IRIS login | Reed College home Volume 94, No. 2: June 2015
The Zen of Fulbright is extraordinarily well researched and presents a comprehensive overview of the Fulbright program—an impressive feat in that the Fulbright program is offered with slightly different parameters in each of the 150 countries in which it is active, and is notoriously difficult to describe. The book showcases collections of quotes providing a range of voices, perspectives, and experiences—which sometimes are contradictory, but by disagreeing, demonstrate the range of experiences that the program can encompass.
The first half of the book provides an overview of the program, discussions of what makes successful candidates and applications, and how the application process works. The book then addresses pre-departure considerations, how to get the most out of the program while on the ground, and how to handle the challenges of returning home. The appendix offers a collection of application essays that prospective applicants can use as models.
Of the many quotes in the book, the one that I plan to post on the wall of my office is attributed to Wayne Gretzky: “You will always miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” With this, Burns reminds us that you can’t succeed without first taking the risk of trying—a lesson that can be applied both to the initial application itself as well as the daily experience of the program.
LATEST COMMENTS
John Peara Baba 1990 John died of a broken heart from losing his mom and then his...
kodachrome - 1 month ago
Carol Sawyer 1962 Who wrote this obit? I'm writing something about Carol Sawyer...
MsLaurie Pepper - 2 months ago
William W. Wissman MAT 1969 ...and THREE sisters. Sabra, the oldest, Mary, the middle, and...
riclf - 4 months ago
Lamar Crowson 1948 He had a very different approach to playing Beethoven, and was a...
Marlette van der Merwe - 8 months ago
Hugh Stanford McLeod 1957 He also contributed to medical science in another way. When he was...
Dominic - 11 months ago
taliesin-namkai-meche-2016 I am sad that I did not get to meet this great young man so brave...
fanz fanz - 1 year ago