Orientaatiot

Planning for the Fulbright Year Seminar 2018

September 27, 2018
 

• Orientation Program (pdf)
   
• Presentations (Google Drive folder)
   

Program

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Meri and Ahven meeting rooms, 1st floor

09:15 Morning Coffee

09:30 Welcome & Participant Introductions
Karoliina Kokko, Senior Program Manager, Fulbright Finland
Terhi Mölsä, Chief Executive Officer, Fulbright Finland

09:50 Fulbright Finland Foundation and Your Fulbright Network: What’s in It for You… and What Will You Bring to It?
Terhi Mölsä, Chief Executive Officer, Fulbright Finland

10:30 The Roles and Responsibilities of Fulbright Finland and the Grantee During the Coming Year

• Overview of the upcoming year
• Monthly breakdown of the pre-departure tasks
• Deadlines

Karoliina Kokko, Senior Program Manager, Fulbright Finland

10:50 Choosing the Right Institution and Admission Category for Your Situation

• U.S. higher education in a nutshell
• University options, finding the right match
• Balancing application plan
• Enrollment categories

Karoliina Kokko, Senior Program Manager, Fulbright Finland

11:10 Break 

Plaza meeting room, 5th floor

11:25 Panel Discussion: U.S. Faculty Insights on U.S. Graduate Admissions, and Mentoring Graduate Students - Tips for  Finnish Candidates

• How to choose the universities and graduate programs where to apply?
• What does the graduate school application process include in addition to submitting the application, test scores and other required documents?
• What do academic departments look for in an applicant?
• Tips for doctoral students for finding a suitable visiting scholar position in a U.S. university – what to consider?
• The student and mentor/research adviser relationship in a U.S. university – tips for a successful student-mentor relationship

Panelists:
Professor Floyd Beckford, Chemistry, University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Fulbright-University of Turku Scholar Award 2018-2019
Professor Katherine Borland, Folklore, Ohio State University, Fulbright Bicentennial Chair in American Studies 2018-2019
Professor Andrew Crislip, History, Virginia Commonwealth University, Fulbright Scholar Program 2018-2019

Facilitator: Karoliina Kokko, Senior Program Manager, Fulbright Finland

12:40 Lunch at Lasiranta restaurant, 1st floor

Kirjo and Lohi meeting rooms, 1st floor

13:40 Current Trends in U.S. Higher Education and in Graduate Admissions

• U.S. higher education scene today
• Trends in graduate admissions and hosting international visitors
• Admissions in numbers

Linda Tobash, Senior Director of Policy, Knowledge and Data, World Education Services WES

14:00 Financing Your Studies in the U.S.: Additional Funding Sources 

• Typical funding plan of a graduate student in the U.S.
• Funding sources
• Alumni example

Karoliina Kokko, Senior Program Manager, Fulbright Finland
Anders Häggman, Fulbright-Technology Industries of Finland Grant 2010-2011

14:20 Developing Your Networks through Fulbright Events 2018-2019  

• Upcoming Fulbright events
• Using the Networks

​​Maija Kettunen, Communication and Events Coordinator, Fulbright Finland

14:30 Break

14:40 Break-out Sessions for Degree Students and Visiting Student Researchers

Kirjo and Lohi meeting rooms 1st floor

Degree students: Applying for a U.S. Degree Program
 

Details of the graduate application process

• Typical full application dossier
• TOEFL, GRE and GMAT test overview
• Stages of application processing
• Alumni experiences and tips

Panelists:
Anders Häggman, Fulbright-Technology Industries of Finland Grant 2010-2011
Pauliina Siniauer, ASLA-Fulbright Graduate Grant 2016-2017

Chair:
Karoliina Kokko, Senior Program Manager, Fulbright Finland
Emilia Holopainen, Program Coordinator, Fulbright Finland

Plaza meeting room, 5th floor

Visiting Student Researchers: Connecting with Your Academic Host

• How to secure a visiting student researcher placement?
• Avoiding pitfalls and selecting the best host for me
• Who should I contact at the U.S. University and when?
• Pre-departure planning with the host
• Alumni experiences and tips

Panelists:

Manu Huttunen, Fulbright-Technology Industries of Finland Grant 2017-2018                                  
Kaisla Komulainen, ASLA-Fulbright Graduate Grant 2017-2018
Anna Kukkonen, ASLA-Fulbright Graduate Grant 2017-2018
Hannu Laine, Technology Industries of Finland Grant 2015-2016

Chair: Emmi Jelekäinen, Program Coordinator, Fulbright Finland

Plaza meeting room, 5th floor

16:00 Q&A and Evaluations

16:30 “Fulbrighter Meetup” organized by the ASLA-Fulbright Alumni Association

• Connecting with current U.S. Fulbright grantees and Finnish alumni over wine & pizza

18:00 End of the program

 

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Pre-Departure Orientation 2018

May 16, 2018

Orientation Program (pdf) as of May 14, 2018

Program for the Award Ceremony at the Helsinki City Hall (pdf)

 

 

 

 

 

• The broader role of the Alumni Association in Finland
• Benefits of being a member
• How to get involved?

• Your role: choosing your way
• Tips for different media channels: digital (incl. social media, web, blogs), print (incl. Fulbright Finland News), broadcast, other
• Friends of Fulbright Finland’s “Centennial Ambassadors” program
• Fulbright Finland in a nutshell (PDF)
• Fulbright Finland logo (png)

• Be remembered
• Make a core presentation and use Fulbright Finland logo
• Match people
• Brand yourself

• Questions after the Fulbright webinar and reading the U.S. Embassy website?
• 2-year requirement and waiver
• Spouse employment possibilities
• Visa processing time
• Booking visa interviews

• Moving to the U.S. – what do I need to know about social security?
• The role of Mela, ETK and KELA? 
• What are the benefits of MYEL coverage?
• How and when to apply for the MYEL coverage and how is it paid?

• Moving to the U.S. – what do I need to know about social security?
• How to apply for KELA student aid for studies in the U.S.?

• Tips for preparing your stay in the U.S.
• First things to do when arriving in the U.S.
• House hunt and housing tips, the importance of reading the small print!
• Life on a U.S. campus and host organization matters
• Living in the U.S.  - everyday issues (banking, health care, transportation, phone, bureaucracy, social life)
• Questions on U.S. culture
• Fulbright enrichment activities
• Bringing family to the U.S.

Marja Pudas, MCPD 2017-2018
Miiri Kotche, U.S. Scholar 2017-2018
Leena Lindström, ASLA-Fulbright Research Grants for Senior Scholars 2017-2018
Pauliina Palonen, ASLA-Fulbright Research Grants for Senior Scholars 2016-2017
Kari Sormunen, MCPD 2016-2017

Aulikki Pekkala-Flagan, FDAT 2017-2018
Sanna Ranta-Nilkku, FDAT 2009-2010
Mikko Rahikka, FDAT 2013-2014

• Finland’s brand
• How the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and the Finnish diplomatic missions can be of assistance
• Fulbright grantees’ role as ambassadors of Finland

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Planning for the Fulbright Year Seminar

September 28, 2017

Orientation Program pdf

Plaza, 5. floor

8:30 Coffee

8:45 Welcome & Participant Introductions   
Karoliina Kokko, Senior Program Manager, Fulbright Finland
Terhi Mölsä, Chief Executive Officer, Fulbright Finland

9:05 Fulbright Finland Foundation and Your Fulbright Network: What’s in It for You… and What Will You Bring to It?
Terhi Mölsä, Chief Executive Officer, Fulbright Finland

9:40 Panel discussion: U.S. Faculty Insights on U.S. Graduate Admissions, Tips for Finnish Candidates
Professor Daniel Cobb, Department of American Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Fulbright Bicentennial Chair in American Studies 2017-2018
Professor David Timberlake, Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, Fulbright-University of Tampere Scholar 2017-2018
Professor Ming Cui, Department of Family and Child Sciences, Florida State University, Fulbright Scholar 2017-2018
Professor Joshua Pearce, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Fulbright-Aalto University Distinguished Chair 2017-2018

• How to choose the universities and graduate programs where to apply?
• What does the graduate school application process include in addition to submitting the application, test scores and other required documents?
• What do academic departments look for in an applicant?
• Tips for doctoral students for finding a suitable visiting scholar position in a U.S. university – what to consider?
• The student and mentor/research adviser relationship in a U.S. university – tips for a successful student-mentor relationship

10:50 Break

11:00 The Roles and Responsibilities of Fulbright Finland and the Grantee During theComing Year                     
Karoliina Kokko, Senior Program Manager

11:20 Current Trends in U.S. Higher Education and in Graduate Admissions
Karoliina Kokko, Senior Program Manager. Presentation prepared by Linda Tobash, Senior Director of Policy, Knowledge and Data, World Education Services.

11:40 Choosing the Right Institution and Admission Category for Your Situation
Karoliina Kokko, Senior Program Manager                                                         

12:00 Lunch (Lasiranta 1. floor)                                                                      

13:00 Applying for a Degree Program, Degree & non-degree students, Plaza, 5. Floor
Anders Häggman, Engineering, ASLA-Fulbright Graduate Grant 2010-2011
Antti Makkonen, Law, ASLA-Fulbright Graduate Grant 2014-2015
Audrey Waits, Biology, Fulbright U.S. Student Program 2017-2018
Moderator: Karoliina Kokko, Senior Program Manager

Connecting with Your Academic Host, Visiting student researchers, Tukholma, 5. Floor
Meri-Katriina Pyhäranta, Law, ASLA-Fulbright Graduate Grant 2016-2017
Silja Pitkänen, History, ASLA-Fulbright Graduate Grant 2016-2017
Stefan Baumeister, Business, ASLA-Fulbright Graduate Grant 2014-2015
Petra Kuivala, Theology, ASLA-Fulbright Graduate Grant 2016-2017
Moderator: Emmi Jelekäinen, Program Coordinator

14:45 Developing Your Networks through Fulbright Events 2017-2018
Maija Kettunen, Communication and Events Coordinator

14:50 Financing Your Studies in the U.S.: Additional Funding Sources
Karoliina Kokko, Senior Program Manager

15:10 TOEFL and GRE Test Overview
Emilia Holopainen, Program Coordinator

15:30 Q&A and Evaluations                                          

16:00 “Fulbrighter Meetup”
Organized by the ASLA-Fulbright Alumni Association.

The program ends by 17:30.

Opportunity for personal discussion and feedback on the admission plan with Fulbright Finland staff during the last session and after the end of the program.

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