MS Admissions in USA - Planning, Timing & Synchronizing

The admissions process usually begins during a student's penultimate year when a student meets with a guidance counselor, selects some colleges, and perhaps visits a few campuses. During third year (in a 4-year program), or the summer vacations before final year is a good time to finalize application plans and perhaps begin writing essays, and prepare for the GRE. International students may need to take tests showing English-language proficiency such as the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic. Final year is when students apply for MS. Decisions happen by April, and students are expected to reply by May unless waitlisted.

If you want to take admission in session beginning in September 2024, then ideally, the process starts in January 2023 and has 12 stages.

1. Prepare - January to May 2023 - Prepare for GRE and TOEFL. This preparation can take 3 to 4 months.
2. GRE Exam - March to June 2023 - Take the GRE exam
3. TOEFL exam - July 2023 - Take the TOEFL exam
4. University Selection - By the end of July, you will have your GRE and TOEFL scores. Start short-listing universities in July-August period.
5. Scholarship Search - Universities will have an earlier and separate deadline to apply for scholarships. Remember the scholarship deadlines will be earlier than the admission deadlines. Search for the scholarships that you can apply and start applying by September.
6. Apply Online - Create your account on the University Website and start filling all the required details. You can start filling the online application of the universities in October.
7. Transcripts and LORs - Apply for transcripts in the month of October. It normally takes 2 weeks to get the transcripts. Also consult with your professors about LORs in October.
8. SOPs - Finalize your recommenders and Prepare your Statement of Purpose and any other required essays in the month of November. In November, some universities require hard-copy LORs, get them from your recommenders. If a university requires an online LOR, then provide email-IDs of your recommender professors to the university.
9. Application Review - By the end of November, you should have all your documents ready for submission. Double check all the documents. By November 31st, your application should be ready for submission.
10. Submit Application - In first week of December, submit your application.
11. Online LOR check - If online LOR were to be submitted, give polite reminders to your recommender professors and ensure that all LORs are submitted by mid December 2023.
12. Prepare Bank Statement - After completing the entire application process, in the month of January 2024, start your preparations for Financial Requirements that you have to meet when you receive the admits.