Well, dear reader. It’s done. I’ve officially submitted my Fulbright U.S. Scholar fellowship application. I can hardly believe it. My relief is immense. My relief was immediately followed up with a cocktail of fear, self-doubt, and impatience. Did I write clearly enough? Will they really consider me for a fellowship? Is this idea stupid? These are the thoughts racing through my mind – likely familiar to anyone applying for international fellowships for independent scholars.
But there’s nothing I can do about it now. Jesus, take the wheel.
My goal was to submit the application a few days before the deadline. First, I wanted to account for any last-minute issues that might arise. A plague of some sort. Second, because I knew it was as ready as it could be, and I couldn’t bear to spend any more time scrutinizing it. And finally, the day between submission and the deadline was Mexico’s Independence Day. I wanted to celebrate without worry. And good thing because I was very much hungover on the application deadline day.
Related Post: Mexico City for the Traveling Scholarpreneur
In this post, I’ll share my strategies and approach for finalizing the last bits of my Fulbright application. I’ll wrap up with a reflection on this intense journey and offer insights that might help other independent scholars navigating similar waters.
Project Statement
Outsider Perspective
Three PhD friends reviewed my application. I cannot tell you how helpful it was to have other eyes on these documents. Each offered unique and invaluable insights that helped me see my project statement in a new light. To not overwhelm myself with the feedback, I made a plan for incorporating the feedback into my final project statement.
Methodical Revision Process
I tackled revisions systematically, addressing each reviewer’s feedback in turn. There were about two weeks between receiving the feedback and submitting the application. I reviewed the feedback and incorporated grammar and minor editing into my statement. I set aside the more complex, theoretical comments for reflection. Finally, I gave myself distance from the document to think about the deeper comments and went back and changed what felt right.
The revision process was intense. I rewrote several sections to save space and to better address the prompts. For example, I did not directly address the section on the importance of conducting this project in New Zealand was not addressed directly. One of my reviewers pointed out for me. I originally answered it with how the project came to be, which actually fit better in the Country Selection portion of the Essay. I made the move and then addressed the New Zealand question after some reflection and a bit more reading.
Meeting the Page Limits
Lest we not forget – I started with 17 pages. So the fact that I got the project statement down to 6 pages was a true Christmas morning miracle. This last push included tightening sentences, eliminating fluff, and shifting passive voice to active. I fed each section into Claude.ai to see if there was anything I could improve on as the last step before submitting. I also read it aloud multiple times. And after an exhaustive editing process, I finally got it down to 5 full pages I felt proud of.
Essays
There were 3 essay questions to finalize. I worked through the reviewer’s feedback by question, not by reviewer, to maintain focus. Oddly, this section was limited by characters (including spaces and punctuation 🫠) not by words. This meant that every little space and letter had to fight to remain.
Going back and forth between the project statement and the essays helped me refine this section. I tried to show more personality here, highlighting how my travels informed me, how my previous work experience prepared me, and why New Zealand is the place for me to be at this specific university in this country at this time for this project.
CV
I thought my CV was done. But I had a major realization one day when I went for a walk. I needed to add some older positions to solidify my 7+ years of communications experience required for independent scholars! Without establishing the 7 years of experience, my application could have been disqualified. 🫣
I made a few other key updates to my CV. First, I provided brief summaries of each role, highlighting connections to science communication, coaching, or research. Second, I kept my list of peer-reviewed articles and book chapters in to demonstrate my research capabilities.
Reference List
I organized my reference list into three main sections:
- Science communication theory and practice
- Motivations, barriers, and purpose
- Executive coaching
I included context for each section, explaining my thought process behind the sections and literature. There was some flexibility in the instructions on the reference list. I took advantage of the extra space to elaborate on how each reference relates to the discipline or my project.
Recommendation Letters
This part of the application process stressed me out the most, as it was largely out of my control. The timeline played out with one recommender submitting their letter with a week to spare. The other submitted theirs the day before the deadline. 😅
I made sure to send plenty of reminders and casually brought it up in conversation. Without these letters, there would be no application. I spoke with a friend who offered to be a back-up recommender JIC. That’s how stressed I was about this.
In the end, both letters were submitted. If you remember, I wrote both letters as an offer to assist in the process because I had given them about 2 weeks to submit them. One recommender used the letter I had pre-written, while the other chose to write their own. I’m so grateful I had the foresight to draft those letters in advance!
Host Invitation Letter
The New Zealand award required an invitation letter from the host, which needed to outline:
- The activities I was invited by the host (i.e., research at an institution.)
- The period for which I am invited
- A description of the host’s interest in my project and how it will benefit their institution
- How the host institution would support me (e.g., office space, access to library, etc.)
This letter needed to be addressed to me. It was my responsibility to obtain and upload into the application.
I tackled this bit last since the deadline was about a week after the main application. My host asked me to draft an outline. But given the time zone difference with New Zealand (time travel, amirite), I ended up writing the entire letter to save on back-and-forth.
My host contact edited the letter and returned it for approval. After I gave my blessing, I asked for it to be put on letterhead with a signature. She requested one last look at my submitted application. I received the signed invitation letter a few days later which completed my application.
The Unknowns
I went to fill out the online application early as I knew, in my heart of hearts, that something unexpected would pop up. Good thing I did because there were two things I needed to complete that I had not anticipated.
Accomplishments Section
The first surprise was a section asking for my five most significant professional accomplishments.
Enter your five most significant professional accomplishments, starting with the most significant. These may include honors, awards, publications, exhibitions, etc.
Girl, what?! I was so brain-fried by this point, I ended up asking Claude.ai to help me by pulling top 10 ideas using my CV. Am I proud that I couldn’t think of 5 things? No. Do I care at this point? Also no. Here is what I submitted:
- Founding a research communication business and developing an innovative coaching framework that supports scholars’ communication goals.
- Obtaining a Ph.D. from the University of Louisville while also working full-time as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati.
- Obtaining my first client on retainer, helping formulate her communication goals, pitching her ideas to the media, and promoting her research.
- Completing the Travel Coach Certification from the International Coaching Federation/Travel Coach Network.
- Leading a marketing department in the 8th busiest mid-sized venues in the world in 2011, according to Pollstar, a concert trade publication.
Project Title & Abstract
I knew I needed a title and abstract but procrastinated until the last minute. The instructions called for a 700-character summary covering the project’s nature, methodology, importance, and expected results. Abstracts have always been my nemesis in article submissions, and 700 characters is tight! But with some creative editing, I made it work. The title was also limited to 90 characters. Something I did not know until I was in the application process.
Reflections on Applying for International Fellowships for Independent Scholars: Growth, Challenges, and Future Directions
The Application Journey
A journey it has been! I went into this process *hoping* it would be able to find a host institution and a project idea that was adjacent to the work I do. What I found was an exciting collaboration in the first go-round. Naturally, I was nervous about my role as an independent scholar without an academic home base. Especially as an independent scholar who has no theoretical background in the discipline I want to work with. Alas! None of that was a barrier! It was a shot of confidence I needed at this point in my life.
I will be the first to admit – applying for international fellowships for independent scholar feels like a shot in the dark. Or maybe a shot to the moon. Very much out of reach. As much as I know it’s out of my control, I’ll be crushed if I don’t get it. I committed so much time and effort into this application. Time and effort I could have put towards growing my business. I hope it wasn’t for nothing.
Unexpected Benefits
Surprisingly, the process of applying for international fellowships for independent scholars brought a lot clarity to my business. It sharpened my framework and helped me articulate the value of my offer. I’m now better prepared to communicate what I do when asked.
Financial Considerations
Part of the reason for applying for international fellowships for independent scholars is the financial support so I can do research. Without it, I can’t justify taking time away from my business for unpaid research labour. I have to be realistic about this. I hope I do not lose the opportunity to work with the host institution because of financial limitations.
Future Plans and Uncertainties
I’m proud of my Fulbright application and excited to refocus on my business. I loved the writing, thinking, and research involved in this process, and I hope to do more. And good thing. I have to work on the British Academy visiting fellowship next! I’ve already got calls scheduled to discuss project ideas.
The process of applying for international fellowships for independent scholars also inspired a few abstract submissions for the Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference in Aberdeen, Scotland in May 2025.
Related Post: Unpacking Science Communication at the PCST Mexico Symposium: A Reflection on Language, Reflexivity, and Praxis
I have been writing about the project idea as a blog series, and plan to flesh out the idea more. This process really helped me see the value in the work I do, the uniqueness of my approach, and the lack of information I have put out there about what it is I do.
Related Post: Engagement Coaching: A New Approach to Science Communication Training
Ultimately, I hope these international fellowships for independent scholar opportunities will help me build lasting collaborative relationships with universities and scholars. I also hope it allows me to contribute to the science communication field.
Advice for International Fellowships for Independent Scholars
As I wrap up the Fulbright US Scholar portion of this series on international fellowships for independent scholars, here’s some advice for those considering similar paths:
- Read aloud: Always read your materials out loud. It helps catch awkward phrasing and flow issues. It also reminds you of how your ideas sound.
- Respect others’ time: Give your reviewers and recommenders ample time to go through your materials.
- Maintain open communication with your host: I was fortunate to experience a truly collaborative effort, making the process easier. We were texting, emailing, and chatting once a week during the process.
- Shoot your shot. These applications take a lot of work. I was not prepared. But it’s so worth taking the time and energy to think through the project to make sure it works for you and your goals.
- Repurpose your work: I leveraged my application research to create a blog series on engagement coaching, my project idea.
- Be prepared for surprises. Expect unexpected elements in the application. Give yourself enough time to adjust.
- Embrace the journey. The application process can be a valuable learning experience in itself, offering clarity about your work and future directions.
Application Materials
I am happy to share my materials. But for now, and until I get the verdict on the fellowship, I will hold off on uploading them. If you are interested in reviewing them, email me! I am happy to share them.
Next steps: British Academy Visiting Fellowship application!
Looking for information about other international fellowships for independent scholars? Check out my previous posts in this series about the Fulbright application process.
Life After Academia: Exploring International Fellowships for Independent Scholars
International Fellowships for Independent Scholars: Finding a Host Institution
Solidifying A Host Institution for International Fellowships for Independent Scholars
Starting the Application Process: International Fellowships for Independent Scholars
Writing the Application: International Fellowships for Independent Scholars
