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Experience
DISCLAIMER: EVERYTHING MENTIONED IN THIS BLOG IS ACCORDING TO MY OWN EXPERIENCE
Global Undergraduate Exchange Program – One Semester Cultural Exchange Program – Tips from Alumni
First of all review the eligibility criteria for the UGRAD. You should not be in the FIRST AND FINAL YEAR OF THE UNDERGRAD DEGREE.
Eligibility Criteria
- Pakistani citizens
- 25 years or younger
- Currently enrolled in a college or university and committed to returning to their home universities following the completion of the program.
- In their 14th or 15th year of formal education
- Applicants are required to submit current/most recent, and old transcripts with application
Ineligibility
- Dual U.S./Pakistani nationals or U.S. permanent residents
- Those who have a parent or spouse who is a U.S. citizen, permanent U.S. resident, or has a pending U.S. immigration
- Employees of the Fulbright organization, the U.S. Department of State, or USAID and their spouses, children, fiancés, siblings, dependents, and parents
- Students in their final year of university
Age Limit: 25
Cycle
| Tentative Announcement | September/ October |
| Duration | One semester – approximately half attend in fall and other half in spring |
| Grantees start studies | Fall next year |
SOURCE: USEFP – https://applications.usefp.org/programs/ugrad/
Who Am I? And Why you should Listen to my advice?
This and all other blogs about UGRAD will be concise and are according to my experience. I am UGRAD Alumni and I was selected in Spring 2020 as Principal Candidate. I had guided many students including international students. The procedure of UGRAD application should be taken into great consideration, You might have heard that SOP (Statement of Purpose) matters, Yes it does matter but one should not neglect the application form itself. Each and everything should be filled upto the limit of words.
APPLICATION STEPS:
- PERSONAL INFORMATION
- ACADEMIC INFORMATION
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- PERSONAL STATEMENT
- DOCUMENTS
- REVIEW AND SUBMIT
- PERSONAL STATEMENT: Its not a hard part of the application – if anything that doesnt apply just write N/A
- ACADEMIC INFORMATION – Enlist courses in which you have GOOD GRADES, If you have taken ENGLISH do mention that
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – The second most important part of the application – PLEASE MENTION ALL ACTIVITIES in detail – ONLY ACTIVITIES in which you had participated
Most importantly, regarding the activities part of the application, please make sure to fill the activities part of the application in more elaborative terms rather than just a one-liner.
For instance: I actively participated in the ……… program/activity and I learned …….. (explain the importance and how it had affected your personality positively).
4. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: Significant AND very important section of the application – PRO TIP – Limit your words to the mentioned 4 Queries
Check out the following blog after reading this one thoroughly
How to write an effective Statement of Purpose for Global UGRAD
- DOCUMENTS – Take advantage of this section and particularly – ADDITIONAL UPLOAD PAGE – Upload your documents in order – The most important one first (Important work you had done – Community Service etc.)
If you are from the underdeveloped areas of Pakistan like KPK, Gilgit, Souther Punjab, etc.. you are highly encouraged to apply.
Most Important Advice: STAY POSITIVE AND USE ACTIVE ACTION VERBS in the application
And gather your documents
- Certificates – as much as you can (TRY TO NOT REACH OUT TO EVERYONE TO GET CERTIFICATES – Quality matters in UGRAD, rather than quantity – I had 9 certificates only but the ones I actually got by working with societies of my Universities)
- Transcripts – Your Degree’s Transcripts for each semester (If you don’t have yet, just apply in your university)
In UGRAD, I will not recommend a one-liner answer to the questions in the application form. APPLICATION FORM IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN TELL ABOUT YOURSELF, MARKET YOURSELF AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY PORTION OF THE APPLICATION.
Make sure that whatever, you are writing in the application form, SHOULD NOT OVERLAP IN THE SOP and should be authentic.
Again take advantage of every single portion of the application to TELL ABOUT YOURSELF, Why you are the most fit for the UGRAD? How you are different from others? And How you can bring change and can add value to the Program and to the COMMUNITY.
If you have any queries please email me at:
stemedupk@gmail.com
