The A - Z of The Admission Procedure

There are different institutions in the United States which offer a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs.

Primarily, these institutions can be classified as:

• Public

• Private
• Religious Affiliation
• Specialized Institutions

The universities offering study programs in the U.S. can be classified as:

• Four Year Colleges

• Institutes of Technology
• Two Year Community
• Junior Colleges

Finally, the programs being offered can be classified as:

• Associate Degree

• Undergraduate (Bachelors)
• Graduate (Masters & Doctorate)

The Eligibility Criteria for applying in various courses to most of these institutions stands as follows:

• Undergraduate : High school equivalent
• Graduate : 16 years of education (4 years of undergraduate study)
• Adequate financial resources
• Consistent good academic record
• English language proficiency
• Standardized Tests

Here is a brief note about the Timeline for your Applications:

18 Months Before

begin your search for universities
register & prepare for required entrance exams

12-14 Months Before

Choose schools to which you will apply
obtain application forms & information

11 Months Before

request forms & information again if necessary

10-12 Months Before

identify your references
request transcripts
write your application essay or SOP
retake entrance exam if scores are unsatisfactory

10 Months Before

complete and mail applications

3 Months Before

apply for your student visa

A word about Accreditation

The US Government does not recognize or approve colleges & universities but in turn reviews & recognizes "accrediting agencies" that in turn assure the quality of educational institutions & programs.

• Regional Accreditation: Accreditation from an Agency that has jurisdiction over the region of the country in which they are located.

• Program Accreditation: A particular program or course is accredited by the agency.

Importance of Accreditation ?

1. Quality of education & program content.

2. Important for transfer process

3. Important for job placement

4. To receive federal & state funding.

Ranking

It is recommended that prospective students refer the following

• The Gourman Report by Prof Jack Gourman

• Money Rankings by Money Magazine

• America's Best Colleges by US News & World Report

• Rankings by other journals:

  • The Chronicle of Higher Education

  • Business Week

  • Change etc.

The process of ranking the institutions is complex and may have different interpretations depending on the perceptions of every individual. So we recommend the prospective students to create their own rankings to overcome the drawbacks of the above reports.

Something about GRADES (Grade Point Average)

A student receives a grade for each registered course.

Grades are indicated by letters & assigned quality points.

Undergraduate Students

Require a minimum of C Average or better

Graduate Students

Require a minimum of B Average or better

Action Plan For Graduate Studies

We have set up the following step by step action plan for the people who becomes members of our center

1.  Define your Academic And Career Goals

Ask yourself some very basic questions to proceed through this step. The questions include

• What career do I want to pursue?
• Will education in the US enhance my career?
• Will U.S. credentials be recognized in India?
• Will the technological expertise I acquire in the U.S. be of use in India?
• What alternatives do I have in India?

2.  Shortlist Universities

This is the second step in the action plan. Though carried out on a preliminary basis, this is a very important activity. The criteria you should consider should be based on the following

• Depth & Nature of the course work
• Research programs & availability of equipment
• Faculty quality & Strength
• Amount of money spent on research
• Ration of enrolment to graduation
• Placement details
• Library / Lab / Computer facilities
• Availability of teaching assistantships.

This is a very complex and important process. We recommend that you use guidebooks available with USIEF offices, in searching for the same.

3.  Contact The Prospective Universities

Send RAM forms for University catalogs, course & research profiles of their departments & application forms.

Contact the departments, individuals, professors asking for additional information like availability of Rankings, accreditation status etc.

4.  Entrance Tests

Another phase of the application process, we recommend you to check out the following tips

• Check for the Test requirements by your chosen Universities
• Analyze your test preparedness
• Select convenient test centers & test dates
• Obtain test guide books

These are the basic steps to take the tests

• Register for the tests
• Identify the Institutes for free test score reporting
• Practice for the tests

5.  Preparing To Apply

• Review the application materials sent by the colleges.
• Shortlist the Universities (6 to 8)
• Request for Additional Test Score Reports
• Prepare transcripts
• Start SOP & arrange for Recommendation essays
• Get application fee drafts

6.  Filling the Application Forms

• Check application form deadline
• Check Financial aid deadline
• Double check addresses where to send the forms
• Enclose all the required documents, application fee
• Send a duplicate packet to the department / professors.

7.  Receiving Responses

• By cost & quality compare the schools from where you received acceptances
• Send acceptance letter within the deadline
• Ask for I-20's, find out if you are eligible for IAP-66
• Make enquiries about:
      Housing; Health insurance; receiving at the airport; Indian associations; Orientation programmes

8.  Visa & Pre departure

• Collect all the necessary documents & processing fees for a Visa.

• Visit the Visa Office

• Book your tickets

• Attend a PDO organized by USIEF

• Pack your luggage & fly.

Statement Of Purpose

Why is SOP needed ?

• To know you & your interests

• To assess you & your skills & compare with other applicants

• To determine chances for your success as a Grad student & as a professional

What not to Include in a SOP ?

• High school accomplishments

• Avoid Controversial Issues

• Avoid Strange & unconventional views

• Avoid moralistic, idealistic Statements

• Avoid exaggerated objectives, unrealistic expectations

• Avoid accomplishments unconnected to Graduate School

• Avoid traditional India Value System

TIPS on good SOP

• Clear, Concise & Specific

• Written by You

• Typed / Word Processed, no white outs

• Avoid Generic Essays

• It should be able to substitute for an interview

• Don't quote verbatim from the School's catalogue

Recommendation Letters

Certain questions which you should try to answer while collecting information about recommendation letters are

1. How many are needed ?

2. What should be the Format ?

3. How to choose & select references ?

4. Ranking the selected people

5. A meeting with the Recommender

6. Feed him information about you

7. What should go in the letter ?

You should consider these:

• Length of interaction

• Level of Interaction

• Methods of Evaluation

• Description of the Group with which you are being compared

• Skills

  • Intellectual Ability
  • Knowledge of Field
  • Motivation
  • Work Habits
  • Seriousness of Purpose
  • Initiative
  • Emotional Maturity
  • Ability to handle new/stressful situations
  • Interactive Abilities
  • Teaching Potential
  • Research Potential

Financial Assistance

The area of  being  considered for financial assistance involves very high competition. An excellent academic background is required to increase the chances to being considered for any sort of aid by the University.

Types of Aids For Graduate Studies

• Research Assistantship
• Teaching Assistantship
• Tuition Waiver

Also a point worth mentioning here is that the Graduate Assistantships are mostly merit based while the Under Graduate ones are Need And Merit Based.

Visa

There are two types of Student Visa

• Student F-1  -  Obtained with I-20
• Exchange Visitor J-1  -  Obtained with an IAP-66

1. Apply for a visa sufficiently early but not before 90 days from the commencement of the semester as mentioned in the I-20 or IAP 66.
2. Normally if you apply for a Visa in person at the US Consulate with all the required documents, you will be informed of their decision on the same day.
3. If rejected twice, apply by mail, it could take 10 working days or more to hear from them.

Graduate Application Packet (Check List)

Finally, you should take note of the following while preparing the graduate application packet for the universities you are applying to. Check out whether you have included:

1. Covering Letter
2. Application Form
3. Statement Of Purpose
4. Academic Transcripts
5. Resume
6. Letters of Recommendation (If not sent by the teachers directly)
7. Financial aid application form
8. Financial fitness Certificates / Statements
9. Other Financial Documents
10. Bank Statement
11. Affidavit of Support from Parents & Sponsors
12. Application Fee
13. Your Correct Name & Mailing Address, Telephone & Fax nos. (optional)
14. Have you ensured that the test scores are reported to the school by ETS.