[Opinions expressed by guest authors are their own]
Studying abroad is the dream of many students, especially in US prestigious universities. The enticement of traveling to a new country, studying at a high ranking university, making new pals, and discover new places and cultures seems so existing. Every year thousands of students from Pakistan gain US scholarships and travel to achieve their life goals.
There are plenty of scholarships in the United States for Pakistani Students, and the Fulbright scholarship is the topmost of them. It is a highly competitive and esteemed scholarship program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). If you are applying for abroad scholarships and thinking, how can I improve my chances of getting a Fulbright Scholarship? You came to the right place. Below is the guide for you to know the Fulbright application tips.
Fulbright Scholarship
The Fulbright Scholarship is the foreign student program hosted by the United States of America and offered through USAID. It enables thousands of graduate students to proceed with their master’s and a doctoral degree from the leading US universities. The program operates in more than 160 countries and offers research facilities to more than 4000 foreign students each year.
The scholarship eligibility criteria vary country wise, but the general criteria for masters are the same for all. You must have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree and have a certificate of your English language proficiency such as IELTS or TOEFL.
In Fulbright scholarship, your application is the gateway to admission, and it is suggested to go through with complete details of Fulbright scholarship for Pakistani Students.
How to win a Fulbright Scholarship?
The value of this scholarship is exceptional as it is a fully-funded scholarship that covers your international travel, visa fees, monthly stipend, full tuition fee, medical insurance, and different allowances for instance; course material & books, computer, and Incidental Allowance. For winning the Fulbright scholarship, it is necessary to fulfil all the educational requirements of (USEFP) the United States educational foundation in Pakistan.
The USEFP is the organization that allows Pakistani students to freely study in the USA. They manage all the application process of students who want to get the Fulbright scholarship.
The application process is lengthy, the long waiting time is unbearable, and the struggle of staying motivated is hard, but the experience of studying abroad is worth it.
Here are some Fulbright application tips that will help you a lot.
1. The statement means a lot
Students often write the statement in a professional format. They don’t focus on the point that makes your statement different from hundreds of other statements. We suggest you start with a personal narrative that tells them why you are the best candidate for the Fulbright scholarship. This tip will make your application stand out from a lot of other applicants. And don’t be afraid to be a little personable which means to tell them your reason for applying to Fulbright.
2. Follow the Fulbright language
It is advised to visit the Fulbright website; their mission statement and the profile of the country you’re applying for. This will let you know the language or tone they are using. It helps you to stay focused on the purpose of the program and helps you incorporate these things in your application.
3. Third-person Review
After completing and reviewing the application, ask your friends, teachers, and professors to check your application and give their feedback. The different perspectives help you to eliminate mistakes and polish your statement.
4. Carefully Choose Recommenders
Instead of going for impressive titles, always choose recommenders who know you well. The title of a person such as the CEO of XYZ company doesn’t matter. The person who is writing your recommendation letter must be familiar with your skills, abilities, and interests in life.
5. Interview Prep Tips
It is necessary to know about the country you are applying for, read their customs, current events, politics, literature, cultural events, and different things in the country related to your field. Don’t forget that you are applying for a US scholarship program, so read all the top international and national US news.
Interviewers usually ask questions from your application. It is important to fill your application form by yourself and reread your application before the interview. Don’t be afraid to express your opinion and talk about them but be careful, don’t get offended or rude. Lastly, believe in yourself and convince them that you are a good candidate by your way of speaking, intelligence, dress code, and body language. We wish you very good luck on the way to becoming Fulbrighter.
Conclusion
While applying for Fulbright, you can also search for hundreds of other International scholarships from Oppnest. It is a global digital youth development platform that enables students to search for unlimited worldwide scholarships from various universities. Oppnest helps young people to get access to every scholarship opportunity and turn their abroad study dream into reality.
