Profile Evaluation For MS In US
Table of contents
- 1. Bachelor's percentage or GPA
- 2. Work Experience
- 3. Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- 4. Letter of Recommendations (LOR)
- 5. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- 6. IELTS / TOFEL
- 7. GRE
- 8. Internships, Workshops and Extracurricular Activities
- 9. Research Papers, Patents
- 10. Class X, Class XII grades
- 11. Backlogs
- Trivia
- Why is Bachelor's grade so important?
- How can I improve my chances if my Bachelor's grade is less?
Your profile evaluation for MS in US is a customary question in all the discussion groups and forums related to studying in the United States. It is natural to be anxious about your chances of getting admission in a university and program of your choice. There is no exact procedure for analysis of a prospective student’s profile. No one can accurately determine how your profile will fare against all the other students who have applied.
Although the profile evaluation for MS in US can be difficult to generalize, with expert help we have given a brief analysis of each criterion viewed during admission and come up with a general evaluation process. This list will help anyone who needs a preliminary idea about their chances of getting admission.
1. Bachelor's percentage or GPA
The average grade you received from your bachelor’s degree is an important factor in determining your successful application. Having a good academic background with impressive grades certainly improves your chances of getting a positive response from the university.
2. Work Experience
If you have work experience related to your course, it certainly adds value to your application. Not only does it get you brownie points for your university admission, it can also help you in finding part-time jobs.
3. Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Your SOP is your story. Your motivation, your interests, your ideas, your future plans, can all be expressed in your own words. In many cases, a compelling SOP will easily put you ahead of your peers which is why this calls to be the third most important document in your university application.
4. Letter of Recommendations (LOR)
LORs give the admission committee an in-depth idea about who you are as a person and what it is like to work with you, from a third party’s perspective. If possible, get your LORs from people in respected positions at your university/work place.
5. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
These are the tests conducted to test your English language proficiency. It is just an eligibility criterion for a master’s programme in any foreign university. Some universities and certain programs may require you to have a minimum score in TOEFL/IELTS score to be eligible to apply.
6. IELTS / TOFEL
These are the tests conducted to test your English language proficiency. It is just an eligibility criterion for a master’s programme in any foreign university. Some universities and certain programs may require you to have a minimum score in TOEFL/IELTS score to be eligible to apply. Securing good grades in these tests will enhance the score of your profile evaluation for MS in US.
7. GRE
The GRE Exam is one of the most crucial factors that will determine the success of your application. GRE tests your aptitude, reasoning and writing skills. The exam also tests your fundamental skills as a student and taking the test is mandatory in almost all universities in the US. Here again, GRE enhances the score of your profile evaluation for MS in US.
8. Internships, Workshops and Extracurricular Activities
Any relevant extracurricular activities will be complementary to your profile. Internships/traineeships will create a positive impression about you as a candidate. They are great fillers for education gaps as well as for the summer holidays. Participation in workshops and student clubs indicate that you are a proactive student, and are enthusiastic to participate in a variety of activities/events. Reinforce your application with all the essential and relevant voluntary experiences as well because they will be considered by the evaluators.
9. Research Papers, Patents
If you have published conference papers or published in a journal, it is going to add substantial credibility to your profile. These are significant indicators of your academic abilities.
10. Class X, Class XII grades
Your Grade X and Grade XII scores, combined with your recent CGPA, portray consistency in your academic performance. Academic history can play in your favour if your grades show a positive trend and have improved over time.
11. Backlogs
If you have a good GPA along with a few backlogs, you can simply justify it with reasons for the same in your Graduate Essay/SOP. Make use of these documents to explain your failings and provide adequate reasons. If your overall profile creates a positive impression, backlogs can be ignored.
Sample Profile
- Class X: 92 %
- Class XII: 89 %
- Bachelor's GPA: 9.08
- Work Experience: 2 years (in relevant field)
- GRE: 311
- IELTS: 7.5
- Research papers: 1
How to evaluate?
- Evaluate each criterion out of 100.
- Multiply with the respective fraction.
- Add up all the values to get a final prediction for the probability of getting an admit.
Interpretation of the result
Trivia
- If the final grade of your bachelor's falls between 60% - 70 %, your chances of selection may be low. However, if it falls below 60%, there is, unfortunately, no chance of bagging an admit.
- Though you have a good GPA, the relevance of the course and subjects in your undergraduate degree holds a lot of importance. For example, if you have pursued your Bachelor's in Biotechnology, it would be difficult to get an admit for a Chemical Engineering course unless you have relevant work experience. If you are planning to switch to a different field of studies, then make it a point to justify the same in your SOP.
- Always list your most recent experiences first while preparing documents.
- The profile evaluation is only for the initial stage. You may have to go through telephonic interviews, questionnaires and online tests as part of the admission process at some universities.
Why is Bachelor's grade so important?
Every year, universities in the US receive hundreds of applications from all over the world. All these profiles have a variety of grading systems, and different systems for assessing grades. Thus, the Bachelor’s GPA is highly influential in deciding your place at the University. Although this is not fair, they tend to value a profile with a higher GPA more than other credentials while conducting your profile evaluation for MS in US.
How can I improve my chances if my Bachelor's grade is less?
Here are a few things that can do to offset the effect of a low GPA and improve your chances of receiving an admit.
- Collect strong positive recommendation letters.
- Score well on online testsand perform well at interviews.
- Take up internships relevant to your course.
- Do relevant online courses and get certifications.
- Attend conferences and workshops.
- If there are any non-academic situations which may have had an impact on your performance, you can explain it in your SOP and indicate what you have done to overcome those circumstances. The most important thing is to formulate your statements to avoid sounding like you are making excuses.
Disclaimer: This post gives you an overall idea about theprofile evaluation for MS in US. The evaluation process will vary based on the university, the course, and is dependent on several other factors..
