The Fulbright Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for Master’s and PhD studies in the United States. It covers tuition, living expenses, health insurance, visa fees, and air travel.

The Fulbright Scholarship journey takes approximately 16 months (when the application opens) to when you depart for the USA for your studies (August).

Step 1: GRE Test Preparation

✓ Preparation for GRE:

The first step of the Fulbright Scholarship is preparing for the GRE General Test. In Pakistan, you must take the GRE test before you submit your Fulbright Scholarship Application. For other countries, the GRE test has to be taken after you have been called for the interview. The deadline for a Fulbright application varies from country to country. In Pakistan, the deadline for the Fulbright is in February. You need to submit your application and GRE scores by the deadline date.

The GRE has changed in recent years. In 2020, the questions became trickier, and now, in 2023, the format has changed too; it has become shorter, and the total duration is 1 hour and 58 minutes.

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✓ Target Scores:

Based on the successful students’ data, the following score ranges will provide you with an overview of the score required depending on where you want to apply.

+290 = Less Competitive Schools

+310 = Competitive Schools

+320 = Top 15 Schools

However, the minimum eligibility score for the Fulbright scholarship is 290. (145 in the verbal and 145 in the quantitative sections).

✓ GRE Registering:

You can register for the GRE test and check the schedule on ETS. We recommend you create an account first, check the schedule, and then pay the fees. You should register for the GRE test as soon as possible, as other students may be taking the GRE exam close to the deadline. Therefore, finding a vacant slot would be difficult close to the deadline.

For the GRE Registration, click here 

✓ Ideal Time:

GRE can be taken any day before the year’s deadline. You can even take the test one day before the deadline, but ideally, we recommend taking the test at least 30 days before the deadline and keeping the last crucial days for the application.

✓ How to send GRE scores:

You would get the unofficial scores right after the exam on the computer screen. At the GRE test center, you would be allowed to send FREE scores to 4 institutions after the exam. We recommend sending 2 scores:

USEFP (9388)  

IIE (2326)

Official scores will be available to you after 10-15 days. Please note it is completely fine to just send unofficial scores (Scan copies) with the application.

✓ Smart NIC or Passport:

To take the GRE exam, you would need either a SMART NIC or a Passport. Please note that you don’t need a Passport for the application.

Step 2: Application Process

The application opened in November, and the submission date is in February next year.

The important components of Application processes are as follows:

Important Components:

• Personal Statement (PS)
• Study / Research Objective
• Recommendation Letters
• GRE General Test
• Academic Records (GPA)
• Universities (USA) Shortlisting
• Resume or CV
• Publications (Ph.D. Applicants Only)

Other:

• Achievements & Awards
• Community Work
• Leadership Skills
• What benefits/impact will you bring back to your home country after your studies?
• What’s so unique about you that no one else can replace you?
• How aligned your future program is with your current and historic profile?
• People from rural backgrounds and females are given priority, too.

Now, individual parts of the application:

✓ Personal Statement:

1. A personal statement is about who you are and what makes you tick. Why would you want to go back to school? Why do you want to fix whatever you want to fix? Ignore word or line limits and try to come up with something that would excite the reader. You don’t have to be extravagant and deviate from reality; it should be a mix of emotion and pragmatism. Why should they take you seriously? Ask yourself this question every time you revise the statement.

2. Write it yourself and proofread it yourself and by the experts who have already availed the Fulbright Pakistan Scholarship. It usually takes a minimum of 4-5 iterations to prepare a reasonable Personal Statement.

✓ Study / Research Objective:

In the study objective (SO) or research objective (RO), the admissions committee tries to gauge a student’s focus his commitment to the field of study, and his or her overall aspirations.

In your SO or RO document, you are going to state the following:

• Your overall objective for studying in the US
• Subjects you are going to take (this can also include research work and is also applicable for students of master’s program).
• The exact outcome you wish to achieve with what you are planning to study
• How it will help you and your country
• You will mention your long-term goals
• Your return plans once you come back to your home country with a clear and concise roadmap if applicable.

It should clearly define the following points:

• Your proposed research and its title.
• Why did you choose it?
• It is logistics and cost-benefit comparisons.
• How are you planning to execute each part?

✓ Recommendations Letters (Minimum 3):

You will also need a minimum of 3 letters of recommendation (you should follow the format given on your application, and these letters of recommendation should be posted independently in a sealed envelope by the referees or submitted online).

✓ University Shortlisting:

Shortlisting is a very important component of the Fulbright Scholarship 2024-25 admissions process, as it helps IIE shortlist universities for candidates. In addition, it is helpful in the interview process. Sometimes, the admissions panel asks the candidates about their university selection, and it helps them judge candidates’ seriousness level of research and overall aspirations.

Do include universities of all tiers in your choices. Do not limit your selection to only top-tier schools. While shortlisting, be realistic and mention only those schools where you think your profile matches with the university program class profile (you can get those details from university websites).

✓ Resume (one-Page):

A resume or CV must be a one-page document for master’s students, and it can be more than 1 page for Ph.D. students (in case you have any publications or at least 10 years of experience). Similarly, the resume must be error-free; formatting should be correct and should look professional to impress the shortlisting committee.

✓ Degree Verification:

Scanned transcripts, including an explanation of the grading scale of the university issuing the degree, should be uploaded.

Please note that HEC-attested documents are not required with the application. However, only UniversityDegrees and transcript photocopies need to be attested by the issuing authority at your university (Professors, head of Department, registrar, etc.).

There is no need to attest Matric/O-Level, FSC, or A-Level Certificates.

Step 3: Interviews

The Fulbright Interview is the most crucial stage of your selection.

Based on the years of experience, the Fulbright Interview is getting tougher and tougher, so you need to prepare really well, as most of the applicants shortlisted until this stage have exceptional profiles.

The Interview can last for 2 minutes usually or 20 minutes at maximum. All Fulbright Interviews will be conducted at the USEFP Pakistan center in Islamabad.

After the shortlisting process, you would be called for Fulbright interviews from around mid-August till Mid-September. Usually, MS applicants are called earlier, and PhDs are called for interviews in early September, but to be honest, there is no such rule that applies to the interview process every year.

Step 4: TOEFL or Duolingo

TOEFL or Duolingo is not required during the application stage. However, if you are shortlisted for an interview, you are required to at least register for the TOEFL exam before you appear for the interview. The TOEFL or Duolingo exam date needs to be within 2 weeks after the interview date.

Step 5: Final Selection

All principal candidates (the final selected ones) will be informed in the first week of October 2024. For the next steps, USEFP Pakistan Program Officers (PO) will contact the selected candidates.

✓ Documents verification:

After the selection, you must attest to the degree and transcript from HEC. The verification takes only one day. Moreover, you need to go to the HEC office early. Get the token, have the lamination removed from your documents, and submit them; you will get everything back by 4 p.m. the same day.

✓ Passport:

If your passport is expiring within 6 months or you don’t have a passport, please apply for a new passport. Similarly, you will have to make a new one for a 10-year period (72 Pages). The processing time is 2 days. On day 1, make a bank draft and process other formalities on day 2.

✓ Schools Placements:

Based on your profile and the list of schools you mentioned in the application, USEFP Pakistan will send those schools to IIE (Institute of International Education USA) for placement. However, if IIE selects a school that does not match your academic goal, do write to them and request a change.

✓ Dependents:

After placement at US University, all those with dependent family members will receive an email.

Moreover, the day you receive an email, please send the scanned copies of your dependents (only spouse and children) within the next five working days if you are planning to take them along to the U.S. during your first semester. Similarly, the reason for asking for the scanned passport copies is that they need to issue a J-2 form (DS-2019) for your dependents, which is an important document for their visa interviews.

Step 6: Medical

During medical, you need to go for certain vaccinations. The Fulbright Scholarship 2025 Administrator or USEFPakistan will give you a form, and you need to submit it by the due date.

Step 7: Visa

USEFPakistan will apply for your J-1 visa. For some students, it can take 1 day, or for some others, it can take up to 4 months. In worst-case scenarios, you can get a visa after 1 year based on your security clearance/sensitive program, etc.

Step 8: Bonding Process

Selected candidates need to sign a bond with both HEC and USEFP. The aim is to ensure that the candidate will return and serve the country for at least 2 years in the case of a Master’s and for at least 5 years in the case of a Ph.D.

Step 9: Departure to the USA 

You will be leaving for the USA around August of the following year for your master’s or Ph.D. programs. However, if you did not score well on the TOEFL exam, you will have to leave for the USA and enroll in an English training program at least 3-4 months prior to the program start date.

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