Some commonly asked questions

Q: How long does the application process take to complete?

A:   The time differs according to the academic department and the extent of the required documentation. If you are efficient and submit your recommendation letters quickly with a fully completed application, you can possibly complete the entire process in two months.

The process will take longer time if the required documentation is extensive and additional material, such as a research prospectus, is required.

Q: When is the best time to send out my application?

A:   You should apply as soon as possible. The majority of September admission deadlines for graduate institutions in the United States are between January and March. For the spring term, the deadlines are between July and October of the previous year. Applicants for research assistantship or fellowships are strongly urged to apply two months earlier than the required deadline. For example, Ph.D. or fellowship candidates who are applying for the fall 2001 should apply in November 2000, NOT in January 2001.

Most institutions, however, have rolling admissions and monthly application deadlines during the year prior to the chosen school term.

Q: Do I have a better chance of being admitted if I submit my application earlier?

A:   Leading institutions want to recruit the top students to their programs. If you feel that you belong to the caliber of students they are seeking, submit your application as soon as possible. But speed should not compromise quality. You should always focus on presenting yourself as the most qualified applicant.

At the start of the admissions season, admissions officers have more time to spend on each application. Top schools, such as Harvard Law School, receive over eight thousand applications a year. Think of how many personal statements, essays, and letters of recommendation they have to read. If the application is submitted late, admissions officers may spend less time reviewing it and read it with less enthusiasm.

At top schools, there is enough competition that if you are not qualified it will not matter when you apply. If you think you are qualified but have low test scores and mediocre grades, also send your application as early as you can. Having more time, admissions officers will pay more attention to your application and your personal qualities and experience rather than focusing mainly on academic merit. Likewise, if your grades are good but there is nothing outstanding about your experience, you submit application early. MBA schools, for example, have many applicants who have worked in banks. If you submit your application late, they may have already reviewed hundreds of applications from people with the same experience.

Q:   Do admissions committees have standardized criteria for admissions?

A:   Admissions committees look at academic records, test scores, and the professional experience of previously admitted students to develop a standard. For standardized tests, some schools set a minimum score for the TOEFL, GRE or GMAT, although this is not etched in stone. Other highly respected programs, such as the Yale MBA program, do not set a minimum requirement for test scores and academic records.

Q:   Which component of the application package plays the most important role in the admissions decision: test scores, grade point average, or the personal statement?

A:   Each qualification illuminates a different aspect of the applicant, so it is not easy to compare their value. As a foreign applicant, culture and language are additional factors that the school considers when assessing your application.

When reviewing the GRE, GMAT, and other test scores, admissions officers know that foreign applicants are at a cultural and linguistic disadvantage and take this into consideration. TOEFL scores, however, are a standard by which admissions committees can compare all international applicants. If you are very strong in other areas, such as your grades, you may be admitted on a conditional basis and be required to take language courses and exams prior to matriculation.

Q: What else do admissions committees consider when reviewing your transcripts?

A: Not only do schools look at your grade point average but they also consider the reputation of the institution you attended. Your previous school's academic standards and its grading policy, your comparative class standing, trends in your marks, and the difficulty level of the courses your took are all considered.

Q: Although I have great work experience, I am not so sure about my grades.

Academic achievement is not everything. Practical education is also important. Your personal background, past achievements, and interests provide a complete evaluation of your ability and likelihood of success. There have been many instances when, given similar grades and scores, the deciding factor has been the applicants non-academic background.

Please contact us if you have more questions regarding how to develop your own application strategy.