Fulbright Scholarship Interviews

[Uzair 2]

Hi everyone,

 

This year's applicants to the Fulbight Scholarship Program must be eagerly waiting for the second phase of the application assessment: interviews. Candidates will start receiving calls for interviews in the second-half of August, with interviews being scheduled in September. In this thread, I invite Fulbright alumni to discuss their interview experiences, and try to answer questions that applicants may have about the process.

 

So let's start

 

Interview Logistics

Interviews are held at the USEFP Office in Islamabad, generally in the first-half of September. Back in 2013, around 400 candidates were invited for interviews, from which 150-180 were awarded the scholarship. Looking at these numbers, I personally think that the main aim of the interviews is to separate the principal candidates from the alternate candidates.

Please note that the USEFP does not reimburse travel expenses for the interviewees.

 

Interview Panel

Each candidate is assigned to a panel of 3 to 4 interviewers. The panel can include USEFP staff, Fulbright alumni, and even officials of the US Embassy. My interview panel had representatives from each of these groups, and contained an equal number of Pakistani and American interviewers

 

Interview Duration and Questions

Each candidate is interviewed by the panel for a maximum of 20 minutes. The interviews are carried out in a very cordial atmosphere, and there is no "grilling" involved, so relax.

Although interview questions can be different for each candidate, I think that the questions do follow certain themes:

• Candidates will certainly be questioned about their area of interest. Why did you choose this field of study? Why is it important for Pakistan's development or progress? What are the challenges that Pakistan faces in this field?
• What makes you a good candidate for the scholarship/degree? Or why should the scholarship be awarded to you? What will you do to serve Pakistan when you return after your studies?
• More questions from the candidate's CV/resume may be asked. These can be about academic or extra-curricular activities, for on other topics too. For e.g., my resume showed that I had worked in a bank but I had applied for a degree in public policy. As a result, I was asked how my work experience would help in my future field of study.

Keep in mind that the overall purpose of the 20-minute interview is to decide whether the field of study is beneficial to Pakistan, and whether one is a good candidate for the scholarship, given your interests and future plans. I think a good review of the candidate's application form, the essays written in it, and their CV will really help in preparing for the interview.

 

I hope this helps. I request other alumni to share their interview experiences here too.

Current applicants, please post your questions about the scholarship interviews here and we will try to answer them.

[Ahsan 15]

Hello,

 

Overall, Uzair's post is pretty comprehensive. I would just like to add/reinforce a few points though:

 

1. Before each interview you are given 10 minutes to write an essay. The essay is sometimes regarding a specific topic or in my case, about anything you want. Most people disregard this part of the process but it can really play an important part in your subsequent interview. I would advise to try and be unique; stand out from the crowd. I wrote about my love for cricket and how I would never forgive myself if I had chosen this opportunity to write about anything else and it worked! The first comment of the interview was about my essay and it really helped set the tone for my interview.
2. Knowing what you want to do with your degree is the key, or at least convincing the interview panel that you know what you want to do. Be specific, do your research, sell your vision even if you're not sure about it your self. Doubt or hesitance could torpedo your chances.
3. Be calm. Most interviews will have one interviewer who seems to be having a particularly bad day and wants to take it out on you. It's always a good idea to smile and take all such questions in your stride. How you react to opposition could be a factor in your scholarship decision.

Hope some of the above helps you in your interviews!

[rajafaran 0]

Pre Interview Tip:

When I got to know about my interview date, a week after the email I received, I started reviewing my essays. I would go through my essays daily to know them inside out because I was sure that would be the main area of focus for my interview. I also rotated the essays among my friends to get their opinion or answer questions if any would prop up. I would advise to hold mock interviews with friends because that is the time when usually come across the questions that end up appearing in the interviews. Besides that I think there isn't much you can do during the run up to the interview.
 
On the night before the actual interview, getting a proper sleep is really good. If you're coming outside of Islamabad, getting good night sleep and traveling on time is important. Be at the interview place at least half to one hour before just to get the feel of the place and relax before the actual process begins.
 
Next I will share how to conduct yourself during the Fulbright interview.

[saarims 11]

The above posts have pretty much covered everything about the interview process. The importance of reviewing your essays and résumé cannot be emphasized enough. Almost 90% of the conversation in the interview will revolve around this and how the road you've taken thus far ties in with your plans for the future.

 

One last thing, during the last few minutes of the interview, the interviewers like to talk about generic stuff which can range from anything such as the places you'd want to visit to the recent books that you've read. This might be the easiest part of the interview, but they're still looking for coherent answers - just don't be caught off guard!

 

If anyone has any more questions, or wants more specifics - fire away!

[rajafaran 0]

Pre Interview Tip:

When I got to know about my interview date, a week after the email I received, I started reviewing my essays. I would go through my essays daily to know them inside out because I was sure that would be the main area of focus for my interview. I also rotated the essays among my friends to get their opinion or answer questions if any would prop up. I would advise to hold mock interviews with friends because that is the time when usually come across the questions that end up appearing in the interviews. Besides that I think there isn't much you can do during the run up to the interview.

 

On the night before the actual interview, getting a proper sleep is really good. If you're coming outside of Islamabad, getting good night sleep and traveling on time is important. Be at the interview place at least half to one hour before just to get the feel of the place and relax before the actual process begins.

 

Next I will share how to conduct yourself during the Fulbright interview.

 

As I said in my previous post, take a good night's sleep and be at the interview venue 1 hour before to get used to the environment (not that you'll be sent for interview immediately but some free time is good).

 

The first thing you will be handed over would be a piece of paper on which you have to write a short Essay with the topic of your choice. So if you have asked somebody else to write your essays for you during application stage then bad luck peeps because this exercise is intended to gauge the actual writer of the application essays. As I was the one who wrote my own essays (except that they were proof read and edited by many of my friends) I did not have any issue. I wrote one essay for about 30min if I remember correctly.

 

After you're done with the essays, interview calling will start and one by one you will go into the room. The interview will be done by a panel: one or two Fulbright Alumni, one American, One Psychiatrist and others I don't remember. As I said before in my previous post, know your essays inside out and also your career plans once you will graduate. You have to be specific, not general like mein Pakistan mein aa kr ghareebun ki madad krna chahta hun. So what how else you can ace the interview? Well, let me tell you more

 

It is always a good idea to break the ice during the start of the interview. I usually prefer to do that by joking or making panel laugh. It helps ease the air and relieves you of the initial interview stress. For instance, when they asked me 'How was I' in my interview, I said ' Besides the fact that I had to come overnight in torrential rain from Lahore and am having a upset stomach, I am fine' (100% true this I tell you). Everybody laughed and I was in my element. Mission accomplished: have a good start to the interview.I knew they were going to ask about my personal statement which I had covered of course but I was also expecting questions like why have you chosen this program or university etc. I was prepared for that too, I had researched about some of the course that were being offered in the programs of the university i had chosen. I simply memorized some of the names of the courses and their description so that the panels know that I know what and why I am applying in a university. Therefore, when they asked me about the university I just threw some course names and descriptions (cheeky right?). Regarding questions about your career, research about what kind of jobs are available e.g. I did research about jobs available with Punjab Government as I was applying for public policy. It would have been hard for me to convince them because I had an Accounting and Finance degree from LUMS but I was applying for Public Policy but in my statements and my interview I focused on the social part of my career like my volunteer work and my economics minor in Bsc. It doesn't end here, they will test your choice by tempting you to change your plans e.g. if you are applying for Masters they might tempt you going for Phd instead. This is their way of testing you, I would suggest don't change your stance, if you are going for masters then stick for masters as this tells you are sure about what you want to do.

 

You have to show you are a friendly and open minded person. You will be a cultural ambassador if you get the scholarship and one thing they are gauging you is how effectively can you adjust in the foreign country. Will you keep to yourself? Will present a bad image of your country? Will you be a problem for the community in US? etc. Therefore present yourself as an open minded and culturally sound person. 

 

In the end of the interview, it is always nice to ask question from the panel as well. It tells you are serious about this thing and you have not lost your cool during this grilling interview. Ask about the Fulbright experience, university experience, career options once your back etc.  

 

So guys these were some of the tips that I have for you. i have tried to provide my personal experience as well. Hope it will help you. Feel free to ask questions

 

That's all folks!