The interview is part of the usual application process to obtain a Fulbright scholarship from the Austrian-American Educational Commission. This prestigious student grant allows a selected group of approximately 15-20 students to pursue a Master's or Ph.D. degree in an U.S. institution for higher degrees.
The initial application must be submitted online via fulbright.at before the deadline May 1st each year. The application process highly resembles the American university applications: personal and academic data, essay responses, and letters of recommendations.
Most of the applicants who complete all of the above will be considered for an interview. In 2009, 98 of 107 applicants were invited for an interview in front of an interview panel. The panel/committee consists of the Austrian Fulbright Director, an office assistant, and two to four experts depending on the subject. Although no dress code is announced beforehand, business clothing is highly recommended.
Each applicant is granted a 20 minute time slot for the interview. Occasionally, interviews last longer; if this is the case, the discussion may stimulating (a good sign!) for the interviewee and the experts or it may have ended in an argument (not so good).
The discussion will center on these main points:
1. Reason for application; must align with the Statement of Purpose.
2. Motivation for studies in the U.S.; no prior experience or visit to the U.S. but high ambitions to learn about the culture is preferred by the Commission.
3. Research proposal or course of study; no grants are awarded for Business, Management, Law, or the like - beware that also related subjects are unlikely to receive funding.
The seating arrangement, or the "good cop, bad cop" scenario:
Although the following assumption is only based on my experience, I would like to share it: the interviewers were seats in an 3/4 circle around me on a circular table arrangement. On the far right, next to me, was the Director who was obviously the host and moderator of the interview; he only asked formal questions and often summarized what I said. To his right, his assistant was seated; she asked friendly questions, foremost about my past experiences and what I hoped to do if I was granted the scholarship. Next came an interviewer from industry; his rare questions mostly objective and occasionally motivating. Then there was a university professor who was sitting exactly to the opposite of me; he only asked objective and very detailed questions. The last interviewer was an industry expert who did not conceal his critical nature; his detailed questions were stimulating but difficult (or impossible) to answer. In my opinion, the Commission was well composed and the seating arrangement showed traces of a "good cop, bad cop" situation.
None of the applicants who I talked to at that day left the interview room satisfied. All felt exhausted and did not feel the panel asked the "right questions". It should be noted that most applicants are very young - 19 to 25 years, and I believe that most of them had little or no prior interview experience.
Future applicants should note that the panel will use U.S. standards and mix them with Austrian standards. To do well on the interview and receive a Fulbright scholarship, this means that the applicant must have an excellent academic record (American standard) - however, even though an undergraduate degree is sufficient for the U.S., a Bachelor's degree is unlikely to prove a strong academic track record as the Commission explained to me. They prefer a Magister, Diplom or Master degree (Austrian standard).
