UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS                 

STANDARDISED ADMISSION TESTS

As a part of the application process, most American colleges and universities require scores from one of the U.S. standardized admissions tests. However, some colleges and universities do not require international applicants to take admissions tests, and some schools do not ask for admissions test scores from any applicant. To find specific admissions test requirements, use U.S.-university directories such as the International Student Handbook of U.S. Colleges (The College Board, New York, NY) and Applying to Colleges and Universities in the United States: A Handbook for International Students (Peterson's, Princeton, N.J.). Also note that community colleges do not usually require applicants to take standardized admissions tests.

U.S. standardized admissions tests are primarily multiple-choice aptitude tests that are intended to measure the skills necessary for undergraduate study. American colleges and universities use admissions tests as a means of assessing all applicants (from the United States and other countries) against the same standard. Keep in mind that secondary school diplomas and examinations are not an equivalent to admissions tests, and that tests are only one part of the application — good test scores alone do not guarantee admission to the schools of your choice.

There are three main undergraduate admissions tests:

• SATI
• SAT Subject Tests
• The ACT

Some universities may have their own in-house examinations or additional tests that applicants are required to take. For further information, make a list of the colleges you want to apply to, and then use general college directories or the colleges' own catalogs and websites to find out each institution's specific test requirements.

SAT
The SAT is given several times throughout the year at locations worldwide. Pre-registration is required, and deadlines are usually six weeks prior to the exam. More specific information about dates, test centers, fees, and registration procedures is available in the SAT registration bulletin or on the SAT website at http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about.html. You can get copies of the registration bulletin from the College Board in the United States. You may be asked to pay postage costs for these bulletins. U.S. centers also usually have sample questions and other test preparation materials for the SAT tests available for reference use, loan, or purchase.

Content: The SAT is a measure of the critical thinking skills you'll need for academic success in college. The SAT assesses how well you analyze and solve problems—skills you learned in school that you'll need in college. The SAT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors. It is administered seven times a year in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories, and six times a year overseas.

SAT Subject Tests are also primarily multiple choice, but are only one hour long. They measure knowledge in specific subject areas. The subjects currently offered are:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Chinese with Listening
• French
• French with Listening
• German
• German with Listening
• Italian
• Japanese with Listening
• Korean with Listening
• Latin
• Literature
• Mathematics Level 1
• Mathematics Level 2
• Modern Hebrew
• Physics
• Spanish
• Spanish with Listening
• United States History
• World History

Many U.S. colleges and universities, especially those that have more competitive admissions criteria, either require or recommend one or more SAT Subject Test scores for admission and/or placement purposes. Be sure to check each institution's requirements before registering for an SAT Subject Test. While some colleges specify which subject tests you must take, others leave the option up to you. In this case, it is advisable to take exams in your strongest areas of study.

Scores: Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale of 200-800, and the writing section will contain two sub-scores. Therefore, the highest possible combined score on the SAT would be 2,400. Scores are reported separately to colleges for the mathematical and verbal sections. Most college directories and catalogs quote average scaled scores for each institution to give some guidance on relative selectivity. SAT Subject Tests are also scored on a 200 to 800 scale.

The ACT University-Entrance Exam (The ACT)

Administered by ACT, Inc., the ACT is used by every 4-year college and university in the United States. The ACT is given up to five times annually at testing locations around the world. Unlike the SAT, the ACT is curriculum based, meaning it directly tests students on the subjects they are learning in school. Because of this, some students tend to feel more comfortable with its format. International students register for the ACT online at www.actstudent.org. Registration deadlines are around five weeks prior to the exam. More specific information about dates, test centers, and free test preparation materials is available at www.actstudent.org.

Content: The ACT is a curriculum-based multiple-choice exam that measures student achievement in English, math, reading, and science reasoning. It also contains an optional writing component. Students can go to www.actstudent.org to see whether the college or university to which they are applying requires the writing component.

Scores: For each of the four subject areas, you receive a raw score, which is the total number of correct responses. The score is then converted into a scaled score from 1 to 36. A composite score is then calculated by adding together the scaled scores and dividing the sum by four. The highest possible composite score is 36, and the lowest is 1. Scores take several weeks to reach universities. 

Application Procedure – Undergraduate/Bachelor Degree Courses in U.S.A.

This section explains the process of applying to US universities for Undergraduate (Associate & Bachelor Degree) programs.  For details on how to select a university that matches student’s interests, needs and academic background, go to the Selecting Universities section.

Pre-Application Issues

• Application Forms
• Eligibility

 Application Requirements

1.                  Academic Records

2.                  Standardized Tests

3.                  Letters of Recommendation

4.                  Statement of Purpose (SOP)

5.                  Financial Support

6.                  Interviews (If applicable)

Application Forms   

   Send enquiries at least 15 to 18 months before the proposed date of admission. There are two ways to get application forms.

   Requesting Application Forms via email :

1. You can request application forms from the universities website. Most universities have a form on their website which can be completed online to request application material.
2. Requesting Application Forms via Air Mail : The other way is to send a request by airmail for application material. The request should contain a brief description of your educational background, academic objectives, source of financial support, English proficiency and standardized test scores.
3. Downloading from the university website : Many universities have a downloadable and ready to print versions of their application forms  on the net. These can be used for applying just as regular forms.

 Eligibility

 Admission to a College or University in US requires a completion of twelve years of elementary and secondary education. In the Indian context, this implies qualifying in class 12th examination or junior college as applicable.  The acceptable degrees include : Indian School Certificate, Intermediate Certificate, Higher School Certificate, Higher Secondary Certificate, All India Senior School Certificate. Student can either pursue a two-year Associate degree like Associate of Science (A.S.) or a four-year degree like Bachelor of Science (B.S.).

 Application Requirements

Academic Records     

Students who are applying for a Bachelor program or another undergraduate course would be required to submit a secondary school report and transcripts (report cards) of the final exams. The report form should be filled out by a school official like the principal, counselor or headmaster. This form should introduce the student in the context of his/her whole school experience in relation to the other students in the student’s class. Admission committees will be interested in learning how the student have performed in his/her educational system. The school report should talk about the student’s accomplishments and provide a prediction of his/her chances for success in university-level studies. Since there is a variation between the styles of scoring used abroad and the ones used in India, the student should ask school to include a guide to the grading standards used in the educational system and the school. If the school ranks students by their level of academic achievement, make certain that the ranking is included with the other details. Also send the school / junior college leaving certificate as and when it is available. If the transcripts are in a language other than English, then it must be translated into English only by the issuing authority or university otherwise it may not be acceptable.

 Standardized Tests 

 English Proficiency Test, TOEFL: This test is mandatory for International students applying to a Graduate course or University in US. The minimum score required by most universities for admission is 75iBT).

Letter of Recommendation   

Letters of reference or recommendation letters play a very important part in the student’s admission especially in courses that earn them a master’s or doctoral degree. A recommendation letter is a signed statement from a person who knows the student well professionally or has taught him/her in a subject that is related to the course the student is applying to. It should list the student’s positive and negative qualities, strengths and other such information. The author or teacher must indicate his position, how long he/she has known the applicant and in what capacity. He/she should briefly discuss the need, importance and usefulness of the study the applicant proposes to undertake. Authors are usually asked to rank applicants in their letters of recommendation, which helps admission officers to interpret the academic credentials of foreign students. Students should obtain letters of recommendation (often on the prescribed forms sent by the institutions) from teachers who know them as a person as well as a student. The applicant shall like to request his/her author to give concrete examples that may show the student’s qualities and help your case. Many universities have their own format and questions that have to be answered by the person who is giving the letter of recommendation on the student’s behalf. Letters, which do not give enough information, can jeopardize a candidate’s chances of selection.

Note : Even if not mentioned, it is advisable to include at least two letters of recommendation in the applications as they increase the applicant’s  chances of getting admissions.

 Statement of Purpose

The personal essays, and/or statement of purpose, play a very important role in the process of evaluating a student’s  application for both admission as well as financial aid, because it gives the faculty assessing your application their most significant impression of the student as an individual. This section is the key to distinguish your student’s application from other suitable candidates and a chance to market your student. A personal statement should include your student’s reasons for choosing a particular course, the suitability of your student’s education and experience for the chosen course, the student’s personal interests and career goals. Some courses like Business school courses will have their own essay questions and format. Others may ask for a résumé or reasons for applying to that particular course.

For more details on various essay topics, tips, sample essays, check out our Essays/Statement of Purpose section.

Financial Support    

Your student must submit a financial aid application if he/she desires financial help for y graduate studies in a US university. Financial assistance for non-US citizens is very limited. The evidence of financial support is required by universities to issue the documents needed for visa application. Although it is a requirement for application, it is usually not taken into consideration into factors that determine admission. Most universities make their admission decisions without regard for the source and amount of financial support. Your student would be required to submit documentation of his/her family’s financial resources to help schools assess the student’s need. Most of the universities have their own financial aid form, which you would have to complete for the student. The student would also be required to submit a bank statement demonstrating his/her financial capacity to support his/her education in US. Some US state institutions offer tuition waivers to international students in return for some type of educational contribution.

For Scholarships, loans and other financial aid information,check out our Financial Aid section.

 Interviews  

 A few universities may take the student’s interview to know him/her better. The interview could be with a college representative or "third party" representatives, staff, faculty or alumni of the college or simply a telephonic interview. These interviews are usually informal and more of an opportunity to exchange information. The interviewer will try to judge your abilities and interests.

For more details and tips on interviews, check out our Interviews section.

Other Required Tests

SAT I   : This is required for almost all Courses and Universities. 

SAT II  : A few Universities may require you to take two or three subject tests.

ACT     : A few Universities may also require you to take this test.

    Financial Aid & Scholarships

It is important to understand that most universities offer financial assistance to international students based primarily on merit and rarely on need. The amount, and type of assistance offered varies, based on the university, department and level of study. Assistance of funds is more likely in Graduate studies and less in Undergraduate courses. Also funds are more likely to be available in fields like Engineering, Physical Sciences and Biological sciences, rather than in courses like Humanities, Social Sciences and Management.

·        University Funding/Scholarships

·        Loans from U.S. Banks

·        Aid from Other Sources

·        Loans and Support from your Home Country

University, College Funding - Scholarships & Assistantships

It is important to understand that most universities offer financial assistance to international students based primarily on merit and rarely on need. The amount, and type of assistance offered varies, based on the university, department and level of study.  Assistance of funds is more likely in Graduate studies and less in Undergraduate courses. Also funds are more likely to be available in fields like Engineering, Physical Sciences and Biological sciences, rather than in courses like Humanities, Social Sciences and Management.

Undergraduate Aid (University Funding)

You must submit a financial aid application if you intend to seek financial assistance for your studies abroad. The policies regarding financial aid vary considerably. The profile of a college usually indicates the type of financial aid it offers. For aid, Undergraduate students have to submit the institution’s own financial aid forms, as well as the Foreign Student’s Financial Aid Form, which is provided by the college and administered by the College Scholarship Service of the College Board. A bank statement will also often be required. Some details, usually asked in these forms are :  

• Your total personal annual income
• Total annual income of your Parents
• Your average annual living expenses
• Some details of your and your parents' assets
• Sources of funding for your education other than from the University

Note : Even if no assistantship is available at the time of admission, most Indian students manage to get some kind of financial aid from the university after one or two semesters. So it makes sense to go to the US for education if you can manage one year’s expenses on your own.

Postgraduate Aid       

Postgraduate students have to indicate their requirement for financial aid at the time of filling in the application form. The different types of financial help available:

Types of Assistance-Merit based assistance is awarded in many forms, from tuition waivers, various types of assistantships, to fellowships.  The most common are listed here :

1. Tuition Waiver :  This means that the student does not have to pay the tuition fees at the university. However, general fees (for the use of university facilities like the library, computers, and sports and health services) usually have to be borne by the student. A tuition waiver is frequently awarded in conjunction with a scholarship or teaching/research assistantship.
2. Scholarship / Fellowship : This is usually an outright grant based on the student’s academic ability and performance. Hence, Only a truly outstanding student may be considered for this type of award, before enrolling at the university. A full scholarship would pay for a student’s entire living expenses at that university, whereas a partial scholarship would require additional funds from the student.
3. Assistantship : Most students who receive assistance usually do so in the form of an assistantship, i.e. a cash stipend sufficient for their living expenses, and/or tuition waiver. To get this, they have to work for a maximum of 20 hours per week. This work normally consists of teaching and research activities. These are usually for graduate courses. Teaching assistantships are more likely to be in universities, which have large undergraduate classes whereas research assistantships tend to be more common in those fields and universities in which considerable research is in progress. Information brochures of most universities give this information. Often, teaching and research abilities must be proved before assistantship is granted. Hence, many universities grant this only after the first semester. You may also be required to take TSE (Test of Spoken English) to qualify for a teaching assistantship.

Who Should Apply?

Students have a greater chance of getting financial aid if they :

1. Show evidence of a high level of academic achievement
2. Achieve high Standardized Examination scores (GRE, GMAT, TOEFL etc.)
3. Demonstrate financial need but have private funding to cover some of the cost. Financial need is not crucial for some awards.
4. Enroll in a field or have teaching experience in a subject offered at the undergraduate level (to increase opportunities for a teaching assistantship)
5. Specialize in a field or have a research interest which parallels that of the department and faculty or private funding source (which increases opportunities for research assistantships and grants)
6. Have outstanding letter(s) of recommendation and an impressive statement of purpose.
7. Send a sample of professional writing, published or otherwise.

Note : Even if no assistantship is available at the time of admission, Most Indian students manage to get some kind of financial aid from the university after one or two semesters. So it makes sense to go to the US for education if you can manage to cover one year’s expenses on your own.

Financial Aid - Other Resources

There are many other sources of funding especially for graduate students applying to the universities in US. These need some spadework. If you try hard, you may find the kind of funding that suits your needs. A few good websites that offer information for international students are :

Financial Aid for International Students (www.finaid.org)· NAFSA Association of International Educators (http://www.nafsa.org) 

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Financial aid is an important factor to consider for students applying abroad. Careful planning is both necessary and wise. Foreign nationals are required to show proof of sufficient funds to cover at least the first year of their college education to apply for a student visa. The burden of securing necessary funding can be challenging, and sometimes frustrating. Your savings (or your family's) may be the only reliable source of funding you have as you begin your program of studies abroad.

Important : University funding is easier to get in the United States than in U.K., Canada, Australia or New Zealand. Most students who go to Australia and U.K. are self funded students.

We list here the various options for financing your education abroad: 

Sources In India

• Bank Loans
• Trust Loans
• Fellowships U.S.A.
• University Funding/Scholarships
• Loans from U.S. Banks
• Aid from Other Sources
• Loans and Support from your Home Country

 Canada

• University Funding  

Bank Loans        

State Bank of India, Bank of India, Andhara Bank, Syndicate Bank and Canara Bank and many other banks have educational loan schemes which extend from schooling to research. The amount differs according to the course. Banks give a loan for studying abroad which is as high as Rs. 20 lakhs. These loans are subject to many terms and conditions. Apart from being only a partial loan - at least 25% of the total course expenditure is to be paid by the parents of the student. The candidate has to provide security for the loan he gets. It can be in the form of a house mortgage, NSE shares or insurance policy. Security for a loan of upto Rs. 25,000 is nil but for a loan of over Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 3 lakhs, it is 100%. For a loan of Rs. 3 lakhs to Rs. 5 Lakhs, the security to be provided is 150 % and it is 200% for a loan of over Rs. 5 lakhs. However the banks do not give these loans to anyone who applies for them. The first condition is that admission should be confirmed. Secondly, loans are not given for correspondence courses. And thirdly, the past academic record of the loan seeker should also be satisfactory. Anyone who fulfills these conditions is eligible for an educational loan which covers course fees, hostel fees, cost of books, equipment, and one way fare to the place of study if the parents of the candidate do not live there.

Repayment has to start 6 months after the completion of the course or if the person gets a job immediately after completing the course, one-month after getting the job. The maximum time given for the repayment is 15 years counted from the date of the first disbursement.

Trust Loans

Loans from trusts have low rates of interest (2-4 percent), or are interest free. Some of the most well known trusts are listed below:

1.    J.N. Tata Endowment: Low-Interest loans of Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 2 lakhs, and grant of Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000, for several disciplines. Completed application forms must reach by 25th February of the year of award. For more details and application form, write to: The Director,J.N. Tata Endowment,Bombay House,24 Homi ModyStreet,Mumbai-400001

2.    K.C. Mahindra Education Trust:Upto Rs. 65,000, for postgraduate studies in various disciplines. Forms must be requested before 28th February of the year of award and completed forms must reach by 31st March of the year of award.For more details and application form, write to:The Managing Trustee,K.C. Mahindra Education Trust,Cecil Court,Mahakavi Bhushan Marg,Mumbai-4000393.     

3.    Mariwala Trust: Upto Rs. 50,000 interest free, for postgraduate studies in several disciplines. Application forms must be requested before 1st March of the year of award and completed forms must reach by 30th April of the year of award.For more details and application form, write to:The Managing Trustee,Mariwala CharityTrust,409 Shah and Nahar Industrial Estate,Dr. E. Moses Road, Worli Naka,Mumbai-400018Tel: (022) 4938307 Fax: (022) 49747044. 

4.    R.D. Sethna Scholarship Fund:An amount of Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 50,000 at 2 percent annual interest for undergraduate and postgraduate studies in science, technology, commerce and education. Completed application forms must reach by 31st May of the year of award.For more details and application form, write to:The Chief ExecutiveR.D. Sethna Scholarship Fund,Esplanade House,29 Hazarimal Somani Marg, Fort,Mumbai-400001

5.    Sahu Jain Trust:The trust offers loan scholarships for higher studies in India as well as abroad.For more details, write to:The SecretarySahu Jain Trust,4th Floor, Times House 7,Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,New Delhi -110002

Fellowships

Fellowships are very popular, and securing one is a very difficult because of the serious competition. A few important ones are listed here:

1. Aga Khan Foundation:This fellowship is available for development studies and courses not available in India. Forms are issued from January each year and completed forms must reach by 31st March of the year of award.For more details and application form, write to:Aga Khan Foundation,Sarojini House, 2nd floor,6 Bhagwan Dass Road,New Delhi -1100012.
2. Inlaks Scholarships:This fellowship is available for several disciplines.Applicants must be graduates, and 19-30 years old. Completed application forms must reach by 30th August for the following year.For more details and application form, send a self addressed envelope to:Inlaks Foundation,PO Box 2108,Delhi-1100073.
3. AT&T Leadership Awards (For U.S. only):U.S. $ 5,000 awards for the students from the Asia-Pacific region going to the U.S. for study in any discipline. Six of the 36 awards went to Indians in 1998. Applications must reach the programme’s Malaysia office by 15th September. Decisions are announced by 31st December.For more details and application form, write to USEFI or email awards@attmail.com or fax at (886) 2-2715-7013 (attn: AT&T Leadership Award)
4. Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships:The scholarship amount goes upto U.S. $ 23,000 for studies in any subject and any country.For any information, contact any Rotary Club office or write to:The Scholarships Programme,Rotary Foundation,Rotary International, One Rotary Centre,1560 Sherman Avenue,Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Engineering courses at the Masters and the Doctorate level are the most popular courses among most students going abroad to study.

Getting an admission requires you to do a lot of homework, be aware of how things work and prepare for each step in the process.

There are several factors that act together and are important to get you an admission. Getting one or two of them right is not good enough. All of them are equally important, give them the importance they deserve, and you will be on your way.

The key factors that will get you an admission are:

1.    Your Homework 

 The first two points talk about the groundwork that you will need to do before applying.

The subsequent points describe the key items based on statistics of students admitted in the previous years.

The weightage given to each of these criteria is about the same in most of the programs.

Explore all these factors and if you need help you can refer to the various counseling and admission services offered by SGi

The application process begins with your decision of which programs you are interested in applying. Typically, you would begin with a broad list of universities and then start the elimination process based on certain factors.

It will be the easiest for you if you are planning to pursue a subject in which you have your Bachelors degree. If you are planning a change of subjects, you will have to do that extra bit of convincing about the reasons for the change and demonstrate your eligibility for the new subject.

While it is possible to apply to a department that is different from that of your bachelor degree program, you would need a good reason to justify the change.

You need to talk to all your seniors and friends who are already in the US, take their views and ask them for universities they feel are good for a person with your background.

You have to spend long hours on the Internet, researching universities, their programs, entry requirements and their reputations. Read articles on the internet about the universities, besides going through the university websites.

Networking is an important part of the graduate engineering admissions process. This is more important if you are looking for financial aid in form of tuition or research assistantships. Many graduate departments at universities offer teaching assistantships or research assistantships to their graduate students (students pursuing a master's or doctoral degree particularly in engineering).

Assistantships usually involve a tuition award and some sort of salary in return for teaching or research duties. Every school has a limited number of openings for assistantships based on the amount of funding allocated. As a result, such scholarships are merit-based, meaning they are competitive, based on your academic performance to date.

Individual departments at the university generally control funds.  It always helps to write directly to the department to inquire about available funding.  Students who are research oriented or have published papers in a particular field should contact professors interested in that field.  By contacting professors in advance and building a relationship, you can greatly enhance your chance of getting admission and aid.

The whole procedure can get very difficult and it requires you to be organized to make sure that the decisions about the courses and universities you choose is the right one.

2.    Your Schedule

Start your application process as early as possible, typically, at least 12 to 18 months in advance.

You have to spend long hours on the Internet, researching universities, their programs, entry requirements and their reputations.

Read articles on the internet about the universities, besides going through the university websites.

If you are looking at September semester, you should send in your applications by the month of December of the preceding year. This means you should have your GRE and TOEFL scores by the month of October of the preceding year.

The earlier you apply, the better your chances of admissions and financial aid. As mentioned in the previous issue, networking is a very important part of graduate admissions.

You should write to the professors much before you apply. This way, you would be able to gauge their interest and make a decision on whether you wish to apply to that university. The chances of getting a reply are much higher if you mail early. As most students apply late, professors usually have more free time during October and November. This is the best time to approach them with complete details.

Remember, if you write to them without complete details, like say, if you write to them without your GRE score, you may not get a reply. Most of them get hundreds of mails and only the serious and well-written mails get a reply. 

The financial aid decisions are made pretty early and there is a lot of competition for funds. An early start would give you a big advantage in getting any kind of financial assistance.

To sum it up, APPLY EARLY.

3. GRE Score

GRE scores are required for admissions to most colleges in U.S.A., some colleges in Canada and a few in other countries.

Your GRE score is the single most important factor in your admission to the top program. No matter how good your undergraduate GPA is or how inspiring your statement of purpose is; you do not stand a chance in the top program without a good GRE score.

What is a Good ‘BallPark’?

In most of the top programs, ‘BallPark’ starts at about 1300. This is not a strict cutoff. However, with scores less than 1200, your chances of getting into the top program are minimal (Unless of course, you wrote a research paper challenging Einstein’s Theory of Relativity)

As a good estimate, if your GRE score is within a school's median 80 percent range, even if it's 60 points below the school's median, you have a reasonable chance of being admitted. If it's below that 80 percent range you still have a shot, but it's a long shot. Most programs print their 80 percent ranges in their brochures. For those that don't, you can make a rough estimate by assuming the range starts about 60 points below the median and ends about 60 points above it. As long as you are within that range, you have a reasonable chance of being admitted.

Break-up of GRE Score

The GRE score is further divided into verbal, quantitative and analytical writing assessment scores in your score report. Separate scores, particularly for quantitative section, are very important. Most engineering programs put strong emphasis on quantitative ability and consider your math score to be a reflection of your quantitative skills. A good balance in the quantitative and verbal scores would be ideal; however, if you have to be stronger on one section of the test than on the other, it is definitely better to be stronger in quantitative sections.

A good balance would be getting in the 700s in each section.

Your GRE score card will have the following breakup: