How to apply to a graduate program in the US

1. Advisers:
Claudia Ortiz & Sofia de la Garza
EducationUSA.state.gov
Study in the USA:
Graduate Programs

2. What is EducationUSA?
• A global network of advising centers
supported by the US State Department’s
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
(ECA).
• Unbiased, accurate, comprehensive
information about the full range of
accredited U.S. higher education
institutions
• Free access to introductory information on
U.S. study
EducationUSA.state.gov

3. EducationUSA in Mexico

4. Key Topics
• Different types of programs
• Application process
• Entrance exams
• Financial Aid
• Questions & Answers
EducationUSA.state.gov

5. Master degrees
• Academic Master’s
– Master of Arts (M.A.)
– Mastr of Science (M.S.)
• Professional Master’s
– Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
– Master of Social Work (M.S.W.)
– Master of Education (M.Ed.)
– Master in Fine Arts (M.F.A.)
EducationUSA.state.gov

6. Doctoral degrees
• Academic:
– Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
• Professional:
– Doctor of Education (Ed. D)
– Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
EducationUSA.state.gov

7. The Calendar: Dedicate Time
12-18 months before (Mar-Sept)
• Research schools: choose 5-7
• Find out deadlines for financial aid
and application
• Register to take standardized tests in
required
September-December
• Study and take exams
• Request required materials:
recommendation, transcripts,
financial statements
• Write your personal statement
• Submit completed applications
EducationUSA.state.gov
January-April
• Application deadlines, early
admission deadlines will be sooner
April-June
• Letters of Acceptance/rejection
• Decision making
• Organize finances: fund transfer to US
June-August
• Student Visa
• Travel Arrangements

8. The Application
Depends on the program or university
• Typical Requirements:
– School/program’s application form
– Statement of purpose
– Letters of recommendation (2-3, translation required)
– Official undergraduate transcripts (translation required)
– Exams (TOEFL, GRE, GMAT etc.)
– Résumé
– Sometimes a portfolio or sample of past work
– Financial statement
EducationUSA.state.gov

9. Exams
• TOEFL
– www.toefl.org
– $170 USD
• GRE
– www.gre.org
– $195 USD
EducationUSA.state.gov
• GRE Subject Tests
– Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology,
Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science,
Literature in English, Mathematics,
Physics, Psychology
• GMAT
– www.mba.com
– $250 USD

10. Calculating your expenses
• Application Fees ($35-250/institution)
• Tuition ($15,000-30,000+/yr)
• Room & Board ($5,000-12,000/yr)
• University Student Fees ($100-$300/term)
• Medical and Dental Insurance
• Travel Expenses
• Living Expenses
EducationUSA.state.gov

11. Patterns and Trends in Funding
• More funding is available for:
• PhD programs
– compared to master’s programs.
• Research and Doctoral universities
– compared to master’s institutions
• Academic programs
– compared to professional programs (law, medicine,
dentistry, MBAs, etc.)
• Many programs don’t offer funding until the second year.
EducationUSA.state.gov

12. Funding Varies by Field
• Engineering, computer science, math
– 82% of PhD candidates are funded
– 55% of master’s candidates
• Humanities
– 56% of PhD candidates are funded
– 41% of master’s candidates
• Business, law, and other professions: funding is rare
and loans are common
EducationUSA.state.gov

13. Financial Aid Programs
• U.S. Universities
• Government
• Private Foundations
• Loans
EducationUSA.state.gov

14. Types of Funding: U.S. Universities
Assistanships
• Teaching (TA): Awarded by department. Must
demonstrate strong spoken English and teaching
experience. Can be in other departments (languages,
math).
• Research (RA): Awarded by professors. Contributes to
your thesis research.
• Graduate (GA): Awarded by grad school. Administrative,
library.
EducationUSA.state.gov

15. The Professor
• Professors manage teaching and research
assistantships.
• You need to communicate with the professors
• Learn about them and their research from the
school’s website and scholar.google.com
• Write to them about your academic interests and
what you can contribute to their research
• They should know you before they receive your
application!
EducationUSA.state.gov

16. Types of Funding: U.S. Universities
Out-of-State Tuition Waivers
• Several universities and/or state governments offer
out-of-state tuition waivers
– (based on country of origin, region or ethnicity)
• In Texas: PASE & Good Neighbor Scholarship Program
– Mexican nationals who demonstrate financial
need pay in-state tuition at public universities in
Texas
• For more information visit each university’s website
EducationUSA.state.gov

17. Types of Funding: Government
CONACYT
• Full and partial scholarships for graduate students
already accepted by universities
• Give preference to PhD students
• Focuses on science and technology
www.conacyt.com.mx
EducationUSA.state.gov

18. Types of Funding: Goverment
Comexus: Fulbright-Garcia Robles
• 25,000 USD, medical insurance, visa and applications
• To start 2016:
apply from Oct 2014 – Feb 2015
www.comexus.org.mx
EducationUSA.state.gov

19. Types of Funding: Foundation
Magdalena O. Vda. De Brockmann (MOB)
• Full and partial scholarships for graduate students
already accepted by universities
• At least 2 years of work experience
• Any field of study
– except medicine, architecture, sports and fine arts
• Must return to Mexico for a minimum of 5 years
• Must reimburse MOB 30% of the scholarship within 3
years
www.becasmob.org.mx
EducationUSA.state.gov

20. Types of Funding: Foundation American
Association of University Women (AAUW)
• Fellowship for full-time study or research to support
community-based projects that are designed to
improve the lives of women and girls in the fellow’s
home country.
• Female graduate students already accepted by
universities
• One year:
– $18,000 for Master’s, $20,000 for Doctorate
$30,000 for post-doctorate
EducationUSA.state.gov

21. Types of Funding: Mexico Loans
FIDERH, FUNED & OAS
• FIDERH (Banco de Mexico): loan for graduate degrees
– Funding for up to 3 years
– Must repay the loan within 10 years
– www.fiderh.org.mx
• FUNED: loan for students accepted by a university
– Covers most expenses
– Must repay the loan within 6 years
– www.funedmx.org
• OAS-PAN: Interest-free loans for Latin American students
– Must complete studies in 2 years
– Must repay the loan within 5 years
– www.oas.org/rowe
EducationUSA.state.gov

22. Homework to get started
• Make an advising appointment
• Visit www.petersons.com and www.gradschools.com
and create a list of potential schools
• Find out the deadlines, costs, and requirements for each
school.
• Assess how much you (and your family or sponsor) can
contribute to your higher education
• Visit www.fundingusstudy.org and create a list of possible
scholarship opportunities.
EducationUSA.state.gov

23. Where and how to do the research?
• READ! All the information you might need is in the
webpage of the school.
• Make notes from each of the schools: what do you
like, what you don’t like, whatever you find
interesting or oustanding.
• Read the University webpage and also the College
webpage
EducationUSA.state.gov

24. Narrow your options
• Location
• Internships or overseas study programs
• Student services
• Faculty
• Cost vs Financial aid availibility
• Size of the department
EducationUSA.state.gov

25. Thank You!
EducationUSA Mexico City
Biblioteca Benjamín Franklin
Calle Liverpool 31, Col. Juarez, Del. Cuauhtemoc
Tel: 5703-0167
Email: MexicoDF@EducationUSA.info
Citas: www.EducationUSADF.appointy.com
www.educationusa.info/mexicodf
https://www.facebook.com/EducationUSAMexicoCity
http://becaseducationusa.wordpress.com/
EducationUSA.state.gov
Advisers: Claudia Ortiz & Sofia de la Garza