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Frequently Asked Questions
about
The Fulbright Program is an international educational exchange program established by the Congress of the U.S. in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. Designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries, the program is administered by the U.S. government in cooperation with over 140 countries around the world. The Fulbright Program was established in Ecuador in 1956 through an executive agreement between the governments of the United States and Ecuador to increase cultural understanding through educational programs. The binational Commission has a Board of Directors comprised of eight members, four North Americans and four Ecuadorians, charged with the responsibility of overseeing the long-term objectives of the Fulbright Program. Approximately 1,431 Ecuadorian citizens and 789 U.S. citizens have become Fulbrighters since 1956 through the program in Ecuador. A Fulbright grant is money that you receive to help you pay for your maintenance when you are completing your program in the U.S. for up to two academic years. It also covers your medical insurance and your round-trip ticket. The Fulbright grant does not cover the cost of tuition. U.S. universities grant tuition waivers to Ecuadorian students based on their academic merit and achievements. How do I apply for a Fulbright grant? If you are an Ecuadorian citizen, the programs that you could apply to are:
In all cases, you must complete an application form and submit it along with the required documentation to the Fulbright Commission by the set deadline. The Selection Committee for each program will review applications and invite qualified applicants for personal interviews. The Fulbright Commission Board will elect those candidates better prepared to represent Ecuador. If you are a U.S. citizen, the programs that you could apply to are:
The selection for these programs is completely handled in the U.S by cooperating agencies such as IIE and CIES. For information on how to apply, please visit www.iie.org or www.cies.org. Where can I learn more about the Fulbright Program? The Fulbright Commission hosts a conference opened to the public each week. This is a group orientation on education in the U.S. in general and the Fulbright Program. In Quito, sessions are held every Wednesday at 5:00 pm. In Guayaquil, sessions are held every Tuesday at 4:00 pm. What other services does the Fulbright Commission offer? The Fulbright Commission has an Educational Advising Center that provides useful and valuable information to all of those who are interested in studying in the U.S. regardless of the level of education. The Advising Center has a small library with catalogs from different U.S. institutions, guides for applying to U.S. universities, prep materials for all tests. The Advising Center also offers one-on-one advising sessions. These sessions are very helpful during the process of application to a U.S. university. We work with the student to help him fill out the application form, write admission essays, certify translations of required documentation, etc. Most of these services are free of charge. |