How to Shortlist Universities for MS in USA?
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Aspiring MS students always have this question of how to shortlist universities for MS in the USA. Although there are many agents/study abroad counsellors out there who can help you with this process. However, there are some factors which you should consider for shortlisting universities for studying MS in the USA. Even after having a good academic record and good entrance exams, aspirants are confused about how to choose universities for pursuing an MS in the USA.
There are some questions that aspirants have while shortlisting the universities for MS, like:
- How to shortlist universities for studying MS?
- How many universities to shortlist and apply to?
- When is the right time to apply, fall or spring?
- How to apply to universities for MS? Or what is the application process for applying to MS in the USA?
Let's check out the article below to answer all these questions and also check how to shortlist MS universities in the USA for international students.
- How to shortlist universities for MS in USA?
- How many universities to shortlist and apply to for MS in US?
- When is the right time to apply, fall or spring for MS in US?
- What is the Application process for MS in USA?
- Other Ways to Shortlist MS Universities in USA
- How to Shortlist MS Universities in USA FAQs
How to shortlist universities for MS in USA?
Always consider these factors while shortlisting a university be it be for an MS course in the USA or any other course in any university of another country:
- Total expenses including both tuition fee and living expenses
- The course which you want to study
- On-campus placements opportunities
- Location of the university/college, if you can get off campus job there or not
- Acceptance rate (especially of international students)
- Can you adjust to the weather of the place or not
The first and foremost thing is to look for the university which is offering the course of your choice. Other factors can take a back seat but your career depends on it. You can do extensive research to know more about it and the job prospects after pursuing that course.
- Learn how students’ should shortlist colleges & look beyond rankings
- Understand top university rankings to shortlist the best colleges
How many universities to shortlist and apply to for MS in US?
Although you can apply to as many universities as you want, however, this process is not free. For one application it can cost you around US $100, so, think about the number of universities you want to apply. Apart from this, sending GRE scores and TOEFL scores also cost you. Other than the free universities which you get at the time of registering for these exams, you have to pay for each university you are sending marks to. Sending GRE score to every university can cost you US $27 and $20 for sending TOEFL score to any university. In addition to this, sending IELTS score reports electronically from IPD will also cost you INR 250.
When is the right time to apply, fall or spring for MS in US?
When to start the application process to US Universities is a big concern for students looking to pursue MS in the USA. For students planning to go for Fall intake, the application process for them begins by the first week of November. For students planning to go for Spring intake, the application process for them begins in September. So, you should be prepared beforehand and have all the requisites at the time of applying.
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Deadlines for Fall intake for most of the universities are around mid-December. Although, the deadline for some of the universities goes up to January as well. Apart from this, few universities have deadlines until March and few have rolling deadlines. Spring deadlines vary from September to November. It is always recommended to apply early, as some universities also consider students for financial aid, which is given to students who applied early.
What is the Application process for MS in USA?
How to apply to US universities for MS? This is one major question because MS applications in the US are laborious and time-consuming. The application process for MS in the USA is usually accepted through university-specific websites, unlike Common or Coalition App for undergraduate admissions. Students should be aware of the application process for the USA universities because a lot of documents will be required to be uploaded and may be required to be sent to the university for admission. Also, you can reach out to our team of study abroad experts who will help you at every step of the application process and guide you throughout your journey.
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Other Ways to Shortlist MS Universities in USA
Apart from the above-mentioned criteria, there are other parameters that you should consider for shortlisting the universities for MS in the USA.
Based on Standardized Test Scores
You can select universities based on your GRE and TOEFL or IELTS scores. These are considered one of the most important factors in deciding the university.
Based on Fees
This is an important parameter for the prospective student. As you need to check the feasibility of going to university. Not every student can education loan or scholarship for studying abroad.
Based on course duration
Although it may not be a major concern for every student you should consider this parameter while shortlisting the university. Those who are planning to complete the course early, make sure the number of courses/credit hours they undertake per semester should be more than the minimum credit hours per semester.
Based on your friends'/seniors' advice
You can contact your seniors who are already studying abroad at a US university. This is a great way to take feedback about everything from curriculum, quality of education, and tuition fees to job prospects and other important things you need to know.
Overall, a lot many ideas have been enlisted in the article above in order to shortlist MS Universities in USA for international students. If you have more queries, you can get in touch with us in the comments below.
How to Shortlist MS Universities in USA FAQs
Q. What is the ideal way to shortlist MS universities in USA as international students?
A. The following are three ideal ways in which an international student can shortlist any US university be it be for MS or for any other course of choice:
- Safety: Under this category, you should keep the universities that match your profile easily and you have the maximum number of chances of getting admission to those universities. Also check out: Safest US States to Live in for International Students
- Reach: Under this category, you keep the universities whose selection criteria match your profile and you have the chance of getting into these universities based on your profile.
- Dream: Under this category, you keep top universities whose selection criteria are difficult and the acceptance rate is less. These universities are difficult to get into.
Q. Should I apply to more than one US universities for MS?
A. Usually one should apply for 2-3 US universities for MS but this is not mandatory. In case the applicant is confident enough to apply to even one US university for MS course, he/she need not apply for another university in US or any other country. But to have a backup plan, it can be taken into consideration to apply to one more university if not three universities at one given point of time for an international applicant because it may not prove feasible also. Also check: US Universities Without Application Fees
Q. How to shortlist MS universities that are tuition free in US?
A. There are a wide range of universities in the US which offer MS courses and offer a scholarship too for international students. There are certain need blind universities in USA which can be considered while applying for MS in USA. Other than this, there are other US universities that offer financial aid to international students which can also be considered. Applicants must check the official website and ensure if at all scholarships are available for international students or not.
Q. What is the minimum GPA required for MS admissions in USA?
A. Admission to MS programs are tough and the minimum requirements of GPA is around 3.4 on a 4.0 point scale and above is definitely required for US university enrollment. However, there may be US universities which may require lower GPA in comparison to the already mentioned GPA. International students will have to have GPA around 3.2 to 3.4 in order to be eligible to apply for MS in US universities, again it may vary course to course and university to university.
Q. Can I shortlist MS universities in US with three years bachelor's?
A. Yes, a handful US universities accept 3-years bachelor's from students applying for MS courses. These universities may accept 3-years of bachelors based on the country of education and some may require applicants to go for extra credit courses to complete MS in USA. Some of the US universities accepting 3-years bachelor's for master's are as follows:
MIT is not costly for Indian students. Applicants can study BTech program at affordable tuition fees as compared to other BTech colleges in the USA. The MIT BTech fees is around INR 50 L to INR 52 L.
The University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 from undergraduates and 3 from postgraduates on the 4-pointer scale. Along with the GPA scores, undergraduates must meet the basic eligibility and submit an ACT score of 21 or higher and an SAT score of 1070 or higher. In addition, they must submit the required documents, such as academic history, transcripts, letters of recommendation, English language scores, and more.
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There is no minimum GPA score for UG admission at Ohio State. However, International students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent) for graduate admission. Applicants may submit a standardized test score (GRE or GMAT) if their cumulative GPA is below 3.0 for the last degree.