Overview Of The Application Process For MS In US
Overview of the Application Process for MS in US
Welcome! We want to help you with your application process for MS in US by guiding you through every step of your application process. However, where does it start and what do you do next? Let us understand the 16 general steps that you need to go through to jump-start your application process for MS in US.
Application Process for MS in US – Getting Started
Table of contents
- STEP 1: Get your Passport
- STEP 2: Take an English Proficiency Test
- STEP 3: Take the GRE Test
- STEP 4: Get your Bachelor's Transcript and Educational Certificates
- STEP 5: Prepare your Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- STEP 6: Prepare a Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- STEP 7: Collect your Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
- STEP 8: Prepare a list of Target Universities to apply
- STEP 9: Send Applications to University
- STEP 10: Apply for Education Loan
- STEP 11: DS160 Form, SEVIS Fee and Visa Appointment
- STEP 12: Take the Travel Insurance
- STEP 13: Apply for the US Student VISA
- STEP 14: Book your Flight
- STEP 15: Get a Travel Money Card
- STEP 16: Pack your bags and say bid adieu!
- Academic Certificates
STEP 1: Get your Passport
Assuming that you are just beginning with your documentation process, your first task is to get a passport. It is the prime identification you will have when you travel abroad as an Indian Citizen. It is essential that you have an Indian passport before starting your application process for MS in US. Refer to the link below to know the entire process of obtaining a passport in India. Please note that this step is not optional.
STEP 2: Take an English Proficiency Test
As an Indian, English is not your first language. You may need to prove your English language proficiency in order to apply for a master’s program. Taking an English language test (IELTS/TOEFL) is the solution. The IELTS is a popular and considerably easier option that is widely accepted by the American universities. This link will help you with everything you need to know about the TOEFL and IELTS tests.
STEP 3: Take the GRE Test
The GRE Exam is considered to be an important admission criterion for prospective students aspiring to pursue a master’s degree in the US. The GRE test stands for Graduate Record Examinations and requires more time for preparation as compared to the IELTS/TOEFL language test. This section will brief you more on the GRE Exam.
STEP 4: Get your Bachelor's Transcript and Educational Certificates
Universities get thousands of applications per semester every year which need to be assessed and a decision has to be made whether to accept/reject them. University admission committees use transcripts from your bachelor’s degree, which is a compiled statement of all your semester grades, to decide. Your bachelor’s transcripts are a mandatory requirement before you start your application process for MS in US. Along with the transcripts, your education certificates are also necessary. . Click on the link below for more details.
STEP 5: Prepare your Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Your CV is another important document listed on every university’s application requirements. It is necessary that you create your CV based on the university and program that you are applying for , and update it with your most recent study/work experience. This section will help you with the process of creating/updating your CV.
STEP 6: Prepare a Statement of Purpose (SOP)
The Statement of Purpose mainly portrays the purpose with which you are applying to the University. The Statement of Purpose is perhaps one of the most important documents for your application process for MS in US. You need to prepare this document from scratch. A good SOP often takes more effort and time than you may expect it to . Check out this section for more information and get started on writing your SOP.
STEP 7: Collect your Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
A Letter of Recommendation is a positive personal assessment given by your supervisor/ professor/employer. LORs play an important role in getting you admission into the course and university you want as it expresses your strengths from a third person’s point of view. You may need to collect about 2-3 LORs from your past/current supervisors, managers or professors . Go through this section for further details.
STEP 8: Prepare a list of Target Universities to apply
Once all your documents are ready, you can begin the next stage of your application process for MS in US. It is now time to start shortlisting universities based on your profile and preferences. It might take some time to go through all the universities and analyze their program modules, curriculum and other details. Make sure you have multiple program options that match your profile and career goals. Check this section for more information on the same. World University Rankings for MS In US:
STEP 9: Send Applications to University
You have your documents ready and universities shortlisted. It is now time to start the application process for MS in US. Most universities require you to first apply on their online admission portal and then send out the hard copies of the documents if selected . Visit your target university’s website and check details on the application procedure, they may vary from one university to another. Read further into this section to learn more about the process.
STEP 10: Apply for Education Loan
You may have to apply for an education/student loan to support yourself during your stay in the USA, i.e. for your tuition fee, travel and living expenses. Once you receive an offer letter from the university, you need to get the i20. To get the i20, you need to present your bank statements, loan letter, or scholarship letter. Applying for a student education loan could be a tiring and confusing process. This section explains the whole process and gives you some important tips.
STEP 11: DS160 Form, SEVIS Fee and Visa Appointment
Once you get the i20, you need to complete the DS 160 form depending on the type of visa you will be applying for. This is followed by paying the SEVIS fee and then scheduling the visa appointment. Read more about the types of visa, the fee to be paid and the visa procedures for MS in US in this section.
STEP 12: Take the Travel Insurance
Your travel insurance covers any risks involved during your journey to the US. Check this section for information on travel insurance.
STEP 13: Apply for the US Student VISA
This is the last step of the application process for MS in US. You need to decide the type of visa you will need for your Master’s. Here you will get some clarity on the types of student visas in the US.
STEP 14: Book your Flight
This is the final step before your visa Interview – booking the flight tickets. If you are not familiar with the flight booking procedure, check out this section for the step-by-step procedure of booking an international flight.
STEP 15: Get a Travel Money Card
Once you arrive in America it may take you some time before you can withdraw money from your US bank account. A prepaid Travel Money Card will come in handy in such situations. Learn more about Travel cards in this section.
STEP 16: Pack your bags and say bid adieu!
Now it’s time to sit back on the couch and let your mom take care of the packing! Just kidding, you cannot be negligent about this part. Get the shopping list ready and be smart about the things you need to carry. A number of factors need to be kept in mind while packing – the weather of USA, a suitable snack for travel, clothing required, etc. Read this section to learn about everything you need to take care of during the last few days in India.
Academic Certificates
- All your academic grade cards are necessary when applying for your master’s.
- Your academic certificates may be referred by different names. Do not get confused by it.
- Usually, you will need to submit your 10th grade marks card, 12th grade marks card and bachelor’s degree certificate.
- Your 10th grade marks card might also be referred to as Secondary School Certificate.
- Your 12th grade marks card might also be referred to as High School Certificate.
- Apart from these, you may also be required to submit proof of any Entrance Exams you have attempted and passed.
- If you have not received your final Bachelor’s Degree yet, you can provide the Provisional Degree Certificate instead.
- Sometimes, a few universities might also request all the Semester cards as well. Make sure you have all of it ready.
- If any of the documents are not in English, get certified translations of the same.
- Most of the Universities require you to scan and upload the documents on their online application portal. Only a few universities require the traditional method of having documents be sent by post.
- If you are uploading certificates online, make sure you make a single PDF of the certificate along with the translated version.
- All scanned documents must have clearly visible information.
- If you are sending your documents by postal services, NEVER send the original documents. There might be chances your mail might get lost/misplaced. Always send notarized copies of your documents.
- Apart from all the academic certificates, for your application process for MS in US, your university might also require you to send your Bachelor’s program curriculum.
