The Work You Won’t Necessarily Like

For me, when it comes to any kind of paperwork, it is time to procrastinate. The reason is that due to my construction background, it is sometimes difficult to recognize the importance of paperwork which doesn’t result in rising structures. 

One of the most stressful thoughts during spring 2024 was “I need to sit down, collect these papers and send them there and there”. Could you guess how helpful it was to receive emails reminding me what to do and encouraging me to stay in touch if I had any doubts?

The kick-off of my Fulbright term took place in Turku, where the Fulbright Finland Foundation hosted the annual American Voices seminar. There I first met the community face to face, all the warm and welcoming atmosphere spiced with both academic and cultural discussions from both continents. 

I am still in touch with grantees whom I met there, and it has been nice to share our newcomers’ experiences with each other, knowing we are not alone in both routine struggles and academic successes.

Better With the Other Pair of Eyes

I never took an English test before it was needed for university applications. Neither had I ever applied to study in an American university before. I was wondering in the beginning of my Fulbright journey when there was a question of whether I would like to take part in the IIE placement service or not – but the answer was clear: of course I wanted to! 

I cannot exaggerate the importance of familiarizing yourself with different university programs in advance, however in my case it was my Placement Advisor who first told me about the school I am currently attending. So, your own research matters, however there are people on the other side of your email screen who really do know what they are doing.

Since there is no one portal to apply through to all universities like we have in Finland, the IIE placement service advised on what tests we need to complete and provided us with vouchers which made the tests free for us. 

In my case, it was TOEFL and GRE, and both I needed to retake. Retaking English was worth +10 points, while retaking GRE gave me even less points than on the first attempt. 

During the process of collecting the papers for universities, my advisor was regularly in touch confirming if something is enough or needed clarification and sometimes reminded me about upcoming deadlines.

To conclude about services during our application period, there was help available for both choosing the universities and making sure the applications were correct. It was like resume writing: we all know how to do it and can find out more about it, but it is always better to do together with someone who can take a fresh and neutral look at what you are doing.

You Are Going to Feel Special

In May, there was a formal award event in Helsinki City Hall, preceded by a very informative session regarding practical arrangements: alumni experiences, U.S. consulate instructions, Kela, and of course, networking. 

Though American Voices was the event I met most of my fellow Fulbrighters, some quality connections were established also in the formal award event. At that point, we already knew which city and university each of us is heading to, and most of the paperwork was done.

Yes, there is a reason to be proud of yourself. 

Why will you feel special? At least because it is an event that is out of the ordinary. Then, there were people whose Fulbright terms were months or years ago, and they all highlighted what a special experience it was, and how special the community is, and how proud of yourself you should feel.

At some point, I felt that it was all too much; however, now knowing what being a Fulbrighter can mean in the U.S., I share that point. And yes, there is a reason to be proud of yourself. And the people around you will take care you don’t forget that aspect of the program.

It’s You Who Defines Your Fulbright Term

During my first weeks in NYC, I realized that there is actually a lot going on behind the scenes. 

The Fulbright Program is global, and even far away from home, I felt welcome on the other side of the planet. The important thing: NYU, and I believe many other universities, have a Fulbright chapter or something similar to welcome new arrivals. 

At some point, our International Student Council arranged a meet-up for Fulbrighters from all the countries, and guess was it worth going? Information moves quickly, and attending one event will open doors to other ones, which are arranged by local communities (universities or any other). So yes, it is definitely worth going and networking!

Nowadays, it is really nice to say that I have good connections with people from Indonesia, Uruguay, Spain, Paraguay, Pakistan – and that would not have happened without the Fulbright network. There are plenty of other channels to meet people, of course, but Fulbright has served as an additional and very efficient connection link.

Some examples: there are events called “Talks with world leaders,” where Fulbrighters meet presidents and CEOs of broadly known corporations to ask everything we want to. These talks have been enriching and motivating. Then, there are cultural ambassadors. For those who love classical music and theater, it is a gem: I’ve been to Carnegie Hall and 59E59 Theaters just because of Fulbright, and for free.

Now when my Fulbright term is approaching its end, I’ve already been reminded to collect the papers needed for my visa extension and instructed how to act. 

Sounds simple? Yes. Something you’d proactively do on your own? Not in my case.

This blog post is part of a series by ASLA-Fulbright Graduate grantee Lada Sokolova. Read the first part "Fulbright: a Kick to My Social Climb from Karelia to NYC".