How To Apply To American Universities

Ali Mostafavi November 2008

Contents

How to start Where to apply Application materials Admission process & Funding Applying for the US Visa Enjoy your graduate studies!!!

How To Start

What you really need:

Great Motivation + Energy + Time

 + Excellent Plan

Key Factors in Your Plan

Standardized Tests: TOEFL+GRE

Deadlines

Universities admission requirements

Where to Apply???
Everybody loves top ten universities!!!
MIT UC Berkeley Stanford Purdue Texas@Austin Georgia Tech
. . .

Be Realistic

Your Strengths + Weaknesses= Requirements

Decision Criteria

University ranking Your Academic Performance TOEFL & GRE Scores

Cost of living Weather

Data Sources

US news rankings
I-20 fever Accept-reject data Apply Abroad

TOEFL iBT(+105)+GRE(V:+450+Q:800+AW:+4.5) +Undergraduate(+16)+ Masters(+17.5)+Fine research background TOEFL iBT(+90)+GRE(V:+300+Q:750+AW:+3) +Undergraduate(+15)+ Masters(+17)+Moderate research background TOEFL iBT(+75)+GRE(V:+250+Q:700+AW:+3) +Undergraduate(+15)+ Masters(+16.5)+Moderate research background

Time Table of Application

TOEFL+GRE (by November)

Application on-line (by November) Application documents (by December)

Application Documents

Transcripts (Undergrad+Grad) TOEFL+GRE Scores SOP Curriculum Vitae Reco Application forms+ other forms Application Fee

SOP
1.
2. 3.

4.
5. 6. 7.

Why you chose this major for undrgrad? What was you achievements during undergrad? Why you chose special field for grad? What is your research interests and achievements? What are you capabilities? Why you want to pursue PhD in this Uni and in this field? What are your career and long term goals?

Reco

On-line or off-line??? Choose right professor who knows you well Avoid general and exaggerated statements Statements with some real instances Your major advisor reco is the key reco

TOEFL & GRE

Study for the TOEFL if you have time limitation Study for the GRE verbal section if your English is excellent and you can get +100 in TOEFL iBT without studying Study for the GRE Quantitative section at least for 3-4 weeks Good classes are useful

You Need a Credit Card

Nilopar.com 09143152390

Pre-paid visa cards

Admission Process

Application on-lined complete Materials received Admission office send to admission committee 1-3 months for making decision Admission+fund email or letter with

Applying for The US Visa

Type: F1 Where to go: Cyprus, Emirates, Turkey, Kuwait, Europe When? Right after receiving your admission letter you should make appointment. Clearance? 1-6 months (By chance)

Enjoy your Graduate studies in the US