The idea of you studying abroad is exhilarating, but the process to board that plane and land in your dream destination is not that simple. Or is it? Just make sure that you know what you want to do for your further studies and if you don't, well, come to Program Explorer where the experts of foreign education give you the best advice towards your career choices.
When you narrow down on the institution, make sure that you don't target just one, but at least three to four. This minimises the chances of you getting rejected from the only university you applied to! But don't apply to twenty different places for most, if not all institutions have an application fee ranging from $50 to $100. If you are confused as to how choose the best one for you, talk to one of the experts at Program Explorer. They match your interests, qualifications and budget to the best available programs.
One needs to check the eligibility criteria of a particular institute or course that they want to apply in as the criterion differs from your home country and it also differs from one institute to the other. For example, to be eligible to pursue your masters in the USA, one needs to have a minimum sixteen years of education. This means that one needs to do a four year of under graduation post their twelfth, though some courses also accept a three year undergraduate degree.
The applicant needs to make sure to study the application process of the institute they want to apply into. The application might differ from one university to the other. One also needs to take care of the application deadlines, the SOPs, the transcripts, the visa requirements, the LORs, and so on. This part needs to be perfect because the universities put in a lot of weightage on to an application of a student for their selection or rejection.
The Statement of Purpose is one of the most important document and plays a really vital role in your selection. Include your motive to study a particular course and also the reasons as to why do you want to study a particular subject along with impressing on the fact as to why you want to study in their country and your future goals. Make sure that it doesn't look like you just want to immigrate and settle down in their country instead of wanting to study there.
The Letter of Recommendation, which can be written either by your professors, or by ex employers, if any, depict the personality of the student and makes the profile stand out. Majority of the universities look for at least two to three recommendations. Essays are again another important addition to your application whose number and topics are decided by the university or by the students themselves based on their interest. Generally, universities demand two to three essays per applicant.
The academic transcripts include the educational qualification and the scores of the students till the date of application to a foreign university. Since you need to get it from your current/previous university and it takes time, make sure you keep it ready well before time.
Different courses have different examination requirements that they need the applicants to fulfil. Along with this, there might also be a minimum mark criteria. Graduate Management Admission Test or GMAT is a test that is to be given by students who wish to be admitted to a graduate management program at a management education institution abroad. Graduate Record Examinations or GRE is to be given by candidates who wish to pursue graduate program mainly in the field of engineering and sciences. Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is given by the ones who want to take an admission in a undergraduate program, even though some of the institutes take in applicants without a SAT too. So, make sure to check the requirements. Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and Law School Admission Test (LSAT) are given by applicants who want to study medical or law respectively.
The expected scores in most of the tests are:
Applying to a university or a college abroad can be a real daunting task for some. So make sure that you do your research well in advance and apply early so that you have enough time to breathe in all the changes and the differences that you will be facing once you start living your 'new life' in a new country.