An education received in the United States of America opens up the opportunity for graduates to work in almost any organization in the world, especially when it comes to master's programs. A graduate from any country with a high level of knowledge in specialized subjects, as well as fluent in a foreign language, can enter an American university.
What do you need to apply for a master's degree in the US?
It is important to understand that the diploma of an American university is, first of all, prestige. A diploma from a foreign university allows you to:
- - get a job abroad;
- — to return after training to Russia and take a leadership position in a large company. Most often, employers are interested in such candidates.
In addition, studying at a university provides an opportunity to get to know another country, to understand how suitable it is for permanent life, in order to plan a move there in the future.
We collect a package of documents
Each university in the country has its own admission rules for foreign students. However, most educational institutions recruiting foreign students to master's programs require the following documents to be submitted:
- bachelor's degree in any specialty. Very often in American universities, students change the profile of education already in the process of learning. However, it is better for foreign tourists to apply for continuing education in specialized education;
- an appendix to the diploma, which indicates the number of hours for the subjects passed and an extract on academic performance;
- an essay stating the reason why the student should continue their studies at an American university;
- letters of recommendation from university staff (these can be the heads of graduation projects, mentors) or from the place of work, characterizing the student as a hardworking and inquisitive person.
Admission to a foreign university requires knowledge of the English language. Level confirmation is the presence of a TOEFL or IELTS certificate.
Prior to admission, the student will be tested in specialized subjects, where they will need to demonstrate a high level of knowledge.
Submit documents
Documents are accepted by American universities twice a year. The process of collecting all the necessary information and coordinating with various authorities takes about a year.
First you need to select several educational institutions where you plan to continue your studies. In this case, one should take into account the rating of the university, its reputation, and the conditions for admission. When submitting documents for studying at any university, it will be necessary to pay about eighty dollars, regardless of whether the applicant becomes a student or not.
Already at the initial stage, the issue of financing should be resolved. You can pay for your studies on your own or use support from the university or the state.
The next step is filling out the questionnaire. Most educational institutions allow you to do this on the official website. After that, you can send documents for consideration by e-mail, and then by letter.
The testing schedule is formed several months in advance. Pre-registration for entrance examinations is required. The results will be known no earlier than in a month. The university will inform about the decision made, as well as about the possibility of obtaining a scholarship.
The university will send a special form that you will need to fill out and send back. At the same time, you should go through a medical commission.
Having received a certificate for the right to study, you can open a student visa.
Cost of education
Higher education in American universities is quite expensive. The price is affected by the rating of the university, the specialty, as well as its location. The most popular and expensive specialties are law, architecture, marketing, information technology. The price for a year of study can exceed thirty thousand dollars.
However, there are funding programs that allow you to get education for free or at a significant discount. This is about:
- Fellowships is a program that fully compensates for tuition and provides for the payment of scholarships. As a rule, its validity period does not exceed one year;
- Teaching Assistantship (TA) - similar to the first, only the student needs to do at least twenty hours a week in laboratory classes or teach undergraduate courses;
- students interested in conducting scientific research may apply for Research Assistantship (RA);
- the most common program, Tuition Scholarships and Tuition Waivers, covers the cost of education. Accommodation must be paid for by yourself. The scholarship is not provided;
- Administrative Assistantship involves mandatory weekly work on campus.
There are also funding programs that operate at the state level.
What are the prospects?
Getting an education abroad is a dream that can become a reality if you make an effort. After graduating from the master's program, the graduate will have great prospects. This is:
- - a guarantee to get a prestigious job with a decent salary;
- – the opportunity to communicate with new people with common interests;
- - the opportunity to undergo an annual paid practice in the specialty, after which there is a high probability of concluding a profitable cooperation contract.
After analyzing your capabilities, you need to carefully prepare for admission to the US master's program and submit documents.
Many graduates go to a master's program in the US for several reasons: for some, it provides career growth, for others, education opens up access to certain professions. When it comes to the United States, students choose prestigious and well-paid professions that require high qualifications, first of all, engineering, management and business administration, computer science and the natural sciences. American universities are extremely popular with international students, who account for 15% of the total number of students in postgraduate programs (graduate level) according to the Council of Graduate Schools.
Master's - admission to the USA
To enter a master's program in America, applicants must pass the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) exam, which consists of several parts: logical analysis, quantitative analysis, critical thinking, written analysis. There are also standardized tests for admission to a master's program in such specialties as medicine (the MCAT exam) or business (the GMAT exam or now, increasingly, the same GRE).
The duration of study in a master's program in the United States is a year or two. One of the most popular programs - MBA (Master in Business Administration) takes about two years, and journalism, for example, a year.
In addition to the results of exams for admission to the magistracy, the average score in the diploma, the level of English, work experience and participation in projects related to the future area of specialization are also taken into account.
How to certify your English level for a master's degree in the USA
Applicants often ask which exam to take - IELTS or TOEFL. For a master's degree in the USA, we advise you to pay attention to the latter if there is a firm decision to enroll in American universities, for which this exam was developed. For those who are still deciding on the country, but are ready to start language training, we advise you to take IELTS - a universal exam that is accepted by most universities in the world.
Top US Universities for Masters Degrees
American universities are leading in world raters (QS, THE, Shanghai) both in terms of overall results and in terms of subjects. Master's programs at universities such as Harvard, Stanford, Boston University do not need any special introduction, providing the graduate with the most diverse career opportunities upon graduation.Ranking of the best universities in America according to QS 2015/2016
| university |
world ranking |
Location |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts University of Technology MIT |
1 |
Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Harvard University |
2 | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Stanford University |
3 | Stanford, California |
| California Institute of Technology |
5 | Pasadena, California |
| University of Chicago |
10 | Chicago, Illinois |
| Princeton University |
11 | Princeton, New Jersey |
| Yale University |
15 | New Haven, Connecticut |
| John Hopkins University |
16 | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Cornell University |
17 | Ithaca, New York |
| University of Pennsylvania |
18 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Where to study for a master's degree in the USA
The capital of the world, New York, is one of the most attractive destinations for both the adventure-seeking traveler and the aspiring student. It is home to the world famous Columbia University and New York University - both in the top 50.
Massachusetts, along with Cambridge and Boston, is home to leading research universities - Boston University, Harvard, MIT and other worthy educational institutions.
The West Coast of the States is the dream of romantics and future engineers of technological corporations. Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and the Bay Area combine the lifestyle of the coast with the innovation and cutting-edge technology that is so easy to discover during a master's degree. The California system of public universities is widely known throughout the world and is considered one of the strongest in the United States. Part of this system is the University of Berkeley, another well-known university in the state is Stanford.
In every US state, you can find a master's program that will be a great impetus for a future career. For more information about the difference in state educational systems, please contact your Allterra Education manager.
Cost of Studying in the USA: Master's Degree
Master's programs in the US are among the most expensive in the world. According to a TIME study, the most expensive program in America is taught at the MIT business school - its cost reaches almost $100,000, including accommodation, textbooks and other expenses.
As a rule, the cost of studying for a master's degree in public universities is lower than in private ones, but the price for Russian applicants varies slightly.
At the same time, professional master's programs in law (LLM), business administration (MBA) and medicine (MDs) will cost more than traditional master's and postgraduate programs (MA / MSc and PHD).
The cost of living in the United States largely depends on the state and city that the student chooses for himself. Living in the suburbs and small towns in the South and Midwest is the cheapest, but in large cities like New York, the extra cost can be up to $20,000 a year.
The cost of a master's degree in US universities
| university | Price |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts University of Technology MIT, Master in Supply Chain Management |
67938$ |
| Harvard University |
43296$ |
| Princeton University |
47220$ |
| Colorado State University |
25698$ |
| Roosevelt University, Master in Biomedical Sciences |
29810$ |
| University of South Florida, Master in Engineering |
29218$ |
Free education in America for foreigners
Many students are looking for opportunities for free education in US universities for master's programs. The education system that has developed in the country provides ample opportunities for students with outstanding abilities or those who need additional financial assistance. At the same time, education for the majority of students remains paid. Our agency has the opportunity to offer discounts and scholarships from partner universities for applicants to master's programs in the USA - your manager will definitely point them out during work.
Admission to a master's program in the USA with Allterra Education
- Find universities and programs in them, for which, theoretically, an international student can receive a scholarship (hereinafter referred to as a grant);
- Translate and certify your diploma;
- Pass Toefl and GRE;
- Write a Statement of Purpose and other essays (if required);
- Pay the registration fee and send the documents by registered mail.
Now about each step in more detail.
1. Find universities and programs
In the US, higher education is in demand, it is very expensive. But there are already noticeably fewer applicants for master's programs. This is where our chances come in. There is no free education in the USA, so someone needs to pay for us. Such a sponsor can be: your university, your state, a foreign state, a charitable foundation, a foreign university, a foreign faculty. Each of these options is realistic and requires more detailed study. I have used the latter. For many computer science programs, the faculty of a US university is willing to pay for tuition for promising students, because they help conduct research, increase the rating of the university and the faculty, and this will mean more funding for them. That is, this is not a gift from the faculty, it is their investment.Your task is to find the maximum number of such programs for which someone is willing to pay for you. Of these, you can further choose the coolest according to the desired criteria. This stage is the most difficult (!). It requires a lot of time, googling, and is generally very routine. Since I had been to Baylor before, I had a link to this institution. There I began to search, found a program in computer science and did not spend more time, since everything suited me right away.
All other steps, in fact, are purely technical - everything is simple and clear, take it and do it.
2. Translate and certify your diploma
You need to translate a diploma in the international department of your university. It was easy for us, but options are possible. Typically, a US university does not require any notarization of such documents. I translated my own diploma, put down the grades myself and made a template for the Word. At the university, without looking, they put a seal. But deceiving, of course, is not worth it, so as not to make problems.3. Pass Toefl and GRE
Toefl is an offset. That is, you need to score more than the minimum score, otherwise you cannot participate in the competition. Toefl itself is elementary. A trained monkey can also score a passing ball, so if you have plans to study in the USA, then you don’t have to worry about this, only $ 300 is a pity.GRE is a completely different matter. This is the main selection criterion. It's like the exam, only for university graduates. The most important feature is that everyone writes it: both Americans and foreigners - in order to enter a university. That is, you will fight in an unequal battle for places with the Americans, who, of course, have a better language. Yes, this test does not test knowledge of the language. It is assumed that you know him well. The ability to quickly analyze complex problems, find numerical solutions, as well as to think logically, to separate the thesis from assumptions, arguments and evidence is tested.
4. Write a Statement of Purpose
Statement - this is your essay on the topic "why I want to study right here and now and in this particular program at this university." It should be moderately personal, moderately reveal your talents. There is a lot of material on the Internet on this subject. The main thing is not to copy other people's, and write correctly. You can always find someone to help with editing.5. Pay the registration fee and send the documents by registered mail
The most costly step. It is necessary in time, usually before the beginning of January or earlier, to send the entire set of documents to the desired universities. Moreover, the diploma must be sent by mail, the essay must be uploaded electronically, and in the tests you will be given the code of the university, where the results will go automatically. In this regard, it is useful to know these codes in advance before the exam.For each application, you will need to pay $50-100. Thus, if you apply for 10 different programs, you can spend several thousand dollars (sending a diploma by registered mail costs 1,500 rubles on average).
Well, that's all. Next - wait for the results. Usually, by March, everyone will have answered you, several universities will refuse, some will offer to come. Choose the best one and go ahead. Since I only applied to one, I had fewer problems, but more risk.
I sincerely wish success to all applicants. Be honest and believe in yourself. And don’t forget about deadlines, it would be better to pass GRE by November.
UPD: we can see a page with all the necessary information on Baylor University, Computer Science. You can take a short test and find out what your chances are. Approximately the same pages should be found in all desired universities.
UPD2: For admission to a master's or PhD in the USA, you must pass the GRE. In the case of business schools, they often ask for the GMAT, but many also accept the GRE, that is, in my opinion, it is better to take it.
The exam itself lasts 4-5 hours, there are 2 sections in mathematics and two in speech.
In mathematics, you need to quickly solve large problems. They are not that difficult, but they need to be done quickly. Sometimes there are tricky ones, as in grades 5-8 in the problems "with an asterisk." I'm far from being a genius, and scored 162 points (130-170 scale) and got into the 91st quantile. That is, with Russian mat preparation, we have every chance.
In the speech part, you will meet a lot of unfamiliar words, even if you have been communicating fluently with American friends for 10 years. This is what is counted on. You need to be able to analyze the text, understand on what premises it is built, where is the conclusion, where is the fact, and where is the hypothesis.
In general, the site has good examples. Preparing is easy - you just need to solve examples. By the way, this is very interesting. The texts are sometimes very informative. In general, the main thing in GRE is the focus and speed of the solution.
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Do you want to apply to a US university for a master's or MBA program, but don't know where to start? Contact me for a consultation and we will be able to select for you the most suitable master's and MBA programs at universities and business schools in the United States that match your interests, preferences, educational requirements and ambitions. I will tell you in detail about how post-graduate education works in the USA, help you decide on programs, tell you which universities are best suited and respected in your field, how to get there, how to stand out from other applicants applying for these programs as well as how to apply for financial aid, get a grant, and even study for free. By contacting me, you can be sure that the list of American universities will meet your interests and provide you with the future you deserve.
The list of universities will be compiled as competently as possible, based on your academic achievements, and will necessarily include top universities with high competition, and universities in which you have a great chance to enter. Thus, you will always have a guarantee of admission, but at the same time a chance to get into the most prestigious universities in America. And as practice shows, following my recommendations for admission, my students successfully enter the universities of their dreams every year.
How long does a master's degree in the USA take?
A master's degree in the USA lasts from 1 to 2 years.
When should I start applying for a master's and MBA in the USA?
Preparation for admission should begin 1.5-2 years in advance. After all, you have to pass exams, for which you need to prepare accordingly, and write several essays, for which it is worth allocating several months.
What are the requirements for admission to US universities for master's and MBA programs?
University requirements vary from university to university - you can learn more about the programs you are interested in at a consultation with me. Most often, you will need to fill out a questionnaire, collect recommendations from teachers and employers, provide a certified list of grades or a copy of a diploma (transcript), pass several exams, fill out financial documents.
What exams do you need to pass for a master's and MBA?
For admission to master's programs, you will most likely need to pass TOEFL (or IELTS) and GRE or GMAT. GRE will be required for most master's programs, GMAT for MBA programs. However, exam requirements vary from program to program. to find out more about which exams you will need to take specifically for your programs.
Is it possible to study at a US university for a master's degree for free?
Yes. There are many scholarships at the Master's level, many more than at the Bachelor's level. This is especially true for technical specialties. Such scholarships can cover up to 100% of tuition. My students successfully received such scholarships at the magistracy and left to study for free. However, in order to receive a full scholarship, you must be a VERY strong candidate, and very competently write your application. Contact me so as not to miss the chance to correctly draw up all the documents and have the opportunity to study for free.
Do you have any questions? which you can sign up for using the form below.
Why is it better to work with me than to go to an agency?
First of all, agency employees are often not so professional, and did not go to Ivy League universities themselves. In order for the business to work and make a profit, and for students to enter, agencies enter into contracts with universities. Thus, agencies have commercial interests in selecting universities for you. Often they make a profit not only from you, but also from the fact that they bring applicants to universities. As a rule, not the most ranked universities are interested in such activities, which are forced to give a percentage to agencies around the world for attracting foreign students.
Hence, it turns out that such cooperation is beneficial for both parties - the agency compiles a list of universities for students that pay the agency a large percentage for students, and the university receives an influx of foreign students, which raises this university in the ranking by several lines. Who is the least thought in this scheme? That's right, about the student, and about his future. Turning to the agency, think about it - to whom do you trust your future? Are your intermediaries pursuing their own interests, which are in no way compatible with yours?
Turning to me, you can be sure that your future will be the top priority in our work. I have no commercial interests to “push” you into a particular university and have a great desire to help you get into the best university, even if it is Harvard or Yale with minimal chances. I am not afraid of challenges, but I take responsibility for finding the best programs for you.
By contacting me, you will be directly involved in the admission process - everything will be transparent, we will do everything together. Choose universities together, prepare for exams together, discuss documents together, come up with the topic of an essay together, correspond with the university together. This is very important, because your future is in our hands, and you must have full access to information about it and make independent decisions regarding your destiny.
To take the first step towards enrolling in an American university, and get competent support from a teacher from Columbia University at all stages, from choosing a university to directly enrolling in your dream university.
A master's degree in the USA is one of the most popular options for continuing your studies abroad. Starting the preparation of documents in advance gives more opportunities for choosing programs and sources of funding. Consider how to enter an American master's program in one year.
Aug. Sept
1. Finding a Masters in the USA
To search for a master's degree, you can use online directories, for exampleDirectory of Graduate Programs. You can also contact the nearest American Center for advice. Addresses of centers and general information about education in the USA can be found on the official website Education USA . You also can . We will select for you master's programs in the USA.
2. Drawing up a preliminary list
At this stage, a list of10-15 universities. Define Criteriachoosing the master's programs that are most meaningful to you. For example, such as:
- the reputation of the program in your specialty;
- the reputation of the teaching staff of the faculty;
- type of program (format, flexibility, teaching methods);
- the cost of education and living;
- the possibility of obtaining financial assistance;
- campus location and housing availability.
Start by studying university rankingsand postgraduate programs in the most authoritative sources, such as: Academic Ranking of World Universities, US News&Report, QS Topuniversities, The Times World University Rankings.
3. Finding funding
After compiling a preliminary list, it should be clarified whether the chosen university or faculty provides financial assistance to foreign students. For international students applying for a master's program in the United States, there are the following forms of financial aid:
- Fellowships - cover all tuition and health insurance costs and provide a scholarship that is enough to live in a particular region of the United States. Some master's programs provide Fellowships in the first year of study, and from the second year students receive funding in the form of asistantships.
- Teaching Assistantship (TA) – Teaching Assistantmust either conduct classes with junior students, or conduct laboratory classes 15-20 hours a week. For this, they do not take tuition fees from him and pay a scholarship for living.
- Research Assistantship (RA) - usually awarded to doctoral students, less often to master's students, depending on academic success and research interests. The student, as a rule, assists the supervisor in conducting research.
- Tuition Scholarships and Tuition Waivers - partially or completely cover only the cost of the training itself. Most often, this is the most likely financial aid that you can count on when applying to a master's program in the United States. The remaining expenses must be covered from other sources: scholarship from an external source (foundation, government), personal savings, loans, work on campus.
- Administrative assistantship - financial assistance, which involves working no more than 20 hours a week on campus in the international department or performing other administrative functions.
It is also worth considering scholarship programs in your country, scholarships from foreign governments for foreigners,scholarships and grants private foundations and non-governmental organizations.
4. Drawing up a calendar plan
Three main categories of dates should be included in the calendar plan:
- deadlines for submitting documents to universities;
- deadlines for applying for scholarships;
- deadlines for passing the TOEFL, or GMAT tests.
Sign up for tests at least 5-6 weeks before before the date of its delivery, and the date of passing the test itself should be planned no later than 6 weeks before sending documents to the graduate school in the United States.
In addition to the main deadlines,define milestones, such as writing (Statement of Purpose), letters of recommendation, preparation of a translation of a diploma and a transcript, registration for tests, submission of documents for a student visa, and more.
September-December
5. Determination of the final list of universities
At this stage, the initial list should be reduced to 5-10 master's programs in accordance with previously defined criteria.
Since the preparation of documents takes a lot of time and involves a fee for reviewing documents at each university, an average of $60, it is recommended that you carefully analyze all the information collected again, determine which criteria are most important to you, realistically assess your chances of being enrolled in the chosen master's program.
If you are not going to pay for your studies in an American master's program on your own, then the main criterion for you is the ability to receive funding from the chosen university or the amount of possible funding.
6. Filling out application forms
Most US universities accept documents online, so you can fill out the application form and upload supporting documents in several visits through the created account.If documents need to be sent by regular mail, application forms can be downloaded from the university website.
Recommended to docheck listto take into account the status of filling out application forms, the readiness of supporting documents and paid fees for reviewing documents. In the application form and in all accompanying documents, your name and surname must be indicated as in the passport.
Do not leave blank fields– wherever you need to provide information that does not apply to you, write"Not Applicable". For example, in an application form there may be a column forSocial Security Number(SSN). If you have not previously studied or worked in the US, then you cannot have one, so indicate that this does not apply to you.
7. Passing tests
In order not to waste time in the future, it is recommended to send the test results to the selected universities on the day of the test. To do this, first find out on the website of the selected universities their institutional codes, and after completing the test, enter them into the submission form on the computer in the testing center.
8. Preparation of the transcript and translation of the diploma
Any university requires the so-calledSchool Transcript- a document that indicates the courses taken, the number of hours attended for each of them and grades.
15. Notice of arrival to the university
To the international department of the university (International Student Office) it is important to inform about your arrival in advance in order not to lose the status of an international student.
16. Solving financial issues
Usually, tuition fees are paid by a certain date. However, if you are expecting funds from the faculty of the university you were enrolled in, or grant funds from an external source, then the university may provide an opportunity to pay for your studies later than the deadline. It is calleddeferment .
You should find out about the procedure for granting deferred payment at a particular American university. If you plan to use your own money, before leaving, you should ask your bank how they can be transferred to your future account in an American bank (a bank account in the USA can only be opened in person, i.e. only upon arrival).
17. Solving household issues
For the first 1-2 weeks you will need a temporary shelter until you find a permanent home. You can stay at a hotel or, if you're lucky, for free with old-timers of your faculty who are returning to study.
To do this, it will not be superfluous to contact the program coordinator at your faculty (Graduate Program Coordinator) to consult on this issue and at the same time find out if there are applicants from your country or region - you can contact them in advance regarding joint housing. It’s not particularly worth counting on living in a hostel on campus, since undergrads live in hostels (undergraduate students).
Typically, students fromgraduate schoolrent private accommodation near the campus. To get an idea of current housing prices near campus, you can check online ads in local newspapers, student forums, and other resources such as craigslist.com in advance.
If you will be renting off campus, be prepared to give a deposit to the landlord - a private owner or management company - as you will not yet have a credit history in the United States at the time of arrival. Otherwise, find a sponsor - a permanent resident or US citizen. In addition, proof of funds may be required to rent a property (Proof of Income).
This article describes the general algorithm of the process of admission to the magistracy of American universities. However, in specific cases, you should always be guided by the instructions of the chosen university, up-to-date information on the website of the US Embassy and other official sources.
