Fulbright Scholarship
Fulbright Scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships globally, Pakistan sends the highest number of students in the Fulbright program every year. Official website ↵
Benefits of Fulbright Scholarship
- The process is relatively easier since USEFP, on behalf of the Fulbright Commission, takes care of everything for you from the start including the finances involved in each step e.g. university applications and decisions, visa process, tickets, etc and your whole program duration in the USA. They provide you full funding for your period of a stay including air travel, room setup, books and laptop allowance.
- Competition is relatively lesser as compared to direct university funding since you’re competing nationally and not internationally but this does not mean they compromise on the merit and selection criteria.
- There’s no specific GPA/GRE score requirement for applying which is another good thing about this program that they’d look at your entire application including your personal statement, research objectives, letter of recommendation along with your educational and professional credentials. Even with a moderate GRE score, you can land into a US university on full scholarship not only for Ph.D. but also for a Master’s degree (which otherwise is very rare in the US).
- Since they select at least over 100+ MS/PhD candidates every year which is a huge number, I’d strongly recommend everyone aspiring to a graduate-level education in the USA to consider this scholarship.
- One form means applying to multiple universities if you get selected for Fulbright. Your chances of getting into top institutes like those in the Ivy League(Harvard, Columbia, Cornell etc), Georgia Tech and many others are higher with the Fulbright commission/USEFP applying there on your behalf as it’s a matter of prestige for universities to have Fulbright scholars studying in their institutes.
- Considering the lavish stipend they provide only for studying there as compared to direct university admission/funding where you might have to work in a lab/campus to afford (that may still be partial and not 100%), it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity worth trying your luck.
- Approximately 150-200 Master’s and Ph.D. students get a Fulbright scholarship every year. The monthly stipend depends on the location of your campus. Normally for MS it can range from 1300
to 2300 US$ and for PhD even more. So you can easily send reasonable remittances to your home. Once back to Pakistan you will have a fair degree of advantage over other similar candidates in
your professional field. USA, undoubtedly is the leader in the field of education and for Pakistan’s context, there is nothing like having a USA-based higher education. - Zero application fee! and You don’t have to pay hefty application fees for universities.
- GRE free vouchers in some cases if you get selected for Fulbright but your GRE score is low.
- Fulbright degrees’ brand name in Pakistan as a symbol of quality education
- TOEFL score is not needed at the application stage (only when you are invited for an interview after initial screening, you need to bring along a registration slip)
drawback of Fulbright Scholarship
- The only apparent drawback (for some people) is you’ve to return to Pakistan once done with your program for the same number of years you spend there. For MS, this is usually 2 years and 5 years for PhD. After MS, you can enroll yourself into Ph.D. on university funding but you’ll still have to fulfill this home residency requirement after your Ph.D. so basically, you can’t settle there without fulfilling the requirement. I believe returning for 2 years is a short period and not a big issue if you look into the bigger picture of 2 years on such a prestigious opportunity, fully sponsored and without any stress of working anywhere. Every bit of detail can be found on https://www.usefp.org/
- They don’t pay for the dependents but usually the amount is sufficient for two. J-1 visa is issued which is basically for exchange visitors.
Things you need to apply:
- 16 years of education for a Master's degree application or 18 years of education for a Ph.D. application.
- You can also apply while in your final year of undergraduate studies provided that you get your degree by December this year. It means you can apply if you will get your latest degree (16years for MS application and 18years degree for Ph.D. application) maximum before the end of December of that year.
- TOEFL is NOT needed at the application stage, only if you get selected in the first round and are called for an "Interview" then you are required to show a TOEFL registration slip on the interview day. It is in your own best interest to appear for TOEFL before applying especially if you are done with GRE or have enough time but is not mandatory at the application stage. A score in excess of 90 is safe for 90% of universities and ideally, you should try to score 100+.
- IELTS IS NOT ACCEPTED.
- For MBA applicants ONLY, you need at least three years of professional post-undergraduate experience to apply for Fulbright. In case you get selected, you may be required to submit a GMAT score (if needed), but for applying to Fulbright, GRE at this stage is a must.
- GRE General Test is required. When submitting your application, you may report the unofficial GRE score given on the day of the test, or your official score if you have received it. Every applicant must request that ETS send an official score report directly to USEFP using the code 9388.
- GRE subject test is not required.
Document preparation for application:
- Online Application
To apply to the Fulbright program you need to assemble a variety of materials to help the USEFP assess your qualifications. All materials must be submitted with your application by May 17th 2017. The following serves as a preview of what you need to prepare. - Transcript(s) and Degree(s)
- All transcripts and degrees from a 4-year undergraduate degree or equivalent programs include international three-year bachelor's programs, ACCA, or a 2-year Bachelor’s/2 year Masters's degree. Ph.D. applicants must also submit their MPhil or MS degrees and transcripts.
- USEFP does not require transcripts or degrees attested by HEC – you could send your unofficial copies attested by the issuing authority (university registrar) from all universities that you have attended. Once admitted to the Fulbright program you will need to submit an official copy attested by HEC. If you have HEC attested documents already you can send those along with your application – attestation by issuing authority, in that case, is not required.
- The USEFP looks at your transcripts from a holistic perspective – not just your GPA. They take into account where you went for your education, the courses that you took and your performance in individual courses. They also account for the fact that different universities have different grading systems in Pakistan. There is no minimum GPA to apply, although most successful Fulbrighters have strong undergraduate records. Undergraduate academics are just one factor the Fulbright panel uses to evaluate a candidate.
- Essays
- There are two essays for the Fulbright application. Each essay must be written in the space provided in the application form, which approximates 800 words. Don’t over craft your essays; just write in a clear language so that the Fulbright panel that doesn’t know your world can understand you better.
- Before starting the essays you are going to need to figure out a marketing strategy for yourself. Successful applicants generally take 4-6 weeks to write and perfect their essays. It takes a long because it’s the strategizing and how you market yourself that takes a lot of brainstorming and revisions. Good essays are drafted 4-5 times at the minimum.
- Personal Statements and study objectives are absolutely vital parts of your application. Start exploring your desired universities to put yourself already in the context of what kind of candidate is a good candidate in your field and how to RELATE your GOALS AND OBJECTIVES with those of Fulbright as well as you are obligated to return back to Pakistan after your degree completion and they also want to see your motivation and intent to impact your profession once you come back to Pakistan. Try to learn how to write them there are a bundle of resources on google instead of always relying on readymade guides. No shoe size fits all, the same goes for such subjective documents.
- Three Recommendation Letters
You will need to have three recommendations submitted with your application by the application deadline. You can have 3 academic reference letters, OR 2 academic and 1 professional OR 2 professional and 1 academic. In other words, 1 academic reference letter is a must. Your referees need to fill the reference forms given in the application package and then sign, stamp and seal them in an envelope. Once you submit your online application your referees will be sent an online form via email. Your referees can submit the references either online or via mail at this address. Moreover REFERENCES MUST BE SUBMITTED BEFORE THE mid-MAY.
P.O Box 1128, Islamabad
Phone: (+9251) 8431300
Fax: (+9251) 8431555
E-mail: info@usefpakistan.org
There is no set formula for “who should write your references”. Sometimes it is also not possible to ask your employer to write your recommendation – USEFP does not want to jeopardize your current position for the application process. Just find people who know you well enough to answer them. It can be a former employer, teacher or researcher. - Resume
A current and most up-to-date resume should be added to the space provided on the application form. You do not need to have it in any special format. You can use whatever you would use to apply for a job.
GRE
- Appear in GRE – It is not as tough as you think, they have to earn money so they make heavy books) – with a suitable 40-60 days preparation you can easily sail over 310. If you will not apply, you will never get selected. People even got in with 291 on GRE last time with dynamic and balanced profiles and well-crafted Personal Statement and Study Objectives etc
- The minimum GRE score required to apply for the Fulbright is 138 for verbal and 136 for quantitative. But generally, accepted applicants have a GRE score in the upper percentiles. If you take the GRE test multiple times, you may report your best score, and Fulbright will only look at the scores that score.
TOEFL is NOT required at the time of the application submissions. You will have to take the TOEFL exam if you are called for an interview. IELTS is not acceptable.
GRE general (international) test scores are required at the time of application. The deadline to submit your GRE scores is 17th May of that year. You MUST TAKE your GRE before 17th May. If you submit your application before 17th May and you have not taken your GRE by then, you must submit your GRE registration slip with your application. The date of GRE test must be before 17th May. A decent score for Engineering and Sciences on the GRE is 315+ and that for other fields is 310+.
GRE scores at least in excess of 300 to have a good chance as for 90% of selected candidates the GRE score is in excess of 300 as seen in analysis from recent years. You can improve it later once
selected for Fulbright but try to do it at once and score at least 300 plus and ideally 310+. You should be done with GRE at maximum by the end of March to leave reasonable time for application and other documentation.
Interview
- After your written application has been submitted and reviewed, you may be invited to a panel interview. Interview decisions are made by mid-September and interviews are conducted in October. If you do not hear from USEFP by October it automatically implies that you have not been selected.
- The interview is a positive indicator of selection, but is not a guarantee of admission. Interviews are scheduled in Islamabad at USEFP’s office. The format, timing or nature of the interview does not tell anything about your application or your candidacy.
- Interviews are 15 to 30 minutes and are conducted by a panel of 4 people; two Pakistani Fulbrighters and two American employees of USEFP. You have to take your TOEFL registration slip with you on the day of the interview and it is not mandatory to have taken the TOEFL exam by the interview date.
Ingredients of a good profile (In general)
- On the completion of 16 years of education you should have:
1. A CGPA in excess of at least 3.3
2. At least one relevant project
3. At least 2 versatile internships
4. A conference publication or local HEC recognized research paper would be an added advantage
5. Attended at least 2 relevant seminars, 2 conferences and if possible 1, 2 workshops
6. Appeared in IELTS/TOEFL ideally with 7.5/102+
7. Taken GRE with at least 310-315 score
8. At least two relevant online courses from Coursera etc.
9. Some co-curricular and extra-curricular achievements are a plus
10. Adequate SOFT SKILLS which we often miss, many of us have good profiles but we don't know
how to give good interviews, how to write SOPs and research proposals, how to professionally mail
professors etc. Learn all of these with full protocols.
P.S. Those who have passed this stage and didn't have all this armory need not to be demotivated,
it is aimed at young BS students who have just joined or have still time left to improve their
profiles. You people must inform and help your juniors, siblings, friends and cousins etc. and help
them do better since BS level.
We often focus on big things once we are done with BS but those things are possible only when
maximum students will be armored by the above mentioned resources.
Students can divide such goals into short term objectives (Specific, Measurable, Achievable,
Realistic, Time bound) and then execute them semester by semester.
Mind that whatever you do today will play the major part in what you will get tomorrow.