us university application
TRANSCRIPT
Preafce Though this is primarily prepared for US - MS
applicants, other’s can also have look over here for the basic.
The timeline I am posting here, is the optimum and safe timeline, I must say. If someone finishes early, it will be a bonus for him/her. And I know many a people, who has started a bit later but become eventually highly successful.
Few words more… This presentation is made for everyone who
wants to pursue a strong academic career. DO NOT follow the approaches described here
blindly. Try to mould them as per as your credentials.
I am not going to schedule your examination preparation times. You must have scheduled them on your potency.
Disclaimer: The total approach was gained from my personal experience, survey and research. I will not be responsible for it’s unwanted future use
Assumptions I assume that every one of you either
studying in the final year of your undergraduate course at college or above.
Your undergraduate college and your course is properly affiliated
You are a Fall applicant (2010) i.e. the session will start from August, 2010.
University Requirements This always varies with different universities.
Still the very basic needs are:1.A valid GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
score (GRE score is valid for 5 years)2.A valid TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign
Language) score (TOEFL score is valid for 2 years)
3.Completed 4 year Bachelor degree from an accredit university (University Transcript)
You must have…. Along with the aforesaid requirements you
must possess or process the followings:1.Statement of Purpose2.Letters of Recommendation3.Valid Passport4.Resume or curriculum vitae5.Financial Certificates
May, 2009 If you haven’t started yet, start preparing for
GRE test. Start researching on your favorite subject and
sort list your favorite universities. This list should be a long one of length might be of 20/25.
If possible join Orkut / Facebook communities of these universities.
June, 2009 Don’t delay! Register for your GRE test on
August, 2009 at www.ets.com (try to make it on a Monday! You must have a relaxing weekend before the D-Day)
Continue your GRE preparation. E-mail the universities or search their
websites to get their individual requirements. Mail the students to get a complete review of
the chosen universities
July, 2009 Make your final revisions for GRE and take as much
as Computer Adaptive Tests (CAT) like PowerPrep software
Cut down your University list to 15, based on the academic requirements they are seeking for or in terms of total expense(like you can exclude some top notch university which prefers published papers in case if you don’t have any)
Start working on your SOP. Make an initial draft. Try mailing the professors. If you find positive
replies, it will be a boon for you and try to capitalize on that smartly. DO continue this through out the process.
August, 2009 Write your GRE and carefully note your Verbal
and Quantitative scores. In case you are not satisfy with your score,
nearest you can take it on September, 2009. (You can’t take GRE twice in one calendar month and mot more than five in one calendar year)
Register for you TOEFL test in September if not October.
Join different communities / forum (like Edulix or I20Fever) and post your profile including your GRE score and also mention your listed Universities.
September, 2009 Write your TOEFL exam calmly. Make your pre-final draft of your SOP ready
and send it to different people at least 3/4 (say to your friends, professors, seniors and one unknown person) for judgment.
Judge your profile from the community posts and do your extensive research on Universities from different source to get complete information.
Cut down your list to 10 universities and continue your research. Don’t forget to check their application deadlines.
October, 2009 From the start of this month the hard copy of GRE
scorecard should reach your home. Keep them safely.
After 3 weeks of your TOEFL exam, you can view your scores online.
Take an appointment with your undergraduate university and Professors. Collect the official transcripts and recommendation letters. (always try to grab some extra)
Complete your final SOP. You must have ready with your ultimate and
balanced list of 5 – 10 universities and start online applications.
November, 2009 You must have finished your online
application and transactions before hand. Start reporting your GRE and TOEFL scores
online to your applied universities. Start preparing your application packets at
very 1st week of November. Keep your SOP, LORs, Transcripts, Resume
and other required documents in different application packets very very minutely. Sealed them and stick proper address note.
Contact a reliable and speedy courier company and send them to universities.
You are almost done!
December, 2009 Mail the universities to check the status of
your application packets. Ask them to confirm the receipt.
Start working on your financial documents. It will goanna play a heavy role.
January, 2010 Check regularly the application status from
the online portal. Mail them or send them, if any thing has been
missed. Continuously interact with them until your
application status shows the Completed tag. Communicate them if you achieved something
prestigious in the mean time and forward them the updated CV.
