How do I shortlist universities for MS before writing the GRE?

Shortlisting universities before you take your GRE is crucial for two reasons. One, you need to understand what minimum scores to target according to the university's program. Two, you need to have a list of 4 universities ready to send your scores to just after you take the GRE. The university shortlisting depends a lot on what you expect from the program. Although the university ranking is somewhat important, it is not more important than what the program offers. One needs to scrutinize the catalog of (compulsory and elective) courses offered for the term and check which course structure fits them the best. One also needs to examine the faculty pages, ongoing research or projects, labs, etc. Universities display their Master's plans and their layout. While it is okay to change your plan later, it is better to know beforehand what type of degree you are planning for. For example, if you are interested in pursuing an MS Thesis program, it would be wise to look up R1 universities that align with your research prospects. For the ones planning for an industry-oriented degree, it is better to check what locations offer a good amount of jobs to people with the degree you're planning for. Another essential factor to consider is the tuition fees and funding opportunities. The 'cost of attending' for your prospective term (or the most recent term) is displayed on the university websites. It also includes living expenses and miscellaneous charges. Funding opportunities are provided by the universities in the form of scholarships, TAs, RAs, etc. It would be futile to opt for a university that is clearly out of your budget and doesn't provide you with a scholarship, irrespective of the ranking. Universities have specific cut-off requirements for GPAs and standardized test scores. It is advisable to be above the requirements and hence plan the preparation accordingly. However, for putting in 4 universities after your GRE, it is better to shortlist safe universities that you are certain about. You can send your scores to ambitious and moderate universities later. The university location should be considered too, especially if you are affected by extreme weather. As said earlier, the location should also provide ample job opportunities and should not exceed your budget for living expenses. In summation, universities that fit your requirements, profile, budget, academic, and job prospects should be the ones that you shortlist. A good list of universities will contain a balanced mixture of ambitious, moderate, and safe universities. To help you with university shortlisting, Yocket's Explore Tool lets you filter out university suggestions by program, country, tuition fees, rank, and GRE requirements! https://yocket.com/universities You can also use the College Finder Tool to get a more tailored list of universities for your profile. https://yocket.com/college-finder Good luck! #ms #masters #gre #toefl #applications #university #us #uk #canada #applicationprocess #admissions #accomodation