Interviews during Fulbright ETA?

[scpm]

Hi everyone!

My advisor recommended I consider applying to a Fulbright ETA program during one of my gap years.

I am graduating this May, taking my MCAT (hopefully if all goes well) at the end of this summer, and applying next cycle. For my first gap year, I am planning on working in a community health role to build on my application theme of public health/service to vulnerable populations if that helps for context.

Fulbright would run from Summer 2021 - Summer 2022 and would intersect with interviews if I receive any. I really do not want to delay med school any more than two gap years, and my family feels the same way.

1.) How feasible would it be to travel back to the U.S for interviews while living abroad? Do the Fulbright ETA scholarships allow for travel outside the host country?

2.) What else should I take into account while I consider this option?

3.) If you've done a Fulbright ETA, what was your experience like? Did you feel qualified/prepared to teach English? How did you decide to apply & pick your host country?



Thank you so much!

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[marcosma]

I think it would be very challenging to interview while doing ETA, and it would certainly take away from your Fulbright experience (as you’ll be constantly worried about prewriting secondaries, writing secondaries, then interview prepping). And, depending on where you’ll be for your ETA, you’ll also probably be learning that language ... and working most days. And traveling as part of your ETA.

I am not speaking from my own experience but my beat friend was doing Fulbright ETA the year before she applied and that was stressful for her, too. If you end up getting a bunch of interviews and you only have two weeks to travel outside of your country, you’ll have to pick and choose for your interviews. And then you won’t be able to travel around Europe/whatever continent you’re in for your ETA.

If you’d like, I can connect you with my friend! Just pm me

 

[scpm]

@marcosma Thank you so much, I appreciate your input! I will definitely get in touch soon!!

As a follow-up question for everyone - Would it make more sense to apply to med school and Fulbright at the same time, then defer med school for a year if both work out?

From what I understand Fulbight apps are due in October, so I could apply for October 2022 concurrently with med school. Thank you again!!

 

[marcosma]

@marcosma Thank you so much, I appreciate your input! I will definitely get in touch soon!!

As a follow-up question for everyone - Would it make more sense to apply to med school and Fulbright at the same time, then defer med school for a year if both work out?

From what I understand Fulbight apps are due in October, so I could apply for October 2022 concurrently with med school. Thank you again!!

yes, I think it would make more sense to apply to both at the same time and defer!! That’s a very good solution here imo. Most if not all schools would be fine for you to defer for Fulbright (I have a friend who did this for UCLA and entered last fall!!)

 

[Jeremy Bearimy]

I agree with @marcosma about delaying your application to Fulbright, but if for some reason that isn't an option, I applied while living abroad this past cycle. It is challenging and requires a lot of planning and some extra cost, but it can be done. I applied very early and schools were incredibly accommodating in terms of interview dates such that I was able to lump my interviews into just two extra trips back to the US (meaning I got real good at them back to back interviews RIP). If you do go down that road and have any questions about what it's like to apply from abroad, message me!

 

[scpm]

I agree with @marcosma about delaying your application to Fulbright, but if for some reason that isn't an option, I applied while living abroad this past cycle. It is challenging and requires a lot of planning and some extra cost, but it can be done. I applied very early and schools were incredibly accommodating in terms of interview dates such that I was able to lump my interviews into just two extra trips back to the US (meaning I got real good at them back to back interviews RIP). If you do go down that road and have any questions about what it's like to apply from abroad, message me!

Thank you so much for your response!! It’s reassuring to hear that there are multiple ways to go about this and be successful.

I will definitely keep in touch if I decide to apply while abroad, thank you!