I began my journey three months ago as a Humphrey Fellow in the United States of America. Many people have been asking me how I got this fellowship which is considered a once in a lifetime opportunity for any mid-career professional.
First of all, for any such opportunity, one thing is essential: passion for the profession you belong to, confidence in your knowledge, and curiosity to explore new worlds.
Along with 10 colleagues (from Croatia, Myanmar, Montenegro, Haiti, Uganda, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Egypt and Cuba), I was selected from Pakistan to spend a year at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. , which is located in Phoenix. , AZ, which is one of the most prestigious journalism schools in the United States.
But how did I make it this far and what are the key points of winning such a prestigious award?
Here’s what you need to know to speed up the application process.
I have been awarded a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship by the US Department of State for the 2019-2020 program year. After a half-year process involving filling out an application, taking the TOEFL test, and going for an interview at the United States Educational Foundation (USEFP) in Islamabad. I was told that I had been selected as one of the Humphrey Program participants, part of a group of 151 participants from 95 countries around the world.
1. Your request must have an impact. If your application isn’t memorable, you won’t even win an interview.
2. Personal statements are the most important requirement for this and most fellowships because they carry significant weight with administrators and review committees. Write, revise and tune multiple drafts, introduce yourself to the committee, explain what you want to achieve and make your case as to why you are the right candidate.
3. Talk to past colleagues, reach out to them on social media. Ask about their experiences, as they have been through the same process. However, don’t ask for their request.
4. Think of a great idea and research project. One of the most important parts of your application is your project proposal. Be realistic about your goals.
5. How does your country benefit? It is very important to describe how you will contribute to the development of your country if you get the fellowship. The US government spends about $70,000 to $80,000 on each Humphrey fellow. Investment is not only for the upgradation of the individual but for the development of their country.
6. Get great recommendations. Choose one that is relevant to your application. Make sure your referees are people who have known you for at least a year, and can really attest to who you are and what your strengths and accomplishments are.
7. Interview: Be exactly who you describe yourself in the application. You’ve landed this interview yourself, consider it a small win. You found opportunity where many failed. Be true and honest with yourself about what you want to achieve. Even if you don’t have all the right answers, if you can describe your passion for the goals, you’ve got a good chance of winning a slot.
All that being said, there is no secret recipe for winning a fellowship, it really comes down to a combination of factors, meeting what the committee is looking for and your goals and the strength of your application. How do they fit together? So define your goals clearly, pour your heart into the application, and you might just find yourself in next year’s cohort.