USA Masters Scholarships – Step-by-Step Guide

USA Masters Scholarships Guide

The US has always been a hub for post-graduation studies. American Universities not only helps students acquire contemporary education it also help them to network, socialize and tap into the biggest business and professional market in the world ripe with unlimited opportunities. A wide array of programs are available from various universities for students to choose from. The duration, finances, and effort vary from course to course and from university to university, some programs are short and take around 9 months for example Analytics or Business Analytics, some programs take around 18 months and require experience while other programs take around 2 years and usually don’t require any experience.

Before embarking upon your journey to the master’s degree, it is important to take into consideration two things – first, ensure that you have 16 years of education prior to applying to a master’s degree program in the US. Second, you need to have a clear sense of your career and academic goals. Graduate programs in the US are characterized as either STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) or non-STEM. Your academic and professional goals dictate your selection between the two. Universities usually specify if their programs are STEM or not, basically, all Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics programs are STEM, and management programs are non-STEM including MBA. If you plan to work in the USA, then it is highly recommended that you apply for STEM programs, as the chances of converting them from OPT (Optional Practical Training) to H1B (a type of non-immigrant visa) increases. The way it works is that every 6 months OPT visa holders apply through a lottery process. Therefore, during 3 years of OPT, you have 6 chances of going through the lottery system. However, if you apply to a non-STEM program, the chances decrease as you would have only one year to work in the USA on OPT. This role does not apply to the Ph.D. programs.

Getting a scholarship in MS programs is extremely competitive, but it is not impossible. All you need is thorough research before applying to?USA Masters scholarships?to maximize your chances of selection. You don’t need to be a topper or a 330?GRE score?to get a scholarship in the MS program, your holistic profile is considered. Not all schools have the same selection criteria; some schools require strong academics, some prefer high GRE scores, and some prefer experience and research-oriented profiles. Therefore, careful research can not only guarantee the right choice of the program but can also maximize your chances of receiving a scholarship.

Follow this step-wise guide to find your Master’s program in the US:

Step 1: Explore top schools ranking

Check the subject ranking of the top 50 or 100 schools in the U.S via the?US NEWS website?to get an idea of the GRE average scores required by the desired schools. You should have an idea before embarking on your MS journey what type of school you want to go to state schools, private schools, ivy league, top 5, top 10, top 20, etc. For direct admissions, the universities may accept a +300 GRE score given that you have good academic grades, application essays, and recommendations. Ideally, you should target to score +315 in GRE for decent schools. For programs that require strong quantitative skills such as Computer Science, Finance, and Engineering, you should aim for +320 with a minimum score of 165 in quantitative.

Step 2: Check the application deadlines

This is a very important factor in planning your application and devoting preparation time for GRE. Always aim for early application deadlines. For the US, you should ideally begin exploring schools 15-18 months prior to your intended date of admission. You’re strongly advised to apply as early as possible as you’ll be able to set a benchmark for forthcoming applications into the program.

Step 3: Prepare diligently for exams

Once you have an idea of the GRE score you’re aiming at and deadlines dates, prepare diligently for the GRE exam.

If you have already taken the GRE exam, based on your score determine whether you need to retake the test or whether you would like to go ahead with the same score.

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