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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Apply to more than one institution.
US institutions receive many applications and
often cannot accommodate all qualified applicants.
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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. |
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Application fees will be listed
in the application materials you receive. Submit
the appropriate amount in US currency cheque or
draft with your application. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Submit verification of financial
support. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Carefully and promptly respond
to all inquiries you receive from the institutions
to which you are applying. |
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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. |
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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.
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