In light of the languishing job market, increasing numbers of undergraduates are being driven to reevaluate their post-graduation plans — which for some means applying for scholarships instead of jobs.
The prestigious federally funded Fulbright Grant has gained popularity in recent years across a significant number of college campuses. It enables recipients to travel abroad to research, study or teach.
According to the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Associate Director of Fellowships Cheryl Shipman, Fulbright grant applications have increased steadily since CURF was founded in 2000.
In accordance with this trend, the number of Penn students who applied increased slightly this year from 82 to 88.
Recent Fulbright recipient Antonio McAfee, who earned a Masters of Fine Arts last year from Penn, said he applied for the grant because of the level of financial support it provides and the length of the program.
“I knew I wanted to spend almost a year doing research,” he wrote in an e-mail. “The max you can do research is for 10 months, though it is possible to get a two-month extension.”
McAfee will be studying contemporary art and obtaining a Masters in Arts and Culture Management at the University of Witswatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Hesitating to attribute the national increase in Fulbright grant applications predominantly to the unfavorable economic climate, Shipman cited the economy as merely one of many factors that could contribute to a student’s decision to apply for post-undergraduate scholarships.
“The Fulbright numbers may be up nationally because Fulbright is increasingly doing outreach to small schools and places that traditionally haven’t produced many Fulbright applicants to democratize their applicant and winner pools,” she said.
Educational consultant Steve Goodman of Top Colleges also named the economy as merely one of many factors.
In fact, Goodman speculated that President Barack Obama’s victory played a major role in driving the Fulbright grant increase.
“The election of Obama reverberated and reverberates strongly for people under 30, and one of his major platforms was a call to service — I think this is just a classic example of that,” he said. “You see this not only in terms of Fulbright, but in terms of [programs like] Teach For America also.”
He also cited the “strong Fulbright alumni network” — frequently helpful for job-searching purposes — as a strong potential incentive for applicants.
College Confidential senior advisor Sally Rubenstone agreed that economic conditions may compel some students to apply for the grant.
“Undergraduates are increasingly concerned with compiling credentials that will make them savvy and marketable in today’s global economy,” she said. “Putting the prestigious ‘Fulbright Scholar’ on a resume is a homerun in that department. For students in ‘elite’ colleges like Penn, it’s icing on the cake.”
She also observed that undergraduates have become increasingly aware of the opportunities provided by the Fulbright grant because a “growing number of colleges seem to be touting a successful Fulbright track record as a market of the school’s strength.”
Penn has consistently been ranked among the Fulbright grant’s “Top Producing Schools” by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
This year, the University produced a total of 18 Fulbright scholars.
