MS in US-Basics you need to know!

I obviously do not have like 10-15 years experience in this field but let me share with you stuff that I went through when I decided that this was for sure my line.

Okay the first thing to make sure is that you plan in advance.Let me chart out a lil' schedule.

Also please make sure you apply max for the Fall batch since a lot of schools dont offer many programs in Spring.

Ok the schedule.

Say suppose you are going to apply for the Fall 2013 batch.(The earlier you start the process and start making up your mind the better).

Please decide your specialization(Not ECE or EE ..Stuff like Networks,Databases etc) atleast by 2012 May.

If you require coaching make sure you take and complete the course by 2011 December.

If you are confident enough go ahead and take GRE by March 2012.(The scores are valid for 5 years!So dont worry) and no problem if you goof up! You have enough time to take it even twice.

Okay the next step.Prepare and take TOEFL(About a week should be more than enough if you speak good english).

[Clicking here takes you to an article I wrote about my TOEFL prep and test taking experience]

All that done make sure you are done with all this by July or at the most August.

Now begins the real process.Go through various university websites and check out their programs and which suits you.Read about the research of various professors and see who you'd like to work with.Allow yourself atleast 3-4 weeks for this(If you're in a hurry atleast 2 weeks).

In the meantime start writing your SOP(Statement of Purpose).It should through light on why you are applying for MS?Why this particular field?Why this university?How you got interested in it?What all have you done to prove your interest and passion for this?Other extra curriculars etc.Make atleast 5 or 6 drafts.Ask people around to read it to make sure it sounds good and then prepare a final copy.Take atleast 2-3 weeks for this.

Now also speak to 3 professors in your college/superiors in your workplace for recommendation letters.Sometimes they do it themselves in which case just give them a short summary of your achievements for them to highlight and in the worst case that you have to do it yourself make sure that they sound poles apart and not like they have been written by the same person.

All right , lets get back to the shortlisting.Now that you have done your research,spoken to seniors,seen all those rankings you must be ready to shortlist those univs that you want to apply to.Ideally choose 10(2-Dream,4-You can get into,4-Safe Admits).This done get your univ list approved by some seniors who you know or by other means just to be on the safe side.

Next Step:Start filling out applications.Most of them are online applications and require registration so careful with the username and password!Fill out all the details they ask..

[A typical appln will require the following:

Name,Last name,Contact address and phone no,DOB,College that you studied in and graduation date,GPA,SOP Upload,Recommender contact details,Resume(Optional in some cases) and details about your citizenship and Visa type you require,what course/term you are applying to,Test scores(GRE,TOEFL),Publications,project details(optional),Scanned copy of transcript(optional),Work experience details(optional)]

While sending the application you'll have to pay for it either by credit card or send a DD to them.I'd recommend credit card.You're application processing will begin only after you pay this amount.

Okay now to get your application packet ready.This is the one you'll be couriering to the universities.

And before I forget send your GRE and TOEFL Scores to all these univs by using the ETS Website.(I think it costs 40$ for a GRE+TOEFL Report).Univs accept reports sent to them from ETS and not your xeroxes so it is mandatory that you do this.Again credit card payment is better.

Now back to the packet.First of all see how many univs require a transcript and how many copies.Total all this up and add 2 to it just to be safe for later(Some univs may require after they give admits so its up to you to decide how many you need.Typically I'd suggest atleast 16 or 17 copies initially)

Go to the univ which you studied in and follow the procedure to procure this.Let me tell you the procedure for Anna Univ,Chennai.(Experience is quite harrowing here unless you get everything you need beforehand.)First Get a DD drawn in favour of whatever is mentioned in the website(I think mine was drawn in favour of Controller of Exams,not sure though).Get a copy of 10th and 12th mark sheets,all your degree marksheets and put it in a cloth cover and give it to them.You can collect the transcript in a week(I think there are some revised rules now.Do check the website)

See what else the university requires and put all these in a folder and create an index for them.Now use a A3 or A2 size cover for all these and courier it to the univ.(I used TNT.Edulix members get a discount there.It cost me around 685 Rs./courier but its 704 now I guess).I would not advise speed post.(Friend of mine had little trouble with it)

Now keep checking the status page for the updates and follow up to see all the documents are received and updated.

Wait for the decisions and All the best!

(Steps after getting an admit will be discussed in another post when I am feeling too lazy to touch my books just like today :D)

You can refer to Edulix or Happy Schools Blog.This is just an intro.You can find in-depth information in the above two links.

Cheers!

Gaya. :)