Pros
-amazing opportunity to design and implement your own original research project and become an expert on a narrow topic -State Department/ Fulbright sends you a stipend every month and asks for a page report each month and then says "ok, now go accomplish the goals you set out in your grant statement." -excellent opportunity to make huge gains in language ability and build a China network -program support officers are all smart, down to earth people there to help -stipend is genrous particularly if you are outside the 4 major cities (note this is from the recent grad perspective) -my fellow fulbrighters were amazing, many have become life long friends
Cons
-sometimes program staff have a great deal on their plate and don't have time to give feed back on reports (not a big deal for people who like independance and freedom) -this is not the program for someone who craves stucture....you are on your own for 10 months and the expectation is you will make it happen and confront challenges on your own (of course their are resources and people to go to for help, particularly fellow Fulbrighters, but it is on your to ask and for what) -living and working in China, particularly a smaller city can be a grind.