So You Want to Study for Grad School in the US?

Your first step and more toward a US grad school

We saw a sharp rising in the intake of international graduate students right after pandemic-related restrictions were eased. It is a no-brainer that people from many parts of the world have been attracted to grad school in the united states for various reasons such as better opportunities for research, higher-paying jobs after graduation, or better opportunities upon return to the home country.

Despite its popularity, applying for grad school can seem like a daunting task. However, in many cases, students are unaware of the necessary steps, from early preparation to submitting the application, and may not know what it takes to complete the process.

In this article, I will unravel every step briefly, and in future articles, I will expand on that.

Before proceeding, it’s important to know that you do not need to pay for any consultancy services to prepare for or apply to graduate schools in the US.

Pre-Application Preparation

I call it pre-application preparation that has to be determined and done in advance many years ahead. This step is generally applicable to students who are in freshmen year (1st year as it is generally referred to in India or many other countries), sophomore (2nd year), or junior year.

Maintaining your GPA

It is important to keep your GPA competitive. I recommend maintaining at least 3.5 on a scale of 4, as US schools measure GPA on a scale of 4. For schools with absolute percentage grading, I recommend at least 70% marks throughout your undergrad tenure. Of course, once you have graduated, you cannot go back to improve your GPA.

If you are one of those readers who have already graduated with a bachelor's degree and have a low GPA, there are a few options such as applying to lower-ranking universities in self-sponsored programs. I do not recommend it, however.

Exposure, visibility, and good repertoire with your faculty

You may ask, why do you need that and what does it even mean? Generally, if you are applying for grad schools in the US, you will need to submit at least two recommendation letters for master's programs or three recommendation letters for a Ph.D. program. Those letters generally come from your professors who taught you in undergrad. Letters talk about your caliber to do research, your overall character, your ability to do teamwork and collaborate, as well as your achievements during your undergrad

In addition, US schools emphasize extracurricular and leadership skills. For STEM programs, this is a small factor but it does affect your chances, especially in business and information science-related programs. Go, do participate in campus activities, take on some leadership roles and enjoy your life as an undergrad beyond classrooms, homework, and computer screen.

Research Work

If you are aiming for the top 50 schools in the US, conducting some form of original research is important. If you are able to publish a paper, that is a big plus. Not all Ph.D. admissions ask for a publication but having one or two publications in IEEE, ACM, or equivalent conferences or journals positively impact your chances of getting an admit.

To get involved in original research activities, I recommend talking to professors in your undergrad institutions who should be able to guide you. This does require some volunteering work as I generally found that in countries like India, and China there is no paid undergraduate research assistant position available. In lieu of a lack of research activities, maintaining an up-to-date, and strong set of technical and computing skills is highly sought after in graduate school programs. Alternatively, years of industry experience, and working as a professional are other factors that positively impact graduate school admission.

Application Preparation

Now that you have made yourself capable by maintaining a good GPA, gaining research exposure, developing strong technical skills, and/or acquiring industry experience, it’s time to consider what you need in order to apply for grad schools.

Obtaining your passport

To register for GRE and TOEFL tests, you will need your passport. If you have not obtained your passport yet, the first thing you need to do is to get your passport.

Application Fee

From GRE and English tests to application fees for each school, the total cost can reach up to $2000 USD. While I acknowledge that this can be a significant financial burden, particularly for individuals from developing countries, it is currently an unavoidable expense. If your family’s financial situation cannot accommodate these costs, I recommend waiting for a year or two after graduation and saving money from your full-time job specifically for application fees.

English language proficiency

As the primary language of instruction in the US is English, the graduate college of all universities looks for English proficiency test scores as a part of evaluating your applications. In general, they ask for TOEFL scores, and IELTS scores, or in some cases, they are also okay with Duolingo certification. A TOEFL score of 100+, with at least 27 in English is reasonably acceptable.

For students from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, English proficiency is usually not an issue, but I recommend understanding the difference between colloquial American English and your regional colloquial English.

If you are targeting the start date of Fall 2024 for your grad school, I recommend taking TOEFL/IELTS by August 2023. The TOEFL score is usually valid for two years from the test date.

GRE Test

Historically, almost all schools used to require General GRE test scores; however, many schools have recently begun to drop this requirement altogether. Nonetheless, it is still advantageous to achieve a strong GRE score, typically 155+ in both the verbal ability and quantitative sections. Subject GRE tests are rarely requested.

If you are targeting the start date of Fall 2024 for your grad school, I recommend taking TOEFL/IELTS by July 2023. The GRE score is valid for five years from the test date.

Recommendation Letters

Before you start applying, it is good to talk to professors who know you very well. If you have done your pre-application preparation well, this should not be an issue. Ideally, ask 3–5 professors in your institutions who are willing to write recommendation letters and can specifically talk about your research potential and teamwork.

School Selection

Not all schools are the same. Some are more competitive than others. Some may be better suited to your research interests than others. In addition, geographical location within the states matters as well. For example, if you don’t like hot and humid climates, schools in Texas and Florida might not be good for you. Choosing the right set of schools is essential. I will write more on this later since this requires a more thorough discussion. However, I recommend applying to 9-10 schools with a good mix of ranking, school size, and research opportunities.

Statement of Purpose

As a part of graduate school applications, a candidate is required to write a statement of purpose. The statement usually contains your brief background, explanations on why you are interested in grad schools, why that particular university, and particular major, and what are your research interests and goals. A candidate should also highlight any significant accomplishments and achievements. This is also a good place to fill the gaps if you happen to have a relatively poor GPA, talk about any hardship you faced that impacted your academic performance, etc. In addition, you must specify that you require a teaching assistantship or a research assistantship to accept the admission offer is made. An assistantship comes with a full tuition waiver, health insurance, and monthly/bi-weekly graduate stipends. There is no reason to think about joining a self-sponsored Ph.D. program. I will be direct here — that’s dumb thinking.

Usually, applications open in September with a deadline of December for Fall intake the following year. There are spring in-take on many occasions but they are not common. Post-Application Timeline

This is the hardest part of the overall application process. You will be constantly checking your emails for a possible decision from the graduate college or department of the school to which you have applied. However, take this time to look for the list of potential faculty, professors, or a lab group you are interested in. Thoroughly go through their research, what they do and what kind of papers they have published, etc. Send the lead professor email that you have applied for the graduate program there and that you are interested in working with them. If professors are looking to hire a graduate assistant and your skills match their needs, they will prioritize your application.

It’s time to make a decision

Decisions are usually made by February-March whether you have been accepted to the program or not. Decisions come with an offer for a teaching or graduate assistantship. If the decision letter doesn’t contain an offer for an assistantship, you can email to professors of your school seeking a research assistantship.

In case of multiple offers, you should compare the research caliber of the lab or professors you will be working with. I encourage talking to former Ph.D. students of the professor who have worked with him/her to get a better idea. In addition, you can check Google Scholar or ResearhcGate for past research activities and papers from his/her lab.

Visa and Travel Documents

After accepting an admission offer that includes a research or teaching assistantship, the international students’ office at the university will issue you an I-20 form, which serves as proof of sufficient financial support for your stay in the US. With this form, you are required to register for a visa interview at the nearest American embassy or consulate. Upon successfully completing the interview, you will be granted an F-1 visa.

Semesters generally begin in the third or fourth week of August, and it is recommended that international students arrive by the first or second week of August in order to participate in orientation programs for international students, search for housing, open bank accounts, and complete other necessary tasks.

I hope that this concise step-by-step guide has proven useful in your pursuit of attending a grad school in the US. In the future, I will be sharing additional insights about the grad school experience and student life in the US. Please continue to follow this space for more valuable information.

Best of luck to you!

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