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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.
The
Third Issue - GRE Score
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