What is the Application Process?
The application process for studying abroad is time consuming and the applicants must start preparing well in advance. It is very important to begin the admission process early because in many cases application deadlines are far in advance of the start of the semester (sometimes as many as ten months). Applicants also need to allow time for scheduling any standardised tests needed for admission and then having the results of these tests sent to schools. There is no uniform world-wide application system. Each college or university establishes its own unique policies.
The 6 basic steps for applying abroad are: Identifying country, university and the course of your interest Requesting universities for Application Forms Taking various required tests Arranging and preparing essays and recommendation letters Completing and sending Application Forms along with required documents Reporting various test scores to the universities
TOP Selecting Universities
Selecting universities is a time consuming and important process not only from the admission point of view but also because applying to universities is very expensive by Indian standards. Hence, it has to be restricted to around 6 or 8 universities only. The best university for you may not be the famous ones, but those that offer you your field of study as well as meet the other criteria important to you. The range of academic options as well as available universities are so wide that it is not possible to select the best in one go and it may take some time. The basic steps involved in the process of selecting universities are : |
Level | Criterion of Short Listing | Colleges Short Listed | I | Self Evaluation | 45 | | II | - Academic Eligibility
Academic Record (Grade point Average) - Standardised Test Scores
- Financial Aid Considerations
- Other issues
| 20-25 | III | Application Stage (After receiving prospectus & forms) | 4-6 |
TOP Requesting Application Forms
This is the first stage of your application process. This is like a preliminary application. You need to give certain information about yourself to get the application forms. The preliminary application helps admission officers determine whether or not you will be a likely decide on your eligibility.. At this stage, you can write to the selected 25-30 universities. You can directly request application materials from the universities. There are two ways to do this : Send enquiries at least 10 to 12 months before the proposed date of admission. There are three ways to get application forms. Requesting Application Forms via email:
You can request application forms from the universities website. Most universities have a form on their websites which can be completed online to request application material.
Requesting Application Forms via Air Mail:
The other way is to send a request by airmail for application material. The request should contain a brief description of your educational background, academic objectives, source of financial support, English proficiency and standardized test scores.
Downloading from the university website :
Many universities have a downloadable and ready to print versions of their application forms on the net. These can be used for applying just as regular forms.
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TOP Application Requirements
Once you start receiving application forms and material, go through the material in detail and check the application deadline, minimum scores required in the standardized tests, recommendation letters needed and other such information,tabulate all these requirements and compare them with your objectives. - You can try and focus on departments that you would most like to attend and the school rankings in that field. You may also check for any special facilities that the school may offer in some specific field. Try and make a list of schools on basis of fresh and more significant criteria like:
- Objectives of the program and kind of methodology as well as approach
- Admission/Entrance requirements
- Availability of assistantships and funds in the field of your choice
- Research facilities
- Location
- Profile of students enrolled
Narrow down your list to about 6-8 universities to whom you intend to apply. |
Once you have decided on the universities to apply to, you can start filling up the application forms. The forms will ask for your personal details, academic record, official transcripts, various essays, personal achievements, extra curricular activities and recommendation letters. TOP Recommendation Letters
Your recommendations are important because they verify your claims and provide the admissions committee an opportunity to learn more about you from people you have worked closely with. Hence, good recommendations can serve as a powerful tool to ‘sell’ yourself to the committee. Every part of your application, builds an image of your personality in the minds of the admissions committee. The recommendation letters provide a third person’s perspective on the kind of person you are. What a recommendation letter writes about you should add or supplement what you claim to be through your essays/SOP and work experience details.One simple way to make recommendation letters contribute to your admission process is to keep your application straight and honest. Present the facts as they actually are and be truthful about every claim you make in every aspect of your application. choose the people who can recommend you judiciously. Choose a person who knows you well and likes you as a person and then ask him/her to give a fair assessment of you as a person in the recommendation letter. Your application form will give you details about the recommendation letters you are required to submit. The number of recommendations and from whom – whether from your office or from your school or both. TOP Choosing Persons for Recommendation Business Schools
Most schools require 2 to 3 recommendation letters. Choosing the appropriate mix of persons for recommendation largely depends on the program you are applying for. An MBA program requires two recommendations, from work and one from school is generally a good balance. If the school asks for only two recommendations, it would be better if both are work related. As far as possible, it is advisable to get one recommendation letter from your immediate supervisor. However, if it is not possible, then a former supervisor would be a good choice. Also you could use a colleague who has worked closely with you. It is advised not to apply without a recommendation from your current job place. Graduate Programs
For an MS or Doctoral program, you should get at least two recommendations from your professors. If you have performed research or worked on thesis, it is highly recommended that you get the reference letter from your Advisor. If you have worked for a company either full time or as a summer intern, you could take one letter from your immediate supervisor. Undergraduate Programs
For candidates applying for an undergraduate program, very few schools ask for a recommendation letter. If asked, you should get it from one of your favorite teachers in school. Some other important points to keep in mind - It is much better to use a person who can illustrate your strengths and show you at your best than choosing a famous person who has no intimate knowledge of your skills and abilities.
- Choose people who really like you. It is important that the one who is recommending invests time in writing your recommendation. A person who likes you will take out the time, as well as, put a positive spin on your qualities.
- Choose people who can address more than one key criterion: your business and managerial skills, intellectual ability, leadership potential, maturity, work ethics etc.
- Give your a person who is recommending you an outline of the assignments you have handled at work. Include in the outline some suggestions on how he/she might address specific issues such as analytical ability, integrity, intellectual curiosity and the like.
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