Recommended Timeline of Fulbright Foreign Student Program Activities

Due to U.S. graduate school application deadlines and new SEVIS requirements, it is advisable to announce the competition well over a year in advance of when grantees would actually begin their programs. For grants beginning Fall 2010, nominee dossiers should reach AMIDEAST by September 1, 2009, to provide sufficient time for university and field of study research prior to beginning application submissions. University submission deadlines for Fall 2010 admissions begin as early as December 1, 2009. U.S. universities provide acceptance information in the Spring of 2010. Therefore, AMIDEAST advises Posts to announce the 2010 Fulbright competition by April 2009 and recommends the following timeline of activities:

April	Embassy announces Fulbright Student competition through press releases, advertisements in English language and/or Arabic newspapers, and/or interviews with media; distributes posters or fliers to universities and government agencies or other places where it is likely to reach the target audience in the country. Conducts outreach visits to universities to meet with student groups; posts announcements, application guidelines and eligibility requirements on Embassy website and/or provides link to the Fulbright on-line application.
May	Embassy recruits members for selection panel who will review applications and interview candidates. Some embassies include prominent members of the host-country community. Others embassies include only Americans such as visiting Fulbright Scholars or Students and the PAO or CAO. Panels range in size from 3 to 12 members. Three to five is sufficient.
May/June	Application deadline and screening of applications for eligibility.
June	Selection of applicants for interview.
July	Interviews and selection of nominees. Selection of nominees should be based on transparent, pre-determined criteria that are consistent with the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB) Policy Statements (sections 520 529). Nominees notified by telephone or letter.
September	Embassy submits complete nominee dossiers to AMIDEAST. Embassy holds initial group meeting with nominees to review placement process and requests additional materials as needed. Nominees schedule necessary entrance exams such as TOEFL or GRE.
October	AMIDEAST begins researching field of study and universities to determine appropriate placement. In consultation with Embassy and nominee, selects four universities.
December /January	AMIDEAST submits applications to universities by deadlines.
May/June	AMIDEAST finalizes placements after consultation with State Department. Embassy holds pre-departure orientations for grantees.
July/August	Grantees assigned to pre-academic begin their programs in the U.S.
September	Grantees begin academic programs.