The starting step for MS application is taking up of the pre requisites examinations namely GRE, and TOEFL. To start with these examination preparation, there are wide variety of websites which aids us in this process.
Basically, you can book slot for the exam and then start preparing for it, or you can do it the other way round, by preparing first and then booking for the exam at the end. The way you select depends upon your style of preference, but in keep in mind the fact that, for certain periods of months in a year, slots for GRE and TOEFL are really tough to avail. So it is best to draw a plan of when you are going to take the exam and view if the slots are available in that particular time.
Some of the preparation materials (around 1.55 GB) are available here. The list of the materials available in the torrent file are as follows:
http://www.bittorrent.am/torrent/4336568/100//MS-Application-GRE-&&-TOEFL-Materials-%28ALL-IN-ONE%29.html
TOEFL - Test of English as a foreign Language.
TOEFL is important for MS applications, as most of the universities have cut-off for TOEFL and if your profile does not meet certain constraint, then your application will not be considered at all. So its always good to have scores from 100 - 120, though it depends on the univ ranges like
100 - 120 A Range univs.
80 - 100 B Range univs.
65 - 80 C and D Range univs.
This exam basically concentrates on your Speaking, Writing, Reading, Listening skills of the english language. Its easy to score well through Reading, Listening parts when compared to Speaking and Writing sections. For Writing section, practice can lead to a decent score, though for speaking self-evaluation often overestimates your score. So, it is always best you seek advice from your friends / family about your speaking capabilities. For the preparation of TOEFL, the following list of materials are available in the torrent file:
GRE - Graduate Record Examinations.
GRE has three sections Quantitative, Verbal and Analytical Writing. Of these three, Quantitative is very easy to score, as it concentrates on elementary mathematics. Scoring in Verbal is bit tough, but numerous practice materials and mock up exams would result in a good score. Finally, analytical section concentrates on writing skill of english much the same like Writing part of the TOEFL. The difference is that in analytical section concentration would be given to quality writing with words that Verbal section concentrates, instead of the normal writing like in TOEFL. The range of scores for university selections falls like as below,
1350+ Q 700+ V 450-500+ AWA 4-4.5(depends on course) - A range univs
1000-1300 Q 660-700 V 350-450 AWA 3-3.5+(4 for some) - B range univs
900+ Q 600+ V 300+ AWA 3+ - C and D range univs
Note: The scores shown here are just predictions based on the university listings.
There are wide variety of materials for GRE and most of them would be for previous version GRE where you can ignore the Analytics section of the old exam. The torrent file includes all the materials for the preparation of GRE you would require at the most.
The links for registering the TOEFL and GRE exams are as follows:
http://www.ets.org/bin/getprogram.cgi?test=toefl
http://www.ets.org/bin/getprogram.cgi?test=gre
Examination Times
Taking up the GRE and TOEFL exams at particular times are important,for certain specific reasons
- Each univ has a specific deadline and applying well before the deadline enables one for financial aid, assistanship and others. So to apply on time, you should have finished your examinations well before.
- Sometimes when scores are accidentally low, due to inability to perform well on the particular day, its always best to rewrite the exam and apply to the univ. To have this time of retaking, its usually good to take the exams well before two months before deadline of application.
- Finally, all these process examinations, application, LOR SOP takes long time and planning things well before usually makes the process streamlined and easier.
So taking these considerations the best times to give up the GRE TOEFL exams are:
For Fall application
GRE: Jun - Sep(Oct) TOEFL: Aug - Sep(Oct) Application: Sep(Nov) - Dec.
For Spring application
GRE: Apr - Jun(Jul) TOEFL: May -Jun(Jul) Application: Jun(Jul) - Oct.
Note: The values in the brackets indicate taking exams at that time is risky for application process but it is also the correct time.
Validity of the Scores:
TOEFL score is valid for two years and GRE for five years from the time you took the exam. But it is problematic for many to understand this validity. By validity, it does not mean that by sending the score to the univ before the valid period entaitles you to not retake the exam. Your GRE and TOEFL score should be valid at the point of time when you join the University. Meaning if you planning for Fall '12 you score should be valid at the time of Aug '12. If you face the issue like you took the exam on Aug '10 and you are planning for Fall '12, its best to check your date of exam and the date of joining at the univ(you expect generally Aug 1st week - 3rd week), and decide yourself whether your valid period is expired at the time of joining or not. Its always best to mail to the Grad coordinator of the univ you wish to apply to check with this information, and if they are satisfied you could continue your application with having a mail proof for the same. Since, some univs accept the validity of TOEFL at the time issuing I20.
LOR and SOP
After taking the examinations you should be going through the LOR and SOP preparation. LOR - Letter of Recommendation is a letter written by any person who knows about you well and who should have worked with you in your academic curriculum ( can be in high school, college, manager in work, etc). Basically it should be written in the letter pad of the institution under which he/she is working with his designation, email and contact details. At the most three letters are required for each university, so its best you have some additional copies of it too.SOP - Statement of Purpose which comprises at most of thousand (1000) words indicating your intent of taking up the course at the prescribed university. This is one of the important document explaining your path of life and any changes occured / taken and how you take up your future path. It explains your life which can be from your elementary school, but mostly high school and undergraduation are the ones which is expected the most. Some universities ask for smaller - around 300 words, and needs to be addressed to a specific person, but (mostly) others do not. The LOR, SOP format and some templates are attached in the torrent for your reference.
University Selection
The next step in applying to MS is selecting the universities based on your profile. This step is the most critical step, as your decision will affect your money, education and time for the next two years after. Choosing an incorrect university will land you up in rejection, sometimes even worser, of transferring to the other university due to various reasons like not meeting the GPA requirements, high fee structure and so on. So please be careful while you select the universities.
University Selection starts with your choice of university based on your profile, which can be done with the help of numerous website which are already available, most of them are listed below to aid you in this direction:
http://www.msinus.com/ProfileEvaluation.htm
http://www.i20fever.com/selectiontour/
http://www.edulix.com/infobank/unisuggest.php
http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools
http://www.infozee.com/services/usa/univ-selection.htm
http://www.app2us.com/univ-selection/univ-selection.htm
http://www.foreigncampus.com/usa/univselection/univselection.htm
http://www.infozee.com/services/usa/univ-selection.htm
http://www.happyschoolsblog.com/
List of links and also a list of (around 100) universities containing information regarding fee structure, deadline of application, scholarschip / aid availability in the university for B range universities are collected and can be downloaded from the torrent file - Universities.doc.
Detail Steps
While selecting the universities, the major things which one needs to note down are - Fees, Deadline for application to the term (Fall / Spring), Scholarships / GA / TA / Fin aid availability in the univ, Research area in the course, Ranking of the univ, public / private - accrediation (just for verification), and the rest of things. The following steps gives the detailed explanation of items to look into every university,
Fees - Search for bursar / estimated cost / tuition fee / graduate cost of attendance or go through Prospective / Future Students -> International Student -> Tuition Fees Note: Total fee can be computed as four semester fees or 30 credits fee. Check in the univ website properly if the fee is semester or yearly. All A range univs are costlier than B and so on.
Deadline - Go through Prospective / Future Students -> International Student -> Application -> Deadline
Scholarship / aid information - Go through Prospective / Future Students -> International Student -> Financial Aid -> Scholarships / GA / TA
Research - Go through Department website -> Prospective / Future Students -> International Student -> Research Areas or Department website -> Research Topics or Univ website -> Academics -> Research or Univ website -> Academics -> Department -> Research and so on.
Ranking - Check in usnews website, also check in http://latestuniversityranking.blogspot.com/.
Course Details - Academics -> Course -> Course Schedule / Topics
Application Checklist - Go through Univ -> Prospective / Future Students -> International / Graduate Student -> Application -> Application Checklist or Department website -> Prospective / Future Students -> Graduate Student -> Application -> Application Checklist or search through the university website for Application Checklist
Applying - Go through Univ -> Prospective / Future Students -> International / Graduate Student -> Online Application / Click here to apply / Apply Now
Online Application:
Most universities (Almost all) request international student to apply online and it is the most convenient way of applying too. You will have to search for the Apply online link somewhere in the university website (which is easy to find), and fill up an online form where your details are requested. After submitting the form, you can pay the application fee amount through credit card (which is the easiest of all the ways). You can even pay the fee by using any other person credit card and it is in no way a consideration to them. Last but not least all the application materials should reach by post to the respected university before the deadline, filling an online application and sending the required materials after deadline in no way makes sense.
Note: The important things while applying online - Your name should match the name in the passport, date of birth should be in MM/DD/YYYY format and the application number(student number) generated should be noted down for future reference.
Application Materials:
The following are the list of application materials which (usually) needs to be sent to the University mailing address,
Copy of the passport (first page) indicating your full name
Official individual (if consolidated some universities asks for attested individual copies ) transcript(s) from the universities attended ( check with how many they need, some university asks for two )
Letter of Recommendation (two to three)
Note: Some universities ask seperate forms to fill up and send, in which case you will have to fill them up from your recommenders(if mandated), others request the recommenders to fill up an online form, others ask certain document to be filled up and sent (electronically email) to them. Follow up correctly with your univ requisition.
Statement of Purpose (1000 words max usually)
Note: Some universities ask for 300 words or less and also SOP addressed to certain persons, basically form up a SOP and modify according to any university you apply, this is how usually everyone does.
Affadavit of Support
Note: Some universities have forms to fill this up and send instead of the general format attached in the torrent.
Financial Documents indicating support
Note: Usually the sponsor will be your father. You can have any number of bank statements to indicate your financial support and it is not needed that it should be in a single account. All the documents should be on the letter pad of the bank with officially signed by the manager of the bank. Pls refer the templated in the torrent.
GRE TOEFL Score report copies
Note: This is not mandated but this will serve as an additional purpose that you have sent the Score to the university. By this way even if your score had gone late to the univ, they might consider this as temperary report to process your application.
Resume / Curriculum Vitae
Note: This is not mandated but this will serve as an additional purpose. Your resume should describe your academic projects mini projects with your professional experience details(if any).
Other documents - Copies of other documents like Paper submission, Awards, Certifications etc can be added to your Application materials.
Note: This is not mandated but this will serve as an additional purpose. You should keep copies of such documents which you have mentioned in your application and SOP or LOR. Such things serve for your extracurricular references.
Application Packet
Note: Enclose the application materials in a single big envelope addressed to the university with the "From address" over the envelope. Dont forget to mention the Application Number or Student number generated during the online application form. This is important for them to distinguish your application uniquely. Send the application packet through courier to enable you to track the packet.
The application status for some of the regular univs can be checked here.
SEVIS Fee
Sevis fee can be paid at fmjfee website after filling up of the I-901 form in the same website. One can book a VISA slot before SEVIS fee payment, but need to allow 3 business working days after the payment of SEVIS fee for successfull VISA interview, else your interview could be cancelled or held up for administrative purposes with an issue of blue slip. Please see references for SEVIS fee details links.
Visa Application
The following is the list of required documents for the purpose of Visa application
Financial Documents
This is the important step for Visa application, and there are many documents to prove the financial eligibility of one self. But usually the following list of documents are referred,
- Bank Statments (past six months preferably upto the date of Visa Appointment)
- Fixed Deposits (original reciepts)
- Auditor statement (including all your assets and liabilities with fixed immovable assets valuation details and every other information) Note: This is not mandated, though a statment of such form is usually presented to the Visa. One can prepare his own statement in case of not presenting the auditor statement, including the details of his sponsor and his own financial position.
- Fixed asset valuation provided by valuers (assets like individual plots etc are valued by specific valuers for their market value, usually construction agents will have the list of valuers and statements from valuers are also an additional proof for assets and liabilities)
- Bank Loan approval/ sanction letter. Note:Usually an acceptance letter will be provided after an application of loan to the prescribed bank. But for visa purpose just a letter in the letter pad or letter having bank seal issued by the bank manager stating the sanction of X amt for educational purpose will do, though in interview it should not be revealed that the letter is for the purpose of VISA alone. Most bank managers approve such letters for educational purpose. Refer a seperate attachment at the end for the format of such letter.
- Original fixed asset documents ( these are required as a proof)
Following Academic documents are required,
- University admission letter
- University I20 letter (original and signed)
- Degree certificate and transcripts
- College Degree marksheets
- HSC or 12th Marksheet
- 10th Marksheet
Experience Certificate
Note: Usually company letters with designation is enough though sometimes provisional notice or resignation letter is sought by certain Visa consulate members.
References:
The torrent links are:
