More than 200,000 international students chose to study at US universities and grad schools last year, with graduate applications beginning to exceed pre-September 11 levels. So why is the USA the most popular study abroad destination for international graduate students?
The structure of a US graduate degree differs from those offered, for instance, in the UK. There are no pure research degrees. Masters degrees and PhD programs will always involve a combination of research and taught courses and the evaluation of performance continuously assessed through classroom participation, examinations and papers. While this may produce a workload that many students often find heavy and highly structured, the US system is also highly flexible. Aisling Conboy, an advisor at the US Education Advisory Service, US-UK Fulbright Commission (EAS), is a graduate of Central Michigan University’s Master’s program in history, says of her experience “By meeting regularly with other students on my course I made good friends and could discuss the coursework and reading, rather than simply discussing class issues with professors alone. This would often motivate me and was also a good resource in terms of finding out about relevant books or articles.”
The academic year in the US lasts nine months and is divided into semesters. The number of semesters per year varies depending on which system the university follows. The most common is the semester system, which breaks the academic year into two terms, usually called “Fall” and “Spring” semesters. Universities express their graduate coursework requirements in terms of a specified number of “credits”, “hours” or “units”, instead of having a specific timescale as in many other international education systems. Each individual course is worth a certain number of credits, hours or units.
A realistic full-time course load for a graduate student is likely to be 24 semester hours, which translates to between three and four courses per term.
EAS recommends that students interested in pursuing graduate study in the US begin researching 18 months before they plan to enrol. In addition to the application forms, students will be expected to complete essays, obtain recommendations, provide transcripts and take admission tests. Simon Ruben, a student at New York University, says, “How ever hard and long the application process was, I knew that the quality of the degree would be the best thing for my ambitions. It was worth the hard work!” In the first instance, students should begin by identifying courses in their subject area.
It is recommend that students apply to between three and six universities, as applying to one or two can be a risky strategy if an application is rejected or no funding is available. When choosing where to apply, things to consider include location, university size, tuition fees and number of international students. The most important factor for graduate study, particularly for PhD study, is to make sure the department is a good match for your particular area of interest. US universities are keen to get a total picture of each applicant and, while obviously wanting students with the best academic records, will also take into consideration other factors that may affect academic performance.
Most universities in the US will require that an applicant sits at least one standardized test. Depending on the selected field of study, the following standardised tests are generally required:
· The Graduate Record Exam (GRE), the most commonly required, is for applicants to humanities and arts & sciences courses.
· The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is for admission to a business school program.
· The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), for non-native speakers of English, though this may be waived for those non-native speakers who have been educated for three years or more in English.
These tests are generally comprised of several multiple-choice sections and an essay. Each takes three to four hours to complete with strict time limits on each section. The scores are sent directly to the universities applied to and no matter how many applications are submitted, a student need only take the applicable standardized test once. To find out more information on each of these tests please refer to www.ets.org.
Each university has its own admission requirements. Contact the director of graduate admissions for prospectuses, application forms and financial aid information or refer to the university’s website.
Letters of recommendation are an essential part of the application and care should be taken in choosing referees.
Above all else, it is important that referees are familiar with the student’s academic work and can discuss an applicant’s academic and intellectual potential.
US universities require a statement of purpose from candidates as part of the application process. This is an opportunity to distinguish oneself from other applicants. The goal is to write a clear, concise and persuasive statement that sincerely reflects the applicant’s views and aspirations. The university and graduate department will be looking for an essay that touches on academic or research interests; the reason for wanting to pursue graduate study; strong and specific reasons for choosing that institution; future career goals; how graduate study will help to achieve those goals; and relevant extracurricular experiences or personal qualities not discussed elsewhere in the application.
It is important to check all university admissions deadlines carefully. US university deadlines are firm and applicants must ensure that the full application pack has reached the university before the required date. This includes the non-refundable application fee, which ranges from $30 to $100 per institution. Some universities offer a rolling admissions process, which means that applications will be accepted until spaces are full, rather than a single date. Again, confirm what approach the institution you’re interested in has.
In contrast to undergraduate education, where admission and financial awards are controlled at the institutional level, US graduate education is quite tightly controlled at the departmental level. Financial aid and scholarships for certain fields tends to be more heavily subsidised than for others. For example, a student of physics, chemistry, or biology may find institutional funding more readily available than a student of humanities, the social sciences, or education.
There are also independent foundations and scholarship organisations that provide funding for international students wishing to study in the US. For example, The US-UK Fulbright Commission grants between six and ten graduate awards in any discipline at any US institution for British students. The award covers tuition fees, health insurance, and living expenses for the first year of study only. Simon Ruben adds, “Don’t give up, dig about everywhere and anywhere and write lots and lots of letters – the worst thing people can say is ‘No’.”
Many personal loan schemes are also available from both US and international sources such as banks and loan services. Additionally, international students may work for up to 20 hours per week on campus when classes are in session and full-time during university holidays. International students are also eligible for up to one calendar year of Optional Practical Training (OPT), provided that the position is directly related to the students’ field of study and commensurate with their educational level. OPT may be applied for after nine months of full-time study and it allows a student the opportunity to gain professional experience with an American firm while earning.
Contrary to popular belief, obtaining a visa to do graduate studies in the US should not be problematic. While certain procedures have changed post-9/11, including the introduction of the Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), the process is not complicated and most international students should not face any particular hurdles. Along with a visa application form, valid passport, documentation showing sufficient funds to cover living expenses and fees for the first year of study, evidence of intent to return to your country at the conclusion of the academic program in the US, proof of SEVIS fee payment, a photograph, and the visa fee are required. As a general rule, student visas processing times are reasonable. Aisling writes, “The visa application process was straightforward and once I received my I -20 form from the university, setting up a visa appointment at the embassy was simple and relatively stress-free.”
Though the process of applying for graduate study in the US is different to the many other international systems, many resources exist to support applicants. With a little hard work and determination, students can open up another world of opportunities for themselves. For further information, please seek advice from your local Fulbright office.