Anthony Karambelas

Name of the Scholarship (and its benefits):

Fulbright US Student Program: Study/Research in Germany: Young Professional Journalist Program. It provides talented early career U.S. journalists the opportunity to live in Germany for a research and practice-oriented experience and to gain insights into the political, economic, cultural, and social fabric of the host country.

What are your future career goals?

I am still undecided, but I expect entrepreneurship will have something to do with it.

What motivated you to apply and what were some of the challenges?

The stubbornness of not taking “no” for an answer. I think one of the biggest challenges was developing a cogent proposal. It’s tough to think a year ahead and sketch out a plan of action, but I think that forward-thinking (some might just say responsible) mindset is part of what the Fulbright Commission looks for.

How has this scholarship affected your career goals and ambitions?

Wow, we have yet to see. But if anything, it’ll be my first time in Europe!

What is a cause you’re passionate about? Is this cause related to your career goals?

At the moment, political corruption. I’m a staunch advocate for government transparency and that cause is informing a project I’m currently working on as a graduate student.

What advice would you give to future applicants of this scholarship or any scholarship?

Just do it! That’s the simple answer. The more involved answer is to say use your best judgement. If you were an admissions panel, would you take the applicant who submitted something slapdash last minute or the applicant who reached out to your office ahead of time, asked questions, and incorporated your responses into his/her final submission? Always put yourself in the reader’s shoes, if you’re feeling lost.

What would people be surprised to know about you?  

I doubt myself and my abilities all the time. If it weren’t for the solid counsel of my two extraordinary moms, I wouldn’t have applied to begin with!

For more information on applying to Fulbright, contact NISFeP
More information on the program: https://us.fulbrightonline.org/