LLM GUIDE - Master of Laws (LL.M.) Programs Worldwide

LLM Discussion Board

LL.M. Discussion Board > USA > Fulbright Scholarship - crazy to turn it down? RSS Feed

Fulbright Scholarship - crazy to turn it down?

Author Message
siggy

Joined: 06 Apr 2006
Posts: 19
Fulbright Scholarship - crazy to turn it down?
Fri May 02, 2008 03:25 AM
So I have won a Fulbright.

Problem: no other funding sources (for now, anyways, unless I finally buy that winning lottery ticket tomorrow) to cover the costs of the LLM, that is, I'd be putting myself further in the hole, going from "big student debt" to "massive student debt". But I'm almost willing to do so, just to accept the award.

Is that crazy? Or is it crazy to turn the award down?

[Edited 06 May 2008 by siggy]
Show ProfileProfile P.M. Quote
avonlady

Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Posts: 32
Fulbright Scholarship - crazy to turn it down?
Fri May 02, 2008 06:21 AM
First of all, Yes! you would be crazy.

but, depend on if you have a plan to recouperate your losses---- You can't be a student your whole life--- gotta face the music sooner or later.

BTW which LLMs did you get into?

[Edited 02 May 2008 by avonlady]
Show ProfileProfile P.M. Quote
siggy

Joined: 06 Apr 2006
Posts: 19
Fulbright Scholarship - crazy to turn it down?
Fri May 02, 2008 03:32 PM
I thought you might say it was crazy. :)

[Edited 05 May 2008 by siggy]
Show ProfileProfile P.M. Quote
amsterdammer

Joined: 11 Jan 2007
Posts: 26
Fulbright Scholarship - crazy to turn it down?
Sat May 17, 2008 06:52 PM
One of the big important details that people often forget about a Fulbright Scholarship is that in order to accept it, you have to promise to return to your home country immediately after your program of study. So, if you are planning on doing an LLM in the USA in order to land a job there after you graduate, you should not accept the Fulbright because if you do and you take a job you are violating the terms of your contract at the very least and possibly (don't quote me on this) not eligible for a work visa. I did my LLM at Columbia this year and all the Fulbright students respected their agreements and they could not work in the USA after graduating.
Show ProfileProfile P.M. Quote
Fleur de Lies

Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 19
Fulbright Scholarship - crazy to turn it down?
Sat May 17, 2008 09:55 PM
Hi amsterdammer,

I agree the condition of returning to the home country is quite a tough one; I know a few who have turned down the offer - or who regret having accepted it - for that very reason . Moreover, I sometimes have the impression Fulbright has a better reputation in the US than in the home country - in which case you're actually asked to leave the country where that award could offer most benefits.

If I'm not mistaken though, you get one year after the LLM to stay in the US (that's at least what a friend could without any further trouble), after which you need to go back for two years. Any thoughts on that?

What I'm also wondering: what does 'go back' mean? Do you really need to return to your country of residence/nationality or can you just go anywhere that is not part of the US? I can hardly believe Fulbright could go as far as restricting your EU freedom of movement for instance, or can it?
Show ProfileProfile P.M. Quote
faten

Joined: 24 Feb 2008
Posts: 12
Fulbright Scholarship - crazy to turn it down?
Sun May 18, 2008 02:06 PM
I won a fulbright scholarship and accepted it but I too was worried about this clause. I asked them whether I had to go back to France or if I could just go to any European country and it seems that they allow you some EU freedom of movement but you need to get an agreement from the fulbright Commission and some department of State. I think it might apply to other, non european, countries (Canada/ex).

Besides, as you mentionned, if you find an internship, you can stay lone more year in the US and then after all it's only two years somewhere else until you're allowed to go back! It might be an opportunity to see and do something else, acquire more experience.

Finally, it seems there's a loophole in the system: International Organizations. As I'm more interested by working in an IO than in a firm, I asked whether they were subject to the same 2 years clause and it seems that they aren't! :)

This scholarship is the difference between having to accept any job at the end of your LLM, to pay back your loan and getting to be picky and get the right job. I chose the latter.

Hope it helped :)
Show ProfileProfile P.M. Quote
siggy

Joined: 06 Apr 2006
Posts: 19
Fulbright Scholarship - crazy to turn it down?
Sun May 18, 2008 09:50 PM

Thanks to everyone for the insights. This is all very helpful. I'm definitely leaning toward accepting the Fulbright. Though working in NYC is enticing, I am much more likely to return to my home country to work thereafter. Incidentally, I can say that the fulbright is seen as one of the most prestigious scholarships in my home country... always mentioned in the same breath as a Rhodes. I think more than any other awards, the Rhodes and Fulbright are the two scholarships that any average person has likely heard of.
Show ProfileProfile P.M. Quote
amsterdammer

Joined: 11 Jan 2007
Posts: 26
Fulbright Scholarship - crazy to turn it down?
Mon May 19, 2008 06:14 AM
These are all excellent posts. All i would add is that i was shortlisted for the Fulbright before I did my LLM and I ended up getting a job as an associate at a big NY firm, so while I was initially very disappointed by not getting the Fulbright, in the long wrong the $15k (that's what it is for canadians) would have paled in comparison to the salary I will earn at a NY shop. That' just one situation, but it's a pretty good illustration of the possible perils of the fulbright, as i would not have been able to accept the job if i was on a fulbright.
Show ProfileProfile P.M. Quote
kobayashimaru

Joined: 23 Jan 2008
Posts: 18
Fulbright Scholarship - crazy to turn it down?
Mon May 19, 2008 06:33 AM
I think it all depends!!!!

i was awarded a fulbright scholarship to Harvard Kennedy School for an MPP in international Finance a two year program;by good riddance i was also admitted to Harvard Law School for an LLM.

After hard thinking i opted for the Fulbright and turned down HLS...reason??? I could always come back and do the LLM later on after the two years..further the economic downtrun in the US coupled with the fact that i came from a county which most NY Law firms do not recruit from militated against HLS.
Show ProfileProfile P.M. Quote
invictus88

Joined: 22 Apr 2008
Posts: 43
Fulbright Scholarship - crazy to turn it down?
Wed May 28, 2008 12:30 PM
I would not say it's crazy to turn down a Fulbright scholarship; I did so myself. You really have to weigh your options after the LL.M. In my country, Fulbright scholars have to leave the US immediately after their courses end, and cannot even stay to take the New York bar exam in July. Salaries in my country are very low when converted to US dollars, even in this time of a weak dollar. It is thus very difficult to repay dollar loans which are taken out to cover the balance not covered by a Fulbright scholarship (in most cases a Fulbright scholarship will only cover half of the total expenses to be incurred in pursuing a LL.M.), and is not an option for the average citizen of my country. Fortunately, I had the option of studying in the UK through a British Chevening scholarship, which covers all expenses. Even if I did not have this option though, I would have probably still chosen not to study in the US if it will mean I will be saddled with a huge debt which I may not be able to repay.
Show ProfileProfile P.M. Quote

Reply to this post