Here are some tips to help you apply for a Graduate Programme in the US -
- Make sure you and/or your education counselor do an extensive survey of various universities' websites to shortlist the universities you apply to. Apply to as many programmes as possible, according to what you can afford.
- Make sure your research interests match with the research strength of the Department and there are experts in your area in the Department.
- Choose your recommendation letters writers carefully - they may or may not be famous, but they should be in academics, or your superiors if you are in an academic job and they should be able to comment positively on your academic and research abilities. Also, they should send the letter before deadline.
- Write your SOP carefully, review it several times and proof-read it carefully. Ask another person to proof-read it as well and give you comments. Be very direct about what you have done, what you want to do, how you have prepared yourself to do it and how this Graduate programme helps you to achieve your goals.
- Before you begin to prepare your applications, contact potential advisors, tell then briefly about your profile and what you want to do and ask them if it is advisable for you to apply there.
- Explore the ranking of the programmes in US News, NRC list, Times Higher Education and QS Ranking lists. Apply to as highly-ranked programmes as possible, considering the strength of your application.
- Remember that a candidate from a higher-ranked university than yours will almost always top you in the job market. Ranking matters a lot in the US academia.
- Hence, if your education advisor offers you guaranteed admission in a low-ranked non-funded programme, don't fall into the trap. Such programmes will leave you nowhere in the job market after you get your degree.
- Provide the best writing sample you have and see that it relates to the field you are applying in. Check it several times and proof-read it yourself and get it proof-read by another person as well.
- If you will go for funding, check the websites to confirm that there is funding available. If this information is not there on the website, write to the Department and ask if there is funding in this programme. Tell them your citizenship and residency status while asking about this.
- Make sure you have taken at least 4-6 courses in the discipline in which you are applying. Most US universities require prior training in the discipline, unless their website specifically says that they don't require it. MBA and Masters in Social Work programmes are exception to it, but they are mostly not funded.
- Check the success rate of the alumni of this department in last few years. Write to the department yourself to find out.
- Don't get tempted by your education counselor to go for a low-ranked non-funded programme, if the success rate of the students of this programme is low. Chances are your degree from this department will not be valuable in the job market. So, it's really a waste of money to go for such programmes by paying a lot of money.
- Especially if the payment of a lot of money is involved, find out the ranking and success rate of the alumni of this programme.
- Don't presume that this US degree will open doors of success for you.
- Please know that many candidates have fallen into this trap before you and have suffered because their non-funded and low-ranked programme didn't get them success in their field.
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