Podcast Transcript: A Graduate Student’s Story
Adviser: Welcome to the ninth EducationUSA podcast. Today we have a student here who has managed to get an admission letter from a university in the United States. We would like to use this opportunity to ask a few questions regarding the application for admission and his experiences.
Hello, Khosrow, why did you choose the United States for your graduate education?
Khosrow: Hello. I choose the United States for a number of reasons: the first reason is that the quality of education and research in the U.S. universities is relatively better compared to other places. The second reason is that the universities in the U.S. have a higher reputation compared to other countries, and the third reason is in fact the up-to-date status of the professors who teach in these universities, who totally keep up with regards to research matters, and are familiar with the current knowledge (are the editors of most university level textbooks, in particular in the engineering fields, and also articles published in valid journals of the universities in that country). New research is also in a better position, and has a higher level. The next reason is that the laboratory equipment that exists in U.S. universities is much more precise and modern compared to those in other countries, and more appropriate for doing new research; and the last reason is that the American society has a higher level of progress and maturity compared to other countries, offering a better environment for a foreign student to study.
Adviser: In what field and level are you studying now?
Khosrow: I am currently studying for a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering.
Adviser: How did you find your university?
Khosrow: I came to know about this university through my professor. But there are different methods for doing that. Some get to know about universities through their friends, others refer to the references on universities and choose the universities that way. Or, for example, it is possible that they read an article, and find it interesting, and then they research the author of the article to see in which university he/she is teaching, and that is how they get to know about the university – there are different methods really.
Adviser: To how many universities did you send applications?
Khosrow: I only applied to the university where I am currently studying.
Adviser: Did you contact the university admission office or the professors in your department before sending an application in?
Khosrow: I contacted the professors by e-mail. I sent them resumes, asking if there are projects on which I can work for my Ph.D. and if they could consider my application for it. When I sent the e-mail, they asked me to fill out an official application form and request admission.
Adviser: How long before did you apply for the doctorate level?
Khosrow: Considering that I was working, from the time I decided to apply until the time it actually happened, it took about two years. But if someone wants to do this in a shorter time, and dedicate one hundred percent of his time to it, he/she can do it in lesser time.
Adviser: What things did you prepare to apply? What tests did you have to take?
Khosrow: For U.S. universities, the tests which needed to be taken were TOEFL and the GRE test. For engineering fields, it is the GRE and for management fields it is GMAT. But GRE has a more general scope, and they request GRE for most subjects.
The other documents that need to be prepared are an application form that can be found and downloaded from the university website, then filled out and mailed, or you can also fill them out online, it depends on the university. (U.S. universities usually do not accept payment for the fees of this kind by check or cash).
Another required item is the recommendation letters which should be mailed together with the documents, and they should be prepared by at least three professors who know the applicant. In general, depending on the university, it will be sufficient for a professor to send a signed letter in a sealed envelope to the university, or he/she may need to complete forms online, or there are some specific standard forms which need to be downloaded and there is a scoring system which is requested, and the professor expresses his opinion by providing a score.
The other documents that will be needed are the official translation of the grades of the previous university, for example if you are applying for a Ph.D., you should have your bachelor’s and master’s degrees translated, bearing the official confirmation seal of the Iranian Ministry of Sciences and Ministry of Justice, and mail them.
There is also an essay where you have to explain your goals and why you chose the United States for your studies. In general you need to explain how you found this university and why you want to study there as opposed to other places.
Finally, together with your documents, you need to submit a resume or a Curriculum Vitae (CV).
Adviser: When did you take the TOEFL and GRE tests?
Khosrow: As far as I can remember I took TOEFL three months before the deadline, and the GRE one month before it. But the sooner you take them the better it will be. You also need to take into account that when you take the TOEFL and GRE tests, it takes around 40 days for the ETS testing agency to correct the answers and to mail them directly to universities. This time must be taken into account, so that the deadline announced by the university for sending in the documents may be observed.
Adviser: How did you pay the money for the application forms?
Khosrow: One of my friends had a credit card and I used his credit card.
Adviser: How long did it take for you to be informed, and how did they inform you that you were accepted?
Khosrow: I think it was 1 ½ to 2 months after the deadline for sending the documents that I received an e-mail from the department saying that the department had accepted my request and about one or two weeks after that I received the admission letter, I-20, and the remaining documents via mail.
Adviser: When did you make an appointment for an interview at the U.S. embassy?
Khosrow: When I received the I-20, I started the process for making an appointment, because there is some information in the I-20 that you need to enter into the system in order to get an appointment. As soon as I received my I-20, I got an appointment from the U.S. embassy in Dubai.
First I completed online the DS-160 form which is available through U.S. embassy websites in all countries; then the system provided me with a barcode I used on the Internet to get an appointment. Two or three weeks after having entered the information they gave me an appointment for an interview.
Adviser: How long did it take for them to agree to your student visa application?
Khosrow: The first time I showed my documents, they said that I was not showing proof that I would be returning home after my studies were over, and refused the visa. I
requested an appointment again, and the second time they accepted. The entire process took about 5 months.
Adviser: Are you glad that you decided to come to the United States for further education and did you achieve your educational goals?
Khosrow: Yes, I am glad.
Adviser: What are your recommendations for Iranian students, who just like you, wish to seek admission to universities in the United States?
Khosrow: I recommend that they take into account all the cost and expenses involved. If they are really determined, they should start very early and plan ahead so that they may be able to meet the deadlines and obtain results.
Adviser: Did you receive a scholarship or financial aid for your Ph.D. level studies?
Khosrow: For those who come for graduate studies, in general they get a research assistantship or teaching assistantship. I have received a research assistantship, and I am paid for the work I do on the Ph.D. project or my thesis. The tuition has to be paid, and in this university I have to pay the tuition myself, but since I am doing research work, I get a salary as an employee of the university.
Adviser: For further information please visit the educationusairan.com website.
This was a production of educationusairan.com
