A complete walkthrough guide for US study abroad aspirants!
During my study abroad journey, one of the problems I faced was to not get the entire information in a single document. Instead, I learnt something new at every step and did not get the information beforehand. Some of you might not know about which banks to approach, or what to write in the SOP. Being as specific as I can be, I have tried to collate everything in one article. Details are provided in the links after each section. I hope it gives you a gist of the entire process and helps you to solve at least some of your doubts about the study abroad journey in the United States. I am sure along the way, you will definitely need this guide somewhere. So, I suggest you save the article link, like and share it with your friends.
Improve your profile:
CGPA, GRE, TOEFL are the 3 factors that affect decisions which are in your control. Try for at least 315+ in GRE. TOEFL scores can be asked if you are planning to apply for TA or RA. If you plan to apply without GRE then having a high CGPA(8.5+) and a TOEFL score of 105+ will boost your chances of an admit. Projects have a greater impact than certifications. Publish your projects using github pages, make an interactive frontend if possible, publish results, make a user guide. Certifications won't help you much. Participating and having a global rank in competitions will help. Focus your profile on a single field rather than being generic.
https://yocket.com/feed/tips-to-strengthen-your-profile-for-ms-cs-746073
Test prep GRE and TOEFL:
Attempt a lot of mock tests(7 to 8 at least) with a strategy. This will help you to get used to thinking under pressure.
https://yocket.com/feed/test-prep-gre-and-toefl-744623
Consultancy:
If you plan to enroll in a consultancy, get reviews from existing students before enrolling. Don’t be afraid to negotiate regarding the price.
Corresponding with the university:
Writing an email as precisely as possible will not only help you to get an answer as early as possible but also avoid any unnecessary delays. Enable ‘undo’ setting in your email settings and schedule the email to be sent during the start of the university office hours. Around 10 am US time is a good time to send an email.
https://yocket.com/feed/how-to-write-an-email-as-an-international-student-that-may-result-in-a-quick-response-725376
Email template:
https://yocket.com/feed/how-to-write-an-email-as-an-international-student-part-2-why-follow-the-email-template-725379
Education fairs and subscribing to the program ‘get to know more’ section:
This will help you to get to know about program fee waivers, application fee waiver week, professor research, get to know program information sections.
https://yocket.com/feed/questions-to-ask-in-an-education-fair-or-a-university-webinar-that-might-help-you-for-the-application-process-738253
Applying early:
Check the following article to find if you should apply early or not.
https://yocket.com/feed/when-to-apply-early-and-why-it-could-be-an-added-advantage-for-us-universities-753382
Statement of Purpose:
Don’t start with childhood memories. Be as specific as possible. Even if the maximum limit is 1000 or 1200 words, try not to exceed 800 words as the admission committee does not have much time to go through long SOPs. Don’t repeat the same things as on the resume.
https://yocket.com/feed/sop-tips-for-us-masters-aspirants-751934
Shortlisting Universities:
Get to know the actual total expense at the university. Check if you are fine with a college town or you want an urban university experience. Get reviews from the students who are already at the university. Use a data oriented approach. Check the profiles of the past students who were admitted at the university. Many universities have a web page dedicated to enrollment data. It will also show you the number of admitted students each year.
Financial docs required:
Proof of scholarships and grants, Sponsor’s financial statements and bank statement for US student visa, Specific amount of bank balance required for US student visa, Statements of support, Loan letter (if applicable), I-20 form from your university.
Bank loan reviews:
If you have a specific bank in mind which you want to approach because you have been a customer of that bank for many years then contact the bank early and get the documentation process started. An early applicant might get slightly better interest rates.
Important terms you should ask the bank before availing a loan:
https://yocket.com/feed/important-terms-related-to-loan-you-should-know-from-your-lender-734754
Get a loan review of Bank of Baroda, HDFC Credila, ICICI, SBI Education Loan, Auxilio, Avanse :
https://yocket.com/feed/bank-loan-review-part-1-734757
Get a loan review of Canara bank, Prodigy, Leap finance, Mpower, Incred, Axis bank educational loan, and Punjab national bank :
https://yocket.com/feed/bank-loan-review-part-2-734756
How to apply for an F1 visa:
-Complete a DS160 form
https://yocket.com/blog/how-to-fill-ds-160-form-for-student-visa
-Book an appointment using the USTravelDocs website. As of 2022, you have to book 2 appointment slots - biometric and visa interview for 2 separate days with at least 1 to 2 days in between.
-Pay SEVIS fees. SEVIS fees can be paid any time before your visa appointment. To be on safer side, pay the SEVIS fees at least 4 to 5 business days before your visa appointment.
Procedure to change universities after starting your visa process:
Sometimes you might get a university decision after your visa interview. The following article will allow you to evaluate your situation.
https://yocket.com/feed/procedure-to-change-the-university-after-starting-the-visa-process-for-usa-729432
Frequently asked visa questions:
As a fall 2022 student, I observed the following most common questions that were asked for an F1 visa for master’s program in the United States:
Which university are you going to?
Why did you choose this university ?
What is your CGPA ?
How many schools did you apply / Which other universities have you applied to ?
How are you funding your education ?
What does your sponsor do ?
Tell me about your course work.
Do you have any work experience ?
How many years of work experience do you have?
Why didn’t you choose the university which had given you a scholarship ? (This question might be asked if you had mentioned about scholarships in any one of your answers)
Generally, the next questions are based on the answers which you will provide.
Steps for an emergency student visa:
Sometimes you might not get a visa appointment but your date of arrival in the United States is within around 30 days then you can apply for an emergency student visa and get an emergency student visa appointment. Please check the eligibility requirement and the process to be followed in the following link.
https://yocket.com/feed/steps-to-be-followed-to-file-an-emergency-student-visa-appointment-for-the-united-states-739579
Immunization requirement:
Your university will notify you once you get an admit. Every university has a dedicated page available for international students.
In the post pandemic world, immunizations are more important than ever.
COVID -Be fully vaccinated with a precaution dose before arrival in the United States. A WHO approved vaccine is accepted at all universities. For students who have taken a non-WHO approved vaccine, consult a doctor. Every university has a specific requirement for international students to be completed before arrival in the USA. Universities would have a dedicated web page for international students about immunizations. Some universities require you to submit the proofs for the immunizations submitted before arriving in the US. If you do not have proof, you can get the immunization and get a doctor’s certificate indicating the date of vaccinations and the vaccination name on a doctor’s letterhead or have a test(like titer test) to prove that you have taken a vaccine upon doctor’s recommendation.
Flight booking:
In my experience, the flight ticket prices for July and August started to increase exponentially from the 2nd week of june. So, plan accordingly. It's always better to get a rescheduled flight if you are planning to book a flight early. Assuming you are going for the fall intake, the downside of booking the flight late after mid June is that if you have a visa interview date in or after June, the flight prices might have increased drastically. Note that flexible reschedulable prices are slightly expensive. Flight prices change as the search for a flight increases. Track flight prices using hopper, google flights, skyscanner. Don't expect the flight prices to drop 2 months from its departure date. 2.5 to 3 months might be a good time to book a flight if not earlier. Clear all cookies and history before booking a flight. Airline websites tend to track users using the searching activity. Some debit and credit cards offer additional miles or discounts to book a flight. Check the airline website for details. Registering as a student will get you an additional discount and maybe additional baggage allowance.
Housing situation:
https://yocket.com/blog/pointers-for-your-house-hunt
https://yocket.com/blog/finding-student-accommodation-abroad
How health insurance works in the USA:
https://yocket.com/feed/how-does-health-insurance-work-in-the-usa-739946
Banking in the United States:
Get a referral from an existing bank customer like your university senior and mention that you are an international student. This way you might get some extra benefits.
https://yocket.com/feed/why-having-a-credit-card-is-important-in-the-usa-735771
Why having a GPA of 3.0 is important during your master’s degree abroad:
As an international student in the USA, you are mandated by the immigration department and the university to have a minimum of 3.0 GPA out of 4.0.
https://yocket.com/feed/why-having-a-30-gpa-is-important-in-the-united-states-734263
Good luck !!
#masters #ms #US
