On November 15, the EdUSA-affiliated Fulbright Educational Advising Center hosted an essay writing workshop coordinated by Fulbright ETA and FEAC friend Bridget Kelly. Bridget, a graduate of Indiana University, Bloomington, shared very useful advice on approaching and refining the personal essay, highlighting the most effective essay writing strategies – illustrated through samples – and tips for keeping your reader engaged.
While discussion was encouraged throughout the workshop, at the end the in-center participants, as well as our Opportunity students joining us online from Iaşi and Bacău, had a chance to ask questions and get feedback on their essay drafts or on topics they proposed to approach in their essays.

The Fulbright community gathered in Washington, D.C. from November 4-7, 2017 for the Fulbright Association's 40th Annual Conference and Advocacy Day. The conference titled "Fulbright: Now More Than Ever" has been the largest gathering in the history of the Fulbright Association, with 385 attendees from over 85 countries. The Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission was represented by Executive Director Rodica Mihăilă.

During the Fulbright Advocacy Day, an initiative held on November 7 to round out the anniversary conference, the Fulbright representatives teamed up to visit 140 House and Senate offices from 36 states. More than 232 attendees had 153 meetings scheduled all over Capitol Hill, sharing the value of the Fulbright Program and international exchange with members of Congress.

Nathaniel Brophy, currently a Fulbright student researcher undergoing a project on the “Romanian Parliament From 1990 to Present”, made a presentation on American Exceptionalism at the American Corner in Bucharest on November 8. The Romanian high school students and teachers attending the event benefitted from an in-depth presentation of the concept and its implications, followed by a dialogue.

Wabash College representative James Quill (Assistant Director of International Admissions) was back in Bucharest this week to connect, once again, with Romanian high school students.
The FEAC-EducationUSA adviser accompanied our guest to three top high schools in Bucharest - “Saint Sava” National College, “I. L. Caragiale” National College, and “Gheorghe Şincai” National College -, where an average 100 students (mainly 10th and 11th graders) gathered to hear the presentations, eager to learn more about study opportunities at Wabash and the path to studying in the U.S.
On November 7, James delivered an engaging presentation at FEAC on the unique community at Wabash, one of the few remaining all-men’s colleges in the U.S., and liberal arts colleges in general. The attendees had a chance to learn more about the Wabash community, special programs on offer, its solid alumni network, and the generous financial aid available for international applicants.
We took the opportunity to tell students a few words about the Fulbright Educational Advising Center and the newly launched competition for the EducationUSA Opportunity Funds program.