Fulbright Scholarship: How to Open Doors to American Universities. Fulbright program in Russia
The first time I applied for a Fulbright scholarship was in my fifth year at university. At that time, my main goal was to go to study abroad, but where exactly, by and large, I didn't care. In the fifth year, I wrote a diploma on a topic that was terribly interesting to me - "Translation of audiovisual materials in scientific communication using subtitles", so I applied for the direction "Linguistics". However, the first attempt can be shorter - I did not even make it to the second round. Despite the fact that my teachers from the university, in particular, a teacher who herself received a scholarship and went to study in Germany, said that my application was good and strong.
So, as you know from the official website of the program for the first round of the program, you need to submit a certain list of documents, we will dwell only on some of them:
1) Reference Letters - letters of recommendation. Your university professors can write letters of recommendation, and this is often the case. Some teachers, as general practice shows, ask you to write a letter yourself, and then edit it, sign it and send it. It is very good if, before writing the letter of recommendation, you introduce the teacher to what exactly you want to study, what kind of scholarship you are applying for and what plans you have for the future. This will help you write a review that will be tailored specifically to the specific application you are submitting now. Of course, it is best to contact those teachers with whom you have worked a lot together, who know you well, not only as a student, but also as a person. One of my recommendation letters was written by a work colleague. This is also a view of you, but from a different, professional, side. I think it's quite logical to ask to write letters of recommendation in advance, so that you feel calmer and that those who write them have the opportunity to write a good recommendation.
2) Study / Research Objective - in fact, this is the main component of your application. In this essay, you tell what exactly you want to study while studying in the USA, what you want to achieve, and why you need all this.
When I applied for the second time, I applied for two specialties - "Linguistics" and "Education" (we are talking about the program for masters). For each discipline, you must submit a separate package of competitive documents. Honestly, although I was interested in linguistics, I was looking for those research topics that are currently relevant in the USA, I read what they are studying right now, because I think that the first time I had no chance, if only because subtitles are not studied at all in USA.
I would advise you to think and look for information about whether there are even universities in the United States that can offer you to study what you are interested in. After all, if there are no such universities, then your application is also doomed from the outset, which is quite logical, isn't it?
3) Personal Statement - in fact, this is an essay in which they want to hear about how you became interested in this topic and why, what you have achieved in this area. Here is an example of my essay when I not passed, although it still seems to me that this is a pretty decent Personal Statement.
By the way, in Moscow, EducationUSA conducts free seminars on how to write a motivation letter or other essays for admission to US universities, prepare for the TOEFL or GRE, and how to get a good recommendation letter.
Before writing an essay, think about what interests you? What can you talk about for hours? What can you explain well to another person? Read your essays yourself and let others read them. Is it clear what exactly you want to study? Does it feel like the person who wrote these essays is really “sick” of what they are writing about?
On June 1 of last year, late in the evening, I received an email in a standard form stating that I had passed the competition and at the end of August I was going to the USA ...
It all started with the fact that once, during a couple of English grammar classes, our teacher announced that in the conference room, campaigning for everyone who wants to apply for the Fulbright program would begin right now, and they would also tell about the program itself, so whoever wants, can no longer stay on a couple and take a course directly to the abode of a probable freebie, which everyone immediately took advantage of.
And they promised a freebie really noble: two years of study in a magistracy in the chosen specialty is completely free, i.e. for nothing. A little about the program: one of the most prestigious in the world, this program is named after the former American Senator William Fulbright and is designed for university graduates and young scientists, and it is funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State, but countries also make their financial contributions with whom she collaborates.
What is interesting: at the exit of the conference hall our beloved dean was waiting for us, having the following to say: a) that we are being reprimanded about a missed pair; b) so that we roll our lips back, because being elected by a grant program of this class is something from the realm of fantasy. With our heads bowed, we returned to the realities of our everyday university reality. However, 5-6 of us, gritting their teeth, firmly decided to fight and not give up so easily.
Slowly, without ringing about it at every corner so as not to attract the unhealthy attention of competitors, we began to write the required essays, such as: Personal Statement and Study Objectives. And they were very sincerely surprised when they bumped head to head in the door of Fulbright's Kiev office to submit documents. Having smiled sweetly at each other and asked what specialties they were applying for, they dispersed in a civilized manner, so that the physical destruction of rivals did not come, and it would not help (for reference: in 2006/07 the competition for a place was about 1:30).
Then the most interesting thing began, it would be more correct to say tense, namely, the expectation. Waiting for the results of the first round of the competition, competition of documents. If you have passed it, you can breathe a sigh of relief for a second (but only for a second) and immediately start preparing for the interview. For me personally, this was the toughest test, it was cleaner than any job interview. Well, firstly, because of the rather large number of pairs of eyes that assess you, not to mention the number of mouths that open up to embarrass you with immodest questions about what you are actually going to do upon arrival in the Promised Land ".
Moreover, an interesting observation: their own, Ukrainians, as they say, “brought down”, and the Americans were interested in common things with a smile, for example, what would I tell my American colleagues about my country, whether I have a musical education (my topic was related to folk songs). “Friends” had questions of a more conceptual nature, and if you take into account the fact that I was just going to go to research my topic, then their questions turned out to be completely on the verge of reality. Such questions are asked at a press conference about a successful study, not at its inception. Hence my advice to you: if you have already passed the stage of "papers", then thoroughly prepare for the interview, think over all possible questions.
The next step was the TOEFL test. Nothing particularly complicated, but preparation is again required, and not just language, but specifically for passing this test - how to calculate the time, how to better understand what kind of answer they want from you in this or that task. Specific TOEFL test guides can be found at any British Council office.
And now, when all three stages are courageously overcome, it remains only to pack things and wave a white handkerchief to the family goodbye. And advice on adaptation on arrival is a completely different story. Finally, I will say: do not let anyone convince you that nothing will work out or that the grant is won only by big pull, this is not so. Of course, you need a certain amount of luck, so maybe you will be lucky!
For reference: the Fulbright program is the oldest and most famous worldwide academic exchange program in the United States. It was founded in 1946 and currently covers 140 countries.
Here are the areas of expertise Fulbright works with:
Important news: in addition to the humanities, this year the direction of natural sciences opens.
More information about the program can be found on the sites:
www.fulbright.org.ua
www.mynews-in.net/news/education/2006/10/23/1084232.html
osvita.org.ua/news/26463_ru.html
(Fulbright in Ukraine)
www.fulbright.ru
projects.karelia.ru/index.php?a\u003d4&idk\u003d359
(Fulbright in the Russian Federation)
Fulbright program
Small insert from WikipediaThe Fulbright Program is an educational grant program founded in 1946 by US Senator James William Fulbright and funded by the Department of State, with the aim of strengthening cultural and academic ties between citizens of the United States and other countries.
Provides international educational exchanges for students, scientists, teachers, professionals and artists. On a competitive basis, it provides grants to both American and foreign students, scientists and researchers. Encourages cross-education, in particular for American students overseas and overseas students in the United States. The Fulbright Program is one of the most prestigious awards programs in the world among its kind, it operates in more than 155 countries, in 50 of which there are special commissions that manage the program, where they do not exist, it is overseen by the Information and Culture Department of the US Embassy.
Push... The scholarship is considered one of the most prestigious scholarships in the USA. Many people in the USA have heard and know about it.
Initially a more humanitarian program, but recently it is gaining popularity among the basic sciences. For example, the specially recently opened Fulbright STEP program.
Scholarship conditions
- tuition fees at the university
- 2 way ticket
- monthly stipend
- medical insurance
- 2 year return requirement
- the opportunity to take your family with you
Submission of documents
The deadline for submitting documents for the competition is mid-May. It should be borne in mind that documents are submitted one year in advance. So I applied in May 2012, being in the 3rd year of the university, and began to study in the USA in August 2013. The results of the entire selection will be known somewhere at the end of September (the choice of the university, how lucky who is), which is still allows for good planning ahead.The list of documents is quite simple (here I will focus on the most important ones in my opinion):
- Personal statement - serves as a record of everything you have already done and what you think makes you a good scholarship candidate. At the same time, it should include some mention of how studying in the States will help you achieve your professional and scientific goals, and why this cannot be done in the conditions in which you are now.
- Study Objective - An essay that follows as much as possible to talk about what you would like to do when you are in the United States. It implies a more or less detailed description of the project, the relevance of the direction you have chosen. It is advisable to describe in detail your goals in the chosen area and how you are going to realize these goals, and most importantly why go to the USA for this.
- three letters of recommendation... Try to find people who can show you from different angles. It seems to me that the optimal set is work, university and social activities. It is advisable to characterize you in different ways, but it is still better to have a letter from your scientific advisor. These same letters will then be used to submit documents to US universities, and knowing how we relate to letters of recommendation, it is important to make people understand that these letters are important, and not just an unsubscribe.
Selection process
The deadline for submission of documents is mid-May. Then, until mid-August, forms are processed. Everything is quite liberal, if you miss something, you will most likely simply be asked to send the missing documents.In mid-August, people are announced who have passed to the second round (Semi-Final), that is, for an interview. The interview takes place in the form of a panel - 5-6 people ask you about your project, goals and arguments for the relevance of the project. As a rule, there are 2-3 Americans among them. In my case, half of the people who interviewed me came across Computer Science, the rest just from technical fields.
The interview itself takes place somewhere in the middle of September, and the results are announced 1-2 weeks after the interviews. This is how applicants go to the final stage. The bottom line is that this is not a guarantee of the trip itself (although the chances are somewhere around 95%). A small proportion of people drop out due to poor test results, some of them voluntarily or for the reason that they cannot find a suitable university. Therefore, in addition to the main list, there is also a reserve list, and the chances of people from the reserve list, as a rule, are good.
Tests
After getting to the final stage (actually receiving a scholarship), you will need to pass 2 tests (TOEFL, GRE General). If you took them before, the results are still valid at the time of submission of documents to universities and meet the minimum requirements, then you can not take the tests. Finalists are paid for the change itself, but preparation is usually not paid.- TOEFL iBT - consists of 4 parts (Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing). Each part is about 30 points, in total 120. The minimum in most universities is somewhere around 80, but an acceptable result is 100. It is highly desirable to pass Speaking for more than 25, this often gives you the opportunity to be certified at the university if you want to work with students (I passed at 23 and had to take an additional course)
- GRE revised General Test - this test has a progressive grading scale (from 130 to 170, for example, 145 means you are in the first quantile, 151 is the middle point, and from 157 the fourth quantile), depending on the university and the program, the requirements for this test are very different. Some universities do not require it at all. In general, the test is more difficult than TOEFL, it takes more time to prepare. Consists of 3 parts:
- Math - a fairly easy test, at the level of the 1st year at a technical university. The bulk of algebra assignments. Nothing unusual, just for successful delivery you need to get used to the formulation of tasks in English (as a rule, it is more difficult than the tasks themselves).
- Vocabulary - just incredibly difficult. A very academic vocabulary is used, it is often just difficult to understand what it is about. It really takes a long time to prepare for it. Later, communicating with the Americans, I realized that among them there are many people who fail this test.
- Writing - 2 essays. I have heard more than once that this is not the most important part for foreign students. Empirically, it's better to spend more time on the other parts. Although again regarding the program.
Choosing a university
After passing the tests, according to your results, it makes for you a list of recommended universities, which, according to the Fulbright program, you could apply. The bottom line is that the scholarship is funding, but not a guarantee that you can find a university for yourself. Often, program staff try to take into account your wishes, if they are from the field of logic, and not from the field "I will not go anywhere except Harvard." You are offered a list of 4 universities and, as a rule, you have to fill in something yourself everywhere. Submission of documents starts at the end of November. The first proposals from universities will be after the New Year. And here, in principle, the most difficult situation happens. Some universities give the Fulbright program a discount on your tuition, so it is more profitable for the program to send scholars to such universities. It is very good when your choice coincides with what is advised to you. Honestly, what happens in another case, I don't really know. There are people who refuse, because the university does not suit them. I think the obsession with the name of the university is not a bad thing, but not the most important thing. Moreover, in the end, upon arrival in the United States, you can transfer to another university.- take the TOEFL or GRE option before submitting the documents, or in the summer after submitting the documents (the results can be entered into your application at any time). Good test results give the commission a certain level of confidence in you and show the knowledge of the language. According to empirical feelings, about 50% of the finalists passed at least one test before reaching the final. Also, passing tests in advance will greatly simplify your life if you reach the final, since otherwise you have to take them in a very short time (1-2 months).
- it's better to have a real list of universities where you want to go. Take the time and review the programs. As a rule, universities even have a specialization in computer science. I just want to upset you a little, there are not very many chances to get into the Ivy League. The problem is not even the level of knowledge, but rather the financial side of the issue for Fulbright. Plus, to get into the conditional Stanford, you need a real reasoning why Stanford and not, for example, the University of Washington. Therefore, it is better to have realistic goals when submitting documents.
- be as ready as possible for your direction and project. Try to update your knowledge, read what is being researched in your field right now. This will most likely be asked in an interview.
- when preparing for the interview, I was advised one very effective technique. Take 2-3 days and write down all the questions you would ask yourself about your project. What can an outsider ask. Ask your friends to help you with this. I managed to "guess" about 70% of the questions that I was eventually asked in the interview.
And other countries.
The largest US government-funded international education exchange program, the Fulbright Program was designed to improve understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. In pursuit of this goal, the Fulbright Program provided more than 300 thousand of its participants, selected for their scientific potential and leadership qualities, the opportunity to get acquainted with the work of political, economic and cultural organizations of other countries, exchange ideas and initiate joint projects for the common good of the peoples of the world. ... The Fulbright Program is administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State. Since the inception of the Program, 46,800 foreign scientists have conducted research or taught at US universities, and more than 45,200 American scientists have engaged in similar activities abroad. Each year, the Fulbright Program awards about 800 grants to scientists who come to the United States from other countries. The Fulbright Program currently operates in 155 countries around the world.
The main source of funding for the Fulbright Program is the annual allocation from the US Congress to the Department of State. The governments of the countries participating in the program, the host universities of foreign countries and the United States also contribute financially to the program, either by covering part of the costs, or indirectly, in the form of increases to the lecturer's salary, tuition exemptions or the provision of university housing.
Provides international educational exchanges for students, scientists, teachers, professionals and artists. On a competitive basis, it provides grants to both American and foreign (including Russian) students, scientists and researchers. Encourages cross-education, in particular for American students overseas and overseas students in the United States. The Fulbright Program is one of the most prestigious awards programs in the world among its kind, it operates in more than 155 countries, in 50 of which there are special commissions that guide the program, in the same places where they do not exist, it is overseen by the Information and Culture Department of the US Embassy.
43 Fulbright alumni have received Nobel Prizes (including two in 2010 - Peter Diamond and Eiichi Negishi), 28 - MacArthur Foundation grants, and 78 were Pulitzer Prize winners.
Within the framework of the program, much has been done in terms of bringing Russian and American researchers closer together. However, such cooperation programs often raise fears of a "brain drain" in the United States and are a topic for discussion of Russian-American relations. According to Natalia Smirnova, Deputy Director of the Fulbright Program in the Russian Federation:
The Fulbright Program annually provides about 8,000 grants, as of 2010, the number of participants since its inception has reached 300,000.
J. William Foreign Scholarship Council Fulbright (FSB), which is made up of 12 education and community leaders appointed by the President of the United States, sets policy for the Program, sets selection criteria, and approves candidates for the grant.
Bureau of Education and Culture US Department of State develops measures to ensure compliance of the tasks before the program, and in cooperation with commissions and foundations on education issues, carries out the program in 51 countries of the world where there are existing agreements with the United States on conducting exchange programs. In 90 countries without such an agreement, the US embassies provide assistance in carrying out the program. In the United States, the program is supported by a number of support agencies.
Bilateral interethnic commissions and funds in cooperation with universities and host country organizations, draw up an annual exchange plan. They also pre-select candidates for student and teaching grants for their exchange programs, interview and recommend worthy applicants to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Council. In countries where such commissions and foundations do not exist, the Cultural Section of the US Embassy determines and oversees the Programme's policy.
Council for International Exchange of Scientists (CIES), under a cooperation agreement with the Department of State, runs the Fulbright Program for university professors and academics. "Council for International Exchange of Scientists" is part of Institute for International Education (IIE) and works closely with the largest educational institutions in the humanities, social and natural sciences. CIES provides support to educators and scientists based in the United States through a Fulbright grant.
Story
Famous alumni
see also
- AFS (eng.)
Write a review on the Fulbright Program
Notes
Links
- on the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State (eng.)
- , Institute of International Education website (English)
- , website of the Institute of International Education
Excerpt from the Fulbright Program
- They brought that to die for all ... robbers! - he said again, and left the porch.Alpatych shook his head and went up the stairs. In the reception room there were merchants, women, officials, silently looking at each other. The office door opened, everyone got up and moved forward. An official ran out of the door, talked something with the merchant, called behind him a fat official with a cross around his neck and disappeared through the door again, apparently avoiding all the glances and questions addressed to him. Alpatych moved forward and at the next exit of the official, laying his hand on the buttoned coat, turned to the official, handing him two letters.
“To Mr. Baron Asch from the general in chief, Prince Bolkonsky,” he proclaimed so solemnly and significantly that the official turned to him and took his letter. A few minutes later the governor received Alpatych and hastily said to him:
- Report to the prince and princess that I knew nothing: I acted according to higher orders - here ...
He gave the paper to Alpatych.
- And yet, since the prince is not well, my advice to them to go to Moscow. I'm on my own now. Report ... - But the governor did not finish: a dusty and sweaty officer ran into the door and began to speak something in French. Horror appeared on the governor's face.
- Go, - he said, nodding his head to Alpatych, and began to ask the officer something. Greedy, frightened, helpless glances turned to Alpatych when he left the governor's office. Now involuntarily listening to the close ones and the ever-increasing shots, Alpatych hurried to the inn. The paper given by the governor to Alpatych was as follows:
“I assure you that the city of Smolensk does not yet face the slightest danger, and it is unbelievable that it would threaten it. I am on the one hand, and Prince Bagration, on the other hand, is marching on the formation in front of Smolensk, which will take place on the 22nd, and both armies will jointly defend their compatriots in the province entrusted to you, until their efforts remove the enemies of the fatherland from them or until they are exterminated in their brave ranks to the last warrior. You see from this that you have the perfect right to calm the inhabitants of Smolensk, for whoever is protected by two such brave troops can be sure of their victory. " (Instruction of Barclay de Tolly to the civil governor of Smolensk, Baron Asch, 1812.)
The people scurried restlessly through the streets.
Carts loaded on horseback with household utensils, chairs, and lockers now and then drove out of the gates of houses and rode through the streets. In the neighboring house of Ferapontov there were carts and, saying goodbye, the women howled and sentenced. The mongrel dog, barking, spun in front of the pledged horses.
Alpatych, with a more hasty step than he usually walked, entered the courtyard and went straight under the shed to his horses and cart. The coachman was asleep; he woke him up, ordered him to lay it, and went into the passage. In the master's room, children could be heard crying, the woman's tearing sobs, and the angry, hoarse cry of Ferapontov. The cook, like a frightened hen, shook herself in the hallway as soon as Alpatych entered.
- He killed to death - beat the mistress! .. So he beat, so dragged! ..
- For what? - asked Alpatych.
- I asked to go. It's a woman's business! Take me away, he says, do not ruin me with small children; the people, he says, all left, what, he says, are we then? How he conceived to beat. So he beat, so dragged!
Alpatych, as it were, nodded his head approvingly at these words and, not wanting to know anything more, went to the opposite door - the master's room, in which his purchases remained.
“You villain, destroyer,” shouted at this time a thin, pale woman with a child in her arms and a handkerchief torn from her head, bursting out of the door and running down the stairs to the courtyard. Ferapontov went out after her and, seeing Alpatych, straightened his waistcoat, hair, yawned, and went into the upper room behind Alpatych.
- Do you want to go? - he asked.
Without answering the question and without looking back at the owner, going over his purchases, Alpatych asked how much the owner followed for a stay.
- Let's count! Well, have you been with the governor? - asked Ferapontov. - What solution came out?
Alpatych replied that the governor had definitely not said anything to him.
- In our case, will we take away? - said Ferapontov. - Give it to Dorogobuzh at seven rubles per cart. And I say: there is no cross on them! - he said.
- Selivanov, he hit it on Thursday, sold flour to the army at nine rubles a sack. Well, will you drink tea? He added. While the horses were being laid, Alpatych and Ferapontov drank tea and talked about the price of bread, about the harvest and favorable weather for harvesting.
- However, it began to subside, - said Ferapontov, having drunk three cups of tea and getting up, - we must have taken it. Said, they won't be allowed. That means strength ... And the mixture, they said, Matvey Ivanovich Platov drove them into the river Marina, eighteen thousand, or something, in one day he sank.
Alpatych collected his purchases, handed them over to the coachman who came in, settled with the owner. At the gate sounded the sound of wheels, hooves and bells of a wagon leaving.
It was already well past noon; half of the street was in the shade, the other was brightly lit by the sun. Alpatych looked out the window and went to the door. Suddenly there was a strange sound of a distant whistle and blow, and then there was a merging rumble of cannon fire, from which the windows trembled.
Alpatych went out into the street; two people ran down the street to the bridge. Whistles, cannonballs and the bursting of grenades falling in the city were heard from different directions. But these sounds were almost inaudible and did not pay attention to the inhabitants in comparison with the sounds of firing heard outside the city. It was a bombardment, which Napoleon ordered to open in the city at five o'clock, from one hundred and thirty guns. At first, the people did not understand the significance of this bombing.
The sounds of falling grenades and cannonballs aroused only curiosity at first. Ferapontov's wife, who had not stopped howling under the shed before, fell silent and with a child in her arms went out to the gate, silently looking at the people and listening to the sounds.
The cook and the shopkeeper came out to the gate. Everyone tried with cheerful curiosity to see the shells flying over their heads. Several people came out of the corner, talking animatedly.
- That's the power! - said one. - Both the lid and the ceiling were smashed to pieces.
“It blew up the earth like a pig,” said another. - That's so important, that's so encouraged! He said laughing. - Thank you, bounced, otherwise she would have smeared you.
The people turned to these people. They paused and told how they got into the house near their very core. Meanwhile, other shells, now with a fast, gloomy whistle - cannonballs, now with a pleasant whistle - grenades, did not stop flying over the heads of the people; but not a single shell fell close, everything endured. Alpatych sat down in the wagon. The owner stood at the gate.
- What I have not seen! He shouted at the cook, who, with her sleeves rolled up, in a red skirt, swinging her bare elbows, walked up to the corner to listen to what was being told.
“That’s a miracle,” she said, but, hearing the voice of the owner, she came back, tugging at her tucked skirt.
Again, but very close this time, something whistled, like a bird flying from top to bottom, fire flashed in the middle of the street, something fired and covered the street with smoke.
- Villain, why are you doing this? - shouted the owner, running up to the cook.
At the same instant, women howled plaintively from different directions, a child cried in fright, and silently crowded people with pale faces around the cook. From this crowd, the groans and sentences of the cook were heard most audibly:
- Oh oh oh, my darlings! My darlings are white! Don't let die! My darlings are white! ..
Five minutes later, no one was left on the street. The cook, with her thigh shattered by a pomegranate shard, was carried into the kitchen. Alpatych, his coachman, Ferapontova's wife with children, the janitor sat in the basement, listening. The rumble of guns, the whistle of shells and the pitying groan of the cook, which prevailed over all sounds, did not cease for an instant. The hostess then rocked and persuaded the child, then in a pitiful whisper asked everyone who entered the basement where was her owner, who remained on the street. The shopkeeper who entered the basement told her that the owner went with the people to the cathedral, where the Smolensk miraculous icon was being raised.
By dusk the cannonade began to subside. Alpatych left the basement and stopped at the door. Before the clear evening of her, the sky was covered with smoke. And through this smoke a young, high-standing sickle of the moon shone strangely. After the silence of the former terrible roar of guns, silence seemed over the city, interrupted only by the rustle of footsteps, groans, distant screams and the crackle of fires, which seemed to be widespread throughout the city. The groans of the cook have now died away. Black clouds of smoke from the fires rose and spread from both sides. On the street, not in rows, but like ants from a ruined bump, in different uniforms and in different directions, soldiers passed and ran. In the eyes of Alpatych, several of them ran into Ferapontov's yard. Alpatych went to the gate. Some kind of regiment, crowding and hurrying, blocked the street, going back.
`` They are renting out the city, leave, leave, '' the officer who noticed his figure said to him and immediately turned to the soldiers with a shout:
- I'll let you run around the yards! He shouted.
Alpatych returned to the hut and, having called the coachman, ordered him to leave. Following Alpatych and the coachman, all of Ferapontov's household went out. Seeing the smoke and even the fires that were now visible in the beginning of dusk, the women, who had been silent until then, suddenly began to shout, looking at the fires. As if echoing them, the same cries were heard at other ends of the street. Alpatych, with the coachman shaking his hands, was straightening the tangled reins and the harness of the horses under the shed.
When Alpatych was driving out of the gate, he saw how ten soldiers, loudly talking, poured sacks and knapsacks with wheat flour and sunflowers in the open shop of Ferapontov. At the same time, returning from the street to the shop, Ferapontov entered. Seeing the soldier, he wanted to shout something, but suddenly stopped and, clutching his hair, burst out laughing with sobbing laughter.
- Bring everything, guys! Do not get the devils! He shouted, grabbing the bags himself and throwing them out into the street. Some soldiers, frightened, ran out, some continued to pour. Seeing Alpatych, Ferapontov turned to him.
- I made up my mind! Race! He shouted. - Alpatych! made up my mind! I'll burn it myself. I made up my mind ... - Ferapontov ran into the yard.
On the street, blocking it all, soldiers were continuously walking, so that Alpatych could not pass and had to wait. The owner Ferapontova with the children was also sitting on the cart, waiting to be able to leave.
It was already quite night. There were stars in the sky and a young moon, occasionally obscured by smoke, shone. On the descent to the Dnieper, the carts of Alpatych and the hostess, slowly moving in the ranks of soldiers and other carriages, had to stop. Not far from the crossroads at which the carts stopped, in an alley, a house and shops were on fire. The fire was already burning out. The flame either died away and was lost in the black smoke, then suddenly flared up brightly, strangely clearly illuminating the faces of the crowd of people who stood at the intersection. Before the fire, black figures of people flashed, and from behind the incessant crackle of the fire, talk and shouts were heard. Alpatych, dismounted from the cart, seeing that the cart would not be allowed to pass him soon, turned into the alley to watch the fire. The soldiers were constantly darting back and forth past the fire, and Alpatych saw how two soldiers and with them some man in a frieze overcoat dragged from the fire across the street to the neighboring courtyard burning logs; others carried armfuls of hay.
Alpatych approached a large crowd of people standing opposite a high barn that was burning with full fire. The walls were all on fire, the back one had collapsed, the plank roof had collapsed, the beams were on fire. Obviously, the crowd was waiting for the moment when the roof collapsed. Alpatych expected the same.
- Alpatych! A familiar voice suddenly called out to the old man.
- Father, your Excellency, - answered Alpatych, instantly recognizing the voice of his young prince.
Prince Andrey, in a cloak, riding a black horse, stood behind the crowd and looked at Alpatych.
- How are you here? - he asked.
- Your ... your Excellency, - said Alpatych and sobbed ... - Yours, yours ... or have we already disappeared? Father…
- How are you here? - repeated Prince Andrey.
The flame flared up brightly at that moment and illuminated Alpatych's pale and emaciated face of his young master. Alpatych told how he was sent and how he could leave by force.
- Well, your Excellency, or are we lost? He asked again.
Prince Andrew, without answering, took out a notebook and, raising his knee, began to write in pencil on a torn sheet. He wrote to his sister:
“Smolensk is being surrendered,” he wrote. “Bald Mountains will be occupied by the enemy in a week. Leave now to Moscow. Answer me as soon as you leave by sending a courier to Usvyazh. "
Having written and passed the sheet to Alpatych, he verbally conveyed to him how to arrange the departure of the prince, princess and son with a teacher, and how and where to answer him immediately. Before he had time to finish these orders, the mounted staff chief, accompanied by his retinue, galloped up to him.
- Are you a colonel? - shouted the chief of staff, with a German accent, familiar to Prince Andrey's voice. - In your presence, houses are lit up, and you are standing? What does this mean? You will answer, ”shouted Berg, who was now assistant chief of staff of the left flank of the infantry forces of the First Army,“ the place is very pleasant and in sight, as Berg said.
Prince Andrey looked at him and, without answering, continued, turning to Alpatych:
“So tell me that I’m waiting for an answer until the tenth, and if on the tenth I don’t receive news that everyone has left, I myself will have to drop everything and go to Bald Hills.
The Fulbright Scholarship Program is one of the most renowned in the world. It provides thousands of students from different countries every year the opportunity to receive higher education in the United States without serious financial turmoil.
From the general ...
Senator William Fulbright. He was not a typical American politician; his understanding of the good of America was often at odds with that of the majority. It was Fulbright who in 1945 proposed using the proceeds from the sale of the remnants of US military property abroad for the purpose of exchanging students in the fields of education, culture and science.
Since then, every year there has been student exchange between America and other countries. The Fulbright program currently covers about 150 countries around the world. Funding from the US government exceeds $ 100,000,000 per year. Other governments contribute about $ 30,000,000 a year to the Program.
With Russia, Fulbright has ten programs available for different categories of participants. The list of competitive disciplines is quite wide. The Russian Fulbright Alumni Association numbers about 1600 people.
The Fulbright Program for Russian Citizens provides grants for education, research, lecturing, and internships at any university, library, or archive in the United States. Grants are awarded based on an open competition in all disciplines.
The programs are aimed at graduates of Russian universities, graduate students, scientists, artists, teachers, employees of international departments of Russian universities.
The grant includes: participation in the competition, tuition fees at a US university, monthly stipend, limited medical insurance and travel expenses.
Citizens of the Russian Federation who permanently reside in the country, have a higher education diploma or an academic degree (depending on the program) and have a good knowledge of the English language can take part in the programs.
Each program has its own application system and selection criteria. Each case is considered on an individual basis. Accordingly, grant amounts also vary on a case-by-case basis.
... to private
Fulbright programs include several directions. And in turn, each direction is divided into groups.
For students and teachers:
Master's degree and internship in the USA. Grants are awarded for 1-2 years of study or research. There are age restrictions. Fellows of the program receive a J-1 visa and after the end of the grant must return to Russia.
Program for university professors. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to university teachers no older than 39 years old. The duration of the program is 5 months.
Program for young teachers of foreign languages. The program lasts 9 months and does not include a degree upon completion. Young English teachers are given the opportunity to improve their teaching skills, English language proficiency and become more familiar with American culture and traditions. Program participants go to US universities and colleges to work as teachers or assistant teachers of the Russian language.
For scientists:
Scholar-in-Residence Program (SIR). Exchange program with US universities. Teachers from Russian universities go to community colleges, small universities specializing in master's programs in the humanities, and universities where representatives of national minorities study.
For scientists and artists. Grants are awarded to scientists, employees of research institutes, university professors (an academic degree is required), as well as artists and specialists in applied and creative disciplines (an academic degree is not required). The duration of the research grant is 3-6 months. The duration of the lecturer grant is 3-9 months.
New Century Scholars. A research program that annually brings together 25-30 scientists and specialists from the United States and countries participating in the educational project.
Program for employees of international departments of Russian universities:
RIEA exists for employees of international departments. Designed for young professionals with at least two years of work experience. The RIEA program offers an intensive 3-month internship in the United States and is aimed at improving the professional skills of employees of Russian universities who work with foreign students and teachers.
Fulbright's programs also include several summer schools: the School for Sustainable Development of Regions and Territories, the School of Science and Technology, the Humanities Summer School. And also - the Hubert Humphrey Program to support research. All details are on