Table of Contents:
Introduction
1. Research and Identify Programs
2. Standardized Tests
3. Prepare Your Application Materials
4. Application Submission
Conclusion
Introduction
Beginning your grad school application means starting to work to have access to life changing experiences that will open many doors for you in your future. This adventure is often challenging for everybody, but if you are an international student dreaming of studying in the USA you really need to invest a lot of time and effort to make your journey smooth and successful. In this ultimate guide I aim to share some advice and tips on the topic, as well as personal reflections that have helped me while choosing the USA as my final destination for grad school.
1. Research and Identify Programs
The very first passage when applying to grad school is to identify what programs can match your interests, as well as making you excel academically and professionally. Looking into different universities and departments’ websites can be eye opening and present you with degrees you may not even have thought about. Personally, this is the way I started feeling interested and motivated to begin my journey, as I realized that in the USA there are so many diverse and professionally stimulating opportunities that I didn’t want to miss.
To make this research process a bit easier for you, here I am sharing some of the factors I considered when selecting my favorite programs:
Faculty reputation globally. If I decide to start the adventure of studying in the USA, I want to maximize the gains I can get from this experience. This means choosing faculties that have a high reputation, particularly in the professional world and in the sectors where I would like to work in the future.
Research opportunities + concentrations/majors offered. The same reasoning applies here. Generally speaking, it would have been easier for me to study for a master's degree in a European country. After reflecting for some time, I asked myself what programs in the US are providing specializations and opportunities that I cannot get in Europe, and I started selecting those.
Funding matters. Living and studying in the US can be very expensive, definitely more than in my home country. Therefore, when selecting the programs I wanted to apply for, I also considered whether they were offering financial aid, for example in the form of scholarships or grants.
One last point I want to discuss is about participating in open days and visiting the faculty you are going to study at. Of course for most of the international students it can be quite expensive and time consuming to take a flight and go to your dream school just for a couple of days. However, do not forget that nowadays several universities offer webinars and many different types of online events so that you can have the same chances of getting to know the school as local students.
2. Standardized Tests
When applying to graduate school, there are high chances that you will be required to present your standardized tests results. If you apply to a business related program, you will probably need to take the GMAT exam. Otherwise, many master’s and phd students need to have a good score in the GRE exam to be admitted to their faculties.
Reflecting on this topic, I think it is very important to stress what those exams are as they are not widely used and known in Europe, where I live, and in many other countries. I have personally learnt about them quite recently and it took me some time to gather enough information on their structure and on how to practice. If you are in the same situation I was in, check this article on the GRE and GMAT!
3. Prepare Your Application Materials
Application requirements vary from one institution to another, but generally those are the documents that students are asked to present when applying for grad school in the US:
Official transcripts of your grades
One or more letters of recommendation from your professors and mentors
Statement of purpose (check this article if you need more information)
Curriculum Vitae (again, here is a previous article that can help you)
Standardized Test Scores
English Language Proficiency Test, such as TOEFL or IELTS (only if English is not your first language)
Before going to the next paragraph, a reminder that gathering these documents may take extra time if the language of instruction of your current degree is not English. In this case, you will need to hire a certified professional to translate your transcript. This applies also to the letter of recommendations, if they are not in English.
4. Application Submission
It’s time to submit!! Double check all your docs and upload them following your programme’s guidelines, well ahead of the application deadline. Remember that some institutions use their own application portals, while others will receive your candidacy through tertiary platforms. Take time to familiarize with these different systems.
Conclusion
In this article we have discovered the main steps that international students can follow to successfully apply for grad school in the USA. Although the process for international candidates may be a little more complicated, I am sure the rewards that will follow after your admission will compensate for that. I wish this article was useful for all of you that are going through my same journey. Good luck <3
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