Interview with Madina Bikulova, CAYN 2014 alumna from Uzbekistan

CAYN
2 min readFeb 9, 2017

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Madina Bikulova, AUCA 2016 graduate, a polyglot, an active debater, and DAAD Scholarship recipient, shares with some tips on making it to DAAD in her interview.

You are a winner of DAAD scholarship. Was the application process difficult for you? Can you give some tips for future applicants as a successful candidate? What is important to keep in mind during the application process, exams and interview?

The application process is quite tedious, competition is very high and selection process is rigorous. Yet, it is not only about the application process. The tasks that require much more effort are performing well throughout your undergraduate years and understanding where your capacities and desires for further academic development coincide. What they want from you in the application process is to be realistic, not idealistic, mature and enthusiastic about your field of study. Unlike many other programs, DAAD does not seem to make sure that you will contribute to your country of origin. They rather want you to persuade them that their support is critical for your personal development through specific academic program. During the interview, you have to be ready to answer some basic or tricky questions related to your field of study as well as a number of ‘why’ questions. Sound argumentation and frankness are crucial.

Why did you decide to continue with your studies instead of working and gaining some professional experience? What motivated you in your choice for further education?

Recent graduates are advised not to rush into Master’s unless they have a clear vision of what they want to specialize in and where on the professional arena they would like to end up. My internship in political risk analysis firm Oxford Analytica in NYC helped me clarify my preferences. I was reassured that my interests lie on the nexus of politics and economics. I am still quite hungry for knowledge, so I think the decision to satisfy my appetite for academic development first was reasonable.

Any further comments for “newcomers” and alumni of CAYN?

Hold strong to your principles, but be flexible enough to allow variety and diversity in your life. Start with 40% of talking and 60% of listening. That way, you continue the process of self-revelation instead of self-imprisonment inside the acquired values and ideas.

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CAYN

Central Asian Youth Network is a group of over 300 individuals from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.