|
|
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions about the Fulbright Graduate Student Program
GENERAL INFORMATION
For whom is this program intended?
This program is designed to award Pakistani citizens the
opportunity to study for a master's or Ph.D. degree program at a US university
beginning in fall of 2009. Applicants must be citizens Pakistan who permanently
reside in Pakistan and who have a completed 16 years of formal education to be
eligible to apply for a master's or master's leading to Ph.D. degree and 18
years for the Ph.D. All disciplines except for clinical medicicine are eligible
to apply.
Because one of the major goals of Fulbright programs is to promote mutual
understanding between the people of the United States and Pakistan, in addition
to academic work, persons selected for Fulbright programs are expected to share
information about Pakistani life and culture with their U.S. colleagues and with
community groups in the U.S. On returning to Pakistan, Fulbright grantees are
expected to share their U.S. experiences with colleagues and community groups in
Pakistan. All Grantees are contractually bound to return to Pakistan immediately
upon the completion of their programs.
The Fulbright organization especially seeks applications from individuals
from disadvantaged backgrounds who would not otherwise have such an opportunity.
Women, minorities and people with disabilities are also especially encouraged to
apply.
How many Fulbright grants will be awarded for advanced degree programs beginning in fall 2008?
Approximately 100 grants will be awarded for master's degrees and 60 for Ph.D.s.
What is included in a Fulbright award?
Fulbright grant recipients will be receive up to four years of
tuition at a US educational institution. The grant also funds required
textbooks, airfare, a living stipend, and health insurance.
APPLICATION
I received an application form/printed out an application form from the website http://www.usefpakistan.org. Now what do
I do?
Before beginning to fill out the application form, it is
imperative that you read the application in its entirety as well as the general
information pages and instuctions that accompany it. The general information
pages give an overview of the program and application review process. The
instructions provide specific information about completing certain points of the
application. Be sure to fully complete the application form. If a section does
not apply to you, please write "Not Applicable".
Do I really have to take the TOEFL and GRE?
TOEFL and GRE are Fulbright Scholarship requirements in Pakistan.
Valid score reports should be attached to the application. No one will be
interviewed for whom score reports have not been received.
I have an 'A' in A-level English, do I still need to take the TOEFL?
Yes, all applicants, even those with an 'A' in
A level English, need to take the TOEFL.
I can't register for the TOEFL in time to meet the deadline?
For applicants who are taking the GRE and
TOEFL after the application deadline, proof of registration must be attached
with your application and scores must be received by July 1, 2008.
Can I submit an IELTS score instead?
No, an IELTS or any other standardized test of English
language score is not acceptable. Only the TOEFL will be accepted.
I'm applying for business; can I take the GMAT instead of the GRE?
The GRE and TOEFL are scholarship requirements.
Even if you are applying for business you will have to take the general GRE. If
you are selected, you will be asked to take the GMAT. If you want to take it
earlier, that's great but we do not require GMAT scores with your
application.
Do I need to take the GRE subject test in my field?
With the application we need a GRE general score report. If you
are selected and your field is computer science or engineering, you will be
advised to take a GRE subject at that time.
Do I need any particular score on my GRE to qualify?
The minimum requirement is 300 on each section of GRE.
However, the GRE is only one part of the application. The applicants with the
highest scores are not necessarily those who are selected. Many factors are
taken into account. The portion of the GRE most relevant to your field is given
more weight so that English Literature applicants, for example, should not be
discouraged by weak scores on the quantitative section and applicants in heavily
quantitative fields, such as Computer Science, will require relatively higher
quantitative scores.
How do I decide whether to apply for a PhD or Masters?
If you have completed only 16 years of education in Pakistan,
you should apply for a Master's or Master's leading to Ph.D. If you have
completed at least 18 years of education, you should apply for the Ph.D.
Can I apply in a field other than the one I have my degree in?
Yes, you can apply in a field other than the one
you have your degree in, but you should justify it in your personal statement
and study objectives in the application. You should present a strong case for a
change of field.
I understand that I must write a statement concerning my study objectives. What should I include?
Your statement
of study objectives provides you the opportunity to explain what kind of
study/research you wish to pursue in the U.S. and why. Do not mention specific
universities at which you would like to study in your statement of study
objectives. Your statement must be clear, concise and detailed. Without a
clear understanding of your study objectives, your application may not pass to
the next stage of the selection process or may be misunderstood by universities
in the U.S.
How important is the Personal Statement?
The personal statement is a very important part of the
application. It is used not only in the selection process for the Fulbright
scholarship but also by universities in deciding whether or not to admit an
applicant. American students spend a great deal of time perfecting their
statement of purpose as well as their study objectives and you will ultimately
be competing against them for placement in a U.S. university. If you Google
"personal statement" you will get an idea of the importance of this piece of
writing. Many links with advice for writing these will come up. Just a few are
given here for you to get started. http://www.petersons.com/gradchannel/file.asp?id=932&path=gr.gs.yourpersonal;
http://gradschool.about.com/od/essaywriting/All_About_the_Graduate_Admissions_Essay.htm;
http://www.essayedge.com/graduate/essayadvice/course/;
http://education.yahoo.com/college/essentials/articles/grad/gradessaysecrets.html
What kind of additional info should I give under Additional Information?
The space given for additional
information should be used to note anything pertinent to your application that
has not been covered elsewhere in the application. For example, certain aspects
of your application may call for an explanation. Such aspects might include any
of the following: grades, standardized examination scores, lack of work
experience or extracurricular activities, gaps in the chronological account of
your previous education or employment, disciplinary action.
I understand that I must submit three letters of reference. Whom should I ask to write such a letter?
Consider
asking teachers, advisors, or other professionals who are familiar with you and
your work and who can objectively evaluate your study objectives. At least one
academic letter must be included among the three you provide. If you are
currently working, ask your supervisor or other professional. Family members or
other relatives are not eligible to write letters of reference.
How will I know that my application was received?
The Fulbright Office will notify you of receipt of your
application by email.
Should referees send our reference letters directly to USEFP, or can they be sent with our application
form?
It is preferred that the reference
letters are sent directly by your referees in sealed envelopes. It is important
that your referees should clearly mention the name of the program the applicant
is applying for and the applicant's name.
Should I send my original documents with my application form?
Please send
attested photocopies of all your documents (transcripts,
degrees, certificates, etc.)
I'm interested in doing an MBA, why am I being required to submit a GRE instead of a GMAT score?
Although it is true that most business programs require the
GMAT rather than the GRE, USEFP has to evaluate business applicants against
applicants from a variety of fields other than business. The GRE is an important
tool enabling USEFP to compare applicants coming from diverse backgrounds,
academic disciplines, and geographic regions.
If a business applicant succeeds in the selection process in competition with
applicants from all over Pakistan in other fields, he or she will then most
likely be required to take the GMAT. The GMAT will be required for placement at
a U.S. university where an applicant will be competing only against other
applicants in the business field.
While we don't wish to inconvenience MBA applicants, we have to make our
selection as fair and transparent as possible and the GRE requirement helps us
do this.
SELECTION
How does the selection process work?
Applications will be reviewed in four stages:
Round 1: All applications will be screened by USEFP staff for completeness and minimum qualifications.
Round 2: Complete applications that meet the minimum qualifications will be evaluated according to a set of established criteria and
shortlisted.
Round 3: In-person interviews
of short-listed applicants will take place in Islamabad (and possibly in Lahore
and Karachi) between June and September 2008. The interview panels are made up
of both U.S. and Pakistani citizens.
Round 4: Final candidates and alternates will be selected in October 2007.
Applicants who have become finalists or alternates will be notified by
telephone. Those who have not will be notified by mail.
Final
approval is given by the Foreign Scholarship Board in Washington,
D.C.
I don't know where I want to study. What should I do?
You may suggest schools at which you wish to study.
Although your preferences will be kept in mind, there is no guarantee that IIE
can secure your admission to the institution(s) of your choice. IIE will make
every effort to place you at a suitable educational institution. If you have
already applied to a university in the U.S., you are reruired to mention that on
your application.
If I'm SELECTED
Will I need to submit any additional documents if I become a finalist?
Yes, finalists will be required to submit a
completed Medical History and Examination Form.
Can I defer my Fulbright grant to the following academic year?
No, generally you may not defer. Exceptions can be made
on a case-by-case basis where circumstances are genuinely difficult. You can,
however, decline the grant and reapply at a later date.
If I decline a Fulbright grant, and reapply, will my application be given preference?
Although you are welcome to
apply again, your application will not be given preferential treatment.
Can I take my dependents?
Fulbright
grantees go to US alone, initially. Once they are settled in their program in
the U.S., usually after the first semester, grantees can bring their dependents.
However, they will need to demonstrate financial ability to support their
dependents while they are in the U.S., including obtaining medical insurance.
Please note that only spouses and children up to the age of 21 are considered
dependents.
Will I have to get admission to a university on
my own?
No, the Institute for International Education in New York will
find an appropriate placement for you. They will apply to the universities
(usually 4-5 in number) that their experienced placement professionals think
best matches you profile and suits your program needs. IIE will take your stated
preferences into account, but it is not always possible to or appropriate to
submit the application to a grantee's preferred university.
Do I have to return to Pakistan as soon as I've
completed my program?
Yes, you will need to return within 30 days of
finishing your program. Under the provisions of a J-1 visa, you are required to
spend two years in Pakistan on completion of your degree before you can return
to the U.S. on anything other than a tourist visa. Under the trems of your
grant, you are required to return immediately after completion of your degree to
begin your service requirement.
Will I need to post a bond?
Grantees
in the Fulbright/HEC/USAID are required to post a bond to cover the cost of
their program, up to $250,000. However, the bond is fully redeemable on a
year-to-year basis. As long as a grantee returns to Pakistan and contributes
productively for an amount of time equivalent to the time the spent in the U.S.
on their program of studies, they will not have to pay anything.
Grantees for the Master's and Regular Fulbright programs sign a
contract with USEFP making them legally liable in Pakistan, the U.S. or any
third country for the cost of their program should they fail to return for a
time equivalent to the length of their program.
Source: The United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan
Your Comments
"I am currently in my 3rd semester (M.Com)University of Peshawar. I basically belong to a tribal area but am currently studying in a boarding in Peshawar.I am very interested in this scholarship, cud u give me some information on how to apply?"
Name: shamoon wazir
Email: shamoonwazir@yahoo.com
City, Country: Peshawar, Pakistan
"iv done three years BAchelors in Public Administration with 3.85 GPA and im looking for a scholarship for masters in busniess administration. can u help me out waiting for reply "
Name: Ariba Kaukab
Email: ariba-k@hotmail.com
City, Country: Karachi, Pakistan
"i am dooing electrical engineering from UET lahore.i have intention to go abroad for masters.i am in the second semester of my engineering.i have no information how to give test of GRE.please guide me in this regard.i have always been a brilliant student and position holder throughout. "
Name: ubaid dogar
Email: dogarubaid@yahoo.com
City, Country: lahore, Pakistan
"Hi, this is Sultan. I have been a YES student for the year 2006-7 in America. I went there on J-1 visa and I have to stay in Pakistan for two years. If I get selected in fulbright scholar ship I will again go J-1 Visa. Will I have to fulfil the requirement to stay in Pakistan again? "
Name: Sultan Mehmood
Email: sultan_akhss@yahoo.com
City, Country: Gilgit, Pakistan
"iam scientific officer in PCSIR labs.complex peshawar.my qualification is( M.PHIL in botany)im very intreasted in this scolarship.please give me full information about fulbright scholarship.thanks "
Name: sumbal ghani
Email: sumbal_so@yahoo.com
City, Country: peshawar, Pakistan
"what is last date for submision of application "
Name: numan
Email: numansrwr@yahoo.com
City, Country: peshawar, Pakistan
"i m doin BBA hons. n currently i m in 6th smestr...im very much interested in ths scholorship...so cn ne1 tell me abt it regarding ma field...n hw 2gt into it."
Name: huda anees
Email: huda_anees@hotmail.com
City, Country: lahore, Pakistan
"Hi I am sumaira and nowadays working in PCSIR lahore as scientific officer.I completed my M.Sc in chemistry last year from Peshawar university and now I want to continue my studies.What will you suggest for me.Should I apply for scholarship? Thankyou."
Name: Sumaira Nosheen
Email: Shahgul_chemist@yahoo.com
City, Country: Haripur, Pakistan
"Iv done masters in 2006 in defence and diplomatic studies with 3.04 GPA. Kindly tell me if i m elligible for fulbright scholarship. Whenll the next scholarship b announced.thankyou ."
Name: saima
Email: saima_shms@yahoo.com
City, Country: Rawalpindi, Pakistan
"I am B.A, L.Lb. And woking as a journalist(print) for last 12 years. can i avail fullbright scolorship in the relevant field ?"
Name: Mukhtar Shah
Email: heavencrown@hotmail.com
City, Country: Karachi, Pakistan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Post your Comments/ Views. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Education News| Updated: 06 Jan, 2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
