BEGINNERS GUIDE TO SECURING MS/PhD POSITIONS (WITH FUNDING) IN US UNIVERSITIES

The US admission for 2023 (fall intake) opened up its academic session from September 12. The admission process usually starts at the end of November/December of the previous year, i.e. 2023 closes by the end of July 2023. But don’t wait till the last moment because most of the top universities consider admissions as early as January.

So, if you wish to secure a seat for yourself in those universities, it’s better to apply as early as possible. Here are some of the things you should check up before applying;

1. PRELIMINARY REQUIREMENTS

• Academic CV
• Research Interest
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Certificates
• Academic Transcript
• Letters of Recommendation (LOR)
• Entrance Exam Scorecards – GRE/ GMAT (For schools that don’t waive them)
• English Language Proficiency Test Scores. (A letter can suffice in some cases)
• Research Statements (for some courses)
• WES Evaluation (if you have a 2.2/3rd class/HND)

Note: If you have a 2.1 or first class, you can find the equivalent of your CGPA in the US scale with the formula;

Your CGPA/Scale = X
US Equivalent = X/4

Example

Let’s say you have a CGPA of 3.8 on a scale of 5

The conversion is;

Your CGPA (X) 3.8/5.0 = 0.76
conversion factor – 0.76*4.0= 3.04.
Your US Equivalent
Your CGPA is 3.04 on 4.0 scale

2. SEARCH REQUIREMENTS

• Have a Research Interest
• Search for Professors in your research area. It is advisable to look out for Assistant and Associate Professors. They are often the ones with funding
• Send out cold mails. (Learn how to do this)
• Receive confirmation of the availability of sponsorship via GRA/GTA
• Attend open days and get application fee waiver.

3. REQUIREMENTS THAT GIVE YOU AN EDGE

• Ability with Statistical and Data Tools (E.g. Python, MATLAB, R)
• Research ability with evidence of a published work
• Research Experience ( Even as little as a review is sufficient)
• Teaching Experience
• Leadership Skills
• Volunteering and Community Service
• Strong Letters of Reference

The good news is, you can have all of this and more, if you have the right guide. Seek mentorship if you can.