The
three most important criteria for both graduate & undergraduate courses are :
1. Consistently
Good Academic Record
2. Financial Support
3. Proficiency in English
Other
eligibility criteria :
Undergraduate Programs (BS, BE, BA etc)
Most Colleges all over
the U.S. require a minimum of 12 years of formal education. In the Indian context, it
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.
Graduate Programs (MS, MA,MBA etc)
Most schools require qualifications comparable to a U.S.
Bachelor’s degree (Four-Year Degree Program) or a minimum of 16 years of
formal education. In the Indian context, this implies qualifying in either a professional
four-year course like engineering or other such courses.
If you have completed a 3-year degree program in India, the
advisable plan of action to maximize eligibility for U.S. graduate schools is to apply for
a Post Graduate degree in India. A one-year university affiliated program will make up for
the fourth year of a U.S. Undergraduate degree.
Students who apply are also required to take standardized
tests like GRE, GMAT, LSAT and TOEFL etc. depending on the course or program chosen. For
more details on these, check out the Tests To Be Taken section. The minimum TOEFL score required is
usually 550 (Paper-based test) or 220 (Computer-based test) for graduate courses. But for
financial aid, a minimum score of is 600 (Paper-based test) or 250 (Computer-based test)
is usually required.
Important
- Professional programs like the CA, ICWA, part time diplomas
such as those in management or communication may or may not be accepted. Though many
universities, especially Business Schools, have started recognizing the Indian CA.
- Independent certificate courses offered by private
institutions like Aptech, NIIT, etc. may or may not be accepted based on each individual
university’s evaluation.
- One-year education of a two year degree course (like M.Tech,
MA etc) may not be accepted by most schools. The full course has to be completed for
qualification, unless there is a recognized university exam at the end of one year.
|
No
standardized policy exists regarding the acceptance of such programs. Some universities
may accept the three-year Indian Graduation Degree for a few programs. Confirmation can
only be obtained by either writing directly or formally applying to the universities
concerned. |