How I Secured a Fully Funded Research Award at the Center of Interdisciplinary Biosciences, Slovakia Through the Fulbright U.S. Student Award

I am Andersen Herman. I was born in Haiti. I graduated from Salisbury University with a Chemistry degree.

Fulbright U.S. Student Award Details

I received the Fulbright U.S. Student Award, which is a prestigious award funded by the US federal government for American students to do research or study abroad to foster mutual understanding.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

Other than the Fulbright, in 2025, I was awarded the Critical Language Scholarship and the Boren Scholarship to study Swahili at MS-TCDC in Arusha, Tanzania

Educational Background

My tenure at Salisbury was fruitful because I obtained more than a bachelor's degree in chemistry. I met incredible mentors to work on independent science projects and community research. I was blessed to meet wonderful staff from the fellowship house at my university.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Salisbury University?

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

I found information for the Fulbright from Salisbury University’s Nationally Competitive Fellowships Office (SNCFO). No, I did not have to take any standardized tests to be eligible for the Fulbright.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Fulbright U.S. Student Award?

I spent five months working on the application before submitting it. I had to make sure to contact potential mentors abroad and get them to write me letters of recommendation. To find mentors, I went on Google Scholar, read research articles I was interested in, and contacted the authors about wanting to collaborate with them. I made sure my personal statement and my research statement were as flawless as possible. I worked with the staff at SNCFO regularly as well.

How is Your Experience at Salisbury University?

It was phenomenal because I set out to live and immerse myself in a different culture. I had to experience how institutions function in Slovakia. I worked with researchers from Sweden, Serbia, Greece, and Slovakia in my lab in Slovakia.

How Do You Rate Salisbury University Academically?

I rate it a 10/10 because my advisors were encouraging and hospitable. I met wonderful people whom I still talk to this day.

How Does Salisbury University Support International Students?

I was at the Center of Interdisciplinary Biosciences; overall, they support international students well.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Slovak?

I was not taking classes at the university; I was doing research. I went to seminars; some were in Slovak, and some were in English.

What Did You Pursue After the Fulbright U.S. Student Award?

I pursued work and further education after the scholarship.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Not Knowing Slovak?

Suppose you go to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, or Kosice, the second-largest city. You will not really have a problem navigating daily because there are many young students in these cities, and they speak English. However, in a smaller town or village, you may have difficulty communicating if you do not speak Slovak.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

My background, my extensive research experience, my perspective on global health, my love for languages and cultures, and my love for science made my application stand out.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I learned a lot from this process, as it taught me how to better present myself on paper. I would not change a thing.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Never reject yourself; go for it. Give it 100%