Around 30,000 Indian students fly to the United States for higher studies every year while the number of Bangladeshi students studying at graduate level in US totaled 1,461 in 2010. And a great majority of these Bangladeshi students study engineering. Students from other academic backgrounds hardly think of studying in US because of lack of knowledge about the opportunities that the US universities offer to international students.It is not very difficult to get admission to Masters or Ph.D. program in a US university. US universities are affordable because funding opportunities for good students are available there. There is no single country in the world other than the US, which offers so many opportunities for international students. All you have to do is to have a clear idea about the process which is neither complicated nor easy.
Common Requirements of the Universities
Requirements of most US universities are almost the same. If you have the following things ready, you can apply for Masters or Ph.D.
1) Transcripts of your Bachelor’s examinations
2) GRE score
3) TOEFL Score
4) Statement of Purpose
5) Recommendation Letters (from three recommenders)
6) A Resume
These are common for all universities. A few universities might have some special requirements. If you don't have strong score on GRE, you may not get enough fund from the university to cover your study. In that case, you must have solid financial supports.
Amount of Money Needed to Apply
In the lead up to one’s admission, one must pay for TOEFL registration, GRE registration and applications to US universities. The amounts are as follows:
1) TOEFL Registration: $ 150 (Dhaka). This fee varies by country
2) GRE Registration: $ 190
3) Application: Application fee + charges for sending GRE and TOEFL scores + courier charges
It costs around $ 150 for each application. Many students apply to around 10 universities. If you can be more selective, your money will be saved.
Who will fund your studies?
You don’t have to worry about funding if you have good GRE and TOEFL score. Most US universities offer hundreds of assistantships called teaching assistantship, graduate assistantship and research assistantship. These assistantships are distributed on the basis of the quality of the applications. If you get a full assistantship, you have to work 20 hours a week on your campus and in return you will get money enough to cover your tuition, food and accommodation. Your assistantship would not affect your education at all. It will rather help you excel in your field.
Date of Your Flight
Most probably in August. International students apply to US universities for Fall Semester because decisions on assistantships are usually taken in this semester. The semester begins in September. So, if you get admitted to a US university, you are very likely to fly in August or early September.
Application deadlines for Fall Semester in good universities expire by the end of previous year. If you want to apply for Fall 2013, you may have to submit your application by December 31. Deadlines of some universities are even earlier. A few good universities allow international students to apply up to January 31. And some universities accept applications until May 31.
So, if you are a beginner and have to prepare for TOEFL and GRE, you will need at least one and a half years before flying to US. It is better if you are a second year or third year bachelor student. You will have some preparation in advance that will help you continue your education without any break.
For Bangladeshi students, more information are available at http://dhaka.usembassy.gov/uploads/images/ZaeyvSRnOfndLzvdaSV8gg/Advice_for_Bangladeshi_students.pdf
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