Graduate basic orientation

HELLO AND WELCOMETO THE AMERICAN

CENTERAND USEFI !

My name is Dr. S. Mullick andI’m the Regional Officer &

Educational Adviser of USEFI-Kolkata

HELLO AND WELCOMETO THE AMERICAN

CENTERAND USEFI !

My name is Dr. S. Mullick andI’m the Regional Officer &

Educational Adviser of USEFI-Kolkata

A BASIC INFORMATION SEMINAR ON

THE APPLICATIONS & ADMISSIONS PROCESS FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

IN THE U.S.A.

USEFI-KOLKATA PRESENTSUSEFI-KOLKATA PRESENTS

USEFIUSEFI is a bi-national entity, is a bi-national entity, established by a treaty between the established by a treaty between the Governments of India and the USA Governments of India and the USA

on February 2, 1950 to promote on February 2, 1950 to promote mutual understanding between mutual understanding between Indians and Americans through Indians and Americans through

educational and cultural exchangeeducational and cultural exchange..

WHY STUDY IN THE U.S.A.WHY STUDY IN THE U.S.A. Academic ExcellenceAcademic Excellence Quality AssuranceQuality Assurance ChoiceChoice FlexibilityFlexibility Hands-on TrainingHands-on Training Global AcceptabilityGlobal Acceptability Financial AssistanceFinancial Assistance Campus DiversityCampus Diversity Career AdvantageCareer Advantage

Over 3000 Universities and Colleges to Over 3000 Universities and Colleges to choose fromchoose fromIndependent Admission Policies & Independent Admission Policies & Requirements – pose your queries to the Requirements – pose your queries to the schools directlyschools directlyMost schools will want a minimum of 16 Most schools will want a minimum of 16 years of education for 1years of education for 1stst year Master’s year Master’s admissionadmissionStart the applications process at the Start the applications process at the beginning of your 16beginning of your 16thth year of education – year of education – your admission year in the US is the your admission year in the US is the following yearfollowing year

SOME GENERAL INFORMATIONSOME GENERAL INFORMATION

55 STEPS OF THE APPLICATIONS STEPS OF THE APPLICATIONS & ADMISSIONS PROCESS& ADMISSIONS PROCESS

Step 1. Pre-ApplicationStep 1. Pre-Application Shortlist about 50 SchoolsShortlist about 50 Schools Prepare Pre-Applications: Prepare Pre-Applications:

On 1 sheet, no enclosures, write your On 1 sheet, no enclosures, write your educational background, what you want to educational background, what you want to study, request for financial aid, etc.study, request for financial aid, etc.

Follow the format in USEFI’s pre-printed forms Follow the format in USEFI’s pre-printed forms costing Rs. 30/- for a set of 10costing Rs. 30/- for a set of 10

Send Pre-Applications by mail, or emailSend Pre-Applications by mail, or email Time Frame: April-JulyTime Frame: April-July

HOW TO SHORTLIST SCHOOLSHOW TO SHORTLIST SCHOOLS Availability of your Degree and SpecializationAvailability of your Degree and Specialization Reputation & Quality of the ProgramReputation & Quality of the Program Accreditation of ProgramAccreditation of Program Competitiveness of AdmissionsCompetitiveness of Admissions Acceptance/EnrolmentAcceptance/Enrolment Cost/Financial Aid AvailabilityCost/Financial Aid Availability Research & Computer Lab FacilitiesResearch & Computer Lab Facilities Faculty ProfileFaculty Profile Course CurriculumCourse Curriculum Placement/Career CounselingPlacement/Career Counseling Foreign Student Support ServicesForeign Student Support Services

Step 2. TestingStep 2. TestingTOEFL/GRE (for Sc, Arts, Hum applicants)TOEFL/GRE (for Sc, Arts, Hum applicants)

TOEFL/GMAT (for MBA applicants)TOEFL/GMAT (for MBA applicants) Registration: at least 1 month in advanceRegistration: at least 1 month in advance Testing Deadline: by end-NovemberTesting Deadline: by end-November Preparation: at least 3 monthsPreparation: at least 3 months Pick up the free Info Bulletins at USEFIPick up the free Info Bulletins at USEFI Purchase USEFI’s TOEFL and GRE VCDsPurchase USEFI’s TOEFL and GRE VCDs


REGISTRATION & OTHER FEESREGISTRATION & OTHER FEES

TESTTEST TOEFLTOEFL GREGRE GMATGMAT

Test FeeTest Fee $140.00$140.00 $160.00$160.00 $250.00$250.00

Rescheduling FeeRescheduling Fee $ 40.00$ 40.00 $ 40.00$ 40.00 $ 50.00$ 50.00

Additional Score Additional Score Reporting per Reporting per institutioninstitution

$ 17.00$ 17.00 $ 15.00$ 15.00 $ 28.00$ 28.00

SCORE COMPARISONS: iBT Vs CBTSCORE COMPARISONS: iBT Vs CBT

TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBT TOEFL CBTTOEFL CBT

Total ScoreTotal Score

(* Maximum Score)(* Maximum Score)

120*120*

106-108106-108

8383

300*300*

263263

220220

Total Score without Total Score without Speaking SectionSpeaking Section

9090

80-8180-81

62-6362-63

300300

263263

220220


Step 3. Final ApplicationsStep 3. Final Applications Final shortlist: 8-10Final shortlist: 8-10 Deadline: early/mid DecemberDeadline: early/mid December Contents: Attested marksheets, Statement Contents: Attested marksheets, Statement

of Purpose, Letters of Recommendation (3), of Purpose, Letters of Recommendation (3), Test scores, application fee, other items Test scores, application fee, other items such as project synopsis, employment such as project synopsis, employment history, research experience, published history, research experience, published article, anything you feel would strengthen article, anything you feel would strengthen your application.your application.

What Admissions Committees look forWhat Admissions Committees look for Your previous academic backgroundYour previous academic background Classes takenClasses taken Test scoresTest scores Letters of referenceLetters of reference Essays and Statements of PurposeEssays and Statements of Purpose ResumeResume Your potential as a studentYour potential as a student AchievementsAchievements UniquenessUniqueness What you will bring to the “mix”What you will bring to the “mix” How well you know the schoolHow well you know the school


Step 4. Application Results:Step 4. Application Results:

(Feb - Jul)(Feb - Jul) Admission with Full Financial Aid (Admission with Full Financial Aid (PhD applicants) Admission with Partial Financial Aid (Masters Admission with Partial Financial Aid (Masters

applicants applicants in Engineering and Sciences) Admission without Aid (MBA and professional Admission without Aid (MBA and professional

programs)programs) Sorry, no admission, (and obviously, no aid)Sorry, no admission, (and obviously, no aid) I-20 – official form issued by a Univ giving all details I-20 – official form issued by a Univ giving all details

about your courseabout your course


Step 5. Student Visa InterviewStep 5. Student Visa Interview Passport, I-20, Financial documents, Passport, I-20, Financial documents,

Educational documents, other documentsEducational documents, other documents Convince about (i) adequacy of funds (ii) Convince about (i) adequacy of funds (ii)

intention of returning to Indiaintention of returning to India The US remains a very welcoming country The US remains a very welcoming country

for foreign studentsfor foreign students

55 STEPS OF THE APPLICATIONS & STEPS OF THE APPLICATIONS & ADMISSIONS PROCESS:ADMISSIONS PROCESS:

How to proceed?How to proceed?

1.1.STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: PURCHASE A GRADUATE PURCHASE A GRADUATE ESSENTIAL INFORMATION PACKAGEESSENTIAL INFORMATION PACKAGE

RS. 500/- ONLYPre-Application FormsIf You Want to Study in the USHandy Hints for Graduate ApplicantsUSEFI’s GRE & TOEFL VCDs

55 STEPS OF THE STEPS OF THE APPLICATIONS & APPLICATIONS &

ADMISSIONS PROCESS:ADMISSIONS PROCESS:How to proceed?How to proceed?

2.2.TAKE AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP OF USEFI AND GET THE TAKE AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP OF USEFI AND GET THE FULL PRIVILEGESFULL PRIVILEGES

- LIBRARY FACILITIES- LIBRARY FACILITIES

- XEROXINGXEROXING

- ATTENDANCE AT SPECIAL WORKSHOPSATTENDANCE AT SPECIAL WORKSHOPS

- INDIVIDUAL COUNSELINGINDIVIDUAL COUNSELING

- FORM FILLUP ASSISTANCEFORM FILLUP ASSISTANCE

- ……… ……… AND MUCH MORE ………..AND MUCH MORE ………..

UPCOMING SEMINARS AT USEFI FORANNUAL MEMBERS ONLY

Visa Counseling Sessions by US Consular Officer

GRE/GMAT Analytical Writing Workshop

Sessions by US Students, former USEFI members studying in the US, and Professors

Application Tips: Essay, Statement of Purpose, Letters of Recommendation, Financial Aid Form

How to Choose Universities

GRE/GMAT/SAT Verbal Section Problem Solving Sessions

And finally …And finally …Pre-Departure Pre-Departure

OrientationOrientationTHE UNITED STATES EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION IN INDIATHE UNITED STATES EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION IN INDIA

American Center, 38A Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata 700071

Phone 2288-1200/1637, [email protected]

<www.fulbright-india.org>

SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

THE 16TH YEAR REQUIREMENT

NO PROBLEM FOR 12+4 CANDIDATESBIG PROBLEM FOR 12+3 OR 12+2 CANDIDATESIF YOU ARE A BIG PROBLEM CANDIDATE--Join Masters course in a university.--Complete 1 year at least--Many US universities will accept incomplete Masters; others will not.

Does not depend ONLY on Test Does not depend ONLY on Test scores or previous academic scores or previous academic background – depends on the quality background – depends on the quality of your total applicationof your total application

Cost of education: $10k to $40k p.a.Cost of education: $10k to $40k p.a. Professional Courses like MBA: DO Professional Courses like MBA: DO

NOT EXPECT FINANCIAL AIDNOT EXPECT FINANCIAL AID

Financial SupportFinancial Support

Types of Funding: AssistantshipsTypes of Funding: Assistantships

Teaching (TA): Teaching (TA): Awarded by Awarded by department with department with concurrence of grad concurrence of grad deans. Must deans. Must demonstrate spoken demonstrate spoken English (TSE) and English (TSE) and teaching experience. teaching experience. Can be in other Can be in other departments departments (languages, math).(languages, math).

Research (RA): Research (RA): Awarded by Awarded by professors. professors. Contributes to your Contributes to your thesis research. thesis research.

Graduate (GA): Graduate (GA): Awarded by grad Awarded by grad school. school. Administrative, Administrative, computer work, computer work, library work.library work.

Types of Funding: otherTypes of Funding: other Fellowships or Fellowships or

Tuition Scholarships: Tuition Scholarships: awarded by grad awarded by grad school, based on school, based on academic merit.academic merit.

On-campus jobs: 20 On-campus jobs: 20 hours/week, pocket-hours/week, pocket-moneymoney

Internships: Off-Internships: Off-campus, payment campus, payment varies, good varies, good experience.experience.

Co-op Programs: Off-Co-op Programs: Off-campus, full-time, campus, full-time, pays well, good pays well, good experience.experience.

Patterns and TrendsPatterns and Trends Admission getting easier as number of Admission getting easier as number of

applicants decreases.applicants decreases. More funding is available for PhD programs More funding is available for PhD programs

than for Master’s programs.than for Master’s programs. Research and Doctoral universities have far Research and Doctoral universities have far

more money than Master’s institutionsmore money than Master’s institutions More funding is available for academic More funding is available for academic

programs than for professional programs.programs than for professional programs. More funding is available in the sciences than in More funding is available in the sciences than in

social sciences or humanities.social sciences or humanities. Many programs don’t offer funding until the Many programs don’t offer funding until the

second year.second year.