Graduate Studies

Applying

Each US graduate school sets its own requirements for admission. Therefore, these guidelines are general, and you must consult universities/departments for specific information on admission requirements.

Obtain information about institutions that offer the program you want to pursue. Use the general reference guides or websites such as www.educationusa.state.gov to locate institutions which offer the program you are seeking. Select about 10 you are interested in applying to.

Consult Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education to ensure that the institutions to which you are applying are accredited. Specialized accreditation is also important in fields leading to professional practice (i.e., engineering, architecture, and pharmacy). If professional accreditation is available in your field, the program to which you apply should be accredited as well as the institution itself.

Register as early as possible for TOEFL, GRE, GMAT (or other requested tests) and request that your scores be sent to the institutions to which you are applying. Register for the exams at least two months before the application deadlines of the schools you are interested in.

Write to the Graduate Admissions Office or the department to request information and application forms. Indicate the major academic area of interest to you. Carefully print your name and address on all inquiries. Make certain the name you use in correspondence is EXACTLY the same as the name on your credentials and other supporting documents and test scores.

Read thoroughly all materials received to determine whether the program you want is offered, whether you can meet the application deadlines. If you require financial assistance, determine whether it is available for your proposed program.

Apply to more than one institution. US institutions receive many applications and often cannot accommodate all qualified applicants.

Complete the admissions application carefully and legibly. Always give your name in the same way on your application and in all future correspondence. If some of your credentials or records are under a different name or spelling, be sure to indicate this on the application. Submit all items requested before the deadline.

Application fees will be listed in the application materials you receive. Submit the appropriate amount in US currency cheque or draft with your application.

Request your official academic records and submit them both in the native language and in certified English translation. Official documents must bear the seal of the school and authorized signature(s). Certified photocopies are usually acceptable. Records should be submitted for all postsecondary schools attended. Take the original documents with you to the US as the institution you attend may wish to see them. Submit letters of recommendation as required. Identify individuals you have come to know through classes, work and activities. A good reference will meet several of the following criteria: the recommender has a high opinion of you, knows you well in more than one area of your life, is familiar with the institutions to which you are applying as well as the kind of study you are pursuing, has taught or worked with many students and can make a favorable comparison of you with your peers, is known by the admissions committee, and is regarded as someone whose judgement should be given weight, and has good written communication skills. No one person is likely to satisfy all these criteria, so choose those people who come closest to the ideal.

If you are returning to school after working for several years, you may not be able to find professors who remember you. Contact the graduate schools and see what their policies are. They may waive the requirement of recommendation letters or allow you to substitute letters from employers.

Once you have decided whom to ask for recommendations, ask them if they feel they know you well enough to write a meaningful letter. Provide them with supporting materials that will assist them in writing a good, detailed letter. Examples of such materials are transcripts, a resume, a copy of your application essay, and a copy of a research paper. Recommendations must be written and signed by the faculty members themselves. It is helpful to provide them with addressed, airmail-stamped envelopes and a copy of the university's "letter of recommendation form" for their convenience.

Submit verification of financial support.

Note the application deadlines in the information you receive. Deadlines will differ. Apply early. Stated deadlines are generally the final date for receipt of applications and all supporting documents as well as official test (TOEFL, GRE, GMAT) scores.

When filling out the application forms, pay special attention to the 'statement of purpose' or 'personal statement'. For most universities, this is a very important part of the application. In the statement of purpose, you may want to address the following: research or work you have done which is relevant to your graduate program; your particular interest in the university (i.e., indicate that you have researched the university/department and carefully matched it to your academic interest), your specific personal, academic and career goals as related to your graduate studies; and any additional information which is relevant and which will distinguish you from other applicants.

Carefully and promptly respond to all inquiries you receive from the institutions to which you are applying.

Allow at least eight weeks after your application file at an institution is complete before expecting to receive an admissions decision. Many schools send offers of admission only in March and April.

A Certificate of Eligibility (I-20_ cannot be issued until you have been admitted, your English proficiency has been determined, and your funding has been established as sufficient to meet the institution's expenses. A Certificate of Eligibility is valid only for study in the institution issuing it - and only for the starting dates specified. Once you receive the I-20 you can apply for a visa. Notify an institution if you will not be accepting their offer of admission.