Nafissa's Writings: What does it take to be a Fulbrighter?

A lot of people have this common misconception that Fulbrighters are a group of nerds with impeccable GPAs and test scores!! Many people think that Fulbright is that something only genius students can get, if they were lucky!! Well, it’s wrong! While grades do matter, they are positively not the deciding factor. The Fulbright Commission isn’t looking for students with perfect GPAs & great test scores. The Fulbright Commission isn’t looking for genius students with brilliant IQs and an extended list of awards and honors. In fact, during the long Fulbright process, I wrote several drafts of my essays and I received many times totally invaluable feedback for my essays till I felt that I am an incompetent person and not up to become a Fulbright student.

I have gone through a long round of judging but everything I have experienced with the Fulbright program process explains that the Fulbright Commission is plainly looking for applicants who can bring success to the program; applicants with a deep-rooted passion for their missions, willing to internalize the caliber of competition, well-shaped interests, distinctive life experiences, and a desire to be an ardent medium for cultural exchange.

I have no prescription for anyone who wants to apply for a Fulbright scholarship. In some cases, qualified people don’t make it to the final round because of limited funding, not because they are unqualified. So I do encourage every Libyan who applied for the Fulbright scholarship and did not get it in the first time to apply again. This process requires meticulousness and determination. I remember when I applied for the Fulbright, I really didn’t know what to expect beyond not expecting to receive it. However, I worked hard, asked for help and waited for two years and I got awarded the Fulbright scholarship in return for my dedication and patience.

You may not get it for the first time, even the second time, but if you really have it in you then try for a third time. There is no magic bullet or smart recipe for getting the grant. Simply, the applicant should propose to do something they love, show tremendous dedication to it and they will ultimately get awarded with the Fulbright fellowship!