What happens after Graduate School Application is submitted

In the last post i was talking about Low GRE score options and your chances of admission if your score is less then 1100. Today, I was planning to writing about 2 different topics

• Job in India or Masters in U.S.
• What would I be doing If I didn’t come to U.S.

But, just before I started writing, I thought, why not write about the application process breakdown, after the Graduate School application packet is submitted. From my experience, in observing the admission process, its almost similar is all the schools. Atleast the flow of application package from the time you submitted Graduate School or Undergraduate School application. Let me see if I can finish this within this post or have to break it down into 2 or more.

Breakdown of the process:

Step 1: Submit application before deadline

Step 2: Send all documents (hardcopy)

Step 3: Unique application ID

Strep 4: Application fee

Step 5: Scores Verification

Step 6: Forward to Department

Step 7 : Decision Making

Step 1: Submit application before deadline

You have to submit application before deadline. Some schools are very specific about that, but some schools accept application after the deadline, but you have to pay the additional fees. Submitting online application will make the process much faster. If you submit paper application, they will have to enter the application into the system. It would delay the decision process atleast by few days.

Step 2: Send all documents (hardcopy)

Now, the application is submitted. One tips that I would say here, when you submit the hard copy, it will make the Graduate School work easier if you can enclose a check list of all the documents you include in the top and arrange Graduate School application documents like Statement of Purpose, Recommendation Letter, Bank Statement, Affidavit of Support, Resume, Certificates, Project Descriptions,… from the sponsor in the exact order.

If you have submitted, online application, and got an unique reference number, make sure you include that number at the top of all the documents. You can pen down on the envelop of Recommendation letter, Statement of Purpose, ..

Track the package all the way through the graduate school. FedEx, DHL, provides very good tracking options. Make of note of the person who signs and receives your package. It’s very important, to note that. You can use that as a reference, if you wan to contact them in future.

Step 3: Unique application ID

Now the application is with the Graduate School. Now the waiting games begins. Patience and strong belief will get you the admit. There are so many things that has to go right, for the application to be approved and sent to Department for review.

There will be one person who will be assigned to process your application. Graduate Schools typically receives so many applications, at times they misplace few documents, then you are in trouble. Hope that doesn’t happens. I will talk about what to do if you application status says, missing documents.

that person will enter all your details in the system. Will create a folder and using their checklist, they will see if all the documents are received. Hang on, not that fast.

Step 4: Application fee

First thing Graduate School checks after they put together all the documents in one place, is if you have sent the application fee. It you have sent DD, then they will wait till the application fee is credit into their account. It time consuming process. It will take some 7 to 10 days for the International Demand Draft to clear in the banks here.

I would strongly recommend to pay fees using Credit Card option. After application fee is received, you will be created an account in their system and unique id will be assigned to identify your Graduate School application.

Sometime, you might get an mail ( not email) saying your application id or student id, that you can use for future to refer your application.

Documents Verification?

Graduate School is not concerned about your Statement of Purpose or Recommendation letter content. They will verify if that are included as part of the application. Even if you have submitted SOP and Recommendation letter online, make sure you include hard copy too.

Graduate School will verify, the validity of the Transcripts and the marks and convert your Percentage marks to GPA. How they they convert percentage to GPA, that’s a whole new topic for a different post.

Graduate School will verify the validity of your Transcripts, compare the name on your application to name on the transcripts. If you have names in the format like ( S.John ), make sure you include that in the application, where it asks, List any other names used in the documents.

After, Graduate School validates your transcript, they wait for the GRE and TOEFL scores.

GRE and TOELF scores will be sent to the University by the ETS and they will validate your scores. Does elimination of application takes place in Graduate School itself?

Its kind of getting too lengthy. This is how I’m used to writing. So, I have to break it down to next post.

I will talk about rest of the process tomorrow. Just to let know know, I’m working in IT field after I graduated in 2005. So, that’s my full time job, but I was helping my brother, cousins, friendss and many people in short listing universities, getting admission, visa tips, and travel arrangements suggestions, and much more to help them adapt to their new life. Basically, I’m sharing my experience in here.

Continued in After Graduate School Application Submitted Part 2

Related posts:

1. What happens after Graduate School Application is submitted : Part 2
2. Bank Statement – For Graduate School Application
3. 5 Tips to make your Graduate School application Stand Out
4. Do you make these 11 Common Graduate School Application mistakes?
5. How Graduate School Application is Reviewed and Accepted
6. Checklist for Graduate School Application [15 Items]

Tagged as: admissions, College Admission