This document provides information about applying to graduate studies in the United States. It outlines the 5 step application process, including pre-application, testing, final applications, receiving application results, and student visa interview. Key details are provided on each step, such as shortlisting schools, registration for exams like TOEFL and GRE, application requirements and timelines. Financial assistance options for graduate studies like teaching and research assistantships are also summarized. The document aims to guide Indian students through pursuing further education in the US.

1. H L O AND W L
EL
E COM
E
T T E AM RICAN CE E
O H
E
NT R
AND USE I !
F
My name is Dr. S. Mullick and
I’ m the Regional Officer & Educational
Adviser of USEFI-Kolkata

2. USE I-K K A P SE S
F OL AT RE NT
A BASIC INFORMATION
SEMINAR ON
THE APPLICATIONS & ADMISSIONS
PROCESS FOR GRADUATE STUDIES
IN THE U.S.A.

3. USEFI is a bi-national entity,
established by a treaty between the
Governments of India and the USA
on February 2, 1950 to promote
mutual understanding between
Indians and Americans through
educational and cultural exchange.

4. WHY STUDY IN THE U.S.A.
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Academic Excellence
Quality Assurance
Choice
Flexibility
Hands-on Training
Global Acceptability
Financial Assistance
Campus Diversity
Career Advantage

5. SOME GENERAL INFORMATION
Over 3000 Universities and Colleges to
choose from
Independent Admission Policies &
Requirements – pose your queries to the
schools directly
Most schools will want a minimum of 16
years of education for 1 st year Master’s
admission
Start the applications process at the
beginning of your 16 th year of education –
your admission year in the US is the
following year

6. 5 STEPS OF THE APPLICATIONS
& ADMISSIONS PROCESS
Step 1. Pre-Application
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Shortlist about 50 Schools
Prepare Pre-Applications:
On 1 sheet, no enclosures, write your
educational background, what you want to
study, request for financial aid, etc.
Follow the format in USEFI’s pre-printed forms
costing Rs. 30/- for a set of 10
Send Pre-Applications by mail, or email
Time Frame: April-July

7. HOW TO SHORTLIST SCHOOLS
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Availability of your Degree and Specialization
Reputation & Quality of the Program
Accreditation of Program
Competitiveness of Admissions
Acceptance/Enrolment
Cost/Financial Aid Availability
Research & Computer Lab Facilities
Faculty Profile
Course Curriculum
Placement/Career Counseling
Foreign Student Support Services

8. 5 STEPS OF THE APPLICATIONS
& ADMISSIONS PROCESS
Step 2. Testing
TOEFL/GRE (for Sc, Arts, Hum applicants)
TOEFL/GMAT (for MBA applicants)
 Registration: at least 1 month in advance
 Testing Deadline: by end-November
 Preparation: at least 3 months
 Pick up the free Info Bulletins at USEFI
 Purchase USEFI’s TOEFL and GRE VCDs

9. REGISTRATION & OTHER FEES
TEST
TOEFL
GRE
GMAT
Test Fee
$140.00
$160.00
$250.00
Rescheduling Fee
$ 40.00
$ 40.00
$ 50.00
Additional Score
Reporting per
institution
$ 17.00
$ 15.00
$ 28.00

10. SCORE COMPARISONS: iBT Vs CBT
TOEFL iBT TOEFL CBT
Total Score
(* Maximum Score)
Total Score without
Speaking Section
120*
106-108
83
300*
263
220
90
80-81
62-63
300
263
220

11. 5 STEPS OF THE APPLICATIONS
& ADMISSIONS PROCESS
Step 3. Final Applications
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Final shortlist: 8-10
Deadline: early/mid December
Contents: Attested marksheets, Statement
of Purpose, Letters of Recommendation (3),
Test scores, application fee, other items
such as project synopsis, employment
history, research experience, published
article, anything you feel would strengthen
your application.

12. What Admissions Committees look for
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Your previous academic background
Classes taken
Test scores
Letters of reference
Essays and Statements of Purpose
Resume
Your potential as a student
Achievements
Uniqueness
What you will bring to the “mix”
How well you know the school

13. 5 STEPS OF THE APPLICATIONS
& ADMISSIONS PROCESS
Step 4. Application Results:
(Feb - Jul)
 Admission with Full Financial Aid (PhD applicants)
(
 Admission with Partial Financial Aid (Masters
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applicants in Engineering and Sciences)
Admission without Aid (MBA and professional
programs)
Sorry, no admission, (and obviously, no aid)
I-20 – official form issued by a Univ giving all details
about your course

14. 5 STEPS OF THE APPLICATIONS
& ADMISSIONS PROCESS
Step 5. Student Visa Interview
 Passport, I-20, Financial documents,
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Educational documents, other documents
Convince about (i) adequacy of funds (ii)
intention of returning to India
The US remains a very welcoming country
for foreign students

15. 5 STEPS OF THE APPLICATIONS &
ADMISSIONS PROCESS:
How to proceed?
STRONGLY
1.
RECOMMENDED:
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION PACKAGE
PURCHASE
RS. 500/ ONL
Y
P
re-Application F
orms
If You W
ant to Study in the US
H
andy H
ints for Graduate Applicants
USE I’s GRE & T F VCDs
F
OE L
A
GRADUATE

16. 5 STEPS OF THE
APPLICATIONS &
ADMISSIONS PROCESS:
How to proceed?
2.
TAKE AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP OF USEFI AND GET THE
FULL PRIVILEGES
- LIBRARY FACILITIES
- XEROXING
- ATTENDANCE AT SPECIAL WORKSHOPS
- INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING
- FORM FILLUP ASSISTANCE
- ……… AND MUCH MORE ………..

17. UPCOMING SEMINARS AT USEFI FOR
ANNUAL 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

18. And f inally …
P Departure
reOrientation
THE UNITED STATES EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION IN INDIA
American Center, 38A Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata 700071
Phone 2288-1200/1637, usefical@giascl01.vsnl.net.in
<www.fulbright-india.org>

19. SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
THE 16TH YEAR
REQUIREMENT
NO PROBLEM FOR 12+4 CANDIDATES
BIG PROBLEM FOR 12+3 OR 12+2
CANDIDATES
IF 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.

20. Financial Support
 Does not depend ONLY on Test
scores or previous academic
background – depends on the quality
of your total application
 Cost of education: $10k to $40k p.a.
 Professional Courses like MBA: DO
NOT EXPECT FINANCIAL AID

21. Types of Funding: Assistantships
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Teaching (TA):
Awarded by
department with
concurrence of grad
deans. Must
demonstrate spoken
English (TSE) and
teaching experience.
Can be in other
departments
(languages, math).
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Research (RA):
Awarded by
professors.
Contributes to your
thesis research.
Graduate (GA):
Awarded by grad
school.
Administrative,
computer work,
library work.

22. Types of Funding: other
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Fellowships or
Tuition Scholarships:
awarded by grad
school, based on
academic merit.
On-campus jobs: 20
hours/week, pocketmoney
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Internships: Offcampus, payment
varies, good
experience.
Co-op Programs: Offcampus, full-time,
pays well, good
experience.

23. Patterns and Trends
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Admission getting easier as number of
applicants decreases.
More funding is available for PhD programs
than for Master’s programs.
Research and Doctoral universities have far
more money than Master’s institutions
More funding is available for academic
programs than for professional programs.
More funding is available in the sciences than in
social sciences or humanities.
Many programs don’t offer funding until the
second year.