Applying for graduate studies

1

• Applying for graduate studies
• at American Universities
• A short guide for Romanian candidates
• with some personal opinions
• of
• Mihai A. GÎRTU, Ph.D.
• Assistant Professor of Physics,
• and
• Educational Adviser
• at the Ovidius University of Constanta

2
Overview

• The application process Main problems
  encountered by Romanian students
• The application process Overall planning and
  scheduling
• Details regarding the various steps of the
  application process

Problems for Romanian applicants

• Understanding the US educational system
• (equivalence between degrees,
  institutions, etc)
• Understanding the application process
• (what they need to do when to do it)
• Finding info resources getting info from
  universities
• Completing the application process
• Filling up the application forms
• Writing a good Statement of Purpose essay
• Getting suitable letters of recommendation
• Explaining special circumstances
• (need for financial aid, waiver of
  application fees, financial support for travel
  and accommodation, different grading system)
• Carrying out the process (not giving up)

3
The US Romanian Educational systems
Graduate studies
Studii postuniversitare
Universities
Graduate School PhD 2-4 years
Universitate Diploma de Doctor 3-4 ani
Medical School MD 4 years
Law School JD 3 years
Business School MBA 2 years
Diploma de Master 2 ani
MA/MS 2 years
Diploma St. Aprofundate 1 an
Undergraduate studies
Studii universitare
College or University Bachelors degree (BA/BS)
4 / 4-5 years
Universitate Diploma de Licenta/Inginer/Medic
4 / 5 / 6 ani
Colegiu Diploma de Absolvire 3 ani
Community College Associate degree (AA/AS) 2
years
High school / Liceu High school
graduation diploma / Diploma de Bacalaureat
4
Types of Higher Education institutions

• Two-year colleges (community, junior or technical
  colleges)
• Technical/vocational education
• First half of undergraduate education
• ? transfer to a 4 year college
• Four-year colleges
• Undergraduate education
• Universities
• Colleges - undergraduate education
• Eg. College of Arts and Sciences, College of
  Physical Sciences, etc.
• Schools - graduate/professional education
• Eg. Graduate School, Law School, Medical School,
  Business School, etc.

• undergraduate graduate
• Public institutions 600 600
• Private institutions 1200 600
• 2200 1200
• Total of students 15000000
• of foreign students 500000

5
Costs Financial aid

• Scholarships
• partial or full tuition waiver
• no work obligation
• Assistantships (teaching, research,
  administrative)
• tuition waiver plus stipend
• part time, on campus work obligations (teaching,
  research or administrative duties)
• Fellowships
• tuition waiver plus stipend
• no work obligation

6
General requirements/Application package

• Application forms
• Official copies of diplomas and transcripts
• Official translations of diplomas and transcripts
• Tests
• TOEFL
• GRE general and GRE subject (for sciences) or
  GMAT (for business)
• Statement of purpose essay
• Letters of recommendation
• Financial aid application or proof of financial
  support
• Application fee
• Approximate financial burden of the application
  process that one might expect
• Tests 125 125 150 400
• Application fees (15-100)( applic)
  300
• Translation of transcripts and diplomas
  150
• Mailing 100
• Other 50
• Total USD 1000

7
Statistics (source Open
Doors)
8
The application process
9
Financial aid tips for Graduate students

• The case for larger universities
• Advantages
• Many undergrads ? many teaching assistants
• Strong research ? many research assistants
• Many students ? many administrative assistants
• Variety of research opportunities
• Disadvantages
• Many applicants, strong competition
• The case for smaller universities
• Fewer applicants ( big fish in a small pond ?)
  
• There is more aid available for
• PhD students than for MS students
• (for longer term commitment better research
  skills)
• Science students than for arts and humanities
  students
• (due to state and private investment in science
  research)
• Second year students
• (need for better proof of competence)
• Note Arts and humanities students have
  opportunities for financial aid from sources
  other than the university

10
Financial aid for Professional and Business
students

• Professional programs (in medicine, law, etc.)
  are the most expensive
• Financial aid for professional programs is rarely
  available
• Financial aid for MBA programs is available but
  hard to obtain

Financial aid for Undergraduate students

• Primarily available at private universities
• Rarely covers full cost
• Special consideration given to students with
  special talent (athletic, artistic, etc.)
• May be given in the form of on-campus part-time
  employment
• Students with good scores at supplemental tests
  (SAT II) have increased chances

• In 1997-1998 financial aid was awarded by
  universities to
• 7 of international undergraduate students
• 36 of international graduate students

11
Selecting the right university

• Criteria
• Does the accredited university offer the degree
  you want in the field you want?
• Does the university/(specific department) have
  many international students?
• Does the university/(specific department) offer
  financial aid?
• How strong is the department?
• (ranking, research facilities, faculty,
  admission requirements)
• Select up to about 30 universities
• 5-10 where you have less chances to be admitted
• 10-15 where you have reasonable chances to be
  admitted
• 5-10 where you have good chances to be admitted
• Where is the university located?
• Costs of living
• Other Romanian students
• Friends and relatives or a Romanian community
  nearby
• Entertainment (Urban/rural area? Tourism
  opportunities?)
• Climate (Alaska versus Hawaii ?)
• Resources Petersons guide, Index of Majors
  Graduate degrees
• International Student Handbook, Funding for US
  Study

12
Requesting info

• Why it should be done well?
• (Incomplete letters of inquiry ? delays in
  finding info)
• Use special form Request for application
  material or
• Write a letter of inquiry
• Content
• State clearly from the very beginning what you
  are interested in
• Program (field of study and degree)
• Enrollment Date
• State your background and your qualifications
• Age and citizenship
• Degree and when it was received
• Tests taken or to be taken
• Any other information that makes you a strong
  candidate (relevant work experience, grades,
  knowledge of English, etc..)
• State what you want
• Information regarding the programs
• Information about financial aid available
• Application forms
• Format/Style
• Brief and clear (keep in mind who reads it
  clerks)

13
Search for a professor

• Why its a good idea?
• shows clear goals, motivation, determination,
  maturity ?
• ? increases chances of admission and getting
  financial aid
• Criteria for choosing the professor
• Field of interest
• Accomplishments
• Likelihood of strong funding
• Age
• (you dont want him/her to retire before
  youre done!)
• Administrative position
• (a dean/chair wont have time for you)
• How to find him/her?
• Look through the bibliography of your thesis
• Look through the info sent by the
  university/department
• Look on the web pages
• Search the web by subject to find the people
  involved

14
Letter to a professor

• Content
• What you want (attend graduate studies and work
  for him/her during your studies)
• Who you are
• Age and citizenship
• Degree and when it was received
• Tests taken or to be taken
• Relevant educational experience
• Classes taken
• Grades
• Professors that can recommend you
• Knowledge of English
• Research done and papers published
• Relevant work experience
• Any other information that makes you a strong
  candidate
• Why you chose to contact him/her and not somebody
  else
• Research interests
• Accomplishments in the field
• Why you think you can have a valuable
  contribution
• Style

15
Graduate admissions committees

• Members Mainly from the specific department
• Vice-Chair for graduate studies
• Secretary for graduate studies
• Faculty members
• US and foreign graduate students
• What do they want?
• Outstanding students ? good academic research
  results
• Committed and motivated students ? no drop outs
• Diversity of backgrounds ? students around the
  world
• Ethnical, religious diversity ? students around
  the world
• Admission criteria
• Outstanding test scores and GPA
• Strong Letters of Recommendation
• Convincing and memorable Statement of Purpose
• Note Compensation can work! Be sure to increase
  your
• chances even if you have weaker points!

Undergraduate admissions

• Admissions Office (for the whole University) ?
  ? clerks
• Admissions Committee (from the department) ? ?
  faculty members that can better evaluate you
• Similar requirements as above

16
Grades

• What is the correspondence between the US and the
  Romanian grading systems?

• What is a GPA (grade point average)?
• GPA grade ( credits / total
  credits)
• How important is the GPA?
• Minimum GPA requirements are specific
• Outstanding academic results are a plus
• Average academic results need to be compensated
  for by showing other strong points
• Transcripts notarization
• Only authorized translations and notarized
  transcripts and diplomas are accepted!!!

17
Tests

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
• Required for all foreign applicants
• Has 4 sections Listening, Structure, Reading,
  Writing
• Costs 125.
• GRE (g) (Graduate Record Examination - General
  test)
• Required for most science programs
• Has 3 sections Verbal, Quatitative, Analytical
• Costs 125.
• GRE (s) (Graduate Record Examination - Subject
  test)
• Recommended for some science programs especially
  when applying for financial support
• Costs 150.
• GMAT
• Required for business programs (MBA)
• Has 3 sections Analytical writing, Quantitative,
  Verbal
• Costs 190.

18
Statement of purpose

• Why it is important?
• It can increase chances of admission and
  getting financial aid!
• Keep in mind who reads it!
• The members of the admission committee are human
  and busy people!
• They have to read carefully, remember and sort
  hundreds of application packages
• What do they want? - Part I
• Outstanding students with high test scores and
  GPAs
• Committed and motivated students
• Students with a diversity of backgrounds
• Students from diverse ethnical, religious and
  cultural groups
• What do they want? - Part II
• To do a fine job in a minimum of time
• Conclusion
• Make their life easy by writing a convincing,
  brief and memorable Statement of Purpose

19
Statement of purpose

• Possible content
• Why you want to attend graduate studies
• Why you want to attend graduate studies in the
  USA
• Why you want to attend graduate studies at that
  particular university
• What your strengths are (relevant skills,
  knowledge, and experience, including the one
  outside the school environment, prizes and
  awards)
• Why you think you can be successful
• What the department has to gain by admitting you
• What your plans for the future are
• Style
• Be concise but not superficial
• Be clear and well organized
• Be honest about yourself but dont be excessively
  modest
• Be unique, show your strengths
• Be careful with English grammar and spelling
• Tips
• Start your writing well ahead
• Go back from time to time and polish it
• Prioritize
• Get it checked by somebody knowledgeable

20
Letters of recommendation

• Why they are important?
• They can increase the chances of admission
  and getting financial aid!
• Choose the right evaluator
• One that knows you well
• One that likes you
• One that can asses your qualifications
• One that can compare you with other students,
  both domestic and from abroad, preferably from US
• One that is recognized for integrity and
  achievements
• Help the evaluator
• Waive your right to see the letter
• Give him/her
• A copy of your Resume
• A copy of your Personal statement
• Resources of information
• Remind him/her to send the letters
• Be careful with confidentiality issues

21
Application package

• Application forms
• Are generally different from institution to
  institution
• Be careful with the name of your diplomas it may
  be better to write it in Romanian (Diploma de
  Bacalaureat, Diploma de Licenta) and mention
  their presumed American equivalents (High School
  Graduation Diploma, BA/BS)
• Ask for an application fee waiver
• given your special circumstances (low income)

Final tips

• Be consistent about your name
• careful with special characters
• Keep copies of all documents
• they may get lost in many circumstances
• Make sure the application dossier is complete
• Clerks may disregard the whole dossier for a
  missing file
• If a part of the dossier is missing state when it
  will be sent
• Make sure you meet the deadlines

22
Letters of acceptance or refusal

• A thick envelope is good news
• (it has housing, transportation, health
  care info)
• Make your choice after careful thought
• (financial aid / reputation / location)
• Accepting
• Thank for your being accepted
• State clearly that you plan to attend
• State that you are waiting for the I-20
• Refusing
• Thank for your being accepted
• State clearly but politely that you do not plan
  to enroll, as you will be attending another
  school
• Postponing the final decision
• Thank for your being accepted
• State clearly that you need until (specify the
  exact date) to make your final decision because
  you are waiting for an answer from a different
  school
• Postponing your attendance for various reasons
• Thank for your being accepted
• State clearly that you wish to attend graduate
  studies starting (Eg. the following fall) due
  to reasons

23
The visa application

• Types of visas
• F1 student visa (F2 student spouse visa)
• J1 exchange visitor visa (J2 spouse visa)
• M1 vocational student visa (M2 spouse visa)
• B visitor visa
• Visa requirements
• Passport valid over the period of study
• I-20 for F1 or IAP-66 for J1
• Admission as full time student
• Proof of financial resources
• Proof of strong financial and family related
  reasons to return to Romania after completion of
  the program
• At the interview
• Be honest - speak for yourself
• Be confident
• Show good command of English
• Show that you have strong reasons to return
• Dont be too modest - Show your strengths
  achievements