Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship Scholar Malik Nauman Rauf from Pakistan Shares His Journey of Securing a Fully Funded Master's Degree at the Georgia Institute of Technology, United States

Hi, I am Malik Nauman Rauf, currently a Master's in Aerospace Engineering student and a Fulbright Scholar at Georgia Institute of Technology. I am originally from Islamabad, Pakistan from where I received my Undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering as well. The primary proponent behind pursuing engineering and specifically Aerospace engineering was the love I shared for astronomy and astrophysics, combined with the pursuit of contributing to something tangible.

Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship Details

My Scholarship was the Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship provided by the Government of the USA and the Institute of International Education, which placed me at the prestigious Georgia Institute of Technology. Its duration was 2 years (duration of the program), in which I received nearly 40,000$ in tuition, along with 50,000$ stipend

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

Yes, during the program, I was awarded the International High Achiever scholarship at Georgia tech which came with a tuition waiver.

Educational Background

Prior to my current master's, I hold a Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering degree from the Institute of Space Technology, an Astronautics concentrated college in Pakistan, from which I graduated with a 3.9+ CGPA and the honors of Summa Cum Laude. I readily believe that it was my academic performance, coupled with all the co-curricular experiences that I gained during my undergraduate studies, which put me in a suitable place to start applying for such scholarships and eventually receive them.

How Did You Find Information About Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship and the Georgia Institute of Technology?

I mainly found out about the Scholarship through independent search and word of mouth, following which, I started to prepare my applications

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

Yes, to be eligible for the Fulbright Scholarship, I had to take both the GRE and TOEFL exams, the preparation for both of which I did through online free resources and tons of practice using material provided by ETS and free material published online.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship?

In order to apply for the scholarships, I took the help of previous scholarship recipients and retraced what they did initially, and then, after some “soul searching”, was able to add my personal touch to my own essays that go with the scholarship application.

How is Your Experience at Georgia Institute of Technology?

My experience has been tremendously rewarding as I’ve been able to learn a heck of a lot, more than I could have imagined, and not just academically, but also socially.

How Do You Rate Georgia Institute of Technology Academically?

As for IIE, I really believe that the aid that they provide to 100s of students every year through these scholarships is awesome. For Georgia Tech, its truly a unique school, in the sense that it will essentially break you before building you back up, and it's my conviction that the version of you that comes out is far superior as a person.

How Does Georgia Institute of Technology Support International Students?

During my time at Tech, I’ve utilized many of the incredibly helpful resources, including career planning, resume tailoring, and many other programs geared specifically towards international students.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think that, in addition to the plethora of unique experiences that I had, it was more of my personal quirks and determination that I was able to portray in my essays, which made me stand out, and having a distinctive major in Aerospace engineering also stands out.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

The one regret that I’ve amassed during my time at Tech is that I wasn’t able to make too many meaningful connections, and so if I had to do it again, I would seriously work on that.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

I would encourage them to believe in themselves, because if you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect strangers to do the same?