Generally, the interview started with a light probe but for some, it tested mental toughness. The initial phase of the interview is a process of getting to know the applicant in a professional and personal manner. The interview ranged from 5 to 25 minutes, which ended with the interviewers asking if the applicant had any questions to ask. There were some obvious questions such as “Why do you want to do a Masters?” to the rather unpredictable “What will you do if you don’t get the Fulbright?” The Fulbright committee also discussed in detail the personal statement, study objectives and the resume for most of the applicants and for a couple of applicants they even discussed the recommendation letter.
A recent Fulbright awardee had some important insights to share regarding his Fulbright interview experience:
“I was invited for my Fulbright interview in Islamabad and was completely blank as to what the admissions committee was going to ask me. I did not have any counseling or guidance at that time to prepare for the Fulbright interview questions and answers.
Three people interviewed me of which two were Pakistani’s and another American. I had a below-par academic record – a 2.9 CGPA at NUST and a 319 score on the GRE. I did not have any awesome recommendations or research publications, but I had spent a lot of time on my personal statement.
I am an electrical engineer and I had worked towards developing an automated prosthetic limb as my final year project. I gave a few for free to the poor and disabled children from the 2006 earthquake. So, I had a vision and I wanted to discuss that with the Fulbright committee.
I only emphasized my long-term goals of how I can contribute towards the field of Bio-medical engineering in Pakistan upon my return from the U.S. That how ambitious I am towards developing low cost but effective prosthesis in Pakistan.
Although I did not have a proper plan of how I would do it but I had a great dream. This is very important if you want to do well on the Fulbright Interview Questions.
I promoted my ideas and my long-term vision during my USEFP Fulbright scholarship interview. I would highly recommend that all of you Fulbright aspirants must focus on this. Even if you do not have exceptional and outstanding achievements, it doesn’t matter – be confident and be clear about your future.
If you look at the Fulbright scholarship’s purpose, you will know that it is to benefit Pakistan by building minds. For that Fulbright does not need book worms or top 1% of a graduating class.
Fulbright interview is primarily designed and aimed towards sifting students who can contribute in a positive manner towards Pakistan’s growth. Those of us who want to stay back in the U.S. and do not wish to come back should opt-out of this scholarship program.
In fact, Fulbright Interviewers need visionaries and aspiring leaders.
So why does Fulbright need such people? It’s simple: Visionaries and leaders create ideas, identify opportunities and then work hard to achieve them hence bringing overall prosperity for the nation.
When I say vision or an idea, it doesn’t mean that you create fake stories of how your plan to change the world in the next 5 years or make Pakistan into Europe or America.
Just be sincere and clear about your thoughts. Your ideas and dreams can be raw or undercooked but they should be vivid, inspiring and different. You may not have a plan now but tell them this is exactly why you are going there – to learn, grow and make a plan.
Let me give you another example:
For instance, if you are a female from a poor background who worked very hard to get into FAST or NUST or LUMS, the admissions committee will be impressed. But don’t stop there. Go on and tell them about what you are going to do when you come back or what is it that you aspire to do to inspire hope and betterment.
Don’t just brag about your past in your Fulbright Pakistan Interview, tell what you are going to do with the Fulbright opportunity if you get it. How will it help you get there?
That is what really sets you apart from the other candidates.
Confused?
Use this template to lay out your strengths, weakness and how you would improve your weaknesses.
The most important and common questions asked and those that future applicants must prepare are as follows:
- Introduce yourself to the Fulbright panel.
- How did you prepare for the Fulbright Interview?
- Why have you made the choice of choosing your undergraduate college and your major as well as your employer and your career?
- What do you think is Pakistan’s biggest problem right now? How do you plan to resolve it or help in resolving it?
- What is your greatest weakness?
- Why do you think this is the right time to do a Masters’s?
- How you will adjust to the US? What you want to see in the US and what challenges you may face there?
- How will you share your experiences in the US with your people in Pakistan? What would you do to help promote mutual understanding between the people of the US and Pakistan?
- What did you learn by working on the project for the team you described in your essay?
- How do you go about solving problems or leading people?
- What would you do if you were offered a job in the U.S. after graduation?
- Do you think Pakistan has any future in the area you have chosen? What is currently being done in Pakistan to promote your field?
- Can you tell us the main purpose and background of this scholarship?
- Why did you have a low Quant score in your GRE exam considering that you are an engineer?
- What can you tell us about yourself that would surprise us?
- How are you different from the other applicants we’ve interviewed?
- What do you think you can add to the Fulbright cohort?
- What is the first thing you would do in your field after returning to Pakistan?
- What’s one question you wish you were asked if we had more time?
Unusual questions come up frequently. However, there are no trick questions for a person who is being honest and self-reflective. The interviews are generally very friendly and professional but sometimes they do get a little awkward. In almost every interview, one interviewer will always be cold and seemingly unimpressed – sometimes harsh too but that is just how the interview setting is. In many interviews, they will joke with you and make fun of things you have said. Don’t take anything personal or derogatory – the interviews are designed to test your traits and personality. One of the applicants told me that he had a 331 on the GRE and one of the admissions panel members said that isn’t this too low a score? The student thought it must have been a sarcastic remark but none of the admissions panel laughed about it – they were all too serious.
Or how about this one? “What Pakistan problems break your heart the most? What news struck you most in the past two weeks?” If you’re well informed, those questions are invitations to show how engaged you are with Pakistan and its key challenges.