GRE

What is GRE?
Students planning to pursue Masters of Science, commonly known as MS, take the GRE Graduate Record Examination. Post July 2011, the GRE pattern has changed and the exam is no longer a computer adaptive test but the performance in the given section will determine the level of the next section. Example: You get Quant section first. You solve all the questions which will be a mixture of easy, moderate and difficult. Assuming you did really well, your next section, say Verbal, will be more difficult. If you perform badly, your next section will again be easy. Myth: You should solve the first few questions (the first 8-9 questions) taking as much time as required and get them right. This is not true. It depends on the level of questions. You should not blindly follow this logic and lose too much time so that you do not have enough time in the end to solve the remaining questions which may turn out to be easier. It's suicide. Must do: You SHOULD attempt all the questions even though you might have to mark an answer without spending enough time on it because an incomplete paper can cost you a loss of significant points.

How many types of GREs are there?

GRE are of two types: 1. General Test: The General Test takes into account verbal reasoning, quantitative ability, and analytical writing skills. Almost all the universities accept the General test score and usually everyone opts for this test. It takes place round the year and you can choose your date according to your convenience. 2. Subject Test: The Subject Test measures the achievement in a particular subject area or extensive background in that discipline. These tests are in the following areas: Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Literature (English), Physics and Psychology. It is conducted on a fixed date for everyone, more on the terms of an entrance exam. Mostly none of the engineers go for this.

Structure of the GRE :

The computer-based General Test is composed of 3 sections: * * * Verbal Reasoning (English) Quantitative Reasoning (Math) Analytical Writing sections (Essays)

Test Pattern :
Revised Pattern & Content Changes from Previous Pattern

Section - Data Sufficiency - Data Interpretation & Statistics - Problem Solving - 2 Sections (20 Q's/35 Minutes per section) - Reading Comprehension - Sentence Correction - 2 Sections (20 Q's/30 Minutes per section) - Issue essay: 30 minutes* - Argument Essay: 30 Minutes** - No Computer Adaptive Test - Skipping Questions Permitted 130 - 170 with 1 point Increment. 5 Years Validity

Quantitative

- Calculator Allowed - No Choice for Problem Solving - Statistics part of new pattern - 2 Sections instead of 1 but less time - More stress on Comprehension and Less on Etymology - 2 Sections instead of 1 - Less Questions but more time as it involves RC Time Reduced for Issue Essay by 15 minutes - Skipping questions are NOW ALLOWED - Scores not based on solving the first few questions correctly Earlier it was 200 - 800 with 10 point increment No change

Verbal

AWA

Test Format

Scoring Scale Score reporting to University

* For the Issue task, two essay topics will be presented and you will choose one. In this type of essay, you usually agree and disagree with the author. There is no need to take a stand. You can state the pros and cons of the topic. ** The Argument task does not present a choice of topics; instead, one topic will be presented. In this type of essay, you should disagree with the author. As the name suggests, you should argue with the authors views. After all the verbal and quant sections, a research section follows. This section is like essay writing on a topic presented to you. However, it is NOT evaluated towards the final score. Hence, a lot of people skip this section and proceed to the last part of checking their score. Note: The AWA section is always first, followed by two Verbal sections and two Quantitative sections, in any order. Basically, you will have two verbal sections and two quantitative sections and will contribute towards your final score. You will not be informed prior or during the exam about which section will be taken into account and hence you must give cent percent effort in all the sections.

Getting started..

Eventhough the exam pattern has changed, most part of the preparation remains the same. Since Antonyms and Analogy aren't a part of the new syllabus, learning/memorising the word is NO MORE important. Still, it is always advised to have strong vocabulary as sections like Sentence Completion demand you to be extremely quick with the words and its meaning/connotation. It varies with each and every individual on how fast he/she finishes studying for GRE and is set to take it. But in general, you need around 50 days, give or take a few. As per the old pattern - it starts with learning words from what you call 'flash cards' - the popular of the lot - which have around 4000 words. If you're pretty consistent with reading newspapers, you definitely have an edge, considering youve probably come across a handful of words already. In short, be quick with the meanings and its usage of the words.

A Month or so to the GRE..

Once you are done with a considerable number of words, start solving the BigBook. Get the book from one of your friends who have already taken the GRE. If you still don't get it, download it from the internet. It is advisable to solve the big book on the screen as you have to take the exam on the computer. It makes you familiar with it. It has got two papers in every test which follows the oldest pattern of GRE (38 questions in 30 mins for verbal; 30 questions in 30 mins for quant). Try solving the paper with the old pattern (rather than adding your own touch-ups and increasing time or other such weird experiments). This will definitely improve your speed. Overall, there are 27 tests (54 papers). Try solving atleast 20 papers before you get bored (cant blame you for that). Give a week to the BigBook and solve minimum 2 papers a day. Of course, more wouldnt hurt. Along with the BigBook, solve BARRONS. It's a simple book but teaches you a lot. Solve the quant section completely. It's fun to solve and is useful. It has 5 papers with the new pattern. Solve them gradually.

Another fortnight to go..

In the last 20-22 days, start taking the adaptive exams on the computer. There are hundreds of tests if you search on the internet and one can't solve all. Hence, there are some standard tests one needs to solve. Cambridge, Princeton, Kaplan (very important) and PowerPrep (GRE level) are those. Cambridge is an elementary test and it helps you get acquainted with the adaptive exams on the screen. You need a maximum of two days. Then comes Kaplan, the most important of all the above mentioned tests. It has 6 practice tests each for Verbal and Quant and 3 full length tests. Kaplan Quant is really important and helpful, so be serious with it. Make sure you evaluate all your tests properly. Taking a test is not a big deal; learning from it is definitely one. Solve Princeton simultaneously along with Kaplan. Finish it off in a week or 10 days.

Last 5 days..
Study for your AWA (essay) 4-5 days prior to "the" day. Read some essays from Barrons, the method to write it and take any topic from these tests and write it down. Exchange the essays amongst your friends so you'll get an idea how well they write. Solve the PowerPrep tests completely along with the essays to get an idea of your patience level. Take our word, full test is

quite long!

Oh! Almost forgot about Quant..

Quant at the first glance might seem simple but it isnt so simple as to be neglected. Engineers can give less time for math as theyll be familiar with many of the topics, but remember that the split score matters a lot, so a minimum of 750 (old pattern) or 160 (new pattern) is like a 'must' for engineers. The rest are advised to solve as many questions as they can. Solve some renowned professors notes, Kaplan book (not the adaptive computer exam) and any other notes as and when you get time during your preparation. It definitely varies with every student on how they got about Quant, but the one mentioned above is how it is generally followed.

Expert advice..
* * * * Flash cards (GRE words) needs to be revised thoroughly. Revising the Quant formulae. Read Newspapers for an hour everyday to stay in touch with long Reading Comprehensions (RC). Keep your cool. Its a test of nerves more than anything.

When should I take the GRE?

GRE takes place round the year. It is not like any other exam where the dates will be announced in the newspaper or any official website. So, anytime you feel you are in a position to go and take your best shot, GO FOR IT. GENERALLY, engineering students prefer to take GRE in their third year either in March or August. No superstitious connections but some logical reason behind it. GRE is an exam which requires you to be tension-free and relaxed. Most engineers remain free during these two months as they arent occupied with any work like exams, submissions, etc. There are a few advantages of choosing March over August as enumerated below :

Reasons to choose March as the GRE month:

1. March is the ideal time to take GRE because you get one more chance to take the exam in August if suppose you dont score well in the March attempt. 2. Giving GRE in March wont clash your deadlines with final year project, placements (some companies do come in August-September) and most importantly you get more time for your Application Process for USA. 3. You can take TOEFL without any pressure, if your GRE is over in March. 4. If you're planning to appear for MBA entrance exams as well, you get sufficient time. 5. You might have to bunk a lot of lectures for the GRE preparation. This can seriously affect recommendations from your teachers as attendance is the prime parameter. Giving the exam in August leaves you with very less time to butter them and make things turn your way.

Problems with choosing a date..

Often, the slots are already full and you dont get your desired date. So, book your date well in

advance. Some prefer to wait till the last minute, and once they are confident about their preparation, they start searching for the nearest available date. This can be a problem as you might not get a single date and have to wait for a long time which in turn affects your preparation leading to a BAD day. Note: Please choose your date wisely and carefully. Although you're allowed to postpone the date, you will only be making the ETS richer by $50 or an additional $190 if you reschedule it within 3 days of the exam.

Should I choose end of the month as my GRE day as questions will be repeated?
Its a big misconception amongst a lot of students. Questions dont repeat at all and even if they do, they repeat in the quant section with a maximum of only one or two questions, which anyway are extremely simple to solve or you must have already solved.

FAQs
Q. What is the cost/registration fee for GRE? A. The registration fee for taking GRE is USD 190 which includes reporting your GRE scores to 4 universities of your choice. Q. How do I register for the GRE? A. You can register online or by phone or by mail. The detailed information about registering for the GRE can be found at www.gre.org Q. How many times in a year is GRE exam held? A. GRE is offered on all working days in India. The schedule can be obtained from Prometric in person, through phone, e-mail or online. Q. How many times can I take GRE? A. GRE can be taken unlimited number of times with a gap of a minimum of 31 calendar days between 2 tests. (It is highly advisable not to appear for GRE too many times as it may affect the applicants candidature). However, one can give the test only 5 times in a calendar year. Q. If I take GRE more than once, which score will be considered by the universities? A. The best score is taken into account by most of the universities. A few, though, consider the average. Q. What is the validity of the GRE exam? A. Your GRE score will be valid for 5 years after from the date the test was taken Q. Does admission to universities depend only on GRE scores? A. It is one of the various criteria that the admission council looks at. However, a good GRE score does improve chances of admission and financial aid. Q. How do I pass on my score to the colleges where I want to apply to?

A. The universities only accept official scores sent directly by ETS. Scores to four colleges can be sent free of cost while taking the exam. Subsequently, for each score report sent to a college, you would have to pay USD 23. Q. What is an ideal GRE score for engineering students? A. Anything above 1250 (old pattern) or 310 (new pattern) is considered good but you should always aim higher. An engineering student should score above 750 (old pattern) or 160 (new pattern) in quant as this counts a lot. Q. How important are extracurricular activities? A. Extracurriculars are always an add-on to your profile. Any achievements at the state or national and international level are considered important. Working for social causes such as for an NGO or charity trusts on a regular basis (Please dont start visiting NGOs when your application dates are nearing, it wont help) helps a lot. Participating in college festivals or becoming a head of some committee does not count much. Q. Do universities consider photocopies of the GRE scorecard? Do I have to send scores through ETS? A. No, photocopies are not accepted. You have to send your scores only through ETS. Q. Is GRE mandatory for applying to MS and PhD programs outside India? A. No, not all the MS and PhD programs outside India require you to take GRE. These scores are required only by US universities and a few universities in Canada, Germany and UK. Q. How important is the GRE score in helping secure scholarships for graduate studies? A. The GRE score, your past academic record and your application materials play a vital part towards securing scholarships. Q. A few recommended books. A. Princeton Review, Kaplan and Barrons

TOEFL
What is TOEFL?
TOEFL is a test of English proficiency. It stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language. International students need to show a certain amount of comfort with English as the primary language of communication. TOEFL is conducted to check the students capability during Teaching Assistantship (TA). TOEFL ibt, generally preferred by all international students, is the new internet based test which has four sections, each which would constitute a certain form of student interaction with the education system.

When should I take TOEFL?

As the TOEFL score is valid for two years, choose your date wisely. Usually, students take TOEFL in the month of September, as it is the ideal time when a student applying for MS is done

with his GRE and has no other academic commitments. Conditional admit: If you are applying to a university without your TOEFL score, its perfectly ok but its always better if youre done with it. When you apply to a university without a TOEFL score, it gives you a conditional admit which means that you have take your TOEFL exam for the confirmation of the admission. If your TOEFL score is low, then the respective admission committee will either tell you to repeat the exam or take up a course in their institution and complete it. The course isnt a part of your regular curriculum and it becomes hectic. Moreover, its very expensive. So repeating TOEFL is the right choice. Note: TOEFL is a MUST for International Students.

Structure of TOEFL
TOEFL comprises of four sections: 6. Reading 7. Listening 8. Speaking 9. Writing Task READI NG Description Short format: 3 passages, each with 12-14 questions Long format: 5 passages, each with 12-14 questions Time 60 mins 100 mins 60 mins 100 mins 10 mins 20 mins 20 mins 30 mins

LISTE NING

Short format: 2 conversations & 4 Lectures, each with 5-6 questions Long format: 3 conversations & 6 Lectures, each with 5-6 questions

BREAK SPEAK ING WRITI NG 6 tasks and 6 questions

Integrated Essay Independent Essay

Note: If you get Short format in Reading, then you will get Long format in Listening or the other way round.

Reading:
This section is very similar to the RC section in GRE, with the only difference being that this one

is VERY simple. There can be two formats in Reading: Short format or Long format. -Short format consists of 3 passages each approximately 700 words in length and with 12-14 questions and overall time is 60 minutes. The passages are on academic topics -Long format is 100 minutes duration and has 5 passages each approximately 700 words in length and with 12-14 questions. Of the 5 passages only 3 will be evaluated to get your score, the other 2 are experimental and do not matter at all. However, you have no idea which ones will matter and which ones wont, so you have to give your best in all.

Listening:
This is a new section for most of the students and it tests the students listening skills. In this section you have to listen to entire conversations (A conversation involves two speakers, a student and either a professor or a campus service provider) or lectures at one go (which can be very boring). Again there can be two formats: Short or Long -Short format consists of two conversations and four lectures each having 5-6 questions. Overall duration is 25-30 minutes. -Long format consists of three conversations and six lectures each having 5-6 questions, of which two conversations and four lectures only will contribute to your score. The remaining are redundant but again you are kept in the dark about this, so give your best in all. Overall duration is 100 minutes. NOTE: If you get Short format in Reading, you will get Long format in Listening or the other way round.

Speaking:
Speaking sections tests the ability to communicate in English in an academic setting. It has six tasks. Tasks 1 & 2 will prompt you to speak on some familiar topic like a personal experience. You are given 10-15 seconds to think and another 30 seconds to speak on each of the questions. Tasks 3 & 4 require you to read a paragraph, followed by listening to a short conversation and then respond to a question about what you read and heard. In the next two questions you have to listen to an audio clip, remember the important points in it and then answer the questions based on it in 45-60 seconds. Overall duration of this section is 20 minutes.

Writing:
Although this is quite a different section, it should be comfortable section for those who have already appeared for GRE. You are required to write two essays: Integrated Essay and Independent Essay - Integrated Essay: You have to read on an academic topic for two minutes and listen to a speaker discuss the same topic for the next few minutes. You get 20 minutes to plan, write an revise an essay of around 150-225 words based on what you read and listened. The earlier paragraph is also made available to you while you write. However, the audio clip is available only once. - Independent Essay: In the independent task, you must write an essay that states, explains, and supports your opinion on an issue, supporting your opinions or choices, rather than simply listing personal preferences or choices. You are given 30 minutes for writing this in about 300-350 words.

Preparation for TOEFL

If you ever want to test your patience level, try and give the TOEFL exam. Its a bloody four hours long examination and often the time duration will increase due to technical errors. The longer the examination, the lesser is its preparation. Preparing for Toefl isnt as tedious as GRE. A week or 10 days is more than sufficient. There is no need to solve any books for TOEFL. Directly, start off with the computer tests like Barrons, Kaplan and Cambridge. Each of these tests will have individual section of reading, listening, speaking and writing. Solve each section independently and get a hang of all the questions. Notice the type of questions as it is important to get familiar with the type. - Reading section is pretty simple as it asks you basic questions which can be solved in less than 15 seconds. The only exception in reading is the last question. This question is pretty complicated, time consuming and difficult. But it offers you 3-4 points as well unlike the other questions. GET IT RIGHT! - Listening is altogether a new section. You havent been exposed to this section in any part of any exam. So preparation is also required. It isnt a difficult section but all you need to do is CONCENTRATE. You need to understand the accent in which they speak. If you are a regular follower of Hollywood movies or Star World shows, the ball is in your court. You will hear a series of conversations or lectures and you will be asked questions based on it. Important: Jot down points while listening to the conversation as you dont get a second chance to hear the same. - Speaking is one of the important sections and preparing for it will be fun. Its the shortest section of TOEFL but requires enough preparation. On presenting the 6 tasks to you followed by the questions, WRITE DOWN SOME POINTS while reading or hearing the questions in this section. They expect you to repeat some of the IMPORTANT words. Solve all the questions from Barrons. If time and mood permits, solve Kaplan and Cambridge. Note: Students generally score less or sometimes the least in this section. Make sure you do well here as the university often grants you TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP (TA) based on your speaking exam. - Writing section doesnt require you any preparation. You will be happy to reach this section as the horrible 3 hours will soon be over. Its the same part which you have been preparing since childhood days - ESSAY. Just see the type of the essays from Barrons. If your writing and expressing skills are brilliant, you can excel in this section. Q. What should be the ideal score for TOEFL? A. Ideally, you should score 100 or above, but a score of 79 is a must, failing which you will have to repeat it. Q. How do I register for it? A. You can register online or by phone or by mail. The detailed information about registering for the GRE can be found at www.toefl.org Q. What is the cost of the exam? A. The cost of the exam is USD 160. Q. Should I repeat TOEFL, if I get less than 80?

A. Yes, you should repeat TOEFL. Generally universities want a toefl score of +79 but some ask for 100. You might want to identify your universities and their score preferences before you take the exam. Q. Is TOEFL necessary during the time of application? A. Its good if you have already finished your TOEFL exam. TOEFL score matters at the time of VISA and Teaching Assistantship. While filling the forms, they often ask you when you plan to take the TOEFL. Q. How long is the TOEFL score valid? A. The score is valid for two years. Q. How do I report my scores? A. You have to send your score officially through ETS which will cost you USD 17. Q. How soon I get my scores? A. You get your scores online within 2 weeks. Q. Which other exam I can take, if not TOEFL? A. You can appear for IELTS, if not TOEFL Q. Do universities consider photocopies of the GRE scorecard? Do I have to send scores through ETS? A. No. Photocopies are not accepted. You have to send your scores only through ETS.

Applying to US Universities
Once youre done with your GRE and obtained a satisfactory score, you will start feeling relaxed thinking, Well, now my jobs done. It wont be long enough when youll realize that appearing for GRE was just the beginning. The major chunk of the work still remains and frustration slowly creeps in because you keep forgetting one thing or the other. Listed below are the important steps that you need to follow after your GRE : -Appear for TOEFL : TOEFL isnt an important criterion for withholding your admission process. Basically TOEFL is a test of your English skills. Its role comes into play at the time of VISA and during your Teaching Assistantship (TA). But it is always better that you are done with all the exams before applying to the universities. Ideal Time :August-September. -Deciding your course and university: This is probably the most important and the most hectic time you will go through. You should choose a course purely based on your interest. Usually, students opt for a course based on their undergrad stream, although you can apply to any other different course. The only important part is that you should be able to justify to yourself why you want a course different from your undergrad stream. Work should begin on deciding a course and a university around October, earlier the better. -Arranging Documents : This is, as usual, tedious and boring. You have to run here and there, from the office on the first floor to the HOD on the 4th floor, each will keep dumping the work on the other. It isnt so easy to obtain transcripts, LORs, attested mark sheets and Bank Statements.

As said before, earlier you engage in this work lesser will be the problems. Below is a brief explanation on how and when you arrange these documents:
1) Letter of recommendations: As soon as the final year begins (7th semester), start talking to

the respective professors who will give you a recommendation. Honestly, it isnt that simple to get a reco (as adorably it is said) unless you have an excellent rapport with the teacher. You should learn how to butter them and make sure they write well about you. It is a long process as you have to make a lot of rough drafts and eventually ready the final document. NOTE: There is no need to make a hardcopy for the LOR as all the universities accept it online unless the specific university asks for one.
2) Transcripts: A transcript is an official document which comprises of all your marks in detail

(Semester-wise, subject-wise breakups, term work & viva marks) in a single sheet and is issued by your college. You have to make frequent visits to your college office for getting the sample transcript, entering the complete details of all the subjects starting from semester I till the current semester, approving it, getting it stamped and then sealing it. Number of copies required are around 15.
3) Bank Statement: Frankly speaking, arranging this document isnt very difficult. Firstly, you

need to know how much are you willing to, or in other words, how much can you spend for the next two years in USA (roughly around USD 50,000). Talk to your bank manager and get attested copies of the bank statement which is a proof of your financial solvency. Number of copies of required are generally 15.
4) Affidavit: An affidavit is similar to the bank statement, just that it is an official document

issued by the Government and it states who will be financing your education. You can make an affidavit by simply going to the court and telling the lawyer the exact details to fill in. Number of copies of required are generally 15. Important: Make sure that the bank statement and affidavit amounts are the same.
5) Statement of Purpose: The heart of your application process. This is the only document

which is supposed to be compulsory. Start making your SOP around October as you have to make a lot of rough drafts for a week or 10 days. Get a few opinions from your seniors (to see whether you have written all the data properly) and an English expert (for the language and the grammar). Suggestion: Although you may have scored well in your GRE, try to keep the language simple and make sure you focus more on the content rather than flaunting your knowledge of GRE words. NOTE: Hardcopies arent required by the universities. They have around 500kb size to upload the softcopy, which is quite enough.
6) Resume: It is a document highlighting your achievements. It usually consists of your

academic achievements, GRE and Toefl scores, Co-curricular and extracurricular activities, explanation of your academic projects and personal details.

Is Counselling Necessary?
If you feel a counsellor is going to reduce your work, then you are highly mistaken. You still have to do all the hard work; they just guide you along the way. It is a form of spoon feeding, no

doubt about it. Dont get carried away by their tempting talks as they give you a lot of hope before joining them and in the end you may find that you didnt get all that was promised.

Who should NOT join a counsellor?

* * * * If you are too lazy to do your work and may think that a counselor will save your day. If you think joining a counselor guarantees admission If you think joining a counselor guarantees obtaining visa, scholarships and financial aid If you are scared that your application to USA will go through a lot of problems if you work alone.

If you fall in above mentioned categories (which usually you will), then you SHOULD NOT make the counselors rich.

Who should join a counsellor?

* * * * If English writing skills are weak. Basically if you are not good at writing and dont have a hold over the language. If you want assurance about your application procedure (what you are doing is right). If you dont have any people (seniors, relatives, friends) to consult with. If you are unaware of the various courses available and do not know which course you want to apply for. Also the counselor will help you in narrowing down the schools which you should apply for your course.

How will I manage work without a counsellor?

Ideally, your seniors are the best counselors. If someone from friends & relatives has gone for an MS, even better. Consultancies will provide you with a standard list of universities which is more or less same for everybody. The list is (most of the times) irrespective of the course, which you could have prepared on your own. TIP: E-mail your profile to the seniors from your respective department and follow their opinion. The university online application forms are extremely simple and are more or less the same for all the universities. They are the apply yourself forms. You have to read the instructions properly which even a seven-year old can understand!!

How do I select Universities?

Planning to pursue higher studies in USA often gets complicated as one doesnt know on what basis he/she should select a university. Selection of a university depends on the following factors: 10. Course/Stream 11. Friends and Classmates 12. On-Campus placements 13. Tuition fees and cost of staying 14. Location (Small town or a big city)

15. Weather 16. Acceptance rate of International students 17. Relatives Of these the most important factor is COURSE/STREAM. Your future is decided by the course you opt for. Ask your seniors who have been there in the previous Fall and tell them about your course. Result: You will get an ideal list of universities as they themselves must have surveyed a lot. Alternative: Another fool proof but major time consuming method is to browse through the websites of Universities and learn about them.

To how many universities should I apply?

You can apply to as many universities as you wish, with only one factor restricting you, MONEY! Yes, the cost is pretty heavy on your pocket. On an average one application costs your around $100. Sure you want to know what costs so much. The split is as follows: 18. Online application form: $60 approx. 19. Reporting your GRE score through ETS: $23 (official scores are compulsory) 20. Reporting your TOEFL score through ETS: $17 (official scores are compulsory) Generally, students apply to 8-10 universities with 4 ambitious, 3 moderate and 2 safes (Huh?!? Whats this??) 21. Ambitious: An ambitious university means the acceptance rate is low and the best profile gets in. 22. Moderate: A moderate university means the acceptance rate is medium and the chances of making to these universities are above average. 23. Safe: By now you would have understood what does safe mean. Yes, it means the acceptance rate is pretty high and the chances of getting through are very high (though it is never 100%) Caution: Dont apply to all safe universities so that you get more admits. Theres no point of getting an accept from all the safe ones. Getting at least one admit from an ambitious university should be the target. One admit from an ambitious wins over many admits from safes.

What is the ideal time to apply?

This is by far the most common question you would hear from a student applying for MS. Ideally, the application process should begin by November first week. Generally, engineers apply during this time as after a month they have to go through the university exams which is stressful. In other words, all the documents required for the application should be ready by the start of November. As soon as you have shortlisted your universities, start filling the online application forms. Generally, the deadlines are around mid December , though some have in January, and some have a rolling admission process. Earlier you apply better it is, as many universities have two deadlines-general deadline and Financial aid deadline which is usually 1st week of December. In short, if you are applying for Fall 2011, then you should start applying in November 2010.

Note : You get a financial aid only if you apply to a respective university before its financial aid deadline. Secondly, you are eligible for an F-aid if your scores, academic marks and achievements are marvellous. Is applying early to a university an advantage? Answer is mostly NO. Good universities review the applications after the deadline. That doesnt mean you should delay your admission process. Few of the good universities start evaluating the applications as and when they receive it. This is known as Rolling Admission. Example: University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). The advantages of an early application are that if you satisfy the criteria of the University you will get a admit at the earliest irrespective of other applicants.

How to apply?
First and foremost, you need a credit card. You are going to pay a hefty amount (around 50,000/INR) for applying to the universities (8-10) so you cant keep knocking on your relatives or friends doors for a credit card. Go to the particular universitys website and see the tab for prospective students or apply now. See to it that you select the graduate section as there will be a lot of data on the website which will be general for both undergrad and grad students. The forms are generally quite long extending upto 7-8 pages and you are bound to get bored and restless. But, make sure you are careful while filling the form and use the autosave facility available in all application forms. IMPORTANT NOTE: Start filling the form even if your SOP isnt ready (usually its not ready). Enter your recommenders email address as early as possible. The university will send an email to them and they will complete the rest of the procedure. Note: Recommenders are EXTREMELY SLOW. You have to keep on reminding them frequently.

Preparation of Packets?
Packet (in application terms) is a set of documents enclosed in an envelope which is to be mailed physically to a university. A packet generally consists of the following: * Cover letter: Its a letter which contains list of documents youre sending inside the packet to the university. It consists of your application ID No. along with address of the college. The letter is directed to the admissions committee or the Graduate Admission office. Official transcripts: This is the most important document inside the packet. Its the official copy of your marks issued by your undergrad college and junior college (if required). Resume: Usually the resume is uploaded when you fill the application form but if there is no provision for it, then get a resume print out and send it along. Attested mark sheets: You have to get attested photocopies of your mark sheets of all attended semesters. The universities prefer that you get it attested by the Principal or the Registrar of the college. Photocopy of passport Bank statement*

* *

* *

Affidavit*

*Refer 'What after GRE' to know about the last two points

What is a Letter of Recommendation?

Letter of Recommendation (LoR) helps the admission committee know about your technical expertise through your recommender. The content in the recommendation is extremely important. So, choose your recommenders wisely. There are certain areas on which the universities expect you to be rated by your professor or employer. They are as follows: 24. Current standing in your undergraduate class 25. Comparison with the students who have gone for graduation in the same university 26. Communication skills. (Oral and written skills) 27. Creativity 28. How well he understands the subject 29. Teaching Potential 30. Emotional Maturity (Still wondering why this is a parameter to judge) 31. Recommendation with F-aid or not 32. How strongly they recommend you (Very strongly, moderately, etc.) NOTE: In reference forms, do not tick in the exceptional column for all attributes. Be realistic. No bodys that perfect and the universities dont expect you to be.

Who can give me an LoR?

Usually, the recommender is from your undergraduate institution. Generally, you should take it from a professor of your department. So, does designation of the recommender matter? Honestly, it does. You cant take a LoR from a teacher who has just joined the institution and has an experience of a year or two. An LoR from your institutions dean or principal holds a lot of weightage. A LoR from the companys manager makes a difference. Generally, a student gets the LoR from the following: 33. His/her final year project guide 34. Any teacher who has taught you during your undergrad course and you have scored well in that subject 35. Any project guide/companies you have worked with Note: It would be very good if you can get a LoR from a Maths Professor if you are applying for a Financial Engg. course. Recommendations cannot be given by: 36. Peers/Friends/Relatives 37. Any random personality you met in a conference 38. Parents Note: Make sure that you are on good terms with your recommenders. If not, then try improving them. Learn Buttering. Dont force your teachers to write good about you (if you succeed,

LUCKY you). Always remember, they are doing a favour to you.

How should I write an LoR?

Generally, all universities expect you to give three LoRs. Now the next question will be, what should I write in my LoR? So we enumerate the following points: 39. First Para: Write about your recommenders qualification and the time since he knows you and is serving the institution. 40. Second Para: Highlight your academic details under that teacher, how you have performed in his/her subject. Write marks and more importantly write it in percentage (example: he/she stands in the top 5% of the class) 41. Third Para: It should focus on your publications, presentations, internships and final year project (so take one LoR from your project guide). 42. Fourth Para: Please flaunt as much as you can in this paragraph. This is the extracurricular section, so write about all your achievements in the last three years (Event Head, worked for this and that committee, Sports, etc.) 43. Last Para: Keep it small (say 2-3 lines) and it should conclude the above points and tell the university to grant him admission along with F-aid 44. Bottom Left of your copy: Your teachers name, signature, qualification and his post in the current institution/company. Warning: Dont make the LoR so exceptional that you are the best student in India. Make it quite real and cover the above mentioned points. NOTE: Split the content in the LoRs so that all 3 are different from each other.

What is an SoP?
An SOP is a Statement of Purpose. Basically, purpose means the reason for which something exists. To be precise, it describes you, your goals and intentions which the admission committee will evaluate. An SOP is a document which shows your passion, clarity of thoughts, dedication, inspiration, and most importantly, uniqueness.

How important is the SoP?

The evaluator has never seen you or heard of you. Yes, the SOP serves the purpose of telling the admission committee why they should choose you. It is the most important document. They want to know a student in and out and not just by his transcripts and final year project. An SOP carries a lot of weightage. A well written SOP particularly to the top universities can tilt the scales in yourfavour.

How should I write an SoP?

An SoP is basically an essay and a major chunk of it will be boring. However, it is the most important document which means it will take a lot of your time. Start working on it from around the 1st week of October (if youre applying for Fall). Its not an essay on a political leader which will get over in a day. You have to make several rough drafts, keep on editing, get it proof-read by your seniors and then you will have your final copy ready. Following are the points you should write in your SOP:

45. Start off with a saying or a quote and justify that you are highly inspired by that quote and the person who wrote it. (in like 2 lines) 46. First Para : Describe your childhood interests in an innocent way (dont drag it for long) and how that interest is still in you. (ex. A computer or a telephone) 47. Second Para : Highlight your marks in the entrance exam of engg. or your undergrad percentage (make sure the achievement is big, else dont). Also, write about your current subjects that inspired you towards the course and express it as one more element towards your interest. 48. Third Para : Give an idea of your BE project and explain what you are learning from it rather than boasting about your project. Explain your publications, internships in the same way as your projects. 49. Fourth Para : VERY IMPORTANT PARAGRAPH. Why you decided to choose USA (NEVER MENTION MONEY, EVENTHOUGH YOU ARE GOING FOR THAT) as your post graduate country and why you opted for this course/university. Express your liking towards the university. Dont bore the reader by praising them irrelevantly. Express your liking of the university in terms of Research work, Labs, Faculty, and current Projects. 50. Fifth Para : Explain your goals-short term and long term, where you see yourself some years down the line. Express the content in this paragraph extremely well (one of the crucial factors that decide if you get your admit.) 51. Conclusion paragraph in 2-3 lines saying that you will serve really well in the respective university. IMPORTANT NOTE: You have to make as many rough drafts as the number of universities you are applying to. All the content will remain the same except the paragraph where you describe the specific university. So finish the common parts as early as possible and then start searching for particular university as mentioned in point no. 4.

What NOT to write in an SoP?

52. Dont boast about your achievements, especially marks. Put it in a subtle way. Write more on how that particular achievement helped you and spurred you on. 53. Language is an important parameter so you should avoid using slangs (Yeah!!, Chuck, etc.). Also avoid using short form for words like you, are, etc. Keep your vocabulary in control though. Dont refrain yourself from using nice GRE words. Make sure that the usage of the word makes sense. 54. We love copy-pasting but, this is not the place. You can take an idea, but it would be appreciative that you make it as unique as possible. 55. Your SOP shouldnt highlight your interest in working in an MNC or earning heavily in Dollarzz. It should hit your goals and targets. It should be inclined towards your interest in the course and the respective university. 56. Never mention any companys name and job prospects. 57. Dont make it too long and boring on a particular topic. Understand that a reader is a man and not a computer.

58. Make sure you keep your SOP in a safe locker. Dont share your SOP or the idea of it with anyone. The people reading your SOPs are experts and will surely be able to identify copied SOPs.