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How to Apply for MS in USA?

How to Apply for MS in USA?

Edited By Prabhjyot Kaur | Updated on Jul 10, 2024 04:33 PM IST

With over 100,000 international students, the USA is the most prominent education hub in the world. While it is an attractive study destination across all fields and levels of study, international students are drawn mostly toward MS programs. So, why is it that students pursuing MS prefer the US over most countries? Well, one of the main reasons is that top universities in the USA have built a strong learning foundation where the emphasis is given to research and practical experience. So that is why studying MS in USA is a dream for many Indian students.
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Among the major courses, studying MS in computer science in USA is quite popular. One of the biggest questions being faced by aspirants is how to apply for MS in USA from India, like how to start, what are the requirements, etc. Other questions include which exam is required for MS in USA.

With a large application package and several steps required, admissions for MS in the US may appear to be intimidating in the beginning but the process becomes easy if it is followed with proper planning and understanding of the required elements.

Here in this article, we have explained the entire process of application answering to how to apply for masters in USA, right from the research to the final submission of the application form. Read ahead to know the exact steps on how to apply for a master's in US and grab the essential information.

How to Apply for MS in USA?

International students must learn how to apply for masters degree in USA. Knowing this admission and application process helps to overcome the disadvantage of missing the desired course or university. It enables you to apply to apply for masters in USA with the right course, at the right time, for the right university. Here are the steps explaining how to apply for MS in USA.

1. Choose universities

To know how to do MS in USA, candidates must start by making a list of universities that offer the choice of program for MS in USA. This should be done around the months of May or June of the previous year.

Ideally, one should start the admission process at least 15 months before admission when deciding on how to study MS in the USA. While the US admission cycle has three intakes: Fall, Spring and Summer. A majority of the programs start in Fall i.e., around September.

2. Check deadlines

Once the candidate has made a list of the colleges of his choice, the next step should be to check the deadlines of the specific MS courses the candidate is applying for. Usually, universities in the US do not have a common deadline for all courses. Therefore, it is necessary to check the individual departments of the universities to know the opening and closing dates for applications to MS in USA.

Usually, applications for Fall start around September and close between December and January, though some universities accept applications till February. This is an important part of how to apply for universities in USA for Ms as early as possible without waiting for deadlines to cross.

Also, the flexibility offered by USA allows the student to apply for the course through three plans - Early admission plan, Regular admission and Rolling admission. The regular admission plan follows the same procedure of setting deadlines for admission by universities every year.


On the other hand, early admission allows an aspirant to apply and fix admission before the start of the regular admission. Rolling admission has the advantage of making applications to the university of one's choice any time of the year, provided there are vacant seats. Hence, it is one of the major steps for 'how to apply for masters in USA'

3. How To Do MS in USA: Eligibility

The next step in how to apply for master's in USA is the eligibility process. It is important to check the eligibility requirements for the master's for international students in USA, especially in the Indian student category. While different courses have different sets of requirements, here are some of the general eligibility criteria required for the programme which answer to questions like which exam is required for ms in USA .

16 years of education: The first thing to keep in mind before opting for an MS is that a majority of the universities in the USA require the student to have a minimum of 16 years of education. Therefore, the completion of at least 4 years of education (graduation or diploma) after 10+2 is the basic criterion. However, some schools in USA also accept 3-year undergraduate degrees.

Besides, students have the option of getting their academic transcripts evaluated by either the university or private organizations like WES which can then term the degree to be equivalent to a US four-year degree. But for that one needs to fulfill certain criteria.

WES demands that the candidate should have, at least, a first-class degree and the college from where the candidate has passed out should have a good accreditation. Students who have completed their Master’s degree are also qualified to apply for MS in US.

Standardized test: Admission for MS in US universities requires the aspirant to take certain standardized entry-level tests. Some of the entrance exam for MS in USA are GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, MCAT and LSAT, among others.

4. Which Exam is Required For MS in USA

As mentioned, entry to MS courses in US universities requires the aspirant to appear for standardized tests as set by the university. One should, ideally, register for an exam for MS in USA between July and August so that test scores are ready by the time one applies to universities.

This leaves room for retests if one is not satisfied with his/her test score. Many universities in US require the average or minimum score for entry into MS courses. So, one can decide to sit for the retest depending on the required score as this is crucial for how to do a masters in USA.

Which Exam is Required to Apply for MS in USA from India?

Here are some of the common standardized tests required for entry into MS in US.

  • GRE: GRE is the MS entrance exam. GRE is a mandatory exam for MS in USA for almost all MS-level programs in USA, including management studies. While all universities require GRE general test scores, there are some others that also ask the student to take GRE subject tests.

  • TOEFL: TOEFL is an English proficiency test for students from non-native English-speaking countries. TOEFL is the most accepted ELP exam for MS in USA.

  • IELTS: IELTS is also an English proficiency test for students from non-native English-speaking countries. The IELTS exam for MS in USA is an alternative to TOEFL.

  • MCAT: MCAT is an entrance exam accepted by medical universities in USA. Students interested in pursuing medical studies in the US have to appear for MCAT.

  • LSAT: LSAT abroad is the entrance test for law aspirants.

5. Application Documents to Apply for Masters in USA

This is one of the most important parts of applying for MS in USA for Indian students. Universities in the USA give importance to the application of the student. Besides academic transcripts, US universities demand that the student introduce himself through intent statements and references. An ideal MS application package should have the following:

SOP: The Statement of Purpose is one of the most vital elements of the application package when one applies for MS in US. It details the applicant's commitment to joining the program and his goals in life. One important thing to remember while writing an SOP is that it should be brief, and reflect clarity regarding why the candidate wants to enrol in the program. One should strictly adhere to the word limit set by the concerned university or department.

LOR: Unlike the SOP, the Letter of Recommendation is an independent assessment of the candidate's potential. Most universities require at least two to three recommendation letters. The professors or employers must write these LORs.

Essays: Different universities have different requirements for essays. Some universities might offer a random topic to write on. Others might ask for a relevant topic of the candidate's interest. Besides, the number of essays to be submitted also differs. Generally, universities ask for 2 to 3 essays.

Resume: Some universities require the candidate to submit a CV along with the application form. It should contain basic information like date of birth, academic qualifications and achievements.

Academic transcripts: Academic transcripts include all the qualifications that the candidate will list in the application form. It is advisable for the candidate to start arranging the transcripts immediately after completing the degree program.

Test Scores: Universities with a requirement of standardized scores require results of the tests along with the application.

6. How to Apply For Masters in USA: Document Checklist

Here is the list of general documents, required for submitting an application to the USA universities for a master's.

  • Recommendation letters ( minimum 2-3 lectures)

  • GRE/TOEFL/GMAT/IELTS score proofs besides reporting the test scores officially.

  • Academic Transcripts for the qualifications listed in the application form.

  • SOP

  • Work experience certificates, if applicable

  • Photocopies of passport

  • Certificates for extra-curricular activities are mentioned in the application form.

  • WES Evaluation documents, if required by the university.

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7. How to Do MS in USA: Universities with Application Deadlines

Following the above process the candidate can begin the applications to the best universities in USA for MS. The first thing to keep in mind while applying to any university for a master's course in USA is the deadline. As mentioned earlier, most of the application dates close by January. Therefore, it is advisable to apply early and not wait for the last date to avoid any last-minute glitches.

Here are a few application deadlines for the master's courses in top universities in the USA, given in the table below. However, depending on the master's courses chosen, the application deadlines can vary slightly.

Application Deadlines of Top USA Universities for the Fall 2025

Institute

Level of study

Application start date

Application end date

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

PG

September 15, 2024

December 15, 2024

Harvard University

PG

September


December 1, 2024


Stanford University

PG

Late September

December 2024

California Institute of Technology

PG

October 15, 2024

December 15, 2024

Princeton University

PG

September 2024

January 2025

While one can send the application and all the documents by post, most universities allow the candidate to apply online. Some universities also seek applications via email.

8. Offer Letters

The universities usually take a few weeks to respond to applications. Most applicants receive their acceptance or rejection letter between February and April. If selected then proceed to the next step in the process to apply for MS in USA. If not selected, apply again or apply to other universities and make sure you check with qualifying exam scores and provide the necessary documentation meeting the admission requirements.

9. How to Apply for Masters in USA: Student Visa Requirements

Start filling out the application for a USA student visa as soon as you receive the offer letter from the US university. Based on the courses in the USA, choose the F or M-type visas. Students who prefer higher education in the USA require an F1 student visa.

The general processing time for the USA student visa can take 3 weeks to 3 months of time. So, students are encouraged to apply for at least 3 months before the course starting date in the USA.

Hope this detailed explanation of how to apply for MS in USA will help students planning to study in that country.

How To Get a Scholarship for Masters in USA?

The very next question which arises after admission application is the scholarship availability. Many Indian students apply for master's scholarships in USA to support their education expenses in the country.

As the USA is the most popular country many organisations and universities come forward to support students to undergo their education. If we compare among the scholarships, more scholarships, grants, and bursaries are scholarships offered by private and government organisations than the colleges.

So students can prioritise the government and non-government-funded scholarships for studying MS in USA. Here are a few things to be considered while applying for the scholarships for masters in USA.

  • There is no particular application timeline for scholarships, the dates will be available around the year based on the funding authority.

  • Students can apply for scholarships before receiving the university admission letter or after receiving it. However, most of scholarship authorities accept applications only after securing admission into a US university.

  • The scholarships available for MS are either merit-based or need-based.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the minimum GPA required to pursue MS in the US?

3.0  is the minimum GPA required to pursue an MS in the US. However, this can vary between universities. Check with the university before applying.

2. What is the cost of studying MS in USA?

The cost of studying master's in USA can range from USD 20,000 to 50,000(i.e., in Rs. 16 to 40 lakhs) per year. Based on the university and the course you choose the fee may vary.

3. Which exam is required for MS in USA for Indian students?

Admission for MS in US universities requires the aspirant to take certain standardized entry-level tests. Some of them are GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, MCAT and LSAT, among others.

4. How to apply for masters degree in USA for international students?

Once you have decided to study master's degree in USA, you should plan at least 15 months in advance before the process of applying to MS universities in USA. You must have a bachelor's degree to begin the application process.

5. When is the best time to apply for MS in USA?

Applications to US universities are accepted in three different intakes, spring, summer, and fall, with fall admissions being the most popular among international students. You can apply between December and January at most US universities.

6. When should I apply for MS in USA?

You should be ready to apply for admission by the date of the application opening as the immigration process can take a little longer. This may cause you to miss school due to late application.

7. How to get admission for MS In USA?

To study master's in USA, Indian students require a  4 year bachelor's degree, an average GPA of 3.0 or a percentage of 60% to 70%, GRE or GMAT scores, English language test scores etc. After meeting these common requirements students can apply for admission intakes in USA universities.

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Questions related to

Hi there

Yes you can try to learn various courses that are for approximately 3 months to 6 months in duration.

Yes you can learn before going to us. Learning skills definitively adds some value to the life of a candidate and also improves in getting good recognition in life..

Below i have mentioned some courses  that you can try before visiting us:

  • Social media marketing
  • Content writer
  • Content creation
  • Video editing
  • Photography skills
  • Digital marketing
  • Stiching
  • Makeup artist course
  • Hairstyling course.

So these are some courses you can try.

Hope this answer will help you. Revert incase of any query.

Thank you and good luck:)

Hello Samarasimha,

YES, you can MS in UA after completing Bsc in Statistics. . All you have to do is score good marks in your PG and prepare for GRE. You should also decide upon the country and the university in which you are going to study.

Furthermore, the requirements to pursue MS in USA are as follows :

  • 3 to 4 years bachelors degree in relevant field.
  • 3.5 or higher GPA, equivalent to 87% in bachelors.
  • GRE score of 330 or above.
  • Statement of Purpose.
  • Research Internships/ Published Research Papers.
  • Project work/Seminars.
  • 2-3 Letter of Recommendation.
  • Social & Leadership Activities.

Further, requirements for Software jobs in USA are as follows :

  • Enroll in a software development program. The first step to becoming a software engineer is to enroll in a software development degree program. ...
  • Gain internship experience. ...
  • Choose your specialty. ...
  • Pursue industry certifications. ...
  • Continue your education.

I hope that this will help.

Dear aspirant hope you are doing well..

To study at foreign universities/abroad in U. S , the admission process will require the candidate to give one language exam and one standardized exam. However, depending on the country, course, college, or university you are applying for you may be exempted from standardized exams. The language test will showcase your English proficiency skills. These exams are required for pursuing almost all courses abroad. Different countries have different language exams such as

  • TOEFL exam for getting admission to the universities in the US and Canada. The score of this exam is valid for two years after the declaration of results
  • There are plenty of universities abroad where you can apply to do master-level course, MSc in statistics, MSc in Operation Research, and Applied Mathematics, MSc in Mathematical Modeling, etc are some of the Master level Course in Mathematics that are available abroad. Students who have completed their graduation or bachelor's degree in Mathematics can apply for these courses. Foreign universities like Uppsala University, Dublin City University, Oxford Brookes University, University of York, University of Liverpool, etc offer all the above-mentioned courses in mathematics.

Top university of The USA for master degree courses

  • John Carroll University
  • Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Michigan State University
  • West Virginia University
  • Rhode Island College
  • University of Arkansas
  • Vanderbilt University
  • DePaul University
  • Delaware State University
  • Texas A&M University-Commerce
  • University of South Florida
  • California State University Northridge

You can get the detailed information about the process how to apply for MS in USA. read the given article. Link is given below

https://studyabroad.careers360.com/articles/how-apply-for-ms-in-usa/amp

Hope it's helpful for you..

Thank you

There are many ways to choose your university such as fees, the ranking of the university, which state it is located and scholarships. My suggestion is to choose your research focus and write academic papers. In the US, PhD in Commerce admission into the university depends on what you want to study (your area of research) and your already completed research papers. You can begin your research by searching online for US universities offering PhD in Business Administration. One example is University of California Los Angeles (https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/phd-program/admissions#app-req) .


Hello  Student

You are aBHM means Bachelor in Hotel Management so after doing BHM,to gain a bright future  inthis trade you have to do MSc in Hotel Management,post graduation in Hospitality Management,Master degree in travel and tourism management,or MBA in hotel management,AFter doing post graduation in Hotel management or travel and tourism management will give you the best return in employment opportunity.

Hope this will help.


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