...or at least become a beacon for more applicants, including Puget Sound:
The tough job market for college seniors and recent graduates has left millions of twentysomethings unemployed or underemployed and looking for work or some other way to occupy their time.
Among the alternatives that appear to be growing in popularity this fall: State Department-sponsored Fulbright fellowships to study, conduct research or teach English in 140 countries.
In all, more than 8,500 people submitted applications to the Institute for International Education (IIE) – the group that oversees student Fulbrights -- for 2010-11 awards ahead of last week’s deadline, a thousand more than applied a year ago. About 1500 student Fulbrights are awarded each year...
Applications coming from the University of the Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash., tripled from 6 last year to 18 this year. Bowdoin College students and alumni submitted 20 applications last year and 28 this year. Muhlenberg College's applications grew from 5 to 12. Franklin & Marshall College's grew from 5 to 11. Applications from Villanova University grew from 12 last year to 18 this year.
Jane Morris, director of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships at Villanova and president of the National Association of Fellowships Advisors, said the economy is one reason why applications are up, but also pointed to efforts by the IIE to “get the word out to increase the numbers.” She pointed to more information sessions, better outreach to colleges and a more robust website describing the fellowship as important factors in drumming up applications...
Read the whole thing here.
