Pros & Cons of the Fulbright Scholarship

The coveted Fulbright scholarship comes with its unique aspects as well as some caveats that aspirants tend to overlook.

Let’s have a look at some of those points before you actually consider submitting your application:

Pros:

1. International Multicultural Exposure: A Fulbright scholarship lands successful candidates in a university in the United States, one of the largest cultural melting pots of the world. The exposure gained during the course of the scholarship is second to none as successful candidates can enjoy making friends and contacts from all over the globe. Fulbright is not restricted to Pakistan only, so there is always a high chance for you to make friends from other countries who are Fulbright scholars themselves. Furthermore, the Fulbright network is vast and global, giving successful scholars the much needed edge in staying globally-relevant in the long run.
2. A Degree from the United States: Unlike several scholarship/exchange programs, the Fulbright program is purely a degree-seeking scholarship. This in turn guarantees the scholars a degree from their assigned institute (contingent, of course, on whether or not you maintain your grades J ).
3. “Crème de la Crème”: That is what you will be: “Cream of the Cream”. Fulbright selects the top performing students for the coveted scholarship from all across Pakistan. People from all backgrounds are welcome to apply, subsequently helping the committee select a diverse yet capable group of talented individuals who are prospective future global-leaders. Now it is not necessary to have the highest of grades to guarantee yourself the scholarship; all aspects of your profile are looked at and the perfect all-round candidate is subsequently selected. This is not just another meager achievement to add to your CV!
4. High Probability of Admission in Top Institutes: given the criteria through which students are shortlisted for the awards, there is always a high chance for placement in institutes of high repute through the Fulbright Scholarship. There are cases where students have been placed in top Ivy League universities such as Stanford and Brown. Let there be no doubt: if you are good enough, you will be placed in some of the best institutes of the world on a Fulbright Scholarship.
5. Fully Funded: A key factor convincing students to apply is the fact that the scholarship is fully funded. That includes your tuition, books, air travel from your home country (1 round trip), health insurance, living and meals stipend, and moving-in stipends. The only out-of-pocket expenses you incur are those you force yourself to, otherwise one of the best aspects of the scholarship is that you barely spend much while on your road towards gaining a world-class higher education degree.

Cons:

1. You Do NOT Have Full Control over University Choice: Once selected, successful candidates have little say in what university they can apply to. Fulbright instead delegates the responsibility of shortlisting prospective universities to the Institute of International Education (IIE) which then suggests candidates a list of universities to apply to. It is also reported that the IIE itself contacts universities on behalf of the scholars, further reducing the scholar’s autonomy.
2. Preferences can put you at a Disadvantage: If you wish to pursue Clinical Medicine, Fulbright is not the scholarship for you. Furthermore, due to their stated preference in Energy, Water, Health, and Education, Fulbright is known to be a little less open towards shortlisting candidates aiming to study a business/MBA degree on a Fulbright scholarship. It is known that less than 5 individuals for an MBA Fulbright Scholarship are to be selected from Pakistan, making it extremely competitive for business aspirants to gain success in this program when compared to those who aspire to study disciplines such as energy, water, health, and education.
3. The “2 Year Rule”: Possibly the worst aspect of the Fulbright Scholarship, the 2 year rule puts numerous aspirants on the back foot, especially if they aspire to seek employment, lectureship (for PhD scholars) or study further in the U.S after completing their Fulbright scholarship degree. Within 30 days after completion, scholars are required to return to Pakistan and serve in Pakistan for 2 years. They can, however, travel to the U.S on a visit visa (if granted) but they cannot avail other benefits such as OPT (Optional Practical Training) after completing their graduate degree. Therefore, if you plan on pursuing employment in the U.S after completing your Fulbright degree, then this scholarship is not for you.
4. It Does Not End only at the Application: There is an interview to follow, most probably held around October in the same year, after you submit your application for review. Interviews are more subjective in nature as opposed to your application and essays you submit, therefore there have been numerous instances where academically and professionally strong candidates have been rejected after they have been interviewed due to reasons unknown.

There you have it! As with everything that has its strengths, there are always weaknesses we tend to overlook. Maybe it is because the Fulbright program has a widely popular rapport across the world that its limitations tend to go unnoticed.

Regardless, we hope this piece helps you decide what is best for you!
If you have any questions or wish to add anything to the above points, please do so below.