How a Pakistani Scholar Secured the Fully Funded Fulbright Scholarship to Study a Master of Public Administration at Columbia University

My name is Furwa Baig, and I’m from Lahore, Pakistan. I currently work in the development sector, leading initiatives in education, social impact, and corporate philanthropy. A decade ago, I stood at the edge of a lifelong dream, studying at an Ivy League university, and in 2013, that dream became reality when I was selected as a Fulbright Scholar to pursue a Master of Public Administration (MPA) at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).

Fulbright Scholarship Details

I received the Fulbright Scholarship (2013–2015), funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by USEFP in Pakistan. The scholarship covered full tuition, living expenses, health insurance, and travel. I was also awarded a Columbia University Tuition Grant of USD 10,000 per year. This opportunity transformed the trajectory of my personal and professional life.

Other Scholarships:

• Columbia University Tuition Grant: USD 10,000/year
• HEC-JICA Scholarship (2006–2010) for undergraduate studies

Educational Background

I completed my Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance from the Lahore School of Economics, graduating with academic distinction. I was placed on the Dean’s Honor List and received a Silver Medal for academic excellence. My undergraduate studies were fully funded through the HEC-JICA scholarship, a prestigious merit-based award that supported me for all four years.

These foundational years built my academic strength and deepened my interest in economic systems, governance, and development, areas that ultimately led me toward public policy and impact-driven leadership.

Finding the Path

I first learned about the Fulbright program during my A-Levels and kept it in mind as I gained work experience and clarified my career goals. After graduating from Lahore School of Economics, I started working as an MTO at a leading bank.

At the time, I was doing well at a bank, but the work didn’t feel fulfilling. I realized I was most engaged when I was involved in community service, research, and development sector work, anything that allowed me to contribute to positive, systemic change. That’s when I knew I needed to pivot, and the MPA felt like the right degree to equip me with the tools to do that meaningfully.

I didn’t do it alone. I sought help from Fulbright alumni, brilliant friends and mentors, and elders who had experience studying abroad. These incredible people guided me through the application, reviewed my essays, and helped me refine my story and my materials. Their support was instrumental in shaping a strong, authentic application.

For the GRE, I hired a tutor to support me with math, which wasn’t my strongest area, and supplemented that with countless practice tests. The TOEFL, in contrast, felt relatively easy. I prepared efficiently, knowing that the real focus would be building a compelling narrative.

Application & What Set Me Apart

What made my application stand out was its honesty and depth of reflection. My essays weren’t just a list of accomplishments; they were a narrative that wove together insights from my personal journey, my experience as a woman in Pakistani society, and my aspirations for systemic change. I spoke about what shaped me, what moved me, and where I wanted to go.

Even though I had a BBA in Finance and was working at a bank at the time of my Fulbright application, I wrote about my brief but formative experience working at a think tank in the final year of my undergraduate education. That exposure gave me deep insight into Pakistan’s education landscape and motivated me to contribute to children’s right to quality education. That clarity of purpose, paired with my ability to link personal experience with national development goals, brought authenticity to my application.

I also had a consistent academic record, strong recommendation letters, and a profile that reflected not just potential, but real-world commitment to change.

Experience at Columbia

SIPA was transformative. The academic environment was rigorous, global, and intellectually demanding. My classmates came from all over the world, and each lecture, case study, and discussion expanded my lens. Professors brought real-world experience from the UN, World Bank, governments, and nonprofits, which gave our learning practical relevance.

I was intentional about making the most of Columbia’s vast academic ecosystem. I carefully selected electives across schools, including one course from the Columbia Business School and another from Teachers College, to broaden my understanding of leadership, innovation, and education systems.

Two experiences in particular shaped my growth:

• A year-long course at the Center for Public Research and Leadership (CPRL) at Columbia Law School, which blended theory with hands-on consulting. In small teams, we worked on real-world client projects that the university center was being paid to deliver. These complex consulting assignments helped us apply classroom learning while developing new strategies, frameworks, and tools. The workload was intense, we often worked weekends to deliver, but by the end, I had practical experience I could confidently speak to in any job interview. It prepared me to enter the workforce not just with theory, but with real consulting experience.
• My MPA Capstone project with Fundación Corona in Colombia gave me invaluable research exposure and field experience. Working with a Latin American nonprofit on the ground helped me apply public administration theory in a global development context. The mentorship, cross-cultural learning, and fieldwork insights made this one of the most impactful academic experiences of my degree.

As a Pakistani woman, the Columbia experience gave me confidence, credibility, and global exposure. The Fulbright and Columbia networks continue to be among the most intellectually enriching and supportive I have. Professionally, the degree opened doors, and personally, it helped me push boundaries I never thought I could cross.

What I Would Do Differently

Looking back, I would do two things differently. First, I would apply sooner and not second-guess myself. Self-doubt can be paralyzing, but these programs are designed for people with potential, not perfection.

Second, I would apply to more dream schools and aim higher. Columbia was the only Ivy League school I applied to. The rest of my list included the University of Chicago, Georgetown, and the University of Maryland, where I was accepted. But in hindsight, I wish I had applied to other Ivies, too. Maybe I still would have chosen Columbia, it was the best fit for my degree, and being in New York was a huge plus, but I would have liked the opportunity to compare.

Advice for Future Applicants

If you’re even thinking about applying, start. Don’t talk yourself out of it. You don’t need to be from a particular background or know all the right people. You need to be honest about your goals, dedicated to your work, and clear about your purpose.

Let your essays reflect who you are and who you want to become. Show your growth, your drive, and your vision. Reach out to alumni, ask for feedback, and don’t be afraid to dream big.

These scholarships aren’t just funding degrees, they’re investing in changemakers. So believe in your story, and let that be your biggest strength.