June Notes for Watson and Fulbright Applicants

If you’re thinking about applying for a Fulbright or Watson nomination in the fall, you should start working on those applications. Many of you have already talked with me about your ideas or completed a preliminary application this spring. But yes, you can 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 these now or already working on the applications:

Dean Gates is happy to talk with you, answer questions and review essay drafts. You can email questions to fellowships@middlebury.edu and/or make appointments at go.middlebury.edu/appt . Dean Gates has limited appointment hours during the summer.

Make sure you know the internal deadlines and application processes! See https://go.middlebury.edu/fulbright and https://go.middlebury.edu/watson for details. We often get questions that can be answered by reviewing the information on these pages, so please review carefully and then send me your questions. You will also find information about internal deadlines and application instructions on these pages. Note: the fellowships office must register Watson applicants in the online Watson system. As of today, everyone who has notified us of their interest has been registered! If you can’t find a 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.

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 process and campus deadlines. At this point in the summer, I recommend you start working on the applications themselves (not the preliminary application form) and email or talk with Dean Gates about your ideas or questions. The online applications for both are open and you can begin working on those.

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.

Watson Fellowship Webinar, Wed. May 12–Register Now!

Join the Watson Fellowship Webinar on Wednesday, May 12th, from 3 PM to 4 PM ET. Watson Fellows David Johnson ’19 and Sophia Zupanc ’19 will be joining as guest speakers. The Watson Fellowship provides a year of self-directed exploration following graduation. Nomination applications will be due to the Middlebury Fellowships office in mid- September. To learn more about the Watson, visit go/watson and the Watson Leadership page here

Webinar Registration Link

https://watson-foundation.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMlcemvrTgjH9f3IuG9vWiAMQr9i8ElSmN2

Guest Speakers for the Watson Webinar below!

David Johnson, 2019 Watson Fellow

Transitional Justice: Can A Nation Reconcile With Their Past?

To learn more about David and his year, you can visit his Watson 51st class page here.

Sophia Zupanc, 2019 Watson Fellow
 

Art, Science, and Alchemy: Striking the Balance Between Curing and Healing in Modern Medicine

To learn more about Sophia and her year, you can visit her Watson 51st class page here.

Two Middlebury Seniors Receive Watson Fellowships

Middlebury seniors Divya Gudur ’21 and Nora Peachin ’21 have been selected as part of the 53rd cohort of Watson Fellows! Read more about their selection and Watson projects here: http://www.middlebury.edu/newsroom/archive/2021-news/node/657082 . Congratulations to Divya and Nora!

The Watson Fellowship provides support for a year-long self-designed project. Middlebury students are eligible to apply as seniors. Learn more about the Watson and how to apply at go/watson .

Watson Fall Webinar

The Watson foundation is hosting a fall Zoom information session on Wednesday, September 16th, 2020. Students can register here: https://www.getfeedback.com/r/yAGqOucI .

The webinar will be led by Watson Executive Director Chris Kasabach and Associate Director, Sneha Subramanian. 2019 Watson Fellow, Arish will share his Watson experience. You can learn more about Arish and his Watson experience here.

Arish Mudra Rakshasa, Watson Fellow

For more information about the Watson, see https://watson.foundation/ and go/watson .

Watson and Fulbright Internal Deadlines

Yes, deadlines are fast approaching. Summer is officially over.

Watson internal deadline: Wednesday, Sept 9 at noon. To apply for nomination, complete the required sections of the Watson online application and send an email to fellowships@middlebury.edu with a Banner transcript (advising format if possible), the names of your recommenders. In the subject line, write “Watson internal application.” We will download your online Watson app and share the materials with our selection committee. Candidates will be invited to interview with the committee in early October. See go/watson for the applicant timeline and checklist if you’ve forgotten what to complete on the Watson online application!

Fulbright internal deadline: Monday, Sept 14 at noon. Please submit your complete, final, polished application in the Fulbright online system by this deadline. If you have recommendations or affiliations that will be late, let us know. If there are errors on the transcript we sent you, let us know. If you can’t submit because you are missing recommendations, email fellowships@middlebury.edu . If there are typos or problems we discover after you submit, never fear: you have time to fix these issues. You will receive an interview sign-up sheet later on 9/14 for your campus committee interview (via Zoom).

Questions or problems: email us at fellowships.@middlebury.edu .