Admission Process

The students from the India face several difficulties in the admission process of the American universities. Due to the varying academic practices within the educational systems of the nations of the India, the American universities are not able to uniformly assess the suitability of students with reference to their philosophy and academic offerings. Further, most of the students from the India are not fully aware of the American universities and the systems that they follow. The communication between American universities and the students in the India is also very limited. Thus, the admission process that follows is intrinsically flawed, in that the students are forced to seek admission in American universities without being conversant with the complexity of the procedures.

Due to differences in financial practices and the associated documentation, the students find the task of evaluating the requirement of funds for study in America cumbersome. Further, the students face uncertainty even after admission is given because a significant percentage of students are refused visas by the American consulates in India. Lack of proper pre-departure personal counseling results in the arrival of inadequately prepared students on American campuses.

More than 600,000 students from around the world choose to study in the United States. This number is expected to grow at 25% this year for Indian students who are already the largest group of foreign students studying in America.

All universities require:

University application –each university has its own application form
Application fee – these range from about US$25-$150 and are non-refundable
Official transcripts – grades must be provided as original copies from the schools/universities you have attended if at all possible (otherwise provide a certified true copy of the originals), with a translation in English
Statement of financial resources – proof that you have the financial resources to attend the institution
Proof of English proficiency – this condition is usually met by the results of the TOEFL exam with test results sent to the college or university directly from the testing agency
Personal essay – this is your opportunity to express yourself in English and to describe yourself/your goals/your background in a way that goes beyond the test scores and transcripts you submit. Essays and personal statements MUST be written by you, though you can ask others to read your drafts and provide comments to help you revise
Additional standardized test scores – undergraduate students are often asked to submit test scores from the SAT and SAT II; graduate students are often asked to submit scores from the GRE; MBA candidates are usually required to take the GMAT test. Click here for more information about testing
Letters of recommendation – universities generally provide forms for you to give to teachers, professors, or counselors (people who know you and your strengths in a classroom setting) asking for their opinions about you. Business schools, especially, may also be interested in letters from employers focusing on your professional skills and accomplishments