In recent years, Connecticut College has been one of the top producers of Fulbright Scholars among liberal arts institutions, leaving some students at Conn wondering what exactly a Fulbright scholarship is, how people get them, and what Fulbright winners do once they leave Conn.
The Fulbright program is an international exchange program run by the US government that aims at increasing understanding between the people of America and those of other countries, awarding around 7,500 grants each year, both in America and abroad. Students can either propose a large project on which they will spend all of their time focusing, or apply for a Teaching Fulbright, which involves teaching while also doing research on a smaller scholarly project. Those who receive the grants take the opportunity to study, teach, and research all while being immersed in a different culture.
In 2009, three graduating seniors, Jessamyn Cox, Lucy McAllister and Julia Norton, were awarded with Fulbright Fellowships.
Additionally, one student from the class of 2007, Soren Gabrielsen, was also awarded with his second Fulbright. All of these Conn alumni are currently teaching English throughout Germany.
Both McAllister and Norton believe that there are many reasons why Conn students, especially students from the German department, are so often awarded these prestigious fellowships.
McAllister, who was a German and environmental tudies major, credited the success of those who apply to the fact that the college’s “high caliber” liberal arts education provides students with critical thinking and writing skills that improve their applications.
She also attributed the success of Conn students to the “exceptional German department”, as well as the year- and semester-long study away programs at the universities of the Baden-Württemberg in Germany which German students are encouraged to attend.
Additionally, she added that within the German department, “the support of the professors, the small class sizes, the active German advisory board, the Knowlton German table, and the high academic quality of the German courses… everything engaged my passion for the German language and culture, and further motivated me to investigate opportunities to live, learn and teach in Germany.”
Norton, a double major in German and international relations, accredited the success of Conn students applying to the scholarship to similar reasons, remarking that the German department is very supportive and pushes students to apply, while year-long study abroad opportunities make it so that students are “well prepared with language and foreign travel experience.”
Norton is currently living in Rheinfelden, in Southwestern Germany, and works in a high school assisting with English classes, as well as teaching some of her own lesson plans and starting an English theater group.
McAllister works in Hamburg helping students with various levels of English, often leading discussions about current issues such as President Obama, climate change and health care. Both have also started an English table at lunch, which have been inspired by the Knowlton tables here.
Thus far both Norton and McAllister have enjoyed their time teaching abroad. McAllister said that the experience has been amazing.
“I am so happy and grateful for the opportunity to be living and working in Germany…I have already learned so much and I am both enjoying and motivated by the challenges that my work presents me with on a day-to-day basis… not to mention that I am also having a lot of fun.”
Norton agreed with that she is enjoying her time, and emphasized how important it is to take on new responsibilities and taking the initiative.
The application for Fulbright Scholarships takes place throughout senior year, and according to Norton is a long, but manageable process.
She assures, “the reward is huge: a year to basically hang out in a foreign country with reasonable pay, tons of free time and more often than not a school that is thrilled to have you and incorporate your interests an skills. As a fresh graduate, there is not much more you can ask for.”
