Frequently Asked Questions about Program Placement Fulbright Grantees Studying in the United States

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1 Frequently Asked Questions about Program Placement Fulbright Grantees Studying in the United States Table of Contents WORKING WITH YOUR PLACEMENT SPECIALIST... 2 I really want to go to a top university. How do I get admitted?... 2 The score that I obtained on the TOEFL or GRE was not as high as I had anticipated and I want to improve. By when should I retake the exam?... 2 Can I apply to universities located in a specific city or region of the United States?... 2 In addition to the universities to which LASPAU will apply on my behalf, may I apply to programs on my own?... 3 Can LASPAU still submit an application on my behalf if the deadline for the program has already passed?... 3 Can I contact universities after I start working with LASPAU?... 3 What is my laspau.org ? When will I get it, and how do I use it?... 3 When and how will I find out if I am admitted to a university?... 3 What will happen if I do not have admission decisions from all the universities before I need to accept an offer?... 3 What will happen if I am not admitted to any university?... 4 ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING... 4 Will I receive English language training? When will I receive information about my English language training placement?... 4 Can I request to be placed at a specific English language program?... 4 How will I receive my funds during my English language program?... 4 IMMIGRATION... 5 I need to prove funds for my academic program. What documents can be used for proof of funds? Do the documents have to be translated to English?... 5 When do I need to send documents for my dependents?... 5 Can I enter the United States before the start date on my DS 2019?... 5 PREPARING FOR ARRIVAL... 5

2 My university is requesting I complete their medical form. May I submit the Fulbright Certificate of Health instead?... 5 When will I find out who my academic advisor is at my university?... 5 Can you help me arrange housing at my university?... 6 Can you help me arrange my flights to the United States?... 6 WORKING WITH YOUR PLACEMENT SPECIALIST I really want to go to a top university. How do I get admitted? While it can be very difficult to predict if you will be admitted to a particular graduate program, students who have traditionally been admitted to top programs have had high TOEFL and GRE/GMAT scores, an excellent GPA and relevant academic experience, related work/research experience, a well written statement of purpose, and strong letters of recommendation. In addition, for many fields of study, having a strong faculty contact can greatly increase your chances of admission to a graduate program. Please remember that you should apply to a range of graduate programs and consider not only the university s ranking, but also the academic fit, the likelihood of tuition funding, and whether there are faculty members with research interests that are similar to yours. All of these factors are taken into consideration by university admissions offices. The score that I obtained on the TOEFL or GRE was not as high as I had anticipated and I want to improve. By when should I retake the exam? Ideally, you should retake both exams before November 1 st to apply for admission to universities for the following fall. If you do not have the necessary TOEFL and GRE scores by November 1 st, you should register to retake the test as soon as possible but no later than four weeks before your first university application deadline. For each university, you will need to meet the minimum test score requirements prior to the application deadline in order to apply. Can I apply to universities located in a specific city or region of the United States? LASPAU is not able to accommodate requests to apply to programs in specific cities or regions. First and foremost, LASPAU strives to match you to graduate programs that meet your academic interests and will help you to achieve your academic goals, without limiting your options to a specific geographic location. Therefore, your LASPAU Placement Specialist will ask that you consider programs in multiple regions across the United States. 2

3 In addition to the universities to which LASPAU will apply on my behalf, may I apply to programs on my own? For most students, it is not necessary to submit additional applications because LASPAU works with each student to strategically design an application submission plan that includes a range of university options. Can LASPAU still submit an application on my behalf if the deadline for the program has already passed? LASPAU cannot submit applications to universities after the deadline stated on the university s website has passed. Universities receive thousands of applications each year from prospective students, so the university will need all required documents by the deadline in order for your application to be considered. Therefore, it is in your best interest to carefully review the application requirements posted on the university s website so that any additional materials requested (essays, short answer questions, etc.) can be prepared in advance and submitted to your Placement Specialist in a timely manner for review and submission. Can I contact universities after I start working with LASPAU? Contacting universities to initiate faculty support is encouraged for some fields of study, particularly at the PhD level. Your Placement Specialist will provide guidance on how to contact faculty if it is necessary for your field of study or degree. After your university applications are submitted, you should not contact universities to ask about your admission status or funding. Universities are very busy at this time of year and will not welcome receiving inquiries from both LASPAU and its sponsored students. Your Placement Specialist will provide you with updates regarding the status of your application as LASPAU receives news from the universities. What is my laspau.org ? When will I get it, and how do I use it? Your name@laspau.org , which you will receive at the beginning of the placement process, is linked to your Placement Specialist s account. It will only be used to submit online applications. Your Placement Specialist will manage any correspondence that is received from the university on your behalf. After your placement is finalized, the will be deactivated. When and how will I find out if I am admitted to a university? University admission decisions are usually made between March and May. Your Placement Specialist will inform you via e mail as soon as a decision is received from a university. Most universities strive to issue admission decisions by April 15 th, which is the Council of Graduate School s recommended deadline for providing offers of admission to students. What will happen if I do not have admission decisions from all the universities before I need to accept an offer? Your Placement Specialist will make every effort to provide you with all of the admission decisions so that you can make an informed decision. However, occasionally, a university may require that you accept an offer before we know the status of your application at another university. In these cases, your 3

4 Placement Specialist will work closely with you to consider your options and assist you in the decisionmaking process. What will happen if I am not admitted to any university? As you begin to receive admission decisions or feedback from faculty about your admissibility, your Placement Specialist will assess whether there is a need to apply to additional programs. In special cases, if you are not admitted for the fall Semester, you may receive approval to apply to new programs for spring admission beginning in January. However, not all fields of study offer spring admission. Ultimately, if you are not admitted to any graduate programs, you will have to formally reapply to the Fulbright program; there is no guarantee you will be reselected. This is why it is important to include a range of universities in your submission plan, in order to increase the likelihood of admission to at least one university. ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING Will I receive English language training? When will I receive information about my English language training placement? If your ibt TOEFL is below 100 or IELTS is below 7.0, you are eligible for funding to attend a preacademic English course. Students with ibt TOEFL scores below 75 will be notified by December if they will receive funding to attend a long term English program starting in January or March. All other students will be notified by May if they will receive funding to attend a summer English program starting in late May, June, or July. You cannot be assigned to a summer English program until you have accepted an offer of admission to a graduate program for the fall semester. Can I request to be placed at a specific English language program? The Institute of International Education (IIE), a non profit organization based in New York City that administers part of Fulbright program along with LASPAU, is responsible for issuing terms of award for all English programs for LASPAU administered Fulbright students. IIE cannot accommodate special requests for preferred programs, locations, or start dates for summer pre academic English program placement. Your LASPAU Placement Specialist is unable to provide specific details about your future English placement until after you receive the terms of award from IIE. Summer English program placement is made based on your TOEFL score, English language conditions placed on your graduate admission offer if applicable, and the date you need to arrive at your academic program. How will I receive my funds during my English language program? When you arrive and check in at your English program, you will receive a check with your first payment from IIE, and instructions for how to receive further payments. Your tuition and mandatory fees will be paid directly to the English program by IIE. 4

5 IMMIGRATION I need to prove funds for my academic program. What documents can be used for proof of funds? Do the documents have to be translated to English? If you are required to provide proof of funds for your academic program, you must submit to LASPAU a contract or official statement from an institution guaranteeing the necessary level of funding. The funds must be liquid, meaning you must be able to freely withdraw and deposit funds at any given time. Acceptable forms of proof of funds include, but are not limited to: a contract for your salary in absentia; a copy of a rental agreement on property showing you as the landlord; bank statements or other proof that you possess sufficient funds and are able to transfer them into a U.S. bank account in your name; and bank statements from a friend or relative accompanied by a notarized letter certifying that they will send you a fixed amount of U.S. dollars during your stay in the United States. Photocopies are acceptable. English translations are not required. When do I need to send documents for my dependents? If you would like your dependent(s) to join you in the U.S. during your academic program, you must send the required documents to LASPAU at least three months before your family s planned arrival. Please see the Dependents section of the LASPAU Grantee Guide for a detailed explanation of the required documentation. Please refer to the previous answer if you have questions about acceptable forms of proof of funds for your dependents. Can I enter the United States before the start date on my DS 2019? Yes, you are allowed to enter the United States up to 30 days before the start date listed under item #3 of your DS PREPARING FOR ARRIVAL My university is requesting I complete their medical form. May I submit the Fulbright Certificate of Health instead? The Fulbright Certificate of Health is used to confirm your health status for sponsorship purposes, and LASPAU will not send your health information to your university. U.S. universities generally require new students to complete a medical history and immunization form prior to the start of the first semester of study. Your host university may accept a copy of the Fulbright Certificate of Health in lieu of completing the university s form. We recommend that you contact the Health Services Office at your host university to confirm the additional documents and/or immunizations that are required. When will I find out who my academic advisor is at my university? This will depend on your academic program. Some university departments assign students to work with a specific academic advisor when they issue a letter of admission. However, other departments may not assign students to an advisor until after their first semester or first year of study. 5

6 Can you help me arrange housing at my university? Unfortunately, LASPAU is unable to arrange housing for you at your university. It will be your responsibility to research the options available and complete the steps necessary to obtain a place to live. Almost all universities now include housing information on their web pages, including on and offcampus options, average rental costs, etc. After your placement at a university is confirmed, we recommend that you contact the Housing Office and the International Student Advisor to inquire about available housing options. Can you help me arrange my flights to the United States? LASPAU is unable to help you arrange your transportation to the United States. Please contact the Fulbright Commission or the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in your home country for assistance with arranging your international travel to your academic program and pre academic program if applicable. 6