The Zen of Fulbright: The Unofficial Guide to U.S. Fulbright Scholarships

This book was much more helpful than I thought it would be. It’s got tons of tips about applying for a Fulbright and about how to be a productive Fulbrighter overseas once you get the grant. I really appreciated all the quotes and stories from past Fulbright scholars, which present a multifaceted, real-world view of the experience. Lots of universities have advisers to help students apply for grants like Fulbright, but very few of these advisers are Fulbright scholars themselves, and the information they provide tends to be one-sided.In short, this book is written from the point of view of people who have actually done a Fulbright. The author is clearly very supportive of Fulbright and shares everything possible for those who are serious about the program to win a grant and have a successful experience abroad. I found it a very valuable read.

The Zen of Fulbright gives a comprehensive overview of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and strategies for crafting a competitive application (I write this having served for the past ten years as a Fulbright Program Advisor at a major research university; I am also a former Fulbrighter myself). It provides the type of advice, strategy, and insight students would receive working with an established fellowship advisor. I recommend this book for students applying to the Fulbright “at-large” or students enrolled at smaller institutions without a knowledgeable FPA. For these populations, Zen could really help level the playing field. For students working with an experienced fellowship advisor already, there will be much overlap in the information and guidance provided; I plan to recommend this to students who are more independent learners (those who I have trouble convincing to schedule advising appointments). It is also a great resource for new Fulbright Program Advisors – I wish such a guide had been available when I first entered the profession!I would caution students against relying too heavily on the sample essays, some of which are a bit dated at this point. Sample essays are rather controversial and should be taken with a grain of salt; one never knows whether an applicant was selected for a Fulbright because of a great essay or in spite of a mediocre one.

A great read about the Fulbright communityAn interesting read about the Fulbright Scholarship program and the kind of ideas-driven people who make up the Fulbright community. Lots of personal stories from the field, and lots of advice about doing independent projects oversees, even those that aren’t Fulbright. My favorite chapter was “The Habits of Successful Fulbrighters.” Wise words for anyone trying to push their ideas out into the world.

This book is a wealth of information. Practical knowledge of preparation, answers to basic questions, the reality of “the slump” period, creating a body of work; it is all here. The best is people’s descriptions of their own experience as Fulbrighters.

Packed full of information about Fulbright. The book strikes a nice balance between official info about the program and on-the-ground practical knowledge from people who have actually gone through it overseas.

For anyone interested in a Fulbright scholarship I cannot recommend The Zen of Fulbright highly enough. The book covers everything you’d want to know about the Fulbright experience from all angles.

Thomas has created what must be the most extensive guide to Fulbright out there, for applicants as well as recipients of the Fulbright Scholarship. At right around 300 textbook size pages, this unofficial guide to Fulbright leaves you with a very thorough understanding of what the Fulbright program is like, what makes for a strong application and how to make the most of your life in the field. The guide is divided into seven major areas:1. The Big Picture - How Fulbright works2. The Habits of Successful Fulbrighters - With dozens of perspectives from real Fulbrighters3. What You Should Know About Fulbright Before You Apply - Thorough preparation strategy4. Building Your Fulbright Application - How to make yours strong5. On the Eve of Departure - Preparing and managing expectations6. Life in the Field - Making the most of your service7. Life After Fulbright - Returning, careers and moreIn addition, in every section, there are dozens of stories and lengthy quotes from Fulbrighters in the sidebars which give great context to the content in every section. This, along with sample application essays, gives you a full perspective on the program in a way I've never seen before.This is the guide I wish I would have had when I was applying for the Fulbright Program. You're so lucky to have it available to you.Good luck!

This book should be an excellent resource for those going on a Fulbright scholarship, and also to people going for other independent study projects abroad.I happened on this book as the author is a friend, so I am positively pre-disposed, but with this disclosure, I am really happy to recommend this book to those who want to study abroad.I have experience working with Fulbright and other scholars, as I ran a research organization in the Caucasus for 6+ years, where over the years we hosted 20+ researchers. I wish I had had this book then, to recommend to people that were staying with us as fellows. It gives excellent advice on a broad number of topics, from practical suggestions on how to apply for such fellowships, to how to deal with things in country, how to to leave, and then how to continue engagement.What I particularly liked in the book are the many testimonials from people that have been on that Fellowship. They share their very practical advice. In my experience, the key to success in such ventures is to come in with the right expectations, so that you get off to a great start. This book, drawing on the generous input of many Fulbrighters who have gone through the program, will help you do that.