Most Frequent Questions

There are so many schools in the U.S. How do I decide which schools to apply to?

Research your options and define your priorities. Contact the Education USA advising center nearest you and browse college search engines online.

What is the academic calendar for universities in the United States?

The academic year usually runs from August through May with breaks for holidays. Most universities use either the semester system (two terms), the quarter system (students attend three out of four total terms), or the trimester system (three terms).

What is the difference between "Undergraduate" and "Graduate" degrees?

Undergraduate programs follow high school and lead to an associate (two-year) degree or a bachelor (four-year) degree. Graduate programs follow a bachelor’s degree and lead to a master’s or doctoral degree.

What are the different types of graduate degrees?

Masters: two-year degree providing additional specialization. Doctorate: five to eight-year program certifying the student as a trained research scholar and/or professor.

Is it possible to take a professional degree program without first earning a bachelor's degree?

Yes, but they are highly selective and require a heavy courseload across a total of six years of study.

Is it possible to obtain a bachelor's degree and a master's degree at the same time?

In a joint-degree program, students begin a graduate program in their fourth year of college, earning both degrees upon graduation.

Can you work while studying in the United States?

With permission of the International Student Office, international students may work on campus up to 20 hours/week, their first year and can apply to work off-campus in subsequent years.

What are English language proficiency requirements?

U.S. universities require an English language proficiency test before admission to ensure you can read, write, and speak fluently.

What is the credit system in U.S. universities?

A credit is a value assigned to each course which reflects the number of hours the class will meet with the professor each week.

What are the minimum GRE scores necessary to be admitted? What about grade point average or class rank?

There are no specified minimums. These quantitative measures are just one part of the application. The admissions committee considers all aspects of every application before making any decisions - this includes your previous academic performance, test scores, letters of recommendation, previous research experience, etc. Thus, it is not possible to evaluate your chances of admission based on a few quantitative measures such as your test scores or grade point average. For international students, low English scores on the GRE verbal or TOEFL exams (e.g. less than 100 on the iBT) greatly reduce the chances for admission.

Where do I get information about the program?

Information about the department and admissions is located online at the department website. However, students are also encouraged to contact individual faculty members to discuss potential research topics or their role as possible advisors.

Who should I contact ABOUT RESEARCH or ADVISING?

We strongly recommend that students contact individual faculty members about possible research projects or as potential advisors. If you can make contact with a faculty member and they think you have potential, you have a much stronger chance of being accepted into the program and getting funding.

What is the minimum GRE score required for admission?

Though we do not have a minimum GRE score, we are looking for students who score well across all categories. We consider the entire application, including Statement of Purpose, Letters of recommendation, Transcripts and GRE's together.

When will I hear if I have been accepted?

Students will be notified of acceptance to the student's email.

What GPA is required to apply to the Masters program?

The minimum GPA required to apply to the MS program is an overall minimum of 3.0 (out of 4.0) in all upper division and all prerequisite courses.

What is a competitive GPA for students applying to ms programs?

Admission to the Master Programs is highly selective and Competitive

What is the "BEST" undergraduate major preparation for a student?

The "BEST" major of study is ANY area in which the student would enjoy working after receiving his or her undergraduate degree. The major should be selected based on the student's interests.

How much does the program cost?

The estimated cost for the current year is updated at the cost webpage. Cost may increase from year to year and are also dependent on your spending habits and financial aid. The cost is "professional tuition", this is a flat rate tuition for each year of the program.

Do you get to choose your courses?

You don't get to choose the course or enroll part-time. But rather must enroll full-time in a set of courses each semester.