General Admission Tips

Selection

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:

Significance of program selection
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

Pre Application

This section provides general advice -- applicable to all degrees, fields, and programs -- concerning what you can do in the years prior to the application in order to eventually be a strong candidate for your program. You must complement the general advice given below with the 'Pre-Application' 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 5 sections:

Academic background
Research experience
Professional experience
Voluntary work
Other experiences
Overview

1. ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

Tip for Undergraduate Program Applicants:

Usually, a minimum of 5 subjects for O’ Levels (or Metric and IB-MYP equivalent), including English and Maths and a post-16 qualification (Inter/A’ Levels/IB) is required - check with the admissions office if your qualifications are accepted with them.

Tips for Graduate Program Applicants:

A 4-year bachelor’s degree is usually a requirement. Specific graduate programs may have additional academic requirements.
Some PhD programs require applicants to have completed a Master's degree, others don't.
Consult your adviser for a list of which courses are most appropriate for you. The faculty can help you choose courses that match your needs and prepare you for the kind of graduate program in which you are interested.

2. RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Tip for Undergraduate Program Applicants:

Not mandatory, but if present can make the application strong.

Tip for Master's Program Applicants:

Not mandatory, but highly desirable, especially if you are applying to a research Master's degree. It will indirectly improve both your reference letters and essays. So if you end up doing good work, this will also provide you with a recommendation letter that can speak in depth about your research abilities. Moreover, while you are often limited in who you can get your letters from, by getting involved in a research project you may be able to expand your letter writer list to international scholars.

Tips for Doctorate Program Applicants:

Extremely important. Published research provides great strength in a PhD application
Research Experience will give you a chance to understand whether you would enjoy pursuing a Ph.D. degree.

How to start your Research Experience?

There are five main opportunities to get research experience:

As an undergraduate, you can do research with a professor. You can even get course credit for this, and sometimes if you’re really lucky you can get paid a little (e.g., during the summer).

As an undergraduate, you can apply for a summer internship at a research lab at your school or another school.

After graduating, you can find a research-oriented job.

If you are an M.S. student, you will work on an M.S. project, which might involve some research.

You can also work alone or with a friend. Ask professors in your classes to tell you about interesting open problems and new research (most professors enjoy doing this). Ask them to tell you the names of the conference proceedings. Sit down and start reading these proceedings. You will come across all sorts of interesting problems. Think about how you can improve upon the solution proposed in the paper.

How to ask a professor to do research with him/her?

Make a list of professors with whom you might want to work. Most professors have a web page with lots of papers and descriptions of their research. Take your time and read these.
Make a summary sheet about yourself. This is a one-page piece of paper that you will be giving out. It should have the following information about you:
- Your photo. Professors usually can’t remember names, but they may remember faces.
- Your name and contact info.
- Brief description of your research interests.
- Your availability – are you looking for a full-time summer position, a part-time fall position, both? How many hours can you devote to this project? Are you looking for class credit?
- List of every class you took and your grade and the professor you took it with (professors like to talk to each other about students/applicants).
- Relevant previous experience and skills.

Talk with your undergraduate advisor about whether anyone has an open position for undergraduate research. If they do, add such professors to your list.
Pick a professor from your list. Go to his/her office hours or send email to schedule an appointment (most professors prefer office hours). Explain your situation and give your summary sheet. Be prepared for the following questions which he may ask you:
- Do you have any ideas about what you might want to do research on?
- Which of my projects are you most interested in working on?
- Describe your math/english background?
- Describe your programming background (this may not be as relevant for certain projects or fields)?

There is a very high probability that the professor will thank you for your interest in working with them but tell you that he isn’t taking on any undergraduates this term. Hang in there. You may have to ask over 10 people before you find someone willing to work with you.
If the professor does say yes, you need to be prepared with your own list of questions:
- What is the goal of the project?
- What exactly will be my responsibilities?
- Who will I work with? – e.g., will you work directly with the professor, with one of his graduate students, with another undergraduate?
- What background material can I read to learn more about this project?
- What textbooks can I study to learn more about this research area?
If you can’t deal with rejection, there are other ways to get involved in research with a professor:
- Take a grad class with the professor.
- Get to know a grad student of the professor, and see if you can help the grad student with something.
- Find out when the professor has weekly (or monthly) seminars or group meetings and ask if you can attend those.

3. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Tip for Undergraduate Program Applicants:

Not mandatory, but gives a significant boost to the application if present. Your focus should be on internships, participation in school clubs/societies etc.

Tip for Master's Program Applicants:

Usually important. Some programs mention a minimum amount of work experience expected of applicants. For others, having work experience may give you an edge -- given competition levels, this can be one way to make your application stand out. In many cases, other applicants may have work experience, and if you lack it, it may harm your chances of admission. However, there are exceptions, with many programs not requiring experience, and others that accept applicants with no or little work experience (if the applicant has other application components that stand out, and the program is willing to make an exception for them)

Tip for Doctorate Program Applicants:

Professional experience, especially in the form of teaching, is usually highly desirable

4. VOLUNTARY/SOCIAL WORK

Though it is not usually a requirement, having social work or voluntary work experience can make your application stand out. This may depend on the kind of program you are applying to -- for example, Psychology programs may value such work -- and the country you are applying to -- for example, US and UK tend to value social/voluntary work.

Tip for Graduate Program Applicants:

Similar to undergraduate programs, such experience may not be a requirement but it could help make your application stand out (depending on field and country). Note however that some degrees may require applicants to have voluntary experience (such as Nursing degrees) and so it is extremely important to check the university admissions requirements.

5. OTHER EXPERIENCES

Other experiences that helped you develop relevant skills or useful personality traits may be good to mention in your application. Remember though that you should only include things that are relevant to the program/field you are applying to.
An example of other experiences that helped develop a useful skill: If you have done something like a 100 km hike in the Himalayas or anything other activity that shows a lot of persistence, include it in your application. It just might convince the admission committee that you have the persistence it requires to do research.

6. OVERVIEW

Degree	Academic Requirements	Research	Professional Experience	Voluntary/Social Work
Undergraduate	Minimum of 5 subjects for O’ Levels/Metric, including English and Math and a post-16 qualification (Inter/A’ Levels) - check with the admissions office if your qualifications are accepted with them	Not required	Not required. If present supports the application	Desirable
Graduate	A 4-year bachelor’s degree. Specific graduate programs may have additional academic requirements	Not required	Sometimes required	Desirable
Doctorate	A Bachelor’s is required. A Master's degree may or may not be required, depending on field and country.	Required	Sometimes required	Desirable

REFERENCES

App Overview

In order to ensure the strongest possible application, you must complement the general advice given in this section with the country- and field-specific application tips given for the particular program you are interested in, and the country profile of the country you are applying to. (If we currently don't have field-specific tips for your program, then the general guidance in this section will at least get you started on the right track).

This section is divided into two parts:

General Overview
Final Application Tips

1. GENERAL OVERVIEW

School websites are great sources of information -- they also give all the little details about the application process, so make sure you check them thoroughly. They may also have a student directory, including links to their websites. If they do, you should try to connect with alumni or current students (listed on the directory) -- ask them questions you have, such as the admission requirements, program resources, faculty skills/expertise, etc. If a directory is not available, you should call the university and ask if they can connect you with relevant alumni. In many cases, the university tries to connect you with alumni in your country, or elsewhere. Remember however that the alumni may give you biased answers -- the university chooses them for a reason. So don't make all your admission decisions based on their answers -- their input should be one of the things you take into consideration.

Give yourself enough time to complete and submit your applications. There will always be some unforeseen complications, and the application period (usually the month of December) will be stressful, especially towards the deadline season.

Don’t despair if you get a rejection from one place, you may get into another. Have some ideas about what to do if it doesn’t work out (and maybe even begin work on these backup options, just in case). If you don’t make the cut this year, you can always re-apply in the following years by improving your application. For Graduate programs, you could strengthen your application through research publications, improved GRE scores or stronger letters of recommendation.

Tips for Graduate Program Applicants:

The graduate applications are looked at much more closely and with less leniency than undergraduate applications, so you need to pay very close attention to each part of your application. Remember that it is not just about your academic standing or research capacities etc. Many excellent applicants will be rejected for reasons totally apart from these things, for example, if they selected the wrong potential advisers, or their personal statement was too long, or their application was read later in the process when reviewers are exhausted, etc. In this way, you have to develop your application very thoughtfully and consider programs more critically.

When deciding between schools, you should consider not only the department's reputation (the university's reputation/ranking is not very relevant) but also: 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. 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. So it is important to apply to programs that have faculty that could help you in your area of interest.

2. FINAL COMMENT ON APPLICATION

International admits are typically (though not without exception) chosen from the best institutions of their home countries. The school/department's past experience also plays a very important role in evaluating non-U.S. coursework. Some schools/universities have a tradition of placing students in particular college/ graduate programs every year because the admission committees have learned by trial and error that they come well-prepared and succeed. In other cases, the admission committees may be averse to admitting someone from the same school that "sent" a weak student last year. Look up the current students in your intended school/department, take note where they're from, and you'll get a sense of the admission committee's little biases. If there seem to be very few Pakistani students in the school/ department: it's could be a tough place to get into for Pakistanis. You can improve your chances by heeding the following tips:
- Show that you made the most of your opportunities by taking the hardest classes, doing a senior thesis (if you were a college student), or doing an internship.
- Try to take initiatives. Go beyond the course material. Be among the best students in your college. Make sure all of this is reflected in your letters.
Determine the Admissions Requirements. Compare requirements for admissions at different programs. Also, find out whether the school requires any specific course work or out-of-class experiences, and whether they have minimum requirements for test scores (such as SAT, GRE, Subject GRE, etc.).

Make your application look good. Admission Committees usually find themselves putting more effort into well-typeset applications. You can make your application look eye-catching and clear by employing fonts including Palatino, Computer Modern, and Times New Roman or by simply using LaTeX (if you know how to use it). Note that you should only follow this advice if your program does not give you any guidelines on how to format the application. Make sure to always follow the formatting guidelines that the committee asks from you.

It's very reasonable to contact the Director of Graduate/Undergraduate Studies or the International Students Admissions Officer at programs that interest you if you have questions. Do not ask questions that have answers easily available on the university website (only email if you have a real question), but communicating with applicants is part of the job.
Be brief. Even "lowly ranked" schools will receive hundreds or even thousands of applications for a few dozen slots. Most applications are skimmed first and may be read-only if something catches the reviewer's eye. There simply isn't time to read long-winded applications.

Final Application Tips for Graduate Program Applicants:

For college students applying to graduate programs: Take some graduate-level classes to show that you are ready for graduate school. When writing your research statement, see if you can show a strong enough focus and motivation to prove you have what it takes to sustain the transition to a “bigger pond”.
As of 2019, no Pakistani university has really reached the level of international reputation that would allow a foreign university to benchmark your grades. It is in this context that standardized tests (GREs etc.) become even more crucial for certain degrees and programs (though not for all -- some programs don't even pay as much attention to standardized test), and so it is vital that along with good grades in your institution, you also obtain extremely high scores in such standardized international tests. Another way to address this is to first go for a masters degree from a well know international university and then (having obtained good grades) apply for a PhD program. However, this can be somewhat costly since it will often add 1-2 years till you finally get your doctorate.

After being accepted: Try to visit the departments you are most interested in. Some may even help pay for your visit. Visit the faculty you would like to work with. Talk to graduate students to find out about the atmosphere for students. Women should talk to female students about the treatment of women (unfortunately an issue in a few departments).

For Master Programs in science, engineering, math and computer science: If the school lets you select a thesis or coursework as a preference, select thesis. Selecting coursework signals the admissions committee that you're not interested in research! Similarly, your personal statement needs to convince the admissions committee that you actually want to get a thesis in some research topic, rather than just take more classes. This advice is more pertinent if you know you want to go into a research career or are aiming to go for a PhD in the future.

Final Application Tips for Doctorate program Applicants:

Choose your area of interest/preferred faculty carefully. Applications are reviewed by the faculty in the area of your interest. If you choose this poorly, the right person will not see your application. Reviewers also get annoyed when there is a mismatch between the student's area of preference and faculty preference. At the bare minimum, you should skim the home pages of every faculty member. It's also a good idea to look for faculty with an active research program and current Ph.D. students. Faculty without funding can't easily admit students. New/pre-tenure professors are especially eager to find good graduate students, and sometimes they have start-up funding to use until they get a grant.
Getting accepted somewhere isn't the challenge… finishing is the challenge: When you're looking at a school, ask (or find out on your own) how many people return for their second year, third year, what percentage of people actually graduate with a PhD. In most places, the number is below 30%, and you should keep that in mind while you aim for a PhD.
Make sure you have thought really hard that you want a PhD. The PhD program is a long and hard process, and you have to be completely passionate about it. It includes tons of lonely hours in front of a computer, a lot of bumps along the way (people don't buy your theories; you have to revise your work over and over). The exciting thing is that you learn new things and new theories that allow you to look at the world through a different lens and having people around you that discuss your work and help you develop.

REFERENCES

https://www.wes.org/advisor-blog/applying-to-safety-target-and-reach-schools/
https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/dream-match-safety-schools
https://www.math.uci.edu/math-majors/math-grad-school-resources
http://academia.stackexchange.com/questions/16526/what-advice-would-you-give-students-applying-for-graduate-school-in-mathematics
http://www.brynmawr.edu/math/graduate/GeneralAdvice.html
http://matt.might.net/articles/how-to-apply-and-get-in-to-graduate-school-in-science-mathematics-engineering-or-computer-science/
http://econphd.econwiki.com/guide.htm

Essay

This section provides general advice -- applicable to all degrees, fields, and programs -- concerning how you can write well-founded essays when applying in order to be a strong candidate for your program. It is absolutely essential for you to strictly follow the guidelines presented below because they can guide you on how to approach and write a strong essay. You must also complement the general advice given below with the 'essays' tips given for the specific country and field you are interested in -- these tips contain information about the kind of content the program/field you are interested in is generally looking for. If we currently don't have field-specific tips for your program, then the general guidance in this section will definitely help in writing a strong essay.

The tips below are divided into 4 sections:

Basic information
Chronological checklist of applicants
Additional tips for content and language
Additionally resources

1. BASIC INFORMATION

The admissions essay is usually an integral component in the university application process as it is the most valid indicator of the applicant’s personality. Unlike information contained in academic records and the application itself, it gives the admission officers a chance to evaluate the personal qualities, strengths, and weaknesses of a candidate. It can also often become the factor that determines which applicants are called for interviews.

For Graduate studies, it is a way to convince faculty members on the admissions committee that the applicant is interested and deeply motivated to pursue graduate-level education at their institution.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF ESSAYS

Your university program may require different variants of an admissions essay. It is important to remember that whatever essay you are required to write should first and foremost be based on the program’s requirement. However, here are some general tips related to the different types of essays you may be required to write.

a) Personal Statement

The personal statement is an admissions essay that you will likely have to write (more so for undergraduate programs, but also for graduate-level programs too), where you will be required to outline your interests, aspirations, and goals. It can be described as a personal summary of your life achievements or events, that have led you to apply for a particular program/field. It is essentially your chance to convey to the admissions committee that you have the skills, capacity, and passion to pursue the degree you are applying for.

b) Statement of Purpose

This focuses more on your future aspirations and career goals. You should highlight how your selected program will contribute towards your short and long-term educational and career goals.

Useful sources:

For information on how the personal statement and statement of purpose differ, click here.
How to write a statement of purpose for graduate school
The statement of purpose

c) Research Statements

This intends to summarise your overall research. Tailor it according to the institute you are applying to. Write about:

Your past research and future research goals
How and why you are interested in your research area
How can your research be beneficial to other people and the institute supporting it
Grants, funds, laboratory equipment or technical assistance required for your research

Some advice about research statements:

The kind of research project you can pursue during your Master’s level study is different from the kind you can pursue during your Ph.D. level studies. During your Master’s level study, you are usually allowed to pursue research topics that are more general in nature. However, during Ph.D. studies, your research topic is usually required to be more detailed and specific.
Note that for some countries, such as the US, you don’t have to commit to the research project outlined in your statement. In many cases, the research statement is used more so to gauge your thinking. They essentially want to understand your general capabilities.
For Ph.D.: You should mention what your sources of research are going to be -- this is particularly important for humanities/liberal arts programs. This includes writing about whether you have the requisite training for the kind of work you plan to do (if such skills are required for your project) or whether you plan to gain those skills during your study.
The kind of project you decide to pursue should be specific, manageable (for the time period of study), contextualized and necessary. Note that a research topic is necessary if you can outline what the field is losing out on if this research area is not worked on.

Useful resources for Research Statements:

Writing a Research Statement (Purdue Writing Lab)
Research Statement Guide (Career Services - University of Pennsylvania)

d) Statement of Academic Interests

This focuses on your academic interests and requires you to highlight:

Your area of academic interest and its relevance to the university’s program, on-going research and faculty
Relevance of your past education and experiences to your area of interest
What you will achieve through pursuing your proposed degree

This is usually more commonly required for graduate-level applications.

Click here to find out more about Statement of Academic Interests

e) Writing Sample

This is supposed to be an in-depth example or evidence of your writing and thinking skills. Not all programs require this. It is required more for graduate-level programs.

Note: The writing sample is not exactly an admissions essay -- it is more so evidence of your writing skills.

Your personal statement/SOP focus more on the past, your future goals, achievements etc. -- but the writing sample shows your capabilities. It demonstrates your capacity for advanced writing. It shows a trajectory of your thinking. It shows your grasp over secondary literature.
The writing sample you choose to submit should be your best work on a relevant topic.
It should also be something you really enjoyed working on and something your professor/teaching assistant liked.
Relevance wise:
- You should be able to demonstrate through this sample that you have a good grasp on literature in your field, that you plan to study. It should act as a proof of the kind of claims you made in your personal statement.
- The writing should engage with and argue for and/or against existing scholarly ideas/concepts -- it shouldn’t just list different viewpoints. The reader is a professional and they want to see how you engage with the concepts.
You should try to use a sample that has been marked by your professor/teaching assistant (sometimes this is a requirement).
- In this case, you should sit down early with the professor/teaching assistant and try to improve it. The final sample you submit should have been edited multiple times.
When choosing your writing sample, keep your audience or reader in mind.
- Your reader is a very special audience.
  - They are part of the admissions committee
  - For PhD students, they are likely to be a potential supervisor.
  - They are likely to be experts in your field.
  - The reader can be a generalist or a specialist -- generalist means that they have a general understanding of the field you are applying to, whereas specialists have more specialized knowledge about the field you are applying to.
    - If your reader is a generalist, and your writing sample has very specialist details, then the generalist reader might get alienated or confused while reading your text.
    - You don’t know what kind of reader is going to be reading your writing sample, so it is important to speak to both kinds of audiences. It should be something that is not too specific but not too general either.
    - One way to help you decide whether a writing sample is readable is to get it read by i) someone you know who isn’t from your field and ii) someone who is in your field. Additionally, you should also get it read by i) your peers/friends and ii) a professor/s. See how each reader responds to your text. Take their feedback and try to incorporate what you can.
If your sample is outdated in any way, you should update it. You should incorporate current or recent scholarship in your field.
When revising you should also think of things that you can add, that you may not have been able to add before when you wrote it first. For example, sometimes your writing is limited to the syllabus -- you should try to go beyond this.
Remember to write as clearly as you can. Remember that there are often different interpretations or definitions of something (in every field). So try to use footnotes to clarify which interpretation you are using.
Also, remember that different disciplines/fields have different citation or writing styles. Make sure you use one that aligns with the discipline/field. This kind of thing may not ‘make’ your application (i.e. get you accepted), but it can stop your application from being kicked out.

For more information on the writing sample, click here.

CHRONOLOGICAL CHECKLIST FOR THE APPLICANT

The checklist below is meant to give you a step by step process of how you end up with stellar essay no matter what program you are applying to.

Checklist Item and Timeline

Detailed Actions

Step I: Understanding the Requirements

At least 4 months before deadline

- Start early. Plan it out. Make it a process.
- Go through all the documents and instructions that are provided by the program’s admissions office - find out specifics such as required format and number of essays needed, etc.
- Each program has its own distinct set of requirements that determines the nature of the essay - and it is important to research what they are before starting your essay. Visit the university website and understand thoroughly what your program values the most
- Speak to family, friends, seniors, faculty members as well as students who have previously gone through a similar application process
- Contact alumni/students of your target program/university. They will be able to provide precise information/feedback on the qualities required of applicants. You can approach them through:
Student groups of the target program/university on social media.
Student ambassadors of the target program/university. They can link you with other alumni that are willing to offer help.

- Fellow alumni/students of your university that have gone on to study at the target university.
For graduate school, program requirements expect an essay that specifically explores the applicant’s interest in the program and academic field as well as research plans (more information on the nature of a graduate level admissions essay can be viewed below).

Step II: Initial Brainstorming

4 months before deadline

List down all possible ideas for your essay that come into your mind. Avoid spending too many hours. Take breaks. Let the ideas come to you.
Discuss these ideas with your reviewers

Step III: First Draft

3 months before deadline

Develop the most promising idea, and structure them into the first draft of your essay
Avoid wordiness as it doesn’t make up for content quality. It can confuse the important ideas you're trying to convey. Keep sentences short, to the point and direct.
Include bullets of rejected ideas so that reviewers may later recommend any rejected idea to be included or not.

Step IV: Approach Reviewers

2.5 months before deadline

It is important to line up 3 or 4 people who are knowledgable about the program/s or field you are applying to, and are willing to give you feedback on versions of your essay. These individuals could be faculty members, graduates of the program, others in your network, etc.
When approaching reviewers it is important to remember that they are essentially doing you a favor, so when approaching them you should very politely ask if they would be willing to review versions of your essay. It is important to convey that you are respectful of their time and appreciate the help they are giving.

Step V: Draft Two

2 - 2.5 months before deadline

Identify the key areas that need improvement in your first draft only once all reviewers have given their collective feedback
Selectively incorporate the feedback into your essay - If 3-4 reviewers offer the same suggestion, or if you feel a single reviewer’s point is significantly insightful, include it in your draft
Once you have made the revisions, send the second draft to your reviewers again. Give them about ten days to respond with further feedback
It would also be a good idea to give a copy of your second draft to the people writing your letter of recommendation.

Step VI: Draft Three/Final Draft

1 month before deadline

After receiving feedback on your second draft, make further changes based on the collective response of your reviewers
Keep editing your drafts until you are completely satisfied with it. After completing each draft, ask yourself if the essay is coherent and effective in terms of structure, content as well as language

Step VII: Proofread

2-3 weeks before deadline

While you are not being selected for your writing skills, a poorly written essay and typos etc. reflects a lack of care and attention and those are usually bad signs. Plus you never know what may put off someone in the admissions committee – while they may outwardly overlook a consistent grammar mistake, subconsciously this may lead a reader to think less favorably of your essay.
Ask people you trust to proofread for errors in the format and language of your essay.
When proofreading yourself, ensure that there are no inconsistencies between the content of your essay and the information provided in the rest of your application

Proof-reading tips:

Read your work out loud. Read it slowly a few times.
Read it backwards to help you focus at the word level, and not just the sentence level
Don't try to find every type of mistake in one go. Read the essay once and check for spelling mistakes, then again for grammar etc.

ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR CONTENT AND LANGUAGE

If the essay is based on a prompt, structure your essay as a specific answer to the prompt.
Your essay should be structured within a narrative that is compelling and interesting and makes your essay a memorable read for the Admissions Committee.
The focus of your essay should be personal and small scale. Your personality should shine through your essay. Ideally, you would want to sound unique and motivated, while demonstrating creativity, curiosity, and enthusiasm for learning. If you don’t have an extraordinary skill to speak about, use personal anecdotes to portray how you are different, and what you will add to the college community
Organize content systematically - each paragraph you write should have a purpose that directly addresses some aspect that will further your application chances. Essays that are concise, well written and well structured, suggest that you are someone who will have equal clarity of mind in your research
If you have disparities in your record (not so good grades as freshmen, but you improved later on) or any other negative entity (bad scores or gaps in the resume), mention it in your statement with your reasons for it (avoid devoting too much space - sympathy is not a factor in admission). But make sure it flows nicely and that the explanation that you provide is valid. The idea is to make it all look like a strength. For e.g. what you learned from the negative experience and how the bad experience made you tougher, etc. In case you don’t have a good explanation, it’s better not to mention it at all – you will just end up highlighting something that your reader might have missed. If the problem has been resolved, emphasize the resolution part.
Use specific examples from your past experiences to back your claims. Without the appropriate evidence, grand but unsubstantiated claims about yourself can significantly weaken your personal statement

- By the time someone has read your essay they should be impressed by your (i) intellect & creativity, (ii) motivation, (iii) maturity and (iv) research ideas/interests. Everything you write should in some way or the other reflect these aspects. Thus if you want to start your essay with some personal anecdote it should not be simply so that you can tell some story to the reader -- that story should illustrate a theme or serve a purpose. So, saying your grandfather was a great and famous scholar and he was very fond of you is not as relevant as saying that your grandfather imbued in you a love for research and an urge to question.
- Use quotes carefully. A lot of personal statements start off with a quote. If you use a quote, make sure it's witty, relevant and one that the reviewer has never seen. Do not misquote or misattribute a quote. Definitely do not misunderstand a quote and weave that misunderstanding into a narrative about why you want to go to university.
- Language: Use articulate English, but avoid using unnecessarily tough vocabulary or complex sentence structure. Be concise in your use of words. Avoid slang words.

Things to avoid:

Avoid the chronological narrative: Do not make your personal statement a list of all your achievements that have led up to, and are already mentioned in the application. A chronological narrative is one way of organizing your personal statement, but it is not necessarily the most effective method.
Avoid clichés, such as the victim narrative (sentimental claims about suffering through some hardship) and the destiny cliché (asserting that you have always wanted to pursue a specific field/subject).
Don’t be arrogant or overconfident.
Don’t overstress your success. You might have been top of your class, an overachiever in your school/college, but remember that the admission committee does have your transcripts and they can see how good you are from there, so no need to bore them with rankings and statistics.
Avoid listing courses you want to take.
Avoid generic statements about the prestige of the school and/or its faculty.
Do not write a long, rambling, emotionally charged personal statement, as they are generally seen as melodramatic and may not be very helpful.
Don’t lie and avoid excuses – if you have a bad grade in a particular subject, handle it with honesty (as mentioned above), instead of excuses.
Never Plagiarise - Do not steal ideas from friends, blogs, college essay sample books, etc. Colleges check for this, and if you’re caught, you could lose the opportunity to study abroad.
For science-based programs: Do not include your childhood experience with science, computers or math or how you've been interested in the field ever since you were a child and that you wrote your first program/proved your first theorem at age eight. The admissions committee already knows that it's been your lifelong dream to become a scientist. (That's why you're applying.) Many personal statements start off this with this standard back-story, and it's a waste of space.
Do not regurgitate your grades – Awards are certainly relevant, however, any award you won should be listed on a separate piece of paper which is titled “Awards and Honors” (if allowed by the university requirements) or should be stated on your resume. There is no reason to tell all this in your essay. It will only put-off the people reviewing your application because they have probably already read all this information.
Stick with the stuff you did in college and later - Don’t be the child genius – Admission Committees don’t care what you did as a child. They will get multiple applications where the student claims that they are a child genius. If you really think this is relevant, put the important facts on a separate sheet of paper, and include it in your application (if allowed by the program requirements)

Tips for Graduate Studies (Masters/Ph.D.) Personal Statements

For graduate-level personal statements, in cases where there is no prompt, you may write about your motivations behind your choice of program, your future plans and your skills and experiences that will positively contribute towards your study.
Do mention the difficult/graduate-level classes you have undertaken because schools might not know what the advanced classes are in the field.
Get someone to read your essays; probably under two different aspects, the first regarding the content (like your professor) and the second regarding language (preferably a graduate student).
Don’t let the essay become too personal or story-like. You should write about how you came to appreciate the discipline/field that you are applying to, but this should just be one component of the essay (not the entire essay). This is more of a professional document, whereby you need to make a case for yourself as a prospective researcher. This is particularly important for PhD applications or research-based Master’s programs.
- Undergraduate personal statements tend to be more lenient in this regard because the class sizes of programs tend to be larger. However, for graduate-level programs, the class sizes are smaller and so students are chosen more selectively.
Avoid extremes. There are certain extreme sides or themes you should not use for your essay. For example, this includes the “I want to save the world” essay that a lot of students from developing countries write. While researchers are often motivated by personal experiences and a desire to add social value, ultimately their goal is to produce scholarly research, not to save the world. If the primary goal was saving the world then an admissions committee member may rightly conclude that a PhD is not the right path for you to pursue. Somewhat more cynically though, such “save the world” essays reflect an intellectual immaturity and may cause the reader to infer that you are not ready to take on a doctorate as yet.
For PhD programs: Demonstrate your awareness of the potential uncertainties of a Ph.D., your dedication towards learning the new methodology and your adaptivity to conducting research. Discuss why you wish to attend grad school and your areas of possible research interest. If you have taken any interesting classes, mention them.
- You should write in such a way that conveys that you know what a Ph.D. program (in the country and field you are applying to) involves. One way to do this is to outline your study and research goals, based on the usual structure of PhDs in that country/field.
Your (graduate level) personal statement should include the following content:
- Research project (this is more important for Ph.D. applications):
  - If you have a specific research idea, outline it (without sounding rigidly attached to it – a delicate balance needs to be struck here), and mention how the school’s particular strengths fit into your plans. Look up the faculty’s research interests and histories to determine this. This would help the schools understand your field of interest and get a sense of whether you have any idea of what you're getting yourself into. You should, therefore, try to talk intelligently Note: It is not necessary to have a specific thesis proposal, and odds are if you try to pretend you have one when you really don't you'll come off as sounding naive which is a bad thing.
  - Past research is good to mention, but don’t get lost in technical details. Try to state what you learned from it, how much you like doing research and argue how this is exactly what you want to do during your studies and in the future. Further, it is helpful to relate your future research interest to your past research experiences and to relate these with the research interests of the faculty at the schools where you are applying. Reading and discussing working papers of some faculty members may help, but be sure to talk intelligently. Superfluous discussion may appear to be too naive and may hurt your chances.
  - You should first define a sub-field you are interested in pursuing and then try to locate a gap in present research (within that sub-field) and explain why filling it is crucial for research within the field.
  - For Master’s programs, you may not need to identify a research project -- at this level, many programs may just want to know about your career or academic goals in general.
- Academic trajectory
  - You should write about 2-3 key relevant experiences that you have previously had and link their relevance to the program you are applying to. The structure should be: experience → Skills gained/significance of experience → future use and relevance to your study in the program. In this way, you connect your past and future in an academic way. This kind of ‘trajectory’ shows your development as a student.
- Related Experience
  - Make sure you only mention experiences that are relevant to your field/practice.
  - These should be non-academic (professional work, outside the school setting) or partially non-academic (e.g. competitions about your subject, etc., or experiences within a school setting that were not part of the curriculum) experiences. Your academic experience (courses/subjects you have taken, your grades, etc.) will be outlined in your transcripts -- you should only mention them if you have something to add (something that is not already mentioned in the transcripts or CV).
  - Make sure to focus more on experiences that have taught you relevant skills, or that have contributed to your thinking.
  - One tactic that can help you decide whether an experience should be added or not is to think about whether you can write a convincing second sentence after it (i.e. after the sentence outlining the experience).
- Fit
  - You should try to show that you are a good match for the particular institution, department and a program that you are applying to. This includes writing about how your skills and the skills/resources at the university/department match and can lead to productive work later during your study.
  - For this, you will need to research about the program/department/university and about professors in the department.
    - For professors: you should look for ways in which your interests align with the professor’s. You don’t need someone to be doing the exact same thing that you want to do -- but instead, you should look for a group of professors who have a good overlap with your interests. This overlap can be general too -- they don’t have to be interested in the specific area that you are wanting to pursue, but they should have skills/interest in the general sub-field/field that you want to work in.
  - Other resources that should match your interests or requirements include:
    - Libraries: On the library page, you can often find lists of things the library specializes in. You should then try to find programs that have libraries that specialize in your interests, and then you should write about this in your essay.
    - Certificate programs: If your career path or professional goals require you to get a certain certificate or training, you should look for programs that offer this.
    - Student groups or initiatives that match your interests.
  - Note that you shouldn’t force a program to match your interests. It is possible that a program, department or university is great (in terms of resources and rankings etc.) but that it doesn’t match your interests, or that the faculty are not equipped for your area of interest.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

General tips:

"Writing a personal statement", by Frances B. Zorn
Suggestions from the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) with examples
Writing tips: Personal Statements - University of Illinois
10 tips for writing your personal statement - Top Universities
How to write an effective personal statement by Durham University’s Undergraduate Admissions Office
Writing Tips: Personal Statements by The Center of Writing Studies of the University of Illinois

For graduate applications:

10 tips for writing a grad school personal statement
Writing a personal statement for graduate school
Graduate School - Statement by Berkeley University of California
Hacking the grad school application: Personal statement

Note: Please check field-specific templates for specialized information on Personal Statement/Essays for your field.

REFERENCES

4 Tips For Writing The Perfect Personal Statement. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/01/personal-statement-tips_n_4191226.html

EssayEdge.com: Statement of Purpose Writing, Personal Statement Samples, and Graduate School Essays. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.essayedge.com/graduate/essayadvice/course/lsix_checklist.html

Free Sample Personal Statement. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.eduers.com/personalstatement/sample.htm

How to Write Personal Statements and Application Essays. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://educationusa.de/fileadmin/inhalte/pdf/personal_statements.pdf

Personal Statement. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://web.jhu.edu/prepro/health/Applicants/personal.statement.html

Purdue OWL: Writing the Personal Statement. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/642/1/

University of Durham. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/undergraduate/apply/personalstatement/personal%20statement%20approved%20by%20TLC.pdf

Writing the Personal Statement - UCLA Undergraduate Admission. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/perstmt.htm

4 Tips to a Great Graduate Personal Statement - Take your personal statement into greatness today with these tips from Petersons.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.petersons.com/graduate-schools/personal-statement-tips.aspx

Career Center - Graduate School - Statement. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://career.berkeley.edu/grad/gradstatement.stm

Career Services at the University of Pennsylvania. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.academiccoachingandwriting.org/academic-writing/academic-writing-blog/vi-writing-the-research-statement-how-and-why-you-research-what-you-do/

"Research Statement." Career Services at the University of Pennsylvania. (n.d.) http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/writtenmaterials/researchstatements.php

Research Statement Template. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.academiccoachingandwriting.org/academic-writing/academic-writing-blog/vi-writing-the-research-statement-how-and-why-you-research-what-you-do

Research Statements | Cornell Graduate School. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/career-development/put-your-qualifications-writing/research-statements

Writing Tips « Writers Workshop: Writer Resources « The Center for Writing Studies, Illinois. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cws.illinois.edu/workshop/writers/tips/personalstatement/

"HOWTO: Get into Grad School for Science, Engineering, Math and Computer Science." HOWTO: Apply for and Get into Grad School in Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science: Tip, Tricks, Hints and Mistakes. N.p., n.d. http://matt.might.net/articles/how-to-apply-and-get-in-to-graduate-school-in-science-mathematics-engineering-or-computer-science/

"Preparing For Grad School." Prepare for Graduate School. (n.d.) https://math.mit.edu/academics/undergrad/career/grad

"General Advice on Applying to Graduate School." Bryn Mawr College, n.d. http://www.brynmawr.edu/math/graduate/GeneralAdvice.html

"Graduate Application Advice." Cerp Center for Economic Research in Pakistan. N.p., n.d. http://cerp.org.pk/graduate-application-advice-2/

"Tips on Applying to Top Graduate Programs in Economics." Economics in Action. N.p., n.d. http://economics.ucsd.edu/economicsinaction/issue-3/tips-on-applying.php

"Applying for Admissionto Economics PhD Programs." Econphd.net Admission Guide. N.p., n.d http://econphd.econwiki.com/guide.htm

"SOP." SOP. n.d. http://www.ft-ploeckl.de/index_files/Page388.htm

"Susan Athey." Graduate School Advice: : Faculty: Stanford GSB. n.d. https://faculty-gsb.stanford.edu/athey/gradadvising.html

"Graduate Application Advice." Cerp Center for Economic Research in Pakistan. N.p., n.d http://cerp.org.pk/graduate-application-advice-2/

"Student Resources." Cerp Center for Economic Research in Pakistan. n.d. http://cerp.org.pk/student-resources/

Recommendations

Recommendations, along with essays, are an important basis for successful applications around the world.

It is important to remember that there are different factors to consider when approaching letters of recommendation. Firstly you need to consider who specifically you need to ask for the letter (i.e. who is the ideal recommender) and secondly, the kind of specific content that should be included in your letter to strengthen your application. These two things can be found in the field-specific tip sheets and so it is definitely important to consult them (For field-specific tips, see the relevant field-specific tipsheet on our website. If we don't currently have field-specific tip sheets for your field of interest, then you should focus on the general guidance in this section. ). Other, equally if not more important factors to consider are the appropriate method of asking for letters and how to ensure you have the strongest possible letters from writers -- these tips are not covered in the field-specific tip sheets and so it is essential to follow the steps mentioned below in this section of the general tips.

This section provides general advice -- applicable to all degrees, fields, and programs -- concerning how you can secure strong letter of recommendation when applying in order to be a strong candidate for your program. The section is structured in the following way:

Tips for the Recommender
Chronological Checklist for the Applicant
Useful Links

1. TIPS FOR THE LETTER-WRITER

Advice for the applicant:

Firstly you should ask your letter writer if they would be comfortable if you shared these tips with them. When you ask them, make sure to do so in a polite manner. If the writer is comfortable then you can forward this list of tips to them. Remember that some letter writers may find this pushy and/or offensive and some may say no -- in this case, it is okay to not share these tips with them.

Tips for the letter-writer:

Every recommender has their own styles and preferences when writing the recommendation -- we have conducted extensive research on what admission committees are looking for and are making available the following section in case it is helpful for you in the writing process and to ensure the applicant has the best chance of admission. We hope this would make the process of writing the letter easier for you.

If you have had substantial interaction with the applicant and you feel comfortable writing them a strong endorsement for admission, then you can consider accepting their request (of you writing the recommendation). Additionally, you should also make sure that you have the time and relevant qualifications to write a strong letter for the applicant. If, however, you don't feel comfortable about any one of these things then it is recommended that you politely decline or let him or her know of your concerns or the reasons why you feel unable to write them a letter.
- For graduate applicants: It is recommended that you selectively write letters for only those with whom you’ve had ample first-hand experience, and whom you have directly worked with for their research projects and publications.
Some recommenders ask applicants to fill the AA-Recommendation Information Sheet and send it to them like 4-6 weeks in advance of the deadline -- this information sheet enables them to gain valuable information that facilitates the process of writing the recommendation.
- If you prefer, you can also arrange a meeting online, on the phone or in-person (whichever is more convenient for you) to find out any further information you require from the applicant to write a strong letter.
- Once you have found 3-4 good qualities of the applicant that demonstrate how the applicant is a good fit with the program, you can highlight these in your letter. You may also include an extraordinary quality of the applicant, even if the program doesn’t particularly value it.
- If you feel that you require specific documents from the applicant to inform your writing, then it is good to ask the applicant for these.

Once you have the documents and relevant information it is good to begin writing. In general, the letter of recommendation should be specific and organized. Note however that the letter shouldn’t be too short, because it will give the reader a negative impression of the candidate. Some programs prefer 1-2 pages. so it depends, but the content should be clear, truthful and supportive towards the applicant. Others may require you to fill out a form instead.
- It is extremely important to follow the guidelines provided by the program (if any) -- this is one of the things you should be clear about before the writing begins.
- You should try to tailor the letter according to each program - ways of doing this include addressing the program’s committee and mentioning the university and program specifics in the first and last paragraph of your letter.

In the introductory paragraph, it is considered good to cover the following three things:
- Establishing your credentials, that enable you to write letters of recommendation: these include your years of experience, your relevant positions/posts, courses taught, area of expertise, etc.
- Explaining the relation between yourself and the applicant. For this, you can identify how, in what context, and for what duration you came to know the student.
- You can also, elaborate on how your overall experience allows you to see the applicant in comparison to his or her peers, or how your interaction with the applicant compares with that of your colleagues.

It is recommended to be specific. A strong letter is one that contains meaningful examples of achievements and provides stories or anecdotes that illustrate the candidate’s strengths. Admission committees tend to look down on general praises (such as “quick learner”) -- it is considered better to point out what the candidate did to give you that impression. These details will show that you have a strong relationship and also bring the candidate alive on the page. If the candidate works in your laboratory, it is very useful to talk about his or her specific contributions to the lab’s research:
- “Student X is the first person to successfully master in vivo imaging in my laboratory and did all the troubleshooting calibration and testing completely independently.”
- “Student X is the first student in my lab to have a first-author Cell paper. She contributed data for five of the figures and made an important intellectual contribution to the experimental design and to writing the discussion.”
- “Candidate X’s research was submitted as an abstract and was accepted for a podium presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research national meeting earlier this year. Although she is an undergraduate student, I treated candidate X in the same manner I would treat an experienced graduate student by having her prepare and present the talk independently. At the meeting, she presented the work and answered all the questions from the audience in a clear and professional manner. After the talk several scientists came up to express how impressed they were with the presentation.”
If there are any inconsistencies or specific weaknesses in the student’s record, it is important to address them and discuss how the candidate is tackling with his/her weaknesses
It can be useful to save copies of the letter you write - students may ask for it again at a later stage.

2. CHRONOLOGICAL CHECKLIST FOR THE APPLICANT:

The checklist below aims to give you a step-by-step process of how you end up with stellar letters of recommendation, no matter what program you are applying to.

Checklist Item and Timeline

Detailed Actions

Step I: Plan ahead

At least 1-2 years before deadline

First, you need to find out:

Whether you will need LORs and if so, how many -- you can find this out by either referring to our field-specific tip sheets and/or Country Profile, asking professors or checking out program requirements (if you have universities in mind).
Through the methods mentioned above, you should also find out who the ideal letter-writers may be (many programs have recommenders that they prefer or require)

Once you have these details, you need to identify potential recommenders (faculty, employer etc.) and establish (or deepen) relationships with them, so that you can get a personalized letter later, that says much more than (for the case of faculty members): "Albert was my student; he got an A". If you have certain faculty members in mind, try the following techniques to improve your relationship with them:

Enhance your class participation (quantity and quality)
Attend office hours frequently.
Distinguish yourself with your level of effort, your helpfulness to other students, your interaction inside and outside the classroom, and your enthusiasm for the subject
Increase interactions through involvement in activities outside the classroom (for high school students, it can be an extracurricular activity, for undergraduate/graduate students it can be a research project with that instructor).
Visit your instructors and discuss your college/ graduate school plans before you ask them for a letter.

For graduate studies: Even If you do not plan to apply straight after graduation, ask instructors for a general letter of recommendation before you leave - in case they may be unavailable to do so at a later stage

Step II: Figuring out program requirements and exactly who to ask

At least 3 months before deadline

In the previous section, you will have gotten a general idea about what programs require. 3 months before your deadlines, you will have finalized your program choices and should have checked out program-specific admission requirements. Through this you will know exactly the number of LORs required and the nature of recommenders. For example:

Do you need LORs from only instructors or other people who have interacted with you outside the classroom?
Among instructors: which subjects? (it may not matter, or it may matter)
Among non-instructors, which activity supervisor? (depending on the program, they may value different outside-class activities).
For graduate school applications, the letter-writer should ideally be an instructor of the subject area to which you are applying. A professional reference may work for some degrees. Schools will also list what kind of references they prefer, academic or professional.
For medical school, ask physicians or faculty members who have taught you, have supervised your research projects or have worked with you

Ideally, you should choose someone who has interacted with you enough to have insights about you and is able to portray your academic and extracurricular strengths and weaknesses in a holistic manner.

For academic references: you should ideally choose an instructor who taught a class in which you did very well -- this is important because your recommender will likely be asked to rank you.

Note: It is okay to ask your instructor who might have left the institution. Depending on the requirements of the program you are applying to, you could even ask someone who has supervised any activity outside the classroom (e.g. an athletic team coach, supervisor for summer research program/ thesis, independent research advisor, etc.) If you have worked for someone, you could have the option of asking for a letter to document your work ethic, maturity, etc.

Also note:

Connections matter. Choose letter writers from respected graduates of the program you are applying to or instructors who either studied or worked for some time in the US. There might be a higher chance that admission committees know them, or the graduates/instructors might have contacts at that school, which is always helpful.
- This, of course, is not a requirement but can strengthen your application.
When choosing a recommender, your familiarity with the letter-writer should be given priority over his/her seniority.
- A good quality (detailed, positive, etc.) LOR from someone in a less senior post is better than a vague LOR from someone in a more senior post.
- Find out if the program allows any optional recommendations - always have one extra in case one person misses the deadline

For graduate studies in science, economics, engineering:
- As a general rule of thumb, letters from instructors from whom you have taken at least one (and preferably more) upper-division courses in which you have done particularly well count the most. Next highest are letters from research scientists. After that come letters from lecturers, systems scientists, employers, or postdocs. If you found yourself doing research where you were supervised by a graduate student or postdoc, you should ask the instructor for whom they work if she can co-write the letter. The reason is simple: instructors are the ones reading the letter, and they are most likely to know other instructors.
- Balancing your letter writers is important. It would be better to get a letter from someone in whose course who did well and another person who you worked on a research project for rather than only get letters from people whose courses you took. By the same token, if you have work experience (especially in research positions) it may be useful to get letters that speak not to your general work abilities but focus on those that directly speak to your abilities as a potential researcher and scholar. Thus, for example, if you are getting a letter from the head of a famous NGO who may not be a researcher themselves, the letter may still be beneficial if it can talk about your researcher motivations and abilities.

Step III: Ask for a recommendation

2-3 months before deadline

Ask with the proper etiquettes: Approach the letter-writer politely well before the deadline, and be sensitive towards his/her busy schedule
Always ask your instructor if they can write a strong letter of recommendation. This provides them a way to say "no," and saves you the embarrassment of a low-quality, possibly negative, recommendation letter (one bad letter hurts much more than any good letters can help). You can even broach this topic by asking the recommender on his/her advice on the type of program you should apply to, whether he/she has any advice/ experience with the admissions process,etc, if there is any school he/she recommends, etc. This way you can show that you are really interested in his/her opinion and want them to be a part of your application decisions (not that you just want an LOR).
- Lukewarm letters can be very damaging , so if your recommender is unsure he/she can support you wholeheartedly (or if there is any other hesitation), avoid taking a recommendation from him/her. A letter that mentions a poor work ethic, or basically almost any substantive negative, probably spells death at the best programs.
Do not go for recommendations which only rehearse your transcript in long form and mention things like, "This student took my class and got an A”. These letters won't hurt you, but they won't distinguish you. A useful letter is one that can say something like “Joe worked very hard in my class and demonstrated a real enthusiasm for the material. He occasionally came by my office to ask me questions about topics that I only mentioned briefly in class. He submitted a few bonus problems which showed real insight and creativity.”.
- For applications to grad school, if all letters read like this, it guarantees rejection. The message is: "This is a student that did well, but never took the time to go above and beyond."

Other tips:

Ask your recommender if he/she has any contact with faculty in the intended area in target school. If yes, ask your recommender if he/she can let his/her contacts know you're applying and give a candid assessment of your abilities. These behind-the-scenes recommendations are priceless.
Ask your recommenders if they can compare you favorably to other students in top schools in their letters. This is especially important if your instructors do not have personal relationships with the faculty at the top programs. The admissions committee needs to be able to calibrate the content of the letter. To get into Harvard or MIT, the letter probably needs to be pretty explicit that the student is comparable to other students who have been to those programs and succeeded. The comparative statements should be backed up with reasoning--such as comparing analytic abilities, coursework, the quality of the thesis, etc.
If you have no official class rank, ask your referees to quantify your standing in the class as they perceive it.
Let your letter-writer know what you intend to do after you graduate, and how this particular program will help you fulfill your career goals. At the end of the day, your recommendation should strengthen and support your career choices.
There is some evidence that letter writers sometimes subconsciously write a different kind of letter for women than for men, emphasizing their positive “feminine” qualities (e.g. cooperation) instead of other qualities they have which may be perceived by some readers as more important for graduate success (e.g. ambition). Ideally, you may know your letter writers well enough to have a conversation about this issue. Describe yourself in the documentation you give to your letter writers in the same way you would like them to describe you in their letters. If you set the tone you want, they may follow suit.

Useful links:

Guidelines for requesting a faculty reference (Seattle Pacific University has created this resource on how you can request your prospective letter-writers for a letter of recommendation. You should also visit your prospective university website to see if they have any recommendations)

Step IV: Provide all supporting materials in ONE folder

once the letter-writer has given consent

Ask permission to share information with the writer, in order to help them with the letter-writing process.
The following are some of the things you can give them, so they are better aware of your past and your future plans
- Resume/CV
- Personal statement (the draft if the final version isn’t ready)
  - Additionally, you could also give a short write up about why you are applying to the program and what your future goals are
- Graded papers/assignments (that you completed for that professor’s class)
- Transcripts
- List of other details (skills etc.) that you think would be helpful for the recommended

Step V: Waive your right to see letter

before the letter-writer begins writing

For some programs, especially graduate programs, you may have a choice to see the letter before it gets sent. You can also waive your right to see the letter before it gets sent - it is always better to select this option as it assures the admissions committees that the letter is reliable and has been written knowing that the applicant will not see it.
The letter-writers will hesitate to write completely objectively if they know the applicant will be reading the letter later on. So waive your right to see the letter and let the letter-writer from the beginning that you will not see the letter once it is complete.
On your application form, there will be an option to waive your right. Make sure you mention that you have done so (if you choose to waive it).

Step VI: Follow Up

3 weeks before the deadline

Follow up on the progress of your recommendation - offer to help in any way, or answer questions to assist the timely completion.
If you think your recommender might not deliver on deadline, you may want to give him/her an earlier deadline that is earlier than the school’s, or to look for alternative recommenders.

Step VII: Reminder

1 week before the deadline

Email to ensure that the recommendation letter is in its final phase. If the letter-writer is lagging behind schedule, a gentle reminder should be communicated.

Step VIII: Ensure the program has received the letter

2-3 days after deadline

Be sure to follow up with your letter writers to make sure your letters have been submitted.
Also follow up with the program to make sure they have received the letters (and all other components of your application).
Many schools will not consider your application until all letters have been received. In case you have missed the deadline, or feel it may be missed, contact the program and discuss your options

Step IX: Thank the letter-writer

2-5 days after deadline

Thank him/her for the time and effort invested in your recommendation

USEFUL LINKS

5 tips for securing recommendation letters
For Graduate School:
- Letter of Recommendation Handout (note that this resource is Harvard-based and so may contain information more relevant to Harvard applicants)
- Contacting potential supervisors and recommenders
For Medical School: Letters of Recommendation for Medical School

REFERENCES

"Recommendation Letter Request." - English. N.p http://www.iup.edu/page.aspx?id=51979

"Student Space - Letters of Recommendatio." - LevWiki. N.p., n.d http://leverett.harvard.edu/wiki/Student_Space:Letters_of_Recommendation

"Letters of Recommendation." Analytical Chemistry Anal. Chem. 82.7 (2010): 2595. Web. http://leverett.harvard.edu/w/media/8/87/Requesting_letters.pdf

"Hospital Subscribers' Letters Of Recommendation." The British Medical Journal 2.2346 (1905): 1596-597. Web http://www.hhmi.org/sites/default/files/Educational%20Materials/Lab%20Management/letter.pdf

"Writing Letters of Recommendation." Writing Letters of Recommendation. N.p., n.d. Web. www.yale.edu/yalecollege/international/funding/fellowships/writingrecommendations.htm

How to Write a College Recommendation. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.collegeview.com/articles/article/how-to-write-a-college-recommendation

Purdue OWL: Writing Letters of Recommendation for Students. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/982/2

Writing Recommendations | MIT Admissions. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/writingrecs

"Eight Tips for Getting into Grad School." Eight Tips for Getting into Grad School. N.p., n.d. http://careers.washington.edu/News/2009/Eight-Tips-for-Getting-into-Grad-School

Kuther, Ph.D. Tara. "Graduate School Recommendation Letters: What You Need to Know." N.p., n.d. Web. http://gradschool.about.com/cs/askingforletters/a/recletter.htm

"Graduate School - Letters of Recommendation." Graduate School. N.p., n.d. Web. https://career.berkeley.edu/grad/gradletter.stm

"Advice to Graduate School Recommendation Letter Writers." Shriram Krishnamurthi: Advice to Graduate School Recommendation Letter Writers. N.p., n.d. Web. http://cs.brown.edu/~sk/Memos/Grad-School-Recos/

"Pre-Med Preparation: Getting Letters of Recommendation." Student Doctor Network. N.p., 26 Apr. 2008. Web. http://www.studentdoctor.net/2008/04/pre-med-preparation-getting-letters-of-recommendation/

Pibal, Darlene. "Guidelines for Writing the Effective Job Application Letter."Journal of Education for Business 62.7 (1987): 331-33. Web https://www.aamc.org/download/332578/data/lettersguidelinesbrochure.pdf

"Letters of Recommendation for Medical School." Student Doctor Network. N.p., 16 Apr. 2014. Web. http://www.studentdoctor.net/2014/04/letters-of-recommendation-for-medical-school/

"Preparing For Grad School." Prepare for Graduate School. N.p., n.d. Web. https://math.mit.edu/academics/undergrad/career/grad

"Preparing for Graduate School in Mathematics." Preparing for Graduate School in Mathematics. N.p., n.d. Web. http://math.scu.edu/~eschaefe/gradprep.html

"Grad School Application Process." IEEE Potentials 16.3 (1997): 20-28. Web. http://www.swarthmore.edu/Documents/academics/math/grad_GRE/MathGradSchool.pdf

"Preparation and Resources for Graduate School | Www.math.uci.edu."Preparation and Resources for Graduate School | Www.math.uci.edu. N.p., n.d. Web https://www.math.uci.edu/math-majors/math-grad-school-resources

"General Advice." General Advice. N.p., n.d. Web. http://www.brynmawr.edu/math/graduate/GeneralAdvice.html

Finances

This section provides general advice -- applicable to all degrees, fields, and programs -- concerning how you can secure scholarships/fellowships in order to be a strong candidate for your program. You must complement the general advice given below with the 'finances' 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 5 sections:

Financial considerations
Assessing expenses/incomes
Assessing the sources of funding college education
Various scholarships for Pakistani students
Higher education commission (HEC) Pakistan scholarships.

1. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Why should you think about financial planning?

It is always a good idea to assess your financial standing, and calculate the different prospective expenses that you may face as you apply abroad
Whether or not you choose to apply for financial aid, you need to provide the admission committee with a detailed account of your available finances

2. ASSESSING EXPENSES/INCOMES

List down all possible expenses that you may incur when you apply abroad.

These may include:

One time expenses:

Application fee
Costs of hiring an admission consultant
Standardized tests
Reporting test scores
Visa Application fee

Recurring expenses:

Tuition fee
Accommodation expense
Food expense
Travel expense - both international and local travelling costs
Books/Stationery expense
Personal expenses

List down all available incomes that are available for your education.

These may include:

Savings
Income - this includes all income available to you in the form of salaries/rents/gifts
Any financial support/sponsorship that you may have access to
All your assets
Prospective income from any jobs that you will be doing during your academics
Personal loans

3. ASSESSING THE SOURCES OF FUNDING COLLEGE EDUCATION

A) Self Finance through personal savings and income

Honestly assess and calculate savings as well as the portion of income your family can set aside for your education
For students, tuition and additional costs can be covered by working as a Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant or a Fellow
Other on campus jobs and off-campus jobs can help cover living expenses, although they cannot be seen as a means of paying for tuition costs

B) Financial Aid

Be aware of financial aid policies that vary between universities, states and countries. Financial aid offered to international students is usually limited.
Speak to current students, alumni and faculty advisors and go through additional material provided by the university addressing financial aid for international students
After initial research, list down universities that are offer financial aid. Distinguish need-blind universities from this list
Make a list of documents required for applying for financial aid. These may include utility bills, bank statements, income slips, details of your assets and your family’s annual expenditure
Never misrepresent your income/expense when applying for aid. If you can afford and you apply for aid, your admission may be canceled altogether if the committee finds out. If you can’t afford and you don’t apply for aid, you may end up being financially trapped. In either case, it is important to be honest about your financial standing when applying abroad.
Those applying to graduate school can approach employers or local organizations who are willing to fund their employees or deserving candidates in pursuing higher education

C) Scholarships

There are different criteria for awarding different scholarships. Research the scholarships available in your field/degree
For graduate studies: There are mainly two types of funding: Grants and Assistantships.
Grants: The common types of grants include Fellowships (work is not required - provide a stipend for living, health and educational expenses partly or entirely which, in general, allow students to pursue graduate study full-time), scholarships (provide funds to graduate students and are usually awarded based on academic merit or scholarly potential), and training grants (very similar to fellowships - reimburse graduate students for travel to conferences to network and present their research)
Assistantships (work is required) are the most common method of funding graduate study. Teaching and research assistant positions are most often available through the department in which you study. Research Assistantship (RA): Student assists professor in an experiment or a research project. To be chosen as a RA gets you directly associated with an ongoing research project, and you may be able to formulate your thesis or dissertation topic as a result of the work. You also may be able to conduct research for your thesis. Another advantage is that you are working with someone who may be well respected in the field. Published papers that result from the work will include your name associated with this respected individual. If these papers are presented at a conference, you may have the opportunity to present the work and make contact with others working in the field.
- Teaching (TAs): Student assists in a professor’s course or teach low-level undergraduate courses. Assisting a professor may require grading problem sets or examinations, overseeing laboratory courses, teaching tutorial sessions related to the course, or provide office hours to explain problems relating to the course. The number of hours an average TA spends working varies significantly from school to school. Many schools require all students to TA at some point as training for academic positions they may apply for upon graduation.
- Note: The reason good programs don’t normally tie their aid to teaching is that the first-year coursework will be too intense to be compatible with chores. A teaching assistantship in the first year is a suspicious affair: either the coursework is not that hard, or they deliberately expose students to tremendous stress, compromised performance, and threat of failure in order to keep staffing costs down. If financially manageable, it would be advisable to turn down a lucrative teaching assistantship in favor of a lower fellowship.

To a minor extent, and for the right reasons, it is possible to bargain for a higher award if you have only received a tuition waiver or a small fellowship (say, below $ 10,000). This needs to be done with tact and with stress on the insufficiency of the funding to meet your basic needs. Weigh carefully whether the slim prospect of a significantly better deal justifies the risk of alienating some people you may soon be working with. Communicate your respect for the department and your correspondents before everything else. And if the financial side permits, you should finally base your choice on the quality of the education only.
Some schools offer good first-year fellowships that will not be renewed subsequently (but can be replaced with a TA or RA).
Compare various funding packages in college/ graduate school decision making, taking into account the actual stipend, tuition and fees covered, insurance options, cost of living expenses, and the expectations and commitments associated with the offer.

D) Loan

In the US, international students can only apply for a private student loan, with the help of a Co-Signer
Interest Rates vary from loan to loan, and are determined by a number of personal factors, as well as the prevalent government policies
Speak to the Financial Aid office of the school you are applying to. They will guide you and help you secure Institutional loans if available. These loans usually offer better terms than private loans
Students must always thoroughly understand the terms of the loan that they are signing up for. Calculate and understand the total amount payable, the number of installments and the payback duration, and decide whether or not its is worth taking the loan at all.
Always keep in touch and communicate with your loan officer. In the case that you are unable to pay your loan dues, your loan officer will work with you to repay your loan through rescheduled installments or other methods. If you fail to communicate and default on your loan payment, unfavorable action may be taken against you
Graduate students have an incentive of increased earnings after graduation. This makes taking loans a more feasible for graduate study

4. VARIOUS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PAKISTANI STUDENTS

Scholarships in UK

Here is information about scholarships available to Pakistani students for graduate studies in England administered by the British Council

British Chevening Scholarship – funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for students applying for a one year Masters degree in the UK. This is a fully funded scholarship. Students interested in applying must have 3 years work experience and have completed 16 years of education. Click here.

Charles Wallace Trust – The Visiting Fellowship Programme is designed to provide assistance to individuals who wish to broaden their experience or improve their skills through a short-term attachment of at least 3 months at a UK university or training institution. This is a partial scholarship. Click here.

Get information about several scholarship programs, including the OSI Chevening Award, Royal Holloway Scholarship, Shell Centenary Scholarships Fund, Rhodes Scholarships, Cambridge Commonwealth Trust, Bank Of England, Gates Foundation, 50th Anniversary Strathclyde. Dorothy Hodgkins Scholarships, DFID Shared Scholarships Scheme, Anne Marie Schimmel Scholarship, LSE Graduate Merit Awards, Hornby Long Term Award, Oxford University Business Economics Program. For more information click here.

Contact British Council Pakistan for more details.

5. HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION (HEC) PAKISTAN SCHOLARSHIPS

Foreign Scholarships

In its endeavor to develop a class of Highly Qualified and professional Faculty in Pakistan, HEC has launched a series of scholarship programs. Through this series, HEC aims to provide the much needed impetus to the academia by offering indigenous as well as foreign PhD degrees to both faculty members and students (see more).

Local Scholarships

The scholarships are aimed at creating a pool of specialized scientists and highly skilled professionals trained at MS leading to PhD level in areas which are critical to economic growth. The fields of study covered under these programs include Science and Technology, Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities and other selected departments of public universities of the country (see more)

Fulbright Program

USEFP administers a number of scholarship programs, including the Fulbright, the U.S. government’s flagship scholarship program. The Fulbright program in Pakistan is the largest in the world, with more than 200 scholarships for advanced degrees planned for 2008. Scholarships are also available for teachers, mid-career professionals and scholars (see more)

Contact Information:

United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan
P.O Box 1128
Phone: +92(51)2877075-6
Fax: +92(51)2877095
E-mail: info@usefpakistan.org

To find scholarship opportunities for different countries, make sure to look at the finance sections of the different country profiles that are on our website.

REFERENCES

Resume/CV

This section provides general advice -- applicable to all degrees, fields, and programs -- concerning how you can build an impressive resume/CV when applying in order to be a strong candidate for your program. You must complement the general advice given below with the 'resume/CV' 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 3 sections:

Chronological checklist of applicants
Key sections: CV and resume
Other tips for CV and resume (format, language etc).
Additional resources to consult

1. CHRONOLOGICAL CHECKLIST FOR THE APPLICANTS

Timeline	Action-Steps
Find out the requirements of the program - 3-4 weeks before the deadline	This may include knowing; 1) The type of document required - a CV or a Resume 2) The format in which it is required 3) Where the CV/Resume is to be sent
Identify information that is relevant to your program - 3-4 weeks before the deadline	With the help of faculty advisors and professors, identify which information and achievements are relevant to the field/degree you are applying to. This could possibly include a list of advanced courses, publications, teaching experience, projects or scholarships. The admission committee of your program will be searching for specific skills and characteristics - be sure to highlight those in your CV/Resume. A good idea would be to visit websites of college/ graduate students and look at their CVs. For graduate programs, see if you can include research or industrial experience tackling reasonably difficult projects. Do focus on other aspects that portray your well-rounded personality such as hobbies and interests and other projects that may not be immediately relevant to your field of interest.
Brainstorm - 3-4 weeks before the deadline	Make an extensive list of all your accomplishments and strengths - both in academic and non-academic fields Get motivation from the standardized templates for CVs/resumes available online to build your own.
Structure your Resume/CV - 3 weeks before the deadline	Structure and organize information. Three ways to do this are: Chronological structure: information is listed down in a reverse chronological order (with the most recent at the top) Functional structure: similar experiences are grouped together with a brief mention of dates. For more information on the two types of CVs, consider this link Order the things in their respective order of importance.
Review your CV/Resume for formatting and language errors - 2 weeks before the deadline	This includes checking for things such as grammar, spelling as well as alignment, consistent font
Share your complete CV/Resume - 1 week before the deadline	Share it with faculty advisors, experienced friends and family, and ask for feedback on content and format. Take note of criticism, and make required improvements
Save your CV/Resume	Once your CV is ready, be sure to save multiple records of it. You can update your basic CV as you move forward in your career

2. KEY SECTIONS: CV AND RESUME

You can divide your CV/Resume into the following sections with clear headings:

i) Personal Details (Same for CV/Resume): Include your full name, address, phone number and e-mail address. Do not include a photograph unless explicitly asked to.

ii) Education and Qualifications (Same for CV/Resume):

In reverse chronological order, mention the names of all the institutions through which you have graduated, or are expecting to graduate from

For the section on university education, mention your graduation date or prospective graduation date, your major/minor and your GPA. Also list down any major awards you received during university.

iii) Work/Extra Curricular Experiences (Different for CV/Resume): While a CV requires a listing of all of the applicant’s experiences, a Resume highlights only those experiences that are relevant to the needs of the program the applicant is applying to.

Work related experiences in this section should be included. These may include full time/part time jobs, internships, teaching/research experiences, community service and voluntary work
Depending on which CV/Resume structure you use, you may include your work experiences in reverse chronological order or include them as functional clusters
Focus on recent, substantial and relevant experiences as opposed to the old, minor and irrelevant ones
Quantify your experiences and achievements with percentages or numbers wherever possible

iv) Skills and Interests (Different for CV/Resume): Once again, this section will be briefer and more specialized in the case of Resumes.

Include relevant skills and general interests in this section. These may include languages (include different proficiency level for each language), computing skills (include any softwares or programs that you can work with) and specific hobbies or past times
Keep this section short and to the point. As you grow older, your employment record will take precedence and interests will typically diminish greatly in length and importance

3. OTHER TIPS FOR CV/RESUME (FORMAT, LANGUAGE etc)

A CV is usually 2-4 pages long, while a Resume is 1-2 pages long. However, if your program provides you with a different length guideline, stick to it. If you are exceeding the limit, try these suggestions:
- Page margins: Set page margins on MS Word to narrow by going on Page Layout → Margins → Narrow
- Try using a font that is small but also clear
- Change line spacing to single spacing
Sections and Headings: As mentioned before, your CV should be divided into coherent sections such as ‘Education’, ‘Work and Experiences’ and ‘Skills and Interests’ with a heading for each section

Font: A common and clear font, such as Times New Roman, Arial or Lucida Sans should be used between 10 and 12 points. A good rule of thumb is to have your name in about 18 points, your subheadings such as education and work experience in 14 points and your body font as 10 points. Whatever font you choose, ensure it is clear and use it consistently
Think about your audience and recognize that your resume can be a strategic tool in reinforcing certain characteristics that are important to you—characteristics that may complement information provided in other parts of your application.
One of the most common errors that candidates make is leaving their resume in an industry-specific format, filled with jargon and acronyms recognizable only to an expert in their field. Remember, the admissions committee is not hiring you for a task, but is trying to understand your progress, accomplishments and even your character. Each bullet point in your resume needs to highlight achievement more than positional expertise.
Use the terms that are familiar to people in U.S (for e.g., use ‘honors’ in place of ‘distinctions’ etc.)
Layout: Your CV should be carefully and clearly laid out - not too cramped with large blocks of text and very little spacing. However, you should also ensure there are no large empty spaces either
Include a footer with your name and page number only if the Resume/CV is more than one page/
Use pithy, precise language and always use active verbs.
Include tables only when necessary
Diction: While describing your work experience, use action words that usually end in ‘-ed’ such as developed, planned, organized etc. (For a detailed list of words, please see this link)
Tenses: Use appropriate tenses. For past jobs, ensure use of the past tense while for ongoing jobs ensure use of the present tense
Format: If the required format is not mentioned, you may choose to send it either in an MS Office Word format or an Adobe Acrobat PDF format. The latter ensures your document will look the same no matter what software version is being used. If you do choose to change your format from Word to PDF, ensure that the layout of the document remains intact once it has transferred
Printing: If you are required to submit a hard copy of your CV/Resume, ensure each page is printed on a separate sheet of paper. Do not print the document on decorative paper
Postage: If you are posting your CV/Resume, don't fold it - put it in a full-size A4 envelope so that it doesn't arrive creased

4. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO CONSULT

In addition to the tips above, we encourage you to read the following links:

Resumes and CVs by Cornell University Graduate School
Career Center by University of Minnesota
Applying to Graduate School: Timeline & Tasks by Indiana University
Students Career
Applying to Graduate School or Professional School workshop handout
Newsletters - Applying to Graduate School by University of Washington
Professional Development Career & CVs
Graduate Admissions - Resume by University of Idaho

For sample CVs/Resumes, visit the following online resources:

REFERENCES

Transcripts

This section provides general advice -- applicable to all degrees, fields, and programs -- concerning how you can establish excellent transcripts in order to be a strong candidate for your program. You must complement the general advice given below with the 'transcripts' 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:

Transcripts
Grades/GPAs.

1. TRANSCRIPTS

For Pakistani students applying abroad, transcripts of their previous academic institutions are required. For college admission, it will include your school transcripts as well as your respective Cambridge board, provincial board certifications. Similarly for graduate admission, it will include your university-level transcripts as well as your post-graduate transcripts (if any).

Your official, final transcript must also have your institution’s stamp and your graduation date on it.
All transcripts of previous institutions must be submitted to the program you are applying to .
Plan ahead and keep in mind potential delays that may come in your way while sending transcripts. Getting an official transcript from a some universities can often take months so plan ahead. Also, some schools that require original transcripts also stipulate that the transcript be sent directly from your undergraduate college to the school you are applying to which adds complexity to the process. In case of a delay, include an unofficial copy of your transcript in your application, and mention that an official transcript has been requested - meanwhile the admission committee will have something to review
Some universities may not request an official transcript, and ask you to report your grades yourself (as is the case with UC Berkeley). Do so truthfully, because actual transcripts are asked for once enrolment is confirmed.
Developing your transcripts through relevant courses:
- For a strong transcript, choose your courses wisely. They should be relevant to your desired field of study and of an appropriate difficulty level.
- Additional electives that might reflect well on your transcript include foreign languages, unconventional and challenging subjects
- An ideal transcript shows consistency in student’s performance
If you are currently in your undergrad, take care while opting for graduate-level courses. They can be hazardous to your GPA. So before enrolling, talk to your professors and counselors.

2. GRADES/GPAs:

It helps if you have an official class rank or percentile. Some universities award "honors" on graduation that directly imply a percentile - if so, explain this.
If your major GPA is (much) higher than your overall GPA, make sure it gets called out (it's a spot on many forms). Also, if your upper-division or upper-division major GPA is higher, call that out.
If you feel that your grades or your official class rank don't do you justice - say because your university, although not well known, is particularly competitive, it's okay to mention this in your application. Chances are, the admission committee is already aware of it from previous experience (otherwise, they probably won't pay attention to your claim unless it's substantiated by the referees).
For Graduate Programs: Often there are GPA cut-offs. If you want to override them, it probably requires a professor to bat for you and get the right bits flipped in the university bureaucracy. So, if you have a low GPA, mention it after you've piqued a professor's interest, and ask if you think it will be a problem during the admissions process.
For PhD applicants: If your grades are somewhat low – under 3.0, you may have trouble getting into a good Ph.D. program. In this case, you may want to do an MS and use the time to boost your grades and reapply after the MS.

Tests

Many programs/degrees require standardized tests. The following is a general overview of the kind of tests that can be required. Remember that the tests you are required to take will depend on the program, field, and country, so make sure to consult your relevant field-specific tip sheet to confirm which test is required.

This section can be divided into sections:

General test-taking tips
Tests required for most degrees (English proficiency tests, such as the TOEFL/IELTS)
Tests required for Bachelor’s degrees (The SAT)
Tests required for Graduate level degrees: (GRE, GMAT)
Tests required for Medical fields (the required test depends on the country you are applying to: for US - USMLE, for UK - UKCAT)

1. GENERAL TEST-TAKING TIPS

A timeline - Applicable to all tests

Timeline and Action Steps	Detailed Actions
Figure out which tests to take At least 1 year before the deadline	Some programs require multiple standardized tests and some require only one. Moreover, some tests are essential while others are optional. After shortlisting programs, you need to consult their admission requirements and find out which tests they require and which ones are optional or ‘good to have’. For the optional tests, you should opt to take tests that you think you can score well in (this will depend on your background and skills).
Figure out when to take the test At least 1 year before the deadline	Choose a test date for which you have sufficient time to prepare and report the test score Keep in mind a potential backup test date, in case you need to take the test again. In this way, it is best to start planning as early as you can, so you have plenty of time to take a retake if necessary.
Find out registration details and register 8 months before the test	Find out where, how and when the registration and payment is to be done. If you qualify for financial aid, you will also very likely be eligible for a test fee reduction voucher (the amount deducted varies depending on the test).
Gather Materials and Resources 6-8 months before the test	Although multiple practice resources are available, choose the one that is suitable to your own style of studying Find as many practice tests as you can - both actual tests and mock practice tests designed according to the actual test templates If you can afford it, consider taking preparatory classes for your standardized test Visit the websites of these exams as they will give you quite a bit of information and guidelines
Familiarize yourself with the test’s format, instructions, time limit and grading system 6-8 months before the test	Find out if there are any penalties for wrong answers so that you know whether or not it is safe to guess the answers you are not sure about Exam topics may keep changing every year - check your test giving organization’s website for any changes you may not be aware of Have a target score in mind - sample scores for programs and universities can be found online. Many universities give ranges or averages of scores they require of applicants, or average scores of successful applicants. You can use these as a guide to help you set a target Visit university websites to find out if there are any minimum score requirements for the respective test.
PRACTICE! 6 months before the test	Identify your weaknesses - this involves tracking your tests and scores, and identifying any trends (type of questions you often get wrong, questions that take longer to figure out, questions that you often misunderstand etc.) Practice test-taking strategies: Many tests have strategies for answering questions in a timely manner. Some of these strategies are mentioned within this tip sheet. Others you can find online, in books, through instructors/students/graduates etc. Keep practicing. Time yourself as you take a sample test, as time management is crucial. Don’t waste time after every question, there are some you just have to leave. If you can’t do it, move on. Remember to optimize speed with number attempted. The more preparation, the better it is. Be familiar with the elimination process in multiple questions - some choices are totally incorrect, so in most cases it boils down to one of the two best answers. By practicing, you will be more aware about this elimination process, and you will be able to shortlist potential answers quicker.
Preparation Week before the test	Do a mock test under realistic test conditions - simulate the duration, materials, temperature and atmosphere as much as you can, and take very little breaks. This involves sitting in a test center type setting (minimum to no distractions, very quiet surrounding, time restrictions etc.) It is also advisable to take the mock test in an entirely unfamiliar environment. Prepare your materials for the test: Make sure you follow the rules, and bring only materials that are allowed to the test venue (e.g. calculators, stationary,etc). Bring a valid photo ID for identification (alongside any other forms of identification the test centre requires) Familiarize yourself with the test venue’s address and alternate routes leading to it. Make sure to approximately time how long it takes to get to the centre so you have a good idea about when you should leave). Make sure to leave earlier and reach early (follow the guidelines provided by the test centre about what time they require you to arrive -- note that this is usually different to the time the test will start)
Preparation Day before the test	Stop studying and relax yourself - treat yourself to good food, music, or a movie, whichever has the greatest relaxing effect on you Keep yourself well hydrated - optimize your fluid intake a day before the test Night before: do not leave any decisions till the morning - decide what clothes to wear, how you are getting to the venue etc. Ensure you get a full night’s sleep the night before the test
Things to Consider After getting scores	If your test score is below par and you have ample time, think about re-taking the test Send your test scores to the required institutions

Practicing for Standardized Tests

Practice test-taking strategies:

While attempting questions, reread those questions that appear particularly complex
In MCQs approach the question as if there were no available options as answers. If you know the answer, choose it from the available options. If you don’t, try to eliminate the options that are obviously wrong
In MCQs, watch out for options with extreme modifiers, e.g. always, never, all, only. They are most likely to be traps. Qualifiers like, usually, seldom, often, tend to make an option more likely to be true

Identify and reduce your weaknesses through an effective practice strategy for Standardized Tests:

Take practice tests before hand to judge how much time you need to prepare.
Understand your personal test-taking problems. These may be things such as losing track of time, anxious sweating or panic attacks. Tackle them individually

Do practice tests.

For practice Tests

Make sure you save 1-2 tests untouched till the final week -- this strategy enables you to effectively learn from the mistakes you are making in your practice tests.

These are the steps you should follow:

Take an actual practice test. Attempt all questions but mark the answers you are not sure about.
Once you are done, check your answers. With a pencil, mark your answers into these four categories:
1. Correct answers you were sure were right
2. Correct answers you were unsure about
3. Incorrect answers you were unsure about
4. Incorrect answers you were sure were wrong
Create the following table with the above categories and keep using it as you keep taking more tests to tabulate your results. Ensure you write down the number of questions that fit into each category as well as the total number of questions in the test. You should also write down the key topics you faced problems in. For example, for the second category, if you got 5 questions correct that you were unsure of and the total number of questions in the test is 40; you should write 5/40. If the topics of the questions you were unsure about were Differential Equations, Loci and Geometry you should write those down.

	Test 1 Date:	Test 2 Date:	Test 3 Date:	Test 4 Date:	Test 5 Date:	Test 6 Date:
Correct + Sure	# of questions /total questions
Correct, but unsure	# of questions /total questions + topics that were wrong
Incorrect + Unsure	# of questions /total questions + topics that were wrong
Incorrect, but sure	# of questions /total questions + topics that were wrong

Practice the topics you have noted down in category B, C and D. Category D is critical for revision because it indicates a conceptual misunderstanding of the topic. Category B is usually the most overlooked by students because they assume they have gotten it right even though they are unsure of how they have gotten it right.
Keep charting your progress in the table as you keep taking practice tests. The number of answers in category A should increase while the numbers in category B, C and 4 should decrease. The topics in which improvement is needed should also not be repeated as you progress from test to test

2. TESTS REQUIRED FOR MOST - TOEFL/IELTS (English Proficiency Tests)

If you are applying for an English-taught (English-medium) program in any country, you will need to prove your proficiency in the English language. There are multiple ways to do so, the most common of which is passing a certain minimum (which varies across country/program) in the TOEFL or IELTS. In the US, TOEFL is more common (but IELTS is also accepted), and in the UK, IELTS is more common (but TOEFL is also accepted). In other countries, these two are generally accepted, but there may be other options to show your English language proficiency (e.g. taking English as a subject during your secondary school studies, previously studying in an English-medium school/university, taking an exam as designed by the university and more). The exact options to choose from will vary across universities and countries.

Below are information and tips related to TOEFL and IELTS.

Tips for TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

When to take it: At least 6 months before the time when you need to report the results. However, it can be taken earlier as TOEFL scores are valid for two years
Types of TOEFL: The TOEFL is offered in three formats (you only need to do one usually):
Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) -- this is the most common type of examination
Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) -- the PBT is only offered in selected cities
- Computer-Based TOEFL (CBT) -- iBT has largely taken over the CBT

For iBT:

Contains four sections: (Total duration of iBT is 4.5 hours)
- Reading: in this section you will need to read a number of given texts (this can be 3-5 texts, each of about 700 words) and answer questions relating to it. Approximately 20 minutes are given per text, and this section usually lasts between 60-80 minutes (with no breaks).
- Writing: this section involves writing 2 essays:
  - Integrated writing task: For this you will need to read a short text (200-220 words) and listen to a lecture (both cover the same topic but may have contradictory content). Note that you are given only 3 minutes to read the text. After listening to the lecture and reading the text, you will be given 20 minutes to write a short essay (150-225 words) incorporating information from both components.
  - Independent writing task:
- Listening: this section usually involves two tasks -- you will need to listen to a lecture and a lively conversational speech, and then answer a number of questions related to each. There are several sections, each lasting for 10 minutes, with a total of 69-90 minutes allotted to this section.
- Speaking: for this section, you will need to answer 6 exam questions by speaking the answer into a microphone.
Preparing for the iBT:
- Work on improving your typing on unfamiliar computers and practice note-taking skills (you are allowed to take notes during the test)
- Pakistani students often find unfamiliar accents and pronunciations in the listening section. To overcome this, listen to a variety of accents as you practice for the test
- Please note that if you have a disability or a health-related issue, which can affect your test, you can be accommodated. For more information, click here.

For more information on the content and tips for practicing the TOEFL, please refer to the official TOEFL website.

Useful links:

Tips for IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

Types of IELTS: IELTS is offered in 2 formats (the test you take depends on what you want to do):
- IELTS Academic: this test measures whether you have a level of English language proficiency that is suitable for an academic environment -- so it for people who want to pursue higher-level studies and is structured so that it can test your ability to understand academic language.
  - This is the one you will need to take for universities/institutions of higher education.
- IELTS General Training: this test measures your English language proficiency in a practical environment and so is more suitable for people wanting to enter the workplace or social contexts.

For more information on each, please click here.

Format of IELTS: IELTS includes the following components:
- Listening: You will be required to answer 40 questions in 30 minutes for this component. This component involves 4 sections;
  - One that is a conversation between 2 people in an everyday context,
  - One that is a monologue set in an everyday context
  - One is a conversation between up to 4 people, set in an educational or training context
  - And one that is a monologue on an academic subject.
- Reading: You will be required to complete 40 questions in 60 minutes for this component. This component involves 3 sections, each containing a long text, ranging between 2,150-2,750 words.
- Writing: You will be required to complete 2 tasks in 60 minutes for this component. One task involves writing 150 words and the second task involves writing 250 words.
- Speaking: You will be required to complete 3 parts in 11-14 minutes

(if you have a disability, you can be exempted from one or the other)

For more information on each section, please refer to the following links:

You can overall receive a score between 0-9. As of 2019, the scores had the following definition:

Score	Definition
9	Expert user
8	Very good user
7	Good user
6	Competent user
5	Modest user
4	Limited user
3	Extremely limited user
2	Intermittent user
1	Non user
0	Did not attempt the test

Useful links:

3. TESTS REQUIRED FOR BACHELORS DEGREES - SAT

Tips for SAT

The SAT I is administered seven times per year, in January, March, May, June, October, November, and December.
SAT II Subject Tests are one-hour long and you may take as many as three subject tests on any given test date.
Resources: The following guides are recommended:

- College Board’s 10 Real SATs
- Princeton Review
- Kaplan
- Barrons

You can practice using (free of cost):
- College Board Practice SAT Test
- SAT Question of the day: Go here daily and solve the one question
- Barron’s Diagnostic Test
- Actual SATs administered from 2005 to 2006:
  - Full-Length SAT A (including answers)
  - Full-Length SAT B (including answers)
  - Full-Length SAT C: Test C Answers
  - Full-Length SAT D: Test D Answers
- Also this website gives one word to increase your vocabulary every day.

4. TESTS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATE LEVEL DEGREES

GRE

Tips for GRE (overall)

Who should take it: You may have to take the GRE if you are interested in pursuing an MBA, Masters or a Doctoral degree abroad.
When to take it: GRE scores are valid till 5 years, and there is content overlap with A-levels/Intermediate curriculum so it would be best to take it early. The best time is the second or third year of your undergraduate degree when you won’t be struggling with graduation requirements. If you don’t like your score, you have time for a retake. (Also if your advisors know your score they can give a better idea of how high to shoot -- the two aren’t directly proportional to each other, but a good score will help in targeting a competitive school)
- If you are planning to work for a few years between completing your undergraduate degree and applying to graduate school, take the GRE exam before leaving your undergraduate school. The material is fresh in your mind while you are an undergraduate, and more importantly, your test-taking skills will diminish while you’re working.
The GRE consists of three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing - for more details on the content of these sections, consider this link.
Practicing for the GRE: For the Quantitative Reasoning section, it is imperative to revise basic math concepts - such as algebra and geometry - taught in A Levels or Intermediate. For Verbal Reasoning, develop a strong vocabulary by reading as much as possible, taking help from a dictionary or enrolling yourself in an English course. Use barrons GRE book for preparation.
- You might get the best results from taking two sample tests in a row, about once a week. (Tests are available from prep books and the software ETS sends you three weeks after registration.) This builds up stress resilience and won’t make you as hostile to the GRE as looking at it every day, over a two-week period, would.
GRE Subject Tests: These are tests for specific subjects different programs may require. They are offered 3 times a year - in April, October and November

For more information on the administrative procedures of GRE, visit GRE® Information and Registration Bulletin (PDF)

Tips for GRE Math Subject Test

When is GRE Math Offered: No computer-based GRE subject test is available. The paper-based test is offered three times a year at various locations, in October, November and April. There is a very early registration deadline. Be aware!
When to take GRE Math: Typically students take the GRE subject test in their senior year (as the more math you know, the better you fare in the exam). The April test date of the senior year is not compatible with most application deadlines. Ideally, you should take the GRE subject test in October, and leave the November test date as a back-up. Alternatively, you can take the test in April of your junior year and leave the fall test date as a backup to improve the score.
Format of GRE Math Subject Test: 50% of the exam is calculus and its applications (a thorough review of calculus is very important), 25% consists of elementary algebra, linear algebra, abstract algebra and number theory. The remaining 25% consists of others areas commonly studied by undergraduates, namely elementary topology of R (the reals) and R^n, properties of continuous functions, differentiability and integrability, general topology, complex variables, probability and statistics, set theory, logic, combinatorics, discrete mathematics, algorithms and numerical analysis. There can also be some problems where you have to follow through an algorithm to describe the output.

A small sample of things that appear on the exam: i) interval of convergence of a power series, ii) Green's theorem, iii) a continuous function on a closed, bounded set takes on maximum and minimum values, and iv) if f is continuous on [b,c] then there's a d in [b,c] such that the integral from b to c of f equals f(d)(c-b).

Practice for GRE Math: Useful resources:

- GRE Subject Mathematics which includes a practice booklet.
- Princeton Review has a book called Cracking the GRE Mathematics Subject Test, 4th Edition -- note that this book needs to be purchased.
- ETS has a recent sample test and an older, easier sample test.
- There is also a short sample test.
- You can also download the sample tests from the UCI GRE MATH website, and attempt to solve all questions from a test before you look at the solutions.

Tips:

- You need a really high score to be competitive.

- At first, most students find the GRE subject test quite hard and excessively long, but with practice they get better and faster. Practice is the key!

- The score report received by the schools includes all test results obtained within the past five-year period. Most schools will only consider the highest score.
- Study Tips for the Advanced Mathematics GRE.

GMAT

Tips for GMAT

Resources and Guidance for GMAT:
- Consult www.gmatclub.com, www.beatthegmat.com and https://poetsandquants.com/category/gre-gmat/
  - These websites bring students from all over the world who can collaborate on how to study for these standardized tests, and contain recommendations for the best preparatory books for GMAT. The sooner you start following these websites, the better off you will be.
- Use GMAT official guides and Manhattan book series to improve quant and verbal scores. Avoid wasting time on substandard sources. You will easily find digital copies of the books over the internet. Even if you have to buy them, investing in them will be worth it.
Practice for GMAT: Attempt the online practice tests Manhattan sells. They are not only helpful but are close to the actual test in terms of difficulty level, computer adaptivity, detailed analysis and feedback.

5. TESTS REQUIRED FOR MEDICAL DEGREES

USMLE

Tips for USMLE

Who should take it: Pakistani students who have obtained or in the process of obtaining an MBBS degree and wish to obtain a Residency in the US. It is a prerequisite for all Residency applications. However, only students who are enrolled in, or are graduates of medical schools listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED) can register for the test. Visit the website for Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates to learn more about your medical school’s eligibility

- Format: USMLE is divided into four exams: Step 1, Step 2 Clinical Knowledge and Step 2 Clinical Skills, and Step 3. While Step 1 and Step 2 CK can be taken in Pakistan in selected centres, Step 2 CS and Step 3 can only be given in the US. Step 1 is a basic science test based on the first two years of med school.

When to take it: Ideally, 3-6 months prior to applying for a Residency in the United States. Please note that Step 1 and 2 should be taken prior to submitting your application while Step 3 can be taken after submitting the application
- Practice Tests: Practice questions rather than cramming books. Applicants are tested on the understanding of concepts rather than the ability to memorize information. The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) offers self-assessment exams that can be used to practice for Step 1 of the USMLE. These practice tests are not free, therefore you should plan out how many tests you should take and when. It is advisable to take one practice test a month before the actual test date, and another a week before the test.

- You should give yourself 10 – 12 month study time if you are studying for steps during medical school. However, if you’re studying after graduating from your medical school then 6 – 8 months should be enough.

Resources to consult:
- Reading “First Aid” during medical school is a great way to create a foundation upon which you can build for the USMLEs (Read it 3-4 times and make sure to really know the material within). Other books that may be helpful: BRS (Board Review Series) specifically BRS pathology, the High Yield series and Clinical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple. You could even consult Kaplan lectures. Some people swear by these, while others find them only marginally useful. Look through a few of the lectures to see if they work for you.
- Practice questions are key to doing well on the USMLE exams. Make sure that you go through most of the questions in any q-bank. The two most popular ones are Kaplan q-bank and USMLE world. These are both online resources. Spend time looking through the answer explanations, not only for the questions that you get wrong but also for those you get right. These explanations, more than just taking the tests, will strengthen your knowledge base. This is a significant time commitment, so make sure you start early. You can even pay money to get access to online questions. See if you can share the cost between a few friends and share the tests.

Studying for Step 1:

Pathology is the most important subject for step 1. In most cases, 60 – 70 % of the exam has pathology-based questions. Therefore, make sure you know your pathology well. For step 1 you may want to cover the following:

Attempt three reads of the Kaplan series, one extra book for pathology (either BRS or Goljan) and first aid.
Kaplan lecture CDs for biochemistry and behavioral sciences only.
MCQ books: Qbook & Qbank and U-World (the internet mcqs).
For pictures and slides go through either Goljan slides or this website.

A rough timeline you might want to follow to cover the Step 1 study material:

Attempt 1st read of Kaplan Series - would take about 60 days
Attempt 2nd read of Kaplan Series - would take about 40 days
Spend 10 days – 2 weeks to solve the MCQ books (Q book and Qbank) and First aid
Start studying U world - would take 2-3 weeks (Use it as a learning tool instead of an evaluation tool, make notes & revise the notes with your 3rd read). See if you can revise pathology from Goljan once more while solving U World tests. As a rough indicator, if you score in 70% in U-world tests, you will likely score in high 90s on the real exam. If your U world score is over 75%, you will get a sure shot 99 on the real test.
Attempt 3rd read of Kaplan Series - would take about 20 days. By the time you get to your third read, you should be able to finish each book in 2-3 days.
Go over Q book & Q bank - would take about 2 weeks
Spend the last 4-5 days going through pictures; listen to heart murmurs once or twice prior to your exam. Almost every question has a picture attached to it. It is important to scan the important images and films but it is best if you save all this for the end.

For more information on useful resources, click here.

Studying for USMLE STEP 2 CK:

For step 2 CK, two read of the Kaplan series, Kaplan lecture CD (cardiology part only), U world mcqs, and Conrad Fischer’s Master the boards. 2-3 months time block is a sufficient amount of study time. Medicine is the most important subject. Nearly 70% of the exam is purely related to Internal medicine. Make sure you know your medicine well. As for surgery the first two chapters from Kaplan lecture notes (i.e., Trauma and GI) will comprise most of your surgery questions.

There is another trick that applies to both Step 1 as well as Step 2 CK. The questions can be very long which at times makes time management a challenge. For this problem, I would read the first sentence of the question, then the last sentence followed by the answer choice; most of the time you can get the answer by just going through this much. The extra details are given just to make it confusing. After you’re done marking your answer you may go through the rest of the question just to make sure you’re not missing anything.

Studying for USMLE STEP 2 CS:

For this exam, you will get 12 simulated patients (sp) and for each patient, you will be given 25 minutes (15 minutes for the patient encounter- History, physical, counseling, etc and 10 minutes for writing the patient note).

If you’re still a medical student then it is a good idea to time Step 2 CS with your Clinical elective rotations so as to make it both cost and time effective. I would recommend that you take the exam after you have rotated at a U.S hospital. For this exam, you will have to read only one book, either first aid for step 2 CS or USMLE world for step 2 CS. It is important to practice the cases with a friend, in case you are already on your elective rotation then, you may even practice it on your patients.

The two most common reasons behind FMGs failing the exam are poor English proficiency and bad time management skills. So, it is important to make sure you take good care of both these matters. The actual encounter is marked on a checklist by the patient. The checklist is for communication skills, the questions in the history that you asked and the maneuvers you performed in the physical exam. The patient fills this out once you leave the room. So what matters is not how you percussed the patient but whether you did it at all or not. This makes it much easier than our regular OSCEs. There are also points for knocking before entering, washing hands and draping the patient so on so forth.

SP usually present with very ordinary complains. You shouldn’t have any trouble diagnosing those patients. Counseling is an important aspect so, you must leave 3-5 minutes' time for counseling. You should counsel the patient on smoking, alcohol, STD etc; to make sure all his questions are answered. Make good rapport with the patient, for e.g., dim the lights if the patient has a migraine or you may give a fake phone number to your patient that he may call in case of emergency (the patient knows that you're bluffing and won’t hold it against you). As far as study material is concerned one of the above-mentioned books and a CD for step 2 CS is all you will need for this exam. There is often one phone call encounter with the patient which can be tricky so be ready for that.

For Step 2 CS, practice makes perfect; the more you practice, the more confident you’ll get. Go through the book nicely. Whenever you think you have command over the book is the best time to take the exam, it may be a week for some of you and a month for the others.

The other important issue regarding this exam is scheduling for the exam - the dates for CS are almost always crammed, if this happens in your case then among the available options just pick the date that suits you best and keep a close watch on the calendar for the CS for your center because dates keep opening up. You can reschedule without paying an extra fee (unless you reschedule very close to your first date) in case your desired date opens.

So, it’s important to plan your exam dates way ahead of time so that you are entering the match with ECFMG certification.

These are the steps to be followed during the exam – this is adapted from a document called ‘Road to Residency’

Knock.
Enter and address the patient by Mr. / Mrs. Surname.
Introduce yourself as Dr. Surname.
Walk to the sink, wash your hands and while you are at it, explain that you will be doing a brief history and physical exam and will be discussing your impression with the patient.
Walk back to the patient and drape the legs (they are usually uncovered)
Sit or stand; whatever you find comfortable. Spend 5 minutes of taking a history. Avoid using medical jargon. Ask both open-ended and close-ended questions.
While taking the personal history, if the person smokes or drinks, counsel there and then...or one tends to forget near the end.
Spend 5 minutes on doing a focused and relevant physical exam.
Spend 5 minutes summarizing/reconfirming the history that you got, explaining to the patient what you think, he or she has, what investigations you think he/she should get. Remember to ask if he/she has any questions. (Also ask the patient if there is anything else that he/she would like you to know. This provides the patient to guide you if you have been misled. Remember, the simulated patient is not out to get you).
Tell the patient when you would like to see him or her next. Say that it was nice meeting them. Walk out.
If you are done before time…then walk out and start on the note.
The patient note has to be written in legible clear handwriting. Practice on the sample sheet that they provide 12. in the information booklet. Since there is less space on the paper, put only relevant points and important negatives down.

For more details regarding the content of the different USMLE parts, as well as practice resources go through this presentation and this pdf. The official USMLE website is a great resource. For general tips for the USMLE, consider this link

UKCAT

Tips for UKCAT

Who should take it: Pakistani students who want to work within the field of Medicine and Dentistry, in the UK, are usually required to take the UKCAT.

Format: The UKCAT is designed to test the mental abilities that medical and dental schools consider important. It lasts for 2 hours and has 5 sections:
- Section 1: Verbal Reasoning

This section includes 44 questions and lasts for 21 minutes. The purpose of this section is to determine your clear thinking skills -- it tests whether you can read a passage and reach a reasoned conclusion based on. In this way, it is structured so that you have to read a passage and answer 4 questions based on it. The questions are statements and you have to answer whether they are true, false or ‘can’t tell’.

- Section 2: Decision Making

This section includes 29 questions and lasts for 31 minutes. The purpose of this section is to determine whether you can read complex information and make sound decisions based on this. The questions can include texts and/or visuals and are usually in the form of multiple-choice questions.

- Section 3: Quantitative Reasoning

This section includes 36 questions and lasts for 24 minutes. It tests whether you can critically evaluate information when it is presented in numerical form. It will thus involve you solving numerical or data-related problems -- you may be required to select relevant information from graphs, tables, charts and more, and solve problems related to this. The level of Mathematics skill required for this section is that at GCSE level (equivalent to O level or SSC in Pakistan).

- Section 4: Abstract Reasoning

This section includes 55 questions and lasts for 13 minutes. It tests whether you can infer relationships or patterns between abstract shapes. In this way, it aims to test your critical evaluation skills and your ability to identify changes and come up with new ideas.

- Section 5: Situational Reasoning

This section 69 questions and lasts for 26 minutes. It aims to test whether you can understand real-world situations and evaluates how you handle or respond to them. Note that the questions do not aim to test your medical or procedural knowledge, but do expect you to understand the basics of medical professionalism. You will be given scenarios and a number of outcomes, and you will need to decide on an appropriate response.

When to take it: The UKCAT score is only valid for a year, which means that is only applicable for one application cycle. In this way, you should take the UKCAT in the year that you are applying (for example, if you are applying in 2019 for university programs starting in 2020, then you should apply in 2019). The test registration deadline is mid-September (as of 2019, this was 18th September), and the test is usually available from 1st July till 2nd October (as of 2019).
Practice Tests:.

Resources to consult:
- UKCAT Guide (2019)
- UKCAT Preparation Plan
- UKCAT Question Tutorial
- Advice for Test Day
- Results

REFERENCES

http://www.petersons.com/college-search/test-prep-determining-when.aspx
https://www.scholarships.com/resources/study-skills/standardized-testing/tips-for-taking-standardized-tests/
http://www.medschool.vcu.edu/admissions/md/recruitment/documents/highschool/GEN_How%20to%20Win%20the%20Standardized%20Test%20Game.pdf
http://www.ovesc.k12.oh.us/Site/teacher_resources_docs/Standardized_Test_Taking_Tips.pdf
https://www.scholarships.com/resources/study-skills/standardized-testing/tips-for-answering-multiple-choice-questions-on-standardized-tests/
https://www.usu.edu/asc/studysmart/pdf/TestTakingTips.pdf
https://www.petersons.com/blog/ask-the-experts-test-prep-tips/
http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/tips/pbt/
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/humsci/cgi-bin/gus/content/diversity-grad-prep
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/2012/04/30/test-prep-6-tips-for-gre-success?page=2
http://college.answers.com/transferring/ivy-league-graduate-schools-and-gre-requirements
http://www.ivyleagueadmission.com/grestrategy.html
http://economics.ucdavis.edu/undergrad-program/preparation-for-graduate-school
http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/tips/
http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/pdf/TOEFL_Tips.pdf
http://www.englishclub.com/esl-exams/ets-toefl-tips.htm
http://www.englishteachermelanie.com/ten-tips-for-the-toefl-ibt/
http://i-courses.org/writing-tips
http://www.testden.com/toefl/speaking-tutorial/
http://www.englishclub.com/esl-exams/ets-toefl-practice-speaking.htm
http://www.englishbaby.com/lessons/toefl_listening_tips
http://www.toeflspeakingnetwork.com/
http://www.happyschools.com/toefl-ibt-speaking-practice/
http://www.nishtar.org/uploads/2/8/9/5/2895695/step-1-guidelines-new.pdf
http://www.interface.edu.pk/tests/usmle/tips.asp
http://www.ecfmg.org/certification/eligibility-for-examination.html
http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/education/schools/school-of-medicine/academic-programs/md-program/student-affairs/upload/USMLE-Step-1-Tips.pdf
http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/education/schools/school-of-medicine/academic-programs/md-program/student-affairs/upload/10-ways-to-succeed-with-USMLE-Step-1.pdf
http://www.doctorsintraining.com/blog/9-tips-to-avoid-procrastination-while-studying-for-the-usmle-step-1-or-comlex-level-1/
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2012/04/scored-257-usmle-step-1.html
http://blogs.einstein.yu.edu/five-tips-for-taking-step-1-usmle/
http://www.interface.edu.pk/tests/usmle/USMLE-Pakistan.asp
http://www.dims.com.pk/usmle-courses-pakistan.html
http://www.nbme.org/
http://www.medschool.vcu.edu/admissions/md/recruitment/documents/highschool/GEN_How%20to%20Win%20the%20Standardized%20Test%20Game.pdf
https://gre.economist.com/gre-advice/gre-study-strategies/general-study-advice/five-mistakes-avoid-during-gre-prep
http://www.sat-coach.com/tips.html

Interview

This section provides general advice -- applicable to all degrees, fields, and programs -- concerning how you can present yourself and your work in an interview in order to be a strong candidate for your program. You must complement the general advice given below with the 'interview' 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).

INTERVIEW TIPS

Do practice interviews with family and friends,

Relax, be punctual and avoid over-preparing.

Take a sip of water. Many interviewers will offer you a glass of water at the beginning of your meeting. Take the water and use it throughout the interview as a buffer to buy time or allow yourself to slow down. If you get stumped, the water can offer a brief opportunity to pause naturally, alleviating any awkwardness before you begin.

Be precise and keep the answers short.

Smile. Be yourself. You will automatically be confident, genuine and trustworthy.

Be confident and assured. Make eye contact while talking to the interviewer.

Remember everything about your application. The interviewer will probably refer to it many times.

Be confident, assured, and look the interviewer in the eye at all times.

Stay relax and composed. Stress can cause a panic that can lead to confused and incomplete answers.

Maintain your poise. If you absolutely cannot answer a question, you should not get overly apologetic or grovel. Simply acknowledge that you are having trouble with the question and politely ask if you might come back to it at the end. This is not a best-case scenario, but it is certainly far better than rambling and apologizing. A confident approach during a tricky moment may even impress!

Forget about it. If you cannot answer a question, accept it and move on. If you spend the rest of the interview thinking about that moment, you will be distracted and struggle with any subsequent questions.

What should I wear? Always follow any guidelines the school provides on proper interview dress. If “business casual” is specified, wear business casual; if “business attire,” dress in business attire. Jeans, T-shirts and ripped or unclean clothing are never appropriate. If the school does not specify a dress code, wear business attire for any on-campus interviews as well as for an off-campus interview with a member of the admissions staff. Business casual is often best when meeting an alumnus/alumna off campus, though you may consider politely asking the person you are meeting about proper attire in advance. Showing some creativity and style with your clothing is okay, but do not go overboard—remember that your meeting is a professional one, and your first impression is vital.

I am meeting my interviewer at a coffee shop. Who pays? If you are meeting an alumnus/alumna at a café or similar establishment for an interview, you can avoid the awkward “who pays?” scenario by arriving a few minutes early, purchasing your own beverage and then offering to pay for the interviewer’s selection when he/she arrives. If your interviewer arrives before you, you might politely offer to pay for his/her drink, but if the interviewer declines, you should not insist.
Be sure to ask the interviewer questions at the end. Get to know them as they get to know you.
Should I send a thank-you note? Yes, you should always send a brief thank-you note after your interview. Write and send the note as soon as possible after your meeting—the same day or the next is ideal—and be sure to mention specifics from your conversation or your visit. Emailing the thank you is fine. Interviewers usually need to submit their feedback on candidates within 24 hours, so you want your message to be received quickly.
If I am not sure how I did, can I ask for feedback? No! Feeling anxious about how you performed is natural, but do not ask your interviewer for feedback. Doing so will not help establish you as professional and mature, and will instead leave the impression that you lack good judgment (and confidence). Just be patient and wait for the admissions committee to make its decision!

Travel

This section provides general advice -- applicable to all degrees, fields, and programs -- concerning how you can approach different types of visa and visa interviews in order to be a strong candidate for your program. You must complement the general advice given below with the 'recommendations' 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 8 sections: p

Process checklist
Visa
Visa process - USA
Visa process - UK
Visa interview
Visa for dependents
Preparing for travel
Travelling.

1. PROCESS CHECKLIST

Start the visa application process at least 3 months before your classes commence

You can start with the visa process once you formally accept your university admission offer

Determine which visa category you need to apply for. Different student visa policies exist in different countries, and you need to make sure you know which visa you are eligible for

Make a list of all the documents you may require for the visa application process. You can find out which documents are needed through the official websites of visa granting agencies of different countries

Compile all documents needed in one envelope, and keep it in a safe, accessible place. All photographs/certificates need to be in hand, well before the deadline

Ensure your photographs are recent and meet the requirements set out in the visa form

Take the required vaccinations

Arrange for provision of necessary financial documents

In case you need to apply for a certain document, keep processing time in mind
Once you have filled out the appropriate visa application form, and have submitted it along with all required documents, your application will be reviewed by officials

The next step of the visa process is the interview. You will be required to bring some documents to the interview with you. Make a list of required documents

For the interview, relax and stay confident. Dress appropriately. Be prepared for questions about your plans after graduation

Once you receive your visa, book your air tickets. Search online for different options if you want to cut down costs

Choose your destination airport, and the route through which you will reach the university

When travelling, keep your documents in your hand carry.

Getting Started

Make use of the internet to do extensive research about the visa process and all the required documents for the process. Check the university’s website for international students as well as the website of the agency that grants the visa.
For the UK, check the website of the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) for required documentation.
Make a documents checklist for yourself and put it somewhere visible.
If there are any confusions with the process, contact either the university or the visa agency for help.
Talk to students who have recently been admitted to university in the same country; or students who are currently studying in that country for advice.
If you have received any sort of scholarship or funding, make sure you provide valid documentation at every stage of the visa process.
Ensure that your passport is valid for at least most of the period you intend to study abroad.

2. VISA

Do you need a visa?

The first thing you need to do is determine if you need a visa. This depends on your nationality and immigration status.
For students thinking about going to the UK, find out if you need a visa on the UKBA website.

When should you apply for a visa?

You should apply for your visa as soon as possible and well before you begin your course. This is because the visa process may have unexpected delays. Though there is no average visa processing time, it varies according to each country and individual.
For Pakistan, visa processing takes on average 60 days. However, each case is different and it is advisable to apply about 3 months before the start of your studies.
Be aware that the visa process may entail that you take certain vaccinations, provide documents evidencing your finances and qualifications or attend interviews.
Also be aware that the processing time for certain academic fields such as systems security and nuclear engineering may take longer.
All fees, including visa fees, are subject to change. Ensure that you are updated with the latest

Which visa should you apply for?

Ensure that you pick the correct visa category for your travels.
USA: For undergraduate, Master’s or PhD programme, choose an F-1 visa for the USA.
UK: As an undergraduate, Master’s or PhD student; you will be applying to the Tier 4 visa category for the UK.
For students going on exchange or short vocational courses, another type of visa will be required.

3. VISA PROCESS - USA

The first step to get the visa process started is to formally accept the offer made by the university. For this, you must finalize one university that you intend to attend.
I-20 form: Once the offer has been accepted, the university’s international office sends you a document known as the I-20 form which includes proof of your university offer along with the amount of money needed throughout your degree. The I-20 form also includes a PIN known as the SEVIS number through which the visa authorities can access your university related information.
DS-160 form: Once you’ve received your I-20 form and your SEVIS number, you should fill out the DS-160 form found on the website of the US consulate. You will have to login on the website in order to fill this form - remember to save the application ID number that you will be provided. You will need it to access the application at a later stage. After filling and submitting the form, you will have to pay a fee and print out the confirmation.
Scheduling interview appointment: Interviews are conducted at the US Embassy in Islamabad and the US Consulate in Karachi. To schedule an interview, you must go to your nearest American Express office with the required documentation. Here, you will be required to submit the documents and schedule an appointment for an interview. Here are some documents you will be required to take
- Your confirmation of the submission of the DS-160 form.
- A passport photo with a white background.
- A photocopy of the passport valid for the length of the trip to the US and photocopies of the passports held during the last 15 years
- Your complete travel history for the past 10 years
- The full names of your siblings, and if you’re a Master’s or PhD applicant with children, their names are required too
- Take the following documents with you to the interview:
- Your interview appointment packet with one copy of the interview letter
- Your current passport as well as any old ones you’ve travelled on
- A completed DS-160 form with a printout of the confirmation of submission page
- Original school report cards, Matric and FSc documents, O’ and A’ Level certificates, university transcripts and university degree
- Four 2×2 passport photos
- Financial documents such as bank statements and tax return form to show that you have enough money to cover the expenses stated on the I-20 form.

4. VISA PROCESS - UK

Points and Documents: The UK student visa process is based on a system of points. Hence, you obtain points by submitting certain documents. A total of 40 points is necessary to show you are a genuine student. 30 points can be obtained by submitting the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) letter from your university. 10 points can be obtained by proving you have enough money in the bank to finance your studies and your stay.
TB Test: Once you have received your university acceptance letter, make an appointment with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the TB test. You can make the appointment either through e-mail or a phone call. You will get your results on the same day as the appointment.
UKBA application and appointment: Next, fill the online application on the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) website. After submitting this, you will be required to make an appointment to submit the supporting documents. With the documents, you will be required to submit.
- Appendix 8 of the application which is also available on the UKBA website. For this form, you will have to submit the sponsorship number on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) so ensure that your university has sent it.
- Your passports (old and current)
- 4 passport sized photographs
- Your bank statement: make sure you have money to cover tuition fee, rent and living expenses (a minimum of about £25,000 if you will be living in London). The entire year’s account is not needed but you must provide account details 30 days prior to applying for the visa.
- Visa application fee in the form of a bank draft or cash.
- Additional documents to show extra funding such as property documents.
- Acceptance letter and a letter from the university for visa purposes.
- CNIC
- Keep photocopies of all original documents
- One copy of the interview letter
- A completed DS-160 form with a printout of the confirmation of submission page
- Original school report cards, Matric and FSc documents, O’ and A’ Level certificates, university transcripts with all courses taken with grades obtained and a university degree
- Financial documents such as bank statements and tax return forms to show that you have enough money to cover the expenses stated on the I-20 form

5. VISA INTERVIEW

Preparation: Before the interview, prepare answers for some general questions. Ensure that you know exactly why you want to study your proposed degree, why you have chosen the selected university and why you want to study in your selected country.
Time: The visa interview can take between 3 and 15 minutes, although the wait can be for about 2 hours.
Be certain: Even if you are not completely sure what you plan to study once you get to university, it is better to speak as if you know your plans rather than claim that you will decide after you get there.
Intent after studies: The interviewer will want to know that you intend to return to your country after your studies are over. Be prepared to give the interviewer your plans after graduation.
Relax and be confident!: Dress appropriately, smile often and maintain eye-contact.
Questions: Try to prepare beforehand some common interview questions;
- Where are you going to study?
- What are you going to study?
- Why did you choose to study this course?
- Why do you think that it will be beneficial to receive a degree overseas in this area?
- How long is the program?
- Why do you want to study?
- What do you plan to do after you complete your studies?

After the interview: Decisions based on the interview are usually granted the same day if documentation is complete.

6. VISA FOR DEPENDENTS

If you are a Master’s or PhD student and have a spouse or children who will travel and stay with you abroad, you can obtain a visa for them by proving them as your dependents.
You will have to provide proof of your relationship with your spouse and children.
It is recommended that the family applies for an F-1 and a F-2 visa at the same time, but if the spouse and children apply separately at a later time, they can bring a copy of the student visa holder’s passport and visa, along with required documents.

7. PREPARING FOR TRAVEL

If your visa is rejected, you may not appeal to revisit the decision. You can, however, apply again. If you re-apply, ensure that all your documentation is complete and valid this time. Consider these possible reasons for your rejection
- Incomplete documentation
- Invalid passport or not in order
- Considered to have insufficient financial means
- Considered to be a potential immigrant

Airline Ticket: Book your airline ticket only after you have received your visa in order to cut down risk of ticket cancellation.
Airport Research: Often, you may have to choose between several airports near your university. Ensure that you pick an airport through which you can easily access your university (clear train, bus routes etc).

8. TRAVELING

Documentation: Ensure that you are carrying copies of your visa and university documentation in your hand-carry.
Immigration: Once you arrive at the airport of your destination, you will be required to go through an immigration process. There are usually two queues- one for passport holders of European countries and one for the others. Make sure you stand in the correct line. A Border Force Officer will check your passport and may ask you a few questions.

REFERENCES