Blog

Masters & PHD Admission Process in America | How Do You Get Scholarship? Opportunity Desk

admin August 14, 2023

The First Thing to Understand is that there are Top-Ranked Universities, Middle-Tier and then Low-Ranked Institutes. Almost all, i.e. around 99% Top and Middle-ranked Universities offer funded Masters’s positions. While low ranked offer self-funded opportunities. In Funded Opportunities, admission is obviously tough, but if admitted, you don’t need a bank statement for a visa at all.

In self-funded admission, you have to show expenses for one year (Tuition + Living). That is mostly around 20,000$. A funded position means that normally you get the opportunity to TA or RA under a professor in the compensation of which you get a lumpsum amount from which you can pay off your tuition+livig costs. In some universities, funding is less, so you might have to do a part-time job. Check each university’s specific Department’s Graduate Funding Page for Details.

Admission Procedure

Contents

1 Admission Procedure
- 1.1 Related Opportunities!
- 1.2
2 Author

Step 1:

First and Foremost, you have to give an IELTS/TOEFL Exam which is required by almost every university. I say almost because some universities exempt it for specific universities in Pakistan. After that, you have to give GRE, in case it’s required by where you’re applying. In Canada, only some universities require GRE, but in the US it’s the opposite.

Step 2:

You can either apply directly at the university’s website or else you can contact a professor first. Some universities require you to contact a professor first, they mention this directly on their website, but most of them don’t.

Applying directly means you’ll be evaluated by a large pool of candidates all on your academic credentials. But applying with a professor’s support means that this professor who has agreed to supervise your Master’s will support your application during the admission process.

A lot of brilliant students apply without the professor’s consent i.e. they apply all on their own because they don’t want to get tied up with a professor just from the beginning of their Master. They get admission to explore different subjects and then choose a prof.

Note: This guide is for Thesis based masters as for Course based masters, a professor’s consent is not required at all.

Step 3:

References Matter. In Pakistan, we are sometimes careless about references, but references matter a lot in your application abroad. Make sure you get good academic references. That’s pretty much it. The Master’s Admission process is way simpler than a Ph.D. Best of luck! Check: Recommendation Letter For Scholarship 2022

********HOW DO YOU GUYS STUDY IN AMERICA******

By Mehreen Tahir

Salam Everyone! As Promised here is another detailed explanation of studying in the United States of America. In this, I will also explain, how am I studying in the US considering the high cost and what enabled me to get the scholarships. Please give it a read, I am not an expert neither do I claim to be one. But it is my long term experience.

1) To study in America you first need to be Accepted to an American University that is allowed to issue an I20. An I20 is a document (a paper more of) that is needed to apply for a US visa. An I20 enrolls you in the SEVIS system.

2) To be accepted to an American University you need English proficiency test results and SAT/GRE. Every University has its own requirements and competitiveness. Usually, a high GPA is needed for a scholarship and a moderate GPA for admission. Since the seats for full-ride are very competitive, a higher GPA means better chances.

3) Research is important if you have experienced it is a big positive. Theoretical knowledge is good but the application is essential. You must know how the NMR runs, IR functions, TLC is read, Agar plates are cultured, Primers are designed, Bacteria is isolated, and pure culture is prepared from an unpure culture (just to name a few)

4) If you do not have research experience at least try to have some internship so you can show that theoretical knowledge isn’t all of you have. Approach faculty with enough knowledge of their research.

5) Undergrad and MS scholarships in the US are a bit difficult. The reason for that is that scholarships are limited in scholarships but not impossible so if you want more scholarships you need to have a strong GPA

6) Once you are accepted to a university given they will give you an I20, an I20 can be from many universities but you need to take I20 of the University you plan to attend

7) On your I20 is written the expenses you need to show, If you have been offered a full ride, you do not have to show anything but if you have not been offered you have to show some bank statements. They can be from anyone but the story needs to make sense. Don’t show the statement of someone who is supporting a big family and then will have to support you, like be smart and try to come up with true and correct logic.

8) if your logic is right and VO thinks you should get a visa, you will get one. You don’t have to pay any fees to the university before you go. It’s per semester and you will pay it when you get there.

9) Don’t think that you will flip burgers and pay for classes. That is not possible and is illegal, you can get deported. I have seen lots of people getting deported for illegal stuff so don’t be one. You can work 20 hours on campus that is all

10) I hope that answers your questions. Now comes to the question of how I am studying. So with that, I will go very brief on my profile because I do not want you to think every person needs to have this profile but I get so many questions of my profile, so that is mine. But know that again, if you need full-ride make sure you have a competitive record.

11) I am in few students who also finished high school in America. Point to be noted, I am not an American citizen neither are my parents. I was selected from the YES scholarship, It is an exchange program and I am an Exchange student alumni.

12) I also took the SAT exam and the score was in the 92 percentile and in such events, I was offered full financial assistance and a research grant as well to conduct research and a job as a TA.

13) If I was not on scholarship, On average you need at least 45,000$ per year. If you do not want to pay that I already told you how to get a scholarship which is improving your profile.

14) community colleges are an option for sure and no you will not get rejected if you apply for one to get a visa but do know that community college is only for 2 years and then you have to move to a university to get the other 2 years done. So make sure you have funds or scholarships.

15) It is a bit difficult to say but I have seen in the embassy some people get rejected because their English is just not up to the mark. Like I know we are not native speakers but at least speak to a level where VO can know you can easily communicate. If you can not speak English you will get rejected

16) If you get rejected, you can re-apply but every rejection reduces your chance.