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Since many students will attend Junior Year Abroad programs, and junior year is when application to three of the fellowships (Beinecke, Truman, Udall) is completed, and application to at least eight fellowships (Daad, Fulbright, Gates, Luce, Marshall, Mellon, Mitchell, Rhodes) begins, it is crucial for potential JYAers to . . .

PREPARE FOR THE JUNIOR-YEAR APPLICATION PROCESS AS A SOPHOMORE.

Trying to handle the application process from abroad is extremely difficult and also puts you at a distinct disadvantage without the vital support network available to you on campus. This means beginning post-graduate fellowship applications three years before you will use the fellowship. Or two years before the formal application year. The application year is usually the year before the fellowship year. But because there’s often insufficient time to do the application in the year when you must submit the application, we begin the application process in the spring semester of the prior academic year. And for those spending junior year abroad this means becoming acquainted as spring sophomores with the requirements you will be called upon to meet while you are abroad.

The first key is to understand what will be expected of you. This includes securing the best people to write recommendations for you. And these people you may meet overseas. So be aware of the opportunities your year abroad may open for you so that you can take advantage of them while abroad.

For general tips on networking, go to http://www.smith.edu/cdo/handouts/
informational-interviewing.PDF.
and be sure to visit
http://www.cies.org/vs_scholars/vs_dir.htm#2005, which is part of http://www.cies.org. This website is for Fulbright Scholars from other countries who are in the U.S. They are good people from whom to request information about and assistance with contacting people in their home countries who could be your Fulbright affiliates.