SUBMIT at this time. This is a change from last year. Watson:  Thursday, Sept. 5 at noon. You must complete tasks in MiddApply AND the specified sections of the Watson application.

How to reach me (Dean Lisa Gates)? Email fellowships@middlebury.edu , book appointment at go/appt, or stop by Library 212.