The document provides information about applying to graduate schools abroad, specifically focused on opportunities in the United States. It discusses Indonesia Mengglobal, a network of Indonesian students and alumni from top global schools. The author shares their experience applying to Harvard Kennedy School despite myths that only top students with connections get accepted. The document provides tips for various aspects of the application process, including why pursue graduate education abroad, program types, essay writing, recommendations, standardized tests, and resources for researching school options.

1. Applying to Schools Abroad?
Here’re Why and How
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Donny Eryastha

2. AGENDA
1. Indonesia Mengglobal video: Harvard Kennedy School
2. Introduction to Indonesia Mengglobal
3. My own experience
4. Studying abroad: why and how
1. Q&A
www.indonesiamengglobal.com
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3. What is Indonesia Mengglobal?
 A network of over 90 students and alumni of top global schools,
i.e. Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Columbia, Cambridge, ANU, etc
 A website with more than 200 articles on school and scholarship
application. The website was published in March 2012, and there
are currently > 100 writers and contributors.
 Syndication with the JakartaGlobe, Kompas.com, and the USIndonesia Joint Council on Higher Education Partnership.
 Conducts informational events, essay clinic, mentorship program.
www.indonesiamengglobal.com
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4. The questions…
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5. Why go to graduate schools abroad?
•
For better education
“None of Indonesian universities are among the top 200 best universities
according to Times Higher Education World University Ranking.”
•
For better career
“Median earnings of those with a graduate degree are an average of
38.3% higher than those with a bachelor's degree in the same field.”
–Georgetown study
•
For the experience
“My years at Harvard are among the most fun, enriching years in my life.”
–Donny Eryastha
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6. Why Harvard Kennedy School?
1. It’s Harvard
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7. Why Harvard Kennedy School?
2. It’s the Kennedy School
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8. Why Harvard Kennedy School?
3. The money
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9. My own experience..
Myths
Facts
•
Harus cum laude, lulusan terbaik
•
Bukan cum laude, bukan lulusan terbaik
•
Anak orang terkenal
•
Bukan anak orang terkenal
•
Rekomendasi dari orang terkenal
•
Rekomendasi bukan dari orang terkenal
•
Pekerjaan sesuai jurusan yang dilamar
•
Pekerjaan tidak sesuai jurusan
•
Harus dapat beasiswa dulu/bayar sendiri •
Belum dapat beasiswa /tidak sanggup bayar sendiri
•
Harus ikut les TOEFL/GRE
•
Tidak ikut les TOEFL/GRE
•
Sudah pernah berkunjung ke sekolah
•
Tidak pernah ke Amerika
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10. Basic principles of graduate school application
•
It is POSSIBLE for Indonesian graduates to get accepted in the best universities
in the world. Every element of application CAN be prepared.
•
Allocate significant time and resources for school application; it could be the
MOST IMPORTANT action in your life.
•
Focus on getting accepted into good school first, NOT on getting scholarship.
•
Prepare ALL aspects of school application, NOT LIMITED TO standardized tests.
•
Forget MYTHS that are not productive to application preparation.
•
Research school options EXTENSIVELY.
•
Apply to SEVERAL schools strategically.
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11. School options for college graduates: Degrees (USA)
MASTER Degree
DOCTORATE Degree
Taking more advanced and specific
classes in a specialized field
Taking more advanced and specific
classes in a specialized field
Research may be required
Research is required and is the bulk of
the experience
Thesis may be required
Thesis and publication are nonnegotiable
Typically 1 to 2 years
Typically 4 to 6 years.
Industry-oriented track
Academic track (teaching component)
 Internships strongly encouraged
Close working relationship with adviser
and professor(s)
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12. School options for college graduates: Types of schools (USA)
Professional Schools
BUSINESS School
POLICY School
Graduate School
>2 years of experience
>2 years experience
Can be done straight from
undergraduate
Prepares graduate for
career in private sector
Prepares graduates for
career in government,
non-profit, int’l org.
Switching is easier
(technical/non-technical)
Accepts almost all
backgrounds.
Hard and soft skills
(technical/specialization)
Accepts almost all
background.
Learn from business cases
and soft skills
Concentration, e.g.
 Marketing
 Finance
 Entrepreneurship
Learn from cases and soft Major, e.g.
 Social Sciences
skills
(Economics, Political
Science, Sociology)
Concentration, e.g.
 Engineering (Chemical,
 Economic
Electrical, Civil,
development
Computer)
 Social policy
 Science (Physics,
 International affairs
Chemistry, Biology)
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13. School application: Essay (1/2)
What is graduate school application essay?
“An important element of application – the only opportunity to speak about
yourself directly to the admission committee”
What should I write in the essay?
“Most importantly, make sure you answer the question in the essay prompt then
incorporate (smoothly) anything you’d like the admission committee to know
about yourself – your experience, your achievement, your personality, you
name it”
Be interesting, a bland admission essay can put an overworked admission
committee to sleep!
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14. School application: Essay (2/2)
TIPS:
 Can be generic, but tailor to the institution you are applying to
 Personalize your essay
 Seek for opinions from others
 Never lie, exaggeration is often justifiable
 No grammatically error and typo
 Think how to make your essay stand out among other applicants
 Spare enough time (months, not days!) to prepare
 Target the institution
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15. School Application: Recommendation Letter
What is recommendation letter?
“A letter from people who know you very well, generally at a higher level, that can
reflect your quality”
TIPS:
Request from someone who knows about yourself (professor, work supervisor)
 Make sure that the letters are written in favor of you
 Higher credibility from famous people
Help the person you are asking recommendation letter from:
 Tell them your strengths, areas of interest, and aspirations
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16. School application: Standardized test (1/2)
TOEFL (IBT – Internet Based
Test)
Types of questions: multiple
choice (reading and
listening), and essay (writing)
# Sections:
 Reading
 Listening
 Speaking
 Writing
Highest score: 120. Typical
score for top schools:
Minimum 100 – 110.
IELTS
Usually for UK-based and
Australian-based schools.
Type of questions are more
varied: multiple choice, short
answers, diagrams, charts,
true/false.
#Sections:
 Reading
 Listening
 Speaking
 Writing
Highest score: 9.0 ; Typical
score for top schools:
minimum 6.0 – 7.0
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17. School application: Standardized test (2/2)
GMAT
GRE
LSAT
•Graduate Management
Admission Test is designed to
assess applicants’ ability in
continuing advanced study in
business and management.
•Graduate Record Exam is
designed as a measuring tool
and is required by most
graduate schools in admission
process.
# Sections:
 Analytical writing
assessment
 Integrated Reasoning
 Quantitative
 Verbal
•Law School Admission Test is
a standardized and required
test for JD program
admissions at all law schools
that are members of Law
Schools Admission Council.
# Sections:
 Verbal Reasoning
 Analytical Writing
 Quantitative
Reasoning
Typical score for top schools:
above 700.
Typical score for top schools:
600 for Verbal,700 and above
for Quant Reasoning, 3.5 and
above for Writing.
Score range: 200 – 800.
Score range: 200 – 800.
# Sections:
 Reading
Comprehension
 Analytical Reasoning
 Logical Reasoning
 Writing
Typical score for top
schools: above 160.
Score range: 120 – 160.
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18. More resources and Q&A
www.indonesiamengglobal.com
@IndoMengglobal
http://www.facebook.com/IndoMengglobal
Donny Eryastha
Email: donny@indonesiamengglobal.com
Visit our website and subscribe!
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