General Admission Tips

This section provides general advice -- applicable to all degrees, fields, and programs -- concerning how you can better approach and select the most relevant program according to your field of interest in order to be a strong candidate for your program. You must complement the general advice given below with the 'selection' tips given for the specific country and field you are interested in. (If we currently don't have field-specific tips for your program, then the general guidance in this section will at least give you a general idea of what kinds of things to consider in the years leading up to the application).

The tips below are divided into 2 sections:

1. Significance of program selection
2. Program selection tips.

1. SIGNIFICANCE OF PROGRAM SELECTION

• For an undergraduate degree, the exact program to be studied is not as significant as for a Master’s or PhD degree. The decision for a prospective undergraduate entails selecting a particular subject. For a Master’s or PhD student, the decision is tougher because the same subject may be offered under a variety of programs e.g the same subject may fall under both MSc and MA.

• For an undergraduate degree, factors such as choice of university or city/region may play a bigger part.

• For a Master’s or PhD degree, it is typical to choose a university and country based on your choice of program.

2. PROGRAM SELECTION TIPS

Choosing your prospective programs:

• Get advice and help from your seniors and instructors. Try to figure out what you want out of your undergraduate/graduate study (and life). Universities are very different from each other - find the right one for you. It's not always the best option to go to the school with the best academic reputation. Sometimes the best does not mean the best for you.
• Remember that your chances of acceptance into different programs vary. There are generally 3 types of schools/programs that you can apply to:
  • Safety Schools: These are the programs for which your academic background exceeds (or is higher) than that of the average first-year student accepted the year before (you can find this out by researching or inquiring about the kind of background students accepted last year had). For such programs, you can say that you are reasonably sure that you will be accepted Your chances of acceptance into such programs/schools are approximately 70%. Remember that these should be schools that you know you can be happy and meet your study goals in. 
  • Target Schools: These are the programs for which your academic background matches that (grades, standardized test scores etc.) of the students that were accepted the year before. This doesn't mean that you will definitely get accepted -- it just means that it is likely that you will be accepted. Your chances of acceptance into such programs/schools are above 40%
  • Dream/Reach Schools: These are the programs for which your academic background is at the lower end or maybe even below the level of other applicants applying to that program. Your chances of acceptance into such programs/schools are usually below 40%.
    • Everyone will have a different set of safe, target and dream/reach schools, based on their strengths, weaknesses and academic background. 
    • It is important to make sure that you apply to a mixture of schools from each of these three categories, to boost your chances of getting accepted. It is recommended that students apply to 2 safety schools, 2-3 target schools, and 2 dream schools. You can adjust these numbers however you feel appropriate but just remember to apply to a few of each. This method of applying helps ensure that you have some ambitious options that you can hope to get into, and also have some backups, where you can be happy and successful, in case you don't. 
    • If you are unsure about what your level is, find a student with a similar application to yours and consider where they were accepted/rejected. You can also ask your recommenders or other faculty to evaluate your application and tell you your approximate level. Your mentors and recommenders are the best people to go to — make sure you have mentors who are willing to be honest with you and do not underestimate or overestimate your potential.
    • Your application outcomes (acceptance, wait-listing or rejection) are always going to be unpredictable. There are too many factors that affect this , for example, you never know when someone at the selection meeting is going to vouch for you or what the applications of other students will be like, etc.  So if you can afford the costs of application fees and time invested in developing your application package, applying to more places can be better -- but only if the quality of each application does not suffer. Remember that each application will take a certain amount of time to ensure that it is of excellent quality. In this way, the more programs you apply to, the more time you will have to spend overall on your applications. In other words, you have to be careful that the rest of your applications don't suffer every time you decide to apply to another program.

Selecting among programs (in case of multiple admissions):

• Anyone who tells you that one department is best for every student is not being very thoughtful. You need to determine whether a department feels right to you, and whether you feel like there are a set of potential advisers for you. Your adviser will have enormous power over your life. You need to be comfortable. Different departments have different strengths, cultures, and styles. Some fields within departments have very strong subcultures and impressive placement records. Learn about those.

• Don't get too caught up in overall stereotypes. Faculty and students all get very enthusiastic about grad student recruiting and tend to over-emphasize differences among programs. There are many more similarities than differences across top programs, and every department has fields with very different advising styles. In the end, you need to find two or three advisers and a couple of good student buddies. A department with more outstanding faculty and students makes it more likely you will find your matches, but the subculture of your friends and advisers is far more salient to your life than the overall department.

• Find out about the placement records of the programs. Don't just find out about the top 5 students--find out about how number 10 or 15 in a class did, and whether they were happy. Even if you are quite certain you will be a star, it's possible you won't be the very best, and even if you are, it will be a lot more fun if your classmates aren't unemployed, despondent and neglected.
• For graduate programs: Talk to the students to learn how often they meet with their advisers, who are really accessible, and how the morale is among students. Some faculty do a lot of aggressive recruiting but don't spend a lot of time with their students later. The current students can tell you how advising really works.
• Other things to take into consideration:
  • The amount of financial aid/ scholarship being offered
  • The overall costs associated with choosing that particular program
  • Program/ University ranking  

Other program selection tips

• List down the fields of study/field of specializations that interest you. For undergraduate study, this list may be general - but a more specific interest area is required for graduate school. For Masters, it is important to choose a program that suits your research interests if you plan to pursue a doctorate afterwards.

• Shortlist and Research Fields of Study/Programs: List down the colleges/ universities that interest you and start researching the respective programs (using university websites, etc). Sometime schools will list criteria they are looking for in candidates. You may want to narrow down your list based on your future academic and career goals, finances and eligibility for the program.

  • Content: For each program, go through the course content. See if you find it interesting and relevant to your career goals.

  • Faculty associated with respective program - a reputed faculty can have a significant impact on your future prospects.

  • Rankings: Check to see official ratings and opinions regarding the specific program at the specific university. This information can be found on the internet. Keep in mind that some universities are stronger in certain departments or academic fields.

  • Relevant statistical information - especially number of applicants, percentage of acceptance (there are different rates for international students), student strength, etc. Do consider the number of international students currently in that university to become aware if it has some ‘hidden’ policies (taking in less international students, only passing half the student body to the next year etc). All of this will give you a sense of your chances of admission.

  • You may want to give some thought to apply to places which may have a better ability to benchmark you either because there is a faculty member who is familiar with Pakistani universities or because these places have had students from Pakistan (or better yet from your college) and these students have done well.

• Comparing Programs according to the criteria you value the most. Knowing why to choose a certain program over others will not only help you select the right program, but will also offer insight to your Personal Statement and Interview questions.

  • Academic factors may include;

    • Ratings/ reputation of program

    • Ratings/ reputation/ prestige of university

    • Specialization and reputability of professors: Are they friendly and available for you to ask questions?

    • Teacher/Student ratio (size of program)

    • Attrition rate

    • Quality of teaching

    • Job opportunities after graduation (employment rate)

    • Options for specialization

    • Requirements with regards to coursework, research and teaching.

    • Opportunities for scholarship: usually offered the most by top universities

    • For Graduate studies: RA/TAship responsibilities

    • Colloquia and seminars

    • Size of program (faculty, graduate students): A large program would give you opportunities for exposure to lots of different areas as well as grant you access to a large alumni network, while others want a smaller program so they can receive more individualized attention

    • Average time to degree

  • Personal factors

    • Housing options, option of accommodating family members (if you have a spouse and/or children)

    • Geography: 1) City/ Country - consider if you are more inclined towards a rural/urban space and big/small cities, 2) weather (do you want to live in the snow of the midwest US, or deal with the heat of the east-coast US in summer), and 3) closeness to family and friends.

    • Cost of living in the area: NY is more expensive than PA - living expenses can be reduced by choosing a school in PA rather than in NY.

    • What is it like to live in the surrounding town?

    • Size of the student body

    • Number of international students at university

    • Diversity in ethnicity/religion

    • Also think about the following issues:

      • AMS groupings of departments in the mathematical sciences.

      • MAA

      • Princeton Review

      • Saramarie Belcastro’s list of questions.

• Share your shortlisted programs with faculty advisors, alumni, and family for advice.

• Even if you do a great job in applying, remember that there is a lot of noise and unpredictability in the application process. You never know how someone may react to a specific aspect in your applications – the admissions committee is human after all and prone to being affected by a variety of subjective and at times irrational factors. However, if you have a strong application, in expectation you should be able to get into a good place. Even if you get rejected, don’t lose heart:

  • You can transfer after a year
  • Take a gap year and then apply as a new applicant the next year
  • Consider other universities

Tips for Undergraduate Program Applicants:

i) Know yourself:

• Interests, Plans, Skills: Think about yourself - what are your interests and what are your plans for the future. Evaluate your skills.

• Career Goals: Understand that there are some degrees that are more career-oriented and choosing such a major will prepare you directly towards a set career e.g: Medicine, Engineering.

  • Talk to an academic counselor about the types of programs that can contribute towards your career goals.

  • If you have a prospective profession in mind, talk to people pursuing that profession and get their input.  You can also research career options online.

  • Understand that some majors influence your career choice. However, there are some majors (such as Sociology) which open the field towards a wide variety of careers.

• Past Studies: Think about the subjects you studied at A levels (or equivalent). Do you want to follow a similar academic path or study something entirely new? Consider which subjects have been your strengths and weaknesses in the past.

ii) Shortlist Fields of Study/Programs: Shortlist one or two broad fields that interest you. Look for available programs in your field of interest, and list down the various programs falling within the selected field and university.

iii) Research Listed Programs: Individually research every program that you have listed down. Here are some factors to take into consideration when researching programs.

• Check for Prerequisites: For some programs, you may need to have studied a certain A-level (or equivalent) subject. Some even require certain grades.

• Cost: There is variation in the fee of different programs, as well as variation between the cost of similar programs in different universities. You should assess your own financial situation before making a decision.

• Combinations: Most universities offer a Major/Minor degree meaning that you can study more than one program.

iv) Compare Programs: Based on the factors outlined above, compare your research findings in order to make a selection.

Tips for Graduate Program Applicants:

i) Understanding Programs Available: The very first step is understanding the different types of programs available for you to pursue. Here are some important distinctions to keep in mind

• Taught or Research Master’s: A major decision you will be making is picking between a Taught Master’s and a Research Master’s. Some of the ways in which they differ are mentioned below:

  • Structure: Taught Master’s is based around lectures, seminars and tutorials, while research based Master emphasizes independent research rather than lectures and seminars.

  • Assessment: For a Taught Master’s program, you are more likely to have exams/assessments at the end of the year. On the other hand, a Research Master’s typically has dissertations or marked essays throughout the year.

  • Independence: A Research Master’s has been recognized as being more suitable for people who are self-motivated and have strong and developed ideas about the research they want to pursue. It is a good training ground for students who want to go on to do their PhD degree. A Taught Master’s program is more similar to the structure of an Undergraduate program and is advisable for people who want to ease into the transition from an Undergraduate to a Master’s degree.

• Types of Programs: Some common types of programs are MRes, MPhil, MSc, MA, MEd etc.

  • MA or MSc: An MA indicates an arts degree, while MSc is generally used for science subjects. Some subjects - such as psychology and geography - may be offered as both MA and MSc. In such a case, ensure you look through the individual assessment, structure and content of the course to see which one suits you.

ii) Shortlisting Programs According to Subject: List down all the programs related to the subject/ field you want to study. Research each program individually keeping in mind the course content, the options available to specialise in a certain area as well as the structure.

• Keep in mind that the same sort of subject may have several different names across different universities.

iii) Program Ratings: Online ratings for each program, as well as league tables for universities are available to inform you about the quality or program and other factors to take into consideration while making your selection.

Tips for Graduate Program Applicants (Research-based):

• The easiest route is to aim for the highest-ranked program possible (taking into account the departments' strengths and weaknesses in particular fields). Down the road, employers will pay attention to the quality of your graduate program. Moreover, a lot of what you learn in graduate school will be from your classmates, as graduate students generally study together in groups and give each other feedback on research. Therefore, it helps to attend a program that tends to attract high-ability students.

• However, when deciding between schools, you should consider rankings by sub-discipline and look for places that may not have the best overall ranks but are ranked highly in a sub-field you are interested in (the university's reputation is not very relevant). Furthermore, you might want to prioritize schools based on: the reputation of the faculty in your areas of interest, as well as the personality match of those faculty and the department as a whole. You may get the chance to collaborate with other programs from universities you may consider more “prestigious” later on. In short, you want to apply to places where you think you could be happy day to day, as well as have prospects after you're done. Faculty in your department will know the relative reputations of departments and research groups. They can help you identify your areas of research interest as well.

  • It is also a good idea to trace the faculty whose papers you have been reading and like (especially if they are recent ones – having a very senior but inactive faculty member is probably not as useful for you) and see which universities they are in.

• You’ll need to spend some time looking up the faculty’s research and identifying departments that have at least two or three well-published Associate Professors or Professors working on the topics you’ve earmarked for specialization. Later, on the job market, it will make a big difference who supervised your thesis - besides name recognition, an established professor has the contacts and the influence to get you on shortlists. On the other hand, one should not overestimate one's commitment to a research area before doing graduate coursework. You'll discover that there's more to various topics than you can now imagine, and your professors will sway your inclinations. Flexibility is therefore valuable at the point of entry - hopefully there's consistent quality at some level.

• Talk to Professors/ Advisors: You certainly need to talk to your faculty, advisor and any other faculty/researchers you encounter (especially those active in the international academic circuit) and get their advice on selecting schools for application. Talking to a faculty member (or graduate student) who knows you well might help you get an honest evaluation if you would be a competitive applicant for the respective program.

• To narrow down your list to programs to apply to, it is a good idea to contact some of the graduate students to get an “insider’s perspective” on the school. Usually the e-mail addresses of current students are listed on a web page. Most current students would be happy to help answer a few questions of a prospective student. Some good things to ask include:

  • Do many students leave without completing a degree?

  • How much time each week is required for teaching assignment duties?

  • Are students happy in the program?

  • Where to graduate students live?

  • How do you find the classes?  The preliminary exam structure?

  • Do students get jobs when they finish their degree?

How much does going to a top graduate program make a difference?

• If your primary goal is to do research at a university, then graduate school is crucially important. Going to a highly respected place, or having a distinguished PhD advisor, connects you with the right people and can get you in the door for interviews or postdocs. You will be exposed to the most current topics of research from the leaders of the field. But in the long run, it’s your own work that counts. People who do outstanding research rise to the top wherever they got their PhD. People who take the lead in developing curriculum and textbooks and in leading the collegiate education community become noted for that, wherever they started. So you should always pick a graduate program you think you will thrive in. But among these, it helps to go to the best.

• 
If your primary interest is in college teaching, then the choice is not as important. A small college would definitely prefer that you come from a nationally recognized graduate school. However, their main concern will be how well you do in a classroom.

• For industrial work, the choice matters, but not nearly as much as in academic research. A company would be mainly interested in the overall strength of the academic program and its relevance to their needs. Often, companies recruit from schools where they have had success before.

Tips for Doctorate Program Applicants:

The same process applied to selecting a Master’s program can typically also be applied to selecting a Ph.D. program. However, there are some factors that become more significant when choosing a PhD program;

• Master’s or PhD: If you are looking towards a PhD after doing your Undergraduate program, you will have to decide whether you want a Master’s degree first or a direct PhD. The M.A and M.Sc degree is not a prerequisite to a PhD.

• Research interests: Perhaps the most important factor becomes finding a program and professors that match your research specialization. This will require a lot of investigation on your part

  • Find articles matching your specialization and find out what university the authors are affiliated with.

  • Go through the descriptions of faculty members on university websites - these usually contain the research interests and scholarly work conducted by the professor.

• Faculty in the area of interest: Having a good PhD supervisor is extremely crucial for the evaluation of the research you produce, often much more important than the school you go to. It would be helpful to:

• Look at the professors in the department and understand the type of research they are involved in

• For PhD, the ranking of the department is not very important. Not matter how high the ranking, if there is no one working on the area of your interest, it would be very difficult to produce good research. On the other hand, if a professor or a group in a low ranked department is involved in research that is relevant and useful to your own area of interest, it could prove extremely beneficial for your research.

• Look into top conferences and journals in your field of interest, and identify those who are currently publishing. It is ideal to work with professors who are currently engaged in similar research interests as your own.

• Comparing programs - Consider the following questions to evaluate programs:

  • Is there just one potential PhD advisor in your area of interest or many?

  • Are the advisors in the program at their capacity and only looking for students with focused interests in particular areas?

  • Consider the graduate students — are they friendly? Do they collaborate?

  • What is the average time to complete a Ph.D.?

  • Does the program have any budget considerations? If yes, it might lead to the program enrolling many fewer students than it normally does.

REFERENCES

• http://www.postgrad.com/editorial/advice/masters_programs/your_perfect_masters_match/
• http://www.postgrad.com/editorial/advice/masters_programs/msc_degree/
• http://www.postgrad.com/editorial/advice/application_process/
• http://www.postgrad.com/editorial/advice/application_process/how_to_choose/
• http://sociobiology.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/choosing-a-ph-d-program-whats-important-and-whats-not/
• http://www.postgrad.com/editorial/advice/phd/
• http://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/advice-parents/university-parents-guide-choosing-program
• http://www.cmha.ca/youreducation/program.html
• http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/courses/choosing-a-course/
• https://www.mylakehead.ca/?pageid=38&title=How+to+Choose+Your+Program&mn=3
• http://web.archive.org/web/20080417205643/http://www.chrissilvey.com/howmany.html
• https://math.mit.edu/academics/undergrad/career/grad
• http://www.math.smith.edu/courses_graduate.php
• http://www.brynmawr.edu/math/graduate/GeneralAdvice.html
• http://cerp.org.pk/graduate-application-advice-2/
• http://faculty.oxy.edu/sslavov/grad.htm