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I hope you are fine and have a great time. Lots of my friends had questions
about the Fulbright scholarship and asked me to give them information about
this scholarship. As I found it necessary to write down some of the
information I have and my experience for applying to the fulbright
scholarship, I decided to make a brief guide and distributed to all Afghan
students who are interested to continue their education to some prestigious
university of USA. It is what I could prepare; I hope you find it helpful.
http://fulbright.state.gov/
www.iie.org/Fulbright/
http://www.cies.org/about_fulb.htm
http://exchanges.state.gov/education/fulbright/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulbright_Program
http://www.scholarshiphelp.org/interview.htm
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you should be busy with a job. Because waiting this much time is really
boring. You need to follow these steps:
a. Statement of purpose
Here are some online resources, but you can find more. Be
careful to just know the structure and style of writing for any of
these topics, but don’t copy it fully. You should use your mind and
write what is about yourself, not what is mentioned as a sample
or example.
http://www.scholarshipnet.info/scholarship-tips/sample-
statement-of-purpose/
www.statementofpurpose.com/
www.accepted.com/grad/personalstatement.aspx
http://kabul.usembassy.gov/successful_statement.html
b. Study objective
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c. Essay (sample of writing)
I am not sure if you need to write an essay as sample of your
writing. But if it is required, then think about a good topic, be
creative, have your own idea and obey all the points that an
essay must have. You may find some information about essays
here:
www.essaywritinghelp.com/format.htm
http://www.essay-paper.net/essay_format.html
http://lklivingston.tripod.com/essay/
d. Resume
Try to make a resume which is more academic rather than for job
purposes. The difference is that in an academic resume, you
need to highlight the point which relates to your academic
background, like your honors and achievements and scholarly
works, even the merit letters you had or the high percentage of
your score during school or university.
e. Recommenders
You can introduce three different recommenders with their
contact address. You may need to talk with them in advance
about your application. Remember that what your recommender
writes about you and who he/she is, will be considered in your
case. By introducing them as your recommenders, an email will
be sent to them to fill a form or write about you. Also, you need
recommendation from these people later. You may need to have
their recommendation letter sealed in a pocket and submit it on
the interview day to the interviewer.
Note: Be careful to review the form using the review option that you
have in your tools at the left. Check whether you have completed all
the required information or not. If there is something wrong with any of
the files you have uploaded or you want to make it better, do it. Also,
consider the deadline and it is better to submit your application some
days before the deadline date. But the meantime, keep in mind that
filling the application as good as possible requires lots of time to think
about everything you write. Especially, think a lot about the articles I
mention above and consult with other. Check them and let others also
check them. See that your articles should be very competitive and
there should not be grammar mistakes, lack of punctuation and also it
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should have
a creative idea in it.
It is highly advised that you have already read a lot about TOELF
before applying. There are some good TOEFL books (it must has CD
with it) in bookstores. Pay attention that the book should be the newest
version and it should be PBT (paper based test) which is still applicable
in Afghanistan. Beside that reading IBT (Internet book test), previous
versions of TOELF, any TOEFL guide like books that are only for
vocabulary or grammar is very helpful.
3. Interview:
After getting the required score of TOEFL (which can differ depending
on how is the level of the scores), you will be asked for passing an
interview. The interview will take place inside the embassy. Be
prepared, reread your application carefully, your resume as well. Also
be formal and learn about how to have a successful interview. Try not
to be worried and concentrate. Check the time of interview with the
embassy and arrive earlier. Here are some links for the interview:
www.ncs.usyd.edu.au/press/.../Scholarship%20Interview%20Tips1.pdf
http://www.scholarshiphelp.org/interview.htm
http://www.scholarshippreparations.com/category/scholarship-
interview
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http://studyfund.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/scholarship-interview-tips/
4. TOEFL test
After passing the interview successfully, now you are the final
candidate. You can say that are selected but still there are some steps
to finish. You may need to pass a GRE test, except law students who
are not required to pass this exam, others must. There are also some
books about GRE in bookstore as well as some information you can find
online. Since I haven’t had any GRE test, I don’t think that I could say
something helpful about it.
5. GRE
Here are some links and resources for GRE:
www.ets.org/gre
http://official-gre-test-site.ajd.vivilotz.com/
http://www.takethegre.com/
http://gradschool.about.com/od/gre/Graduate_Record_Exam_GRE.htm
http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.1488512ecfd5b8849a77b1
3bc3921509/?vgnextoid=302b66f22c6a5010VgnVCM10000022f95190
RCRD&vgnextchannel=d687e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RC
RD
7. Visa
Check when your approximate departure date is and get prepared for
it. You will receive some forms from embassy for visa purposes, fill
them carefully and return it to the embassy on time. Then you will be
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asked for visa interview, and after that you will receive your visa and
then move. Sometimes the visa clearance takes longer time and even
it can take your preacademic courses from you. Just be prepared and
be in touch with University and Embassy and IIE if required. You must
already do your shopping and be fully prepared for departing, but at
the same time be ready that wait for a longer time, in some instances.
8. Departure:
When I thought what to write in here, it reminded me a joke. A person
who was interested to take off an airplane, rented one and found a
guide book of how to ride an airplane, started and successfully took off.
After hours of flying and enjoying being on that above, he decided to
land the airplane, so referred to the book to find out how to do so.
Terribly it was written in there, for how to land an airplane, please refer
to the second part of the book! lol I think I am also in the same
condition, it means that I haven’t left Afghanistan yet. I will write
something for you whenever I leave and earn the experience of being
in US universities…
But do this, open google and type something like “pre departure guide
for international students” and you will find hundreds of very helpful
guides and files in PDF, published by different universities across the
world. I hope you find it helpful.
If you find it helpful and if you think that I can help you in any way, please
don’t hesitate to contact me via this email address: (click here)
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