Effective Ways to Write Fulbright Essays
Highlights from the session
On Friday, May 28, 2021, PWiC Islamabad Chapter conducted a session regarding how to write Fulbright essays with Atifa Sarwar. She completed her undergraduate in Computer science from FAST Islamabad Campus in 2012, followed by a master’s from NUST, Islamabad, in 2016. She is currently a Fulbright scholar pursuing her Ph.D. in the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America, in Machine Learning. This session was hosted by Ayesha Akhtar, PWiC Islamabad chapter lead.
About the Speaker: Atifa Sarwar
She completed her undergraduate in Computer science from FAST Islamabad Campus in 2012, followed by a master’s from NUST, Islamabad, in 2016. She is currently a Fulbright scholar pursuing her Ph.D. in the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America, in the field of Machine Learning.
Her FAST journey did not end after her undergraduate as right after her graduation, she joined the RnD Department at FAST headquarters. She worked as a software engineer for four years and participated in developing software, including an academic suite, web portal, and admissions system. This experience is the reason for her strong technical background as it instilled her with all the necessary skills to function in modern society. In 2016, she joined FAST Islamabad campus, as a Lecturer where she taught several courses, including; “Introduction to Computing, Computer Programming, Object-Oriented Analysis and Design, Database Systems, etc.” Lectureship strengthened her communication, interpersonal, presentation, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. She got the chance to work with and learn from exceptional professionals and researchers who inspired her to pursue higher studies through one of the prestigious scholarships i.e., Fulbright.
FAST was always more than an institution in her life. It played a crucial role in grooming her personality, which enabled her to survive even the rigorous student life in the USA. No matter where she stands in her life in the future, she will always be thankful to the FAST family for empowering her to go beyond her limits and achieve what once felt unexpected.
Highlights for Statement of Purpose:
“As the name reveals, you have to write what is the purpose, some people say you have to write the purpose of the document, for me, it’s the statement of your life, why are you doing what you’re doing now or what you have achieved so far.”
- Present your life and personality as you have a goal from the childhood. Emphasize on how you worked hard to achieve that goal, mention your accomplishments and the impact of what you have achieved.
- Everything needs to be linked.
- It should be a story of your life, goals, struggles, achievements and accomplishments.
- Always write about your journey in Statement of Purpose.
- Sit and write whatever you can and then refine your points.
- Divide into multiple paragraphs and include a key point of what you’re going to sell in the respective paragraph.
- Start from your lessons or struggles.
- Convert memories into a story.
- Always have four clear paragraphs.
1 Out of all the disciplines, why did you choose the field you’re pursuing?
2. Why did you select the university you’re pursing (2–3 sentences).
3. Mention all accomplishments you received in the community.
4. Why did you decide to pursue Master’s or Ph.D degree.
- After every paragraph, the reader should have an overview of what the paragraph is about.
- Ending is all about the impact.
- Always remember to relate how you can bridge the gap between academia and industry.
Highlights for Study Objectives:
“Study objectives is all about what you want to study, what projects you have completed, work experiences you have, and how this particular degree helps to achieve your objectives.”
- Have a particular domain for study objectives.
- Break into paragraphs.
- Write a question in the start and answer it by the end of the same paragraph.
- Break into four paragraphs.
1. What is your study objective? What do you want to study?
2. Why you want to pursue this particular field? Mention projects you have completed which helped you towards your objective. Write impact of the project rather than aim or technologies. How that project was linked to your next project?
3.What Fulbright is giving you that no one else is giving. Why are you so focused on Fulbright?
4. Summary of why you should go to US? How studying in US will help you to achieve your goals and how can you impact your country with what Fulbright will provide you.
- Pitch yourself right. Don’t write very simple or complex vocabulary.
“Be strong in pitching your story rather than being strong in your vocabulary”
- End your study objective with a summary.
Further Takeaways:
-People with CGPAs as low as 2.7 have received the Fulbright scholarship. You will be judged based on your overall application.
-There is no CGPA criteria this year.
Video Recording link:
Live video link of Effective ways to write Fulbright.
Social Media:
PWIC Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube
About the Author: Mahnoor Jamil
Mahnoor Jamil is PWiC Islamabad Chapter Content Lead. She is a computer scientist with 60+ certifications and recognition badges from organizations inclusive of Microsoft, Google, CISCO, and IBM. She has worked in Project Management and Information Security in many countries across the world inclusive of Pakistan, China, Italy, and the Netherlands. With her tremendous passion of achieving her goals, she strives to be a positive contribution to the global tech community and grow disruptively.
