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Workshop: Writing a Personal Statement

Event Type: Conference/Workshop

The second main component of the Fulbright application is the Personal Statement. In this workshop, we’ll offer guidance on how students can write about themselves in a way that balances professionalism with the need to explain, in personal terms, what makes them tick. We’ll take attendees through a series of exercises to help them enumerate the pivotal experiences that have guided their scholarly trajectory, and we’ll show how applicants can use those experiences to craft a compelling case for why they deserve a Fulbright grant. We’ll also review sample statements.

  • The U.S. Department of State has announced the opening of the 2023-2024 Fulbright U.S. Student Grant Program. To introduce students to the program and help students prepare strong applications, the Graduate College’s Office of External Fellowships will offer a series of workshops and information sessions in April tailored specifically for graduate students.
  • Supporting up to one year of fieldwork, laboratory research, arts training, and English teaching in over 140 countries around the globe, Fulbright grants allow students to add a cross-cultural dimension to their graduate studies and build an international network. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, they can be at any stage of their graduate program, and they can come from any academic discipline. 
  • The Office of External Fellowships will hold each of its sessions twice, and all will take place online.

Contact: Office of External Fellowships
ExtFellowships@illinois.edu