Graduate Study

Introduction

Graduate Study
Graduate education in the United States will almost certainly be different from the system offered in your country. This section gives you an introduction to the graduate degrees available in the United States, the different types of institutions that exist, and some key terms and ideas you will come across if you want to study at a U.S. university. See http://educationusa.state.gov/ for information.


HOW TO APPLY TO U.S. GRADUATE SCHOOL

U.S. graduate schools are all independent, and each sets its own requirements for admission. Within each school individual programs may often have different requirements. These guidelines are written to assist you in your search for graduate education. It is advisable to start this process approximately one to one-and-a-half year(s) before you hope to begin studies in the U.S. The American academic year begins in August or September, and students should generally request admission for the autumn or fall term.

Obtain information about institutions which offer the program you want to pursue. Use reference guides, such as Peterson's Guide to locate specific institutions which offer the program at the degree level (Master's or Doctorate) you are seeking. These are available for reference at the Careers Offices of most colleges and universities in Ireland. If you have difficulty in locating these resources, please contact the education office at the US Embassy edu@state.gov

Write directly to the Graduate Admissions Offices of the institutions to obtain information and applications. Indicate the major academic area of interest to you. Carefully print your name and address on all such inquiries. You should also write to the department. Stress field of specialization, professional background, reasons for choosing particular faculty and ask for information on financial aid possibilities. You do not need the name of the department chairman or a professor to obtain an application

Read thoroughly all materials received to determine whether the program you want is offered; whether you appear to meet the minimum academic requirement; if you require financial assistance, whether it is available for your proposed programs; and whether you can meet the application deadlines.

Apply to more than one institution. U.S. institutions receive many applications and often cannot accommodate all qualified applicants. You may decide which institution to attend after you have received your admission offers.

Complete the admission application carefully and legibly. Always give your name in exactly the same way on the application and in all correspondence. If some of your records are under a different name, be sure you indicate that on the application. Complete all items on the application and submit all items requested.

If an application fee is required, submit the appropriate amount in U.S. currency with your application. Most institutions will not process your application without the fee.

Request official academic records both in the native language and in English translation. Official documents must bear the seal of the school and authorized signature. Photocopies are not usually acceptable unless they are officially attested as exact copies of the original. Records should be submitted for all post-secondary schools attended and should provide a list of courses taken, yearly examination results, and conferral of degrees.

If your native language is not English, register as early as possible for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) http://www.toefl.org/ and request that Educational Testing Service forward your scores to the institutions to which you are applying.

Register for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) http://www.gre.org/splash.html the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) http://www.mba.com/mba or other tests if required by the program/institution to which you are applying.

Request letters of recommendation as required by the program/institution. These letters should generally be written by professors with whom you have studied.

Submit verification of scholarship or other financial support.

Note the deadlines for application given in the institutional information you receive. Different institutions/programs have different deadlines. Allow time for mail delays, application consideration, and for obtaining passport and visa when you are admitted. Apply early. Stated application deadlines are generally the final date for receipt of applications and all supporting credentials. Additional time is required to process applications from international students.

Allow 6-8 weeks after your application file is completed with an institution to receive their admission decision. Many schools and departments, however, send admission offers only in March and April.

It is courteous to notify an institution if you will not be accepting their offer of admission.

Send all requests, applications, and credentials airmail.

Remember: A Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or IAP-66) cannot be issued until you have been admitted, your level of English proficiency has been determined (and additional training arranged for if necessary) and your funding has been established as a sufficient amount to meet the institution's expenses. A Certificate of Eligibility is valid only for study in the institution which issued it - and only for the starting dates.

If you have questions about a program of study or your application status, do not hesitate to write for more information.


Admissions (standardized) Tests

Most graduate departments require scores on at least one academic admissions test. These are referred to as standardized tests because all applicants are required to take the same tests (including U.S. applicants), allowing admissions officers to compare candidates by test score. See a listing of general academic tests that may be required for admission. Professional schools such as schools of law, medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine have special examinations; see "Specialized Professional Study," for further information. See also Testing in Ireland

Application Essay/Personal Statement

Writing an essay, or personal statement, is often the most difficult part of the application process. Requirements vary widely in this regard. Some programs request only one or two paragraphs about why you want to pursue graduate study, while others require five or six separate essays in which you are expected to write at length about your motivation to graduate study, your strengths and weaknesses, your greatest achievements, and solutions to hypothetical problems. Business schools are notorious for requiring several time-consuming essays.

An essay or personal statement for an application should be essentially a statement of your ideas and goals. Usually it includes a certain amount of personal history, but, unless an institution specifically requests autobiographical information, you do not have to supply any. Even when the requirement is a "personal statement", the possibilities are almost unlimited. There is no set formula to follow, and, if you do write an autobiographical piece, it does not have to be arranged chronologically. Your aim should be a clear, succinct statement showing that you have a definite sense of what you want to do and enthusiasm for the field of study you have chosen. Your essay should reflect your writing abilities; more important, it should reveal the clarity, the focus, and the depth of your thinking.

Before writing anything, stop and consider what your reader might be looking for; the general directions or other parts of the application may give you an indication of this. Admissions committees may be trying to evaluate a number of things from your statement, including the following things about you:

- Motivation and commitment to a field of study
- Expectations with regard to the program and career opportunities
- Writing ability
- Major areas of interest
- Research or work experience
- Educational background
- Immediate and long term goals
- Reasons for deciding to pursue graduate education in a particular field and at a particular institution
- Maturity
- Personal uniqueness-what you would add to the diversity of the entering class

There are two main approaches to organizing an essay. You can outline the points you want to cover and then expand on them, or you can put your ideas down on paper as they come to you, going over them, eliminating certain sentences, and moving others around until you achieve a logical sequence. Making an outline will probably lead to a well-organized essay, whereas writing spontaneously may yield a more inspired piece of writing. Use the approach you feel most comfortable with. Whichever approach you use, you will want someone to critique your essay. Your adviser and those who write your letters of recommendation may be very helpful to you in this regard. If they are in the field you plan to pursue, they will be able to tell you what things to stress and what things to keep brief. Do not be surprised, however, if you get differing opinions on the content of your essay. In the end, only you can decide on the best way of presenting yourself.

If there is information in your application that might reflect badly on you, such as poor grades or a low admission test score, it is better not to deal with it in your essay unless you are asked to. Keep your essay positive. You will need to explain anything that could be construed as negative in your application, however, as failure to do so may eliminate you from consideration. You can do this on a separate sheet entitled “Addendum”, which you attach to the application, or in a cover letter that you enclose. In either form, your explanation should be short and to the point, avoiding long, tedious excuses. In addition to supplying your own explanation, you may find it appropriate to ask one or more of your recommenders to address the issue in their recommendation letter. Ask them to do this only if they are already familiar with your problem and could talk about it from a positive perspective.

In every case, essays should be word processed or typed. It is usually acceptable to attach pages to your application if the space provided is insufficient. Neatness, spelling, and grammar are important.


INTERVIEWS, PORTFOLIOS, and AUDITIONS

Some graduate programs will require you to appear for an interview. In certain fields, you will have to submit a portfolio of your work or schedule an audition.

INTERVIEWS. Interviews are usually required by medical schools and are often required or suggested by business schools and other programs. An Interview can be a very important opportunity for you to persuade an institution’s admissions officer or committee that you would be an excellent doctor, dentist, manager, etc.

Interviewers will be interested in the way you think and approach problems and will probably concentrate on questions that enable them to assess your thinking skills, rather than questions that call upon your grasp of technical knowledge. Some interviewers will ask controversial questions, such as “What is your viewpoint on abortion?” or give you a hypothetical situation and ask how you would handle it. Bear in mind that the interviewer is more interested in how you think than in what you think. As in your essay, you may be asked to address such topics as your motivation for graduate study, personal philosophy, career goals, related research and work experience, and areas of interest.
You should prepare for a graduate school interview as you would for a job interview. Think about the questions you are likely to be asked and practice verbalizing your answers. Think too about what you want interviewers to know about you so that you can present this information when the opportunity is given. Dress as you would for an employment interview.

PORTFOLIOS. Many graduate programs in art, architecture, journalism, environmental design, and other fields involving visual creativity may require a portfolio as part of the application. The function of the portfolio is to show your skills and ability to do further work in a particular field, and it should reflect the scope of your cumulative training and experience. If you are applying to a program in graphic design, you may be required to submit a portfolio showing advertisements, posters, pamphlets, and illustrations you have prepared. In fine arts, applicants must submit a portfolio with pieces related to their proposed major.

Individual programs have very specific requirements regarding what your portfolio should contain and how it should be arranged and labeled. Many programs request an interview and ask you to present your portfolio at that time. They may not want you to send the portfolio in advance or leave it with them after the interview, as they are not insured against its loss. If you do send it, you usually do so at your own risk, and you should label all pieces with your name and address.

AUDITIONS. Like a portfolio, the audition is a demonstration of your skills and talent, and it is often required by programs in music, theater and dance. Although all programs require a reasonable level of proficiency, standards vary according to the field of study. In a nonperformance area like music education, you need only show that you have attained the level of proficiency normally acquired through an undergraduate program in that field. For a performance major, however, the audition is the most important element of the graduate application. Programs set specific requirements as to what material is appropriate, how long the performance should be, whether it should be memorized, and so on. The audition may be live or taped, but a live performance is unusually preferred. In the case of performance students, a committee of professional musicians will view the audition and evaluate it according to prescribed standards.

Financial Aid


For non-US Citizens

.EduPASS
Guidelines on all types of financial aid, plus tips on completing financial aid applications.

.Fastweb
Database of 180,000 private scholarships (mainly for US citizens).

.International Students Organization in America
Information on scholarships, grants and other funding resources.

.Study in the US
Provides guidelines on financing your US education and links to financial aid Web sites.

.http://collegeapps.about.com/education/collegeapps/msub32.htm
Links to sites that offer information about financial aid and scholarships for students wishing to study in the US.

.www.bibl.u-szeged.hu/oseas/aid.html
Partial list of awards for international undergraduates.

.International Education Financial Aid
Database of scholarships available for study in the US. Search by field of study.

.http://www.globalgrant.com/cgi/eng_new/gg.cgi?language=eng&page=start.html
Global Grants offers a service that matches scholarships and international students.

.Sallie Mae College Aid Sources for Higher Education (CASHE)
Free online scholarship search offered by Sallie Mae. Offers scholarships in the form of grants, tuition waivers, fellowships, internships, competitions, work co-operative programs and loans. Information for international students can be found in the FAQ link.

Loans
.International Student Loan Programs
Undergraduate and postgraduate student loans available to non-US citizens who have a US citizen/resident as a co-signer.

.TERI
The Educational Resources Institute (TERI) has a loan section as well as a student/parent section. Students can apply on-line.

For US Citizens

.Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
US Department of Education's website where can fill out the FAFSA, find access codes, eligibility, directions etc.

.American Student Loans
Allows you to compare lenders, get you the loan you want has a loan finder. Other categories include undergraduate, graduate, high school, parent, adult student, international student, lender, and financial aid professional

.College Visits
College scholarship and financial aid page. Designed to offer students, parents, and counsellors easy access to information on A) college and universities in the US B) free financial aid and scholarship searches C) SAT and ACT preparation tips and more. Plus admissions email, addresses and telephone contacts. Also information for graduate school, GRE, GMAT, MBA, TOEFL, Community Colleges, Historically African American Colleges, and campus life.

.Fastweb
Database of 180,000 private scholarships.

.Adventures in Education
Paying for school and financing your education, manage money, repay loans, calculators, information for Texas borrowers.

.Financial Aid Information Page
The smart student guide to financial aid has a newsletter, free scholarship search for all awards for which you qualify.

.MEFA Loans
The Massachusetts Education Financing Authority includes information on college saving programs and college planning information.

.Nellie Mae
National leader in student loan financing and services. You can pre-qualify for loan, apply, check status, entrance counseling, exit counseling. You can also download a blank application.

.Princeton Review
Information on financial aid options for students.

.Student Loans
Step by step road map to higher education. Categories: parents, high school, college, prospective graduate students. Offers more information on various loan programs and you can "ask a counselor".

.TERI
The Educational Resources Institute has a loan section as well as a student/parent section. Students can apply online.

Rankings

A Note on Rankings

· There are no official rankings of US universities.
· Ranking usually only cover a small percentage of the total number of institutions offering a subject.
· Rankings are not available for every subject.
· Check the criteria used to compile the ranking and compare with your own criteria for what makes a good degree program.
· Beware of rankings that fail to adequately explain their methodology.

The following are some of the more widely known rankings of US institutions for study in the US. NONE offer the perfect measure of an institution's quality and wise students do not use these as a shortcut to doing thorough research into suitable programs.

Rankings that Cover a Variety of Subjects

.Kiplinger Top 100 public colleges
Kiplinger Magazine's ranking of state-funded universities.

.Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States: Continuity and Change
Marvin L Goldberger, Brendan A Maher and Pamela Ebert Flatteau, Committee for the Study of Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States, National Research Council, 1995, ISBN: 0-309-05094-4.

The NRC produced a report in 1995 into PhD programs at 274 institutions based on surveys sent to faculty in 1993. This is a follow-up report to one done in the early 1980's. It measures the scholarly quality of faculty and the effectiveness of the program in educating research scholars. The NRC is the working arm of the National Academy of Science and National Academy of Engineering which are prestigious organizations in the US that advise the Federal Government and this report received enormous attention on publication. Next edition is not expected for several years.

.The Princeton Review
Rankings for 311 undergraduate colleges and universities based on student surveys.

.US News & World Report
A US national news magazine that publishes an annual rankings for both undergraduate and graduate schools. The rankings edition is the biggest-selling issue of the year leading to criticism that this is the motivating factor for producing the ranking rather than to help students choose programs.

Rankings for Specific Subject Areas

.BusinessWeek
Based on surveys of graduate students and corporate recruiters plus interviews with students, alumni, recruiters, faculty and deans

.The Philosophical Gourmet Report 1998-2000 Professor Brian Leiter.
Ranking by a university professor based on the quality of tenured faculty at programmes concentrating in analytical philosophy.

See also the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Education and Social Science Library page of College Rankings