Fulbright gives hundreds of scholarships to Pakistani students each year – seeking the most promising students in terms of academic rigor, leadership potential, and personal traits and achievements.
The data below provides the information on the relative importance assigned to each part of your Fulbright application. This criteria is exhaustive and the USEFP has been using it over years to assign scores to each application that they receive.
In this Article
Evaluation Factors, Importance, and Weightages
- Applying in the Fulbright preference fields such as Energy, Water, etc. (5%)
- Standardised Test Scores i.e. GRE (25%)
- Previous Academic Performance i.e. CGPA (30%)
- Personal Statement or the Statement of Purpose (10%)
- Study Objectives (10%)
- Work Experience or Research Publications (10%)
- Belonging to a Remote Area or Financially Weak or Disabled or Handicapped or a Female (5%)
- Awards, Honors, Prizes or Extra-curricular activities (5%)
- Significant academic experience in US or any other developed country (-10%)
*Your GPA and then your GRE are the biggest parameters that the USEFP uses to gauge your potential for success.
Intellect and Aptitude
In assessing intellectual rigor, Fulbright panel believes that your attitude toward enhancing your intellect is as important as your aptitude. They expect you to share your devotion, passion, and interest in expanding your intellectual prowess.
USEFP also considers the steps and initiatives that you have taken to enhance your knowledge. If you have taken any measures to master concepts that may not be immediately relevant to your intended career, you will be given extra attention.
Demonstrated Leadership Potential
Fulbright is an exchange program, which seeks individuals who have the potential to lead and bring change to the society in Pakistan. Therefore, they constantly strive to select candidates who have influenced the people and organizations around them, and the way those experiences have shaped them. They consider your awareness of what you do well, your strengths and the areas in which you can improve, your weaknesses and your openness to criticism and feedback.
I think that Fulbright gives preference to students who have done ordinary things extraordinarily well. What you make of an experience matters to them, not simply the experience itself.
A word of advice: Take time to think on who you are and remember that these are “ideal” scenarios and not a “typical” scenario – however focus on these weights.