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Sample schedule: Fall 2011- When to apply for MS or MBA in USA? Deadlines? International Students plan

Fall 2011 admission deadlines planning The most important factor for getting an admission in a good school with scholarship is to apply ON TIME before deadlines. Typically good schools have multiple rounds of selection and the sooner you are in, the more likely you will be in the list for admission and scholarship decisions.  Some of the very good schools have deadlines for Fall 2011 as early as December 15, 2010 for international students.  I still remember my days of applying to US schools for MS: I had my plan all set for  GRE coaching, studying, etc and I also had applied to passport and registered for the GRE and TOEFL too by April for next year’s Fall Admission. The point is clear, the sooner you plan, the better your options to choose. This article will focus on fall 2011 application planning and task lists with dates that worked for me.  Please read the similar article that I wrote for spring 2011:  Spring 2011 Admission Deadlines and Planning with Schedule.  This article will be a kind of replica, but for Fall 2011 with dates adjusted.

Graduate School Application Deadlines for Fall 2011 ?

I write this statement all the time and I hate to write this again, but the reality is “The deadlines depends on the school you are applying to”.  In fact, some of the very good schools only accept graduate students in Fall term. For instance, Graduate School at Univ of Wisconsin for Computer Sciences accepts new admission only in Fall term.   The clear point is, your pool for admissions in Fall is much larger than applying in Spring. Also, applying to Graduate Schools in Fall has many Advantages when compared to Spring. Fall vs Spring Admissions. Let’s look at some the schools deadlines for Fall 2011. I am assuming you have read the Spring 2011 Admission Deadlines and  Planning That article that has all the links for Universities and I do not want to put them again. In general the deadlines for Fall 2011 are very different depending on School. They vary anywhere in the below list. I did NOT make up these, these are from Universities.

  • Dec 15th, 2010
  • April 1st, 2011
  • Jan 1st, 2011
  • March 1st , 2011
  • Feb 15th, 2011

Assuming Fall 2011 Application Deadline is  December 15th , 2010 : Sample Schedule

Depending on the program, majority of the good schools like University of Wisconsin at Madison, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Purdue University have December 15th, 2010 as the deadline for Fall 2011. So, if you are serious about getting into good school and get scholarships, you have to plan to apply by December 15th of 2010. I am assuming and giving the plan for the best case scenario.

Sample Fall 2011 Application Plan with deadlines for International Graduate Students:

Admission related Activity

Complete By Month & Timing

GRE and TOEFL PreparationApril, May, June  2010
GRE TestJune 15th , 2010
TOEFL TestJune 30th , 2010
University Selection listFull  Month : July , August 2010
Scholarships Prep and Apply.August and September 2010.
Online Applications CompleteOctober 1st 2010
SOP and Scholarship essaysNovember 1st – November 30th 2010
Transcripts& RecommendationsOctober  and November 2010
Bank Statement PreparationNovember 1st – November 30th 2010.
Draft of application setNovember 15th , 2010
Final Check and mail / Post application materialDec 1st – December 15th 2010

You may think or actually be, when applying for scholarships, very early for fall 2011 . But the reality is, the sooner the better. Because we are international students and it takes time for us to send if they ask anything or if we are missing something. I know friends of mine who applied with exact schedule as above for PhD for Fall 2010 and have admission and funding decisions already. They followed similar plan as listed above. In fact I applied for Fall and  I followed the same plan for my MS admission too and had my I20 along with scholarship by end of March of that year for Starting in Fall

As always, you will have to be very alert and do not miss any information about scholarships. You may read this article for info on scholarships : How to find scholarships info for internationals (MS, MBA) at Schools in USA ? Many great people have already said that, “the key to success is careful planning” and this schedule listed above might help you a little to plan well for fall 2011.

Original Image Credit (Modified ) : http://www.flickr.com/photos/emzee/259669867/

   

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161 Comments

  1. i want your guidance
    which university will accept only TOEFL score for M.S cellular and molecular biology
    please send the university list to my mail
    how can i get i20 from the university on the TOEFL basis?pease help for this

    Reply
  2. thanks for your reply,
    how to select university ?
    iam looking for M.S CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
    please evaluate my profile
    B.TECH:61%
    toefl:105
    GRE:expecting

    Reply
    • Srinivas, I do not evaluate profiles. The fundamental way to select a school is look at the research, your future prospects, funding, location, etc.

      Reply
  3. Can anyone please help me with a list of Pharmacy Colleges in US taking their deadlines as the criteria? I heard that the guys at i20fever.com have it. Please let me know as soon as possible. Thank yoU! 🙂

    Reply
  4. can any body help me how to apply universities frm toefl account. means u can send free score to univ how can we do that can any one tell me the procedure.

    Reply
  5. Hi,

    I want admission in fall 2011 in US universities. I have not given my GRE yet.I am planning to give it in the last week of Januray. I want to do MS in Computer Science(Telecommunicaitons). Can you tell me , will almost all my options of applying in top universities be finished or is there still some chance?

    Thanks in advance,
    Abhinav

    Reply
    • Abhinav,
      Most of the top schools have deadlines in late Dec or early January 2011. I would check the deadlines of schools of interest before losing hope of chances….

      Reply
  6. Respected Sir,

    I have completed my M.Sc., in Biochemistry with (71%)7.61 CGPA…. and 62% in my B.Sc.,…. I am interested to apply for PhD programme in USA…… Please guide me ragarding the process….. I am also interested to know whether I will get funding for MS programme…… Because my B.Sc., percentage i very low……….

    Reply
    • Arun,
      The process is pretty standard, you would have to take GRE and TOEFL and then apply to schools for PhD program. If you have any publications in M.Sc it will help you with admission…I would think you have better chances to get funding if you apply for Ph.D. Funding for just MS is very competitive…

      Reply
  7. Hello Kumar,

    I had only saved my online applications and not submitted it along with the application fees. I was waiting for my application packet to reach the universities and then submit the online application. However, The application packet reached the universities nearly 12 hours before I submitted my application online.

    Will my application get rejected? As they will not find any fees payed against it??

    Also, after submitting the online application, I discovered that UT Dallas needs the online application Id to be written on all the sent materials. I am really apprehensive about it. Please suggest any idea to prevent possible rejection of my application.

    Awaiting your reply. Thanks a lot in advance.

    Best regards,
    Bhaswati

    Reply
    • Bhaswati,
      Do not worry. They will not reject your application as long as all your material has reached them before deadline. You just need to send an email to them explaining your situation, they should take care of it. Again, you do not need to panic, email UT Dallas, they should help you…If you are worried, call them during US hours, they will help you.

      Reply
      • Hi Kumar,

        Thank you for the reply.

        I am sending mails to the admissions office of all the universities. And if I do not get their reply in 2-3 days, I shall call them.

        Best regards,
        Bhaswati

        Reply
          • Ok… one more question..

            Does the deadline mean it is the deadline for receipt of online recommendations too?

            My recommenders had not sent their online recommendations (until friday…hope they have done it by today).

            Some universities have deadline of 15th December. Suppose the online recommendations are not submitted before 15th December, will my application be considered incomplete?

          • Bhaswati,
            Well, it varies by school on how they do it…Either case, your application will be considered incomplete until they receive all the required paperwork, which includes recommendations…

            Schools do understand that Recommendation letters are not in your control, so they will give you concession on deadlines…I would still check with schools…

  8. Hi,
    Please help with profile evaluation.
    GRE – 1160 verbal (460) and quant(700).
    B.Tech in IT – 65.56%, 12th – 74% & 10th – 80%
    6 Months experience in programming.
    I want to apply for MS in CS for fall 2011 term.
    Please tell me some universities in which there are chances of getting funding… rank is not the priority.. and if possible can u please tell me if i can get admission for phd also?

    Reply
    • hello harsh,
      my gre score is also 1160 n m applying for fall 2011 in computer n IT. hope we can help each other. my id is – diwakar.224@gmail.com . hope to get a reply frm ur side.

      Reply
  9. Hi Kumar,

    Thanks for the wonderful information.
    My question is regarding application deadline:

    For Georgia Tech. the deadline is Dec-1,2010. I have posted my mail-documents, submitted my online application on 27th Nov’10 and reported my GRE scores – on 24th Oct(the day of my test). But, i have applied for TOEFL score submission on 28th Nov’10.

    Will this cause my application to be rejected? Since, ETS takes at-least a week to report the scores:(

    My scores are:
    TOEFL:112
    GRE:1480
    Acad’s:80% aggr. (B-tech)
    Work exp: 2 years in relevant field.

    Please reply!!!

    Regards,
    Akshay

    Reply
    • Akshay,
      As long as you have applied online, paid fees, and sent your application material before the deadline, you must be fine. They do understand international students’ situation. Just to confirm, I would call or email the international admissions or graduate school.

      Great profile and scores ! Good Luck !

      Reply
    • hi akshay kavya here want to know how did u prepare for gre and toefl for getting good score (please dont mind).did you take any coaching .

      Reply
    • Kunal, Typically MS program is defined and you have to take few core classes. The electives depends on your interest and availability in the school. First decide your interest and then apply to schools that offer that emphasis.

      Reply
  10. hello sir,
    i have planned my gre test on 8th of december and toefl on 19th, can u please help to work out on the universities i which i can get admission for fall session as my schedule of test us too late, also my btech is in CSE nd further i want to go for Aero Space, will it be fine for me…?? please reply me as soon as possible , my email id is smarty_1028@yahoo.co.in

    Reply
  11. Hi
    I have given gre twice got 1090 first time and 1280 second time…
    I’m planning to apply for MIS …Should I retake gre as I desire funding …..or apply with my score….

    Thanks in advance 🙂

    Reply
    • Divya, Good job ! good improvement….Honestly, it is very hard to say that because, there are so many other factors they consider and it depends on the school…contact the schools that you have already chosen and ask them if there are any good chances with your score, if they say you need more, you can re take it…

      Reply
  12. Hi,

    I have taken GRE for second time and my GRE score is 1070, and Tofel : 77 ( i know toefl score is low, as i am appearing it for second time in this week itself)
    I live in California, and am looking colleges with in California.
    Pls suggest me, for which of the following colleges, my score is suitable, to get in.

    I have searched some of the colleges,and i will be happy, if i can get into any of the follwing colleges,

    ( i will be happy if, with my score, i can get into from the follwing first 5 colleges, otherwise, i will be fine , even if can get into, last five colleges. )

    – University of California – Irvine.
    – University of California – San Diego
    – University of california – Santa Barbara
    – University of California – Santa Cruz
    – California State University – long beach
    – California state University – Los Angeles ( here i am having doubt: is California of University and California state universtiy both are one college or different.
    – California State University – sacramento
    – Texas A & M University
    – University of California – Riverside
    – San Jose State University – San Jose , CA

    I am looking forward for ur response, and pls guide me, as i am feeling very low, as i am left with no time to give again GRE.
    As my aim is to apply for 2011 FALL,
    And moreover, the deadlines for above mentioned colleges are going to end on Dec 15th 2010.

    Or

    Can i retake exam for third time, on Dec 1st, and still, i can apply for above mentioned colleges.
    As am ready with all Documents which are necessary for admission.

    pls do suggests me in retaking the GRE exam for the third time. (so, that i will try to get good score)

    waiting for ur response………

    Reply
  13. Hi,

    HI amit,

    i have taken GRE for second time and my GRE score is 1070, and Tofel : 77 ( i know toefl score is low, as i am appearing it for second time in this week itself)
    I live in California, and am looking colleges with in California.
    Pls suggest me, for which of the following colleges, my score is suitable, to get in.

    I have searched some of the colleges,and i will be happy, if i can get into any of the follwing colleges,

    ( i will be happy if, with my score, i can get into from the follwing first 5 colleges, otherwise, i will be fine , even if can get into, last five colleges. )

    – University of California – Irvine.

    – University of California – San Diego

    – University of california – Santa Barbara

    – University of California – Santa Cruz

    – California State University – long beach

    – California state University – Los Angeles ( here i am having doubt: is California of University and California state universtiy both are one college or different.

    – California State University – sacramento

    – Texas A & M University

    – University of California – Riverside

    – San Jose State University – San Jose , CA

    Amit, i am looking forward for ur response, and pls guide me, as i am feeling very low, as i am left with no time to give again GRE.

    As my aim is to apply for 2011 FALL,

    And moreover, the deadlines for above mentioned colleges are going to end on Dec 15th 2010.

    Or

    Can i retake exam for third time, on Dec 1st, and still, i can apply for above mentioned colleges.
    As am ready with all Documents which are necessary for admission.

    pls do suggests me in retaking the GRE exam for the third time. (so, that i will try to get good score)

    waiting for ur response………

    Reply
  14. Hello Kumar,
    My name is Suhas. I am planning to do my MS in CS in 2011(not sure of spring o fall). A lil confused. Met a councellor smtym back. What he suggestd was that there are schools n US which take in students in between spring and fall ie, in the month of march and june. He told me that i was a lil late for da spring but can opt for da other 3 options ie, march june and august(fall). Please give me your opinion on this. Have taken up my gre and wil giv my tofel on 21st Nov.
    Thank you.

    Reply
  15. Hello Sir,
    I’m planning for M.S. in Fall 2011. I have my G.R.E score of 1160 and TOEFL score is about to in come in about 10 days. In engineering I have an aggregate of 61% in Computer Science branch. Do I have chances of getting scholarship ? And can you please suggest me that selecting a high ranking university with zero scholarship will be more prefferable as compared to selecting a low grade university with scholarship ? Your reply will be appreciated.

    Reply
    • Diwakar,
      You may require more score for scholarship depending on the school…your scholarship also depends on many factors like achievements, acads, etc. It is your choice to pick the school based on your goals for higher education. Ranking may not matter unless you are going to top 10, you have to look for school that matches your interests.

      Reply
  16. Hi,

    I got 1320 in GRE. Applying for GerogiaTech.
    I would like to avail some scholarships/financial benefits. The application form requires me to submit a certificate to prove that I/or my family has the necessary funds to pay for atleast the 1st year of education.
    My question: I can provide the certificate. But wouldnt providing it hamper my chances of getting a financial aid from the institute? On the other hand, would not giving the certificate also possibly increase the chances of my not getting through?

    Reply
    • Pranay,
      Scholarships can be based on merit or economic hardship based on the type of scholarship….it totally depends on the scholarship guidelines. If it is a merit based scholarship, then you must be fine…if it not, then you may not get scholarship…. Assistantships like TA, RA, GA do not depend on this… in any case, most of the US schools require internationals to submit the affidavit of support. So, I would think you do not have a choice other than to submit it…

      Reply
  17. Hi,

    I am looking forward to apply to the MS program in Computer Science for the Fall 2011 cycle. I have taken my GRE and TOEFL tests in Nov. 2009. I have a GRE score of 1220 and a TOEFL score of 109. I have a consistently good academic record with Distinction scores in my 10th, 12th and Under Graduate program (B.E. in Information Science). I would have almost 3.5 years work experience by the time I apply. Do I stand a fair chance of getting a scholarship/assistantship with these credentials or do I need to improve my GRE score still? A prompt response would be really appreciated.

    Thanks and Regards,
    Prashanth
    Bangalore, India

    Reply
    • Prashanth,
      It is very hard to predict, there are lot of variables…Funding is very competitive these days and may require more score…it totally depends on the school you apply to… You do have a fair chance if you pick the right school. The best way to verify that is to check with the school you plan to apply to. Scholarship depends on acads and other things as well..

      Reply
  18. i m giving my my GRE on 22 nov & toefl 14 nov am i very late i dnt knw the procedure to apply for scholarship too confused about selection of universities also from B tech biotech background.

    Reply
  19. hello sir,
    m done wid ma engg n gre 1ce
    bt score was nt up2 mark
    so m giving ma gre again
    2day nly i shedule ma date on 6dec
    as all other dates were ful
    plzzzzzzzz help me how 2 catch up wid all schedule u given
    xpecting 1400 dis tym
    rep as soon as possible
    plzzzzz

    Reply
  20. Hi i want to study MS in USA fall2011, can you please tell me till when the admissions will go on. I applied for passport 3 months back but still dint get. So kindly give info on this.

    Reply
    • Sudeep, it depends on the school you are applying to. Deadlines can go up to May 2011 too…just have to look for schools with late deadlines…

      Reply
  21. HI,

    I got Toefl Score: 77, but the universities to which, i am going to apply for this FALL 2011, need minimum Toefl score 80, So, should i retake the Toefl exam or should i apply to shortlisted unviversities with current Toefl score?

    Pls suggest me in this regard,..waiting for ur response…

    Regards,
    Srilatha

    Reply
    • Well, you are on the border line…I would check with the admissions or the advisor at school and take their advice before applying. Some schools are very strict about cut offs, some are a little flexible. Check with them and take a decision. Feel free to call them during US hours for quick answer.

      Reply
  22. hi .i am in a very initial stage.Planning for ms in electronics and communication.Have not yet planned for the university yet.Wanna know how to start with?

    Reply
    • Isha, Think about your area of interest first in ECE, then try to find schools that have your interested area offered courses…look for research profs at that schools…it can be lot of work, but you learn a lot about schools and what is good for you.

      Reply
    • hi i would like to do ms in uk on networking(either security r server side) will u plz tel me which way have programming securityway r server side,
      i am srinivas from A.P of india

      Reply
  23. i am working for a software organization.i recently gave my gre exam.in which i scored 960,i got 86% in 10th,90% in intermediate.72% in my engineering.i am planning to do my m.s in u.s.a for august 2011 intake.can u please help me in telling whether i can get funding from the university..

    thanks and regards……

    Reply
    • Manjusha, I think your score is not competitive enough to get funding directly…In fact, funding is tough these days and anything around 1400 would be good for getting funding…

      Reply
  24. hi ..this is kushal ..i’m planning to do masters in US….given my gre ..got 1100,10th-75%,inter -87%,my academics 72 % in btech in hyd(india)..basically from computer science background .i am quite interested in data base technology ..and which univ would b better for this database technology….KINDLY give ur valuable suggestions….plz..i am very confused ..help me.

    Reply
  25. Guys,
    I’ve planned my GRE in december’10 for fal’11.
    I’ve heard that there is a option that we can apply any university with all the req. documents even without the GRE n TOEFEL score updation. There is a option saying that ” I’ll update my GRE score later”. Is there any thing like that?. If it is so i think i can smoothly write my GRE in dec’10 and can update the score once i get it.
    Please help me in this regard.
    will it affect the scholarship or aid??
    please guys respond on this

    Reply
    • Yes, you can do that. Most of the schools let you do that. It is always good to check with the school before you take things for granted. Some may be strict about deadlines especially if they have Round 1, Round 2 concept.
      It will not impact anything as long as you make sure you send it on time and they are fine with it.

      Reply
      • thanks a lot kumar… i’ll check the universities and will make arrangement accordingly… i’ve planned my GRE for dec 20th. I think i can send my score card later once i get it.

        Reply
        • hi venkatesh.. actually i am also to apply this way.. i am going to take GRE by mid nov. can u help me regarding the universities we should apply.. i mean the universities asking for gre score later.. thanks in advance. my email id is – chasingdreamsss@gmail.com

          Reply
      • Hi , I am going to take Gre on 18th of november and toefl on 21 Nov. but i came through a sample schedule, i.e.
        GRE and TOEFL Preparation April, May, June 2010
        GRE Test June 15th , 2010
        TOEFL Test June 30th , 2010
        University Selection list Full Month : July , August 2010
        Scholarships Prep and Apply. August and September 2010.
        Online Applications Complete October 1st 2010
        SOP and Scholarship essays November 1st – November 30th 2010
        Transcripts& Recommendations October and November 2010
        Bank Statement Preparation November 1st – November 30th 2010.
        Draft of application set November 15th , 2010
        Final Check and mail / Post application material Dec 1st – December 15th 2010

        M i too late?? i am just baffled seeing this.. I want admission in Fall`11. I am expecting 1400+ in Gre . what homework should be done before i take test on 18th. I mean Sop, Lor , transcripts etc.. or this all will be donce once i take GRE. Please help me. Thanx in advance

        Reply
        • Mohit, You do not need to worry. It is just an ideal schedule if you have time and can plan very well. It is all about making sure you have stuff done before deadlines and post it on time…If you can do it with less time, it should work. Just stick to deadlines and post them on time…

          Reply
  26. Hi,

    I need some information regarding mailing of Recommendation letters to the graduate schools. Currently, i am haivng 24 recommendation letters, as i am going to apply for 8 graduate schools and for each schools, i should mail 3 Recommendation letters. To apply for one college, do i need 3 evelopes for 3 recommendation letters or can i consider only one envelope for 3 letters?
    Just give me information about mailing these Recommendation letters to graduate schools. please let me know. As i am in hury to send these documents . Thank you.

    Reply
    • Srilatha,
      Honestly, it varies by every school and they have their own format. You cannot really generalize. Some schools insist that your Professor mails the sealed envelope and fill in online application. Some schools are fine if you put all three letters in one envelope and send it to school. You should check with each school how they want the recommendation letters and if they have specific forms or format.

      Reply
    • You may not necessarily find the exact scores they accept….Sometimes they provide a range of scores and some schools do not….You need to go to their Graduate school or department websites and look for Average Scores. For instance, check this Harvard and look for range of scores question : http://www.hbs.edu/mba/faq/

      Reply
  27. Greetings sir…. i’m going to give GRE on 24th of Nov.i know i am bit late, but i want to ask you that can i apply for the universities without GRE score ? i mean, after giving GRE , i’ll send ’em score.otherwise with all the documents , can i apply ?? my concern colleges are ucs,rit,san Fransisco for doing ms in cs.

    thank you.

    Reply
  28. Thank You for suggesting on GRE date,..as i decided to give my GRE exam on first week of Oct,..once again Thank You for responding early to my comment.

    Reply
  29. Hi I registered my Toefl exam on Sept 25th and going to register my my GRE exam date on oct 5th,..and i have listed 5 universities, which have Fall 2011 application deadlines on Oct 15th.
    ( i am also done with all documents for college admission.)

    But giving exam on Oct 5th, will i be able to apply for schools having 2011 fall deadline on Oct 15th. I badly need help, in this regard,..

    if i am going to be late for fall applications having deadline on Oct 15th, then on which date should i register my GRE exam, so that i can apply for fall 2011 applications of schools having deadline on oct 15th. I badly need help, as i am going to register my GRE exam date,..pls someone help me to decide the GRE date.

    Reply
    • Well, my personal opinion, I think you must be fine as long as you send everything in to them and they just need your scores. Think of it this way, you write the test on 5th, they send the scores directly to the Universities you listed at exam center in 15 days or so. The safe bet is to check with the Admissions office about the submission of GRE and TOEFL scores. Feel free to call them in US hours as you are in rush.

      Reply
  30. Hi kumar, i am srilatha, i registered Toefl exam on sept 11th 2010 and GRE on 30th sept , and want to apply for Spring 2011, as i checked with some universities who are having application deadling upto oct 15th, but will it be possible for me to apply for Sring 2011 in schools having application deadline upto oct 15th, as i am ready with all other stuff..if i am too late for Spring 2011then can i choose , summer 2011 .pls help me..as Texas at Austin having summer 2010 admissions,..so planning to apply for summer 2011 in Texas,..pls help me out whether to apply for spring 2011 or to apply for summer 2010..otherwise i have to wait till next year fall i.e fall 2011 …pls help me

    Reply
  31. Hey i am planning to write my gre in dec 2010.can i apply for fall2011 or spring 2011.please help me.Please inform me as soon as possible.

    Reply
  32. HI…
    i’ve registered for the test (GRE) and the date is 22nd of november,2010.and i intend to apply for fall 2011 MS in electronics and communication! haven’t registered for TOEFL yet! SOPS , LORS ,shortlisting of universities ,documentation,scholarships…nothng is done yet.(yeah…i know ‘m too late,well is it like a worst case?). i think i badly need help in all of the above .panic situation! kindly help! 🙁

    Reply
    • Shruti, do NOT panic…first worry about GRE and when you are tired of studying do the other stuff. There are some articles that may help you with some of the stuff, team up with friends and discuss in other forums to get more info…

      Reply
  33. Hi sir,
    I am studying in Engineering 2nd year and preparing for SAT exams to get transfer my study to us. I wish to get admission in jan 2011. I have some questions to ask.

    1) I am thinking to give my SAT exams in november, is it appropriate time?
    what are the deadlines for admission applications..?
    2) What should i do so that i should nt repeat my subjects which i have already done.?
    3) If i miss to take admission in january, then when is the next intake?
    4)When would i come to know about addmission after giving application?
    5) Is TOEFL requred?

    thank you.

    Reply
    • Kevin, I think it might be too late Kevin to give SAT in Nov to apply for Spring 2011. You should look at the deadlines of Schools on their websites. Your next intake would be either Summer 2011 or Fall 2011. Every university is different, they would take anywhere from 1 month to few months. So, you would have to check with school. TOEFL is required for most of the schools, again it depends on the school you have to check with them. To avoid repeating some subjects, you can carry your previous coursework and say you studied some of it . First, worry about admission, then you can worry about waivers of classess.

      Reply
    • Naresh, If you do not have a bachelors or Masters degree from US School, then most of the times you will have to take both GRE and TOEFL….Some schools do not have GRE as requirement, but I do not consider those as decent schools without GRE requirement.

      Reply
  34. hi kumar
    i m planning to apply for Fall 2011. But i havent taken my GRE date as yet. n i m planning to take the date in mid december due some unavoidable circumstances since i m working at present. will i be eligible for fall 2011? i m not particularly looking for scholarship.
    if u can plan a sample schedule for me with my GRE date as 15th dec then i wud be very much thankful to you.

    Plz looking fwd for your reply.

    Reply
    • As DD said below, it is a good idea to have the list of schools with deadlines. You are eligible some schools have deadlines even as late as May or June 2011 too for Fall…..The longer you wait, the lesser options you have…plan well…You do not need any new plan, just make sure you do all the tasks listed and send before deadline.

      Reply
  35. Ideally, first, you should have a list of universities you want to apply to, check their deadlines (for scholarships and for international students) and then see if you have sufficient time to meet the deadlines and choose a test date accordingly.

    Some university your friend is applying to MIGHT have a October 31st deadline (just an example) while all your schools might have a Feb 15th deadline. Talking to him will make you feel that you are ‘late’ if you take the tests in October. But if you have firmly decided not to apply to the Oct 31st university where your friend wants to go, you obviously won’t be late for your Feb 15 schools if you take your tests in November!

    So check the deadlines first and you’ll yourself get a feeling whether you are late or not.

    Reply
  36. hello..i m planning tp give my gre test in mid oct..
    plz tell me when to give toefl test and what all are the deadlines for the us colleges for ms courses.
    and notify me if i m late…
    we have to send toefl scores along with the gre scores to the universities..
    plz reply asap..
    thnks..
    ghanish

    Reply
    • Ghanish, I believe the article gives you a sample schedule, follow the plan. Adjus the schedule to meet the deadlines of the schools you plan to apply. Honestly, the deadlines totally depend on the school and you have to plan accordingly.

      Reply
  37. HI

    I am planning to give my TOFEL by august and GRE by sept 30th 2010, and as i am applying for fall 2011. but as of now, i have prepared my transcripts, and LOR’s.
    can i take GRE on sept 30th, as i am done with only transcripts and LOR’s, for MS in Compter Engg field.

    Also, want to know about the scholarship procedure and funding procedure, like hw can i apply loan for my studies..pls help me in this regard.

    Reply
  38. hello, i want to take my GRE in october 2010
    i want to apply for FALL 2011..
    i have taken date of TOEFL in august 2010
    will it be possible to take admission in fall 2010

    Reply
  39. I am planning to apply for fall 2011,but i have registered for the gre exam date in november first week.if all my documentation is already done till november before my exam and if i apply online to the concerned university[which is supposedly faster than usual mail]will i be able to make it in fall 2011?

    Reply
    • You will be fine. Make sure you send the application material whatever you have to the school you apply before their deadlines.

      Reply
  40. Kumar… thanks for the great info..
    But this is quite in contrast to what I have been told until now…
    I’m planning to take GRE by Oct last week or Nov 1st week (2010), and planning to take adminssion in Fall 2011. Is that too late?
    If I understand correctly, the date for taking the exam should not be a problem, but I have to have my scholarship application, SOP, LOR ready and sent to universities before their deadlines (eg: 15th Dec for some). Am I too short of time now? I havent really prepared any of the documentation as of yet.

    Reply
    • You are not short of time. The plan I have put up for Fall 2011 is something that gives you time for every step. I know students who have done everything in a month too. You would have to squeeze in all the stuff you have to do now in less time.

      Reply
  41. hey kumar,a really informative website!
    I am planning to do my MS in Industrial Engineering and hope to apply for spring 2011.I was intending to apply for fall 2010,but due to some circumstances i couldn’t go through with it.i have a few questions:(all subject to the deadlines,which i am frantically following)

    1.i intend to give my GRE in the 1st week of September 2010,will it affect my chances of getting into any college as long as i am on schedule?
    2.When do the spring classes start? around which date?generally.
    1.Am i still on course to a spring admission?(still haven’t given my GRE,TOEFL)or i should consider fall 2011?

    Would really appreciate a reply. Highly informative and will recommend to friends.
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Vivek, It can be a little tricky because you are short on time. Your goal should be to make sure you post all your application on time to the school and they receive everything before the deadline. Coming to your questions
      1.i intend to give my GRE in the 1st week of September 2010,will it affect my chances of getting into any college as long as i am on schedule?
      No, it will not as long as you are on schedule and they get everything on time.
      2.When do the spring classes start? around which date?generally.
      Typically, the classes start around last week of January. You should plan to be there a week or so before to register for classes.
      1.Am i still on course to a spring admission?(still haven’t given my GRE,TOEFL)or i should consider fall 2011?

      It can be little tight, but you can still do it. Just careful planning and execution. Personally, I would not waste 6 months of my time, I would go for Spring.

      Good Luck !

      Reply
      • Thanks for the prompt reply. There are no dates available for the GRE in september. How would my situation be if its the first wweek of October? I’m already onto my LOR’s and drafting sample SOP’s.
        Thanks!

        Reply
        • Vivek, It is a tough situation. Contact the schools you have in mind and get their feedback. If you get an extension from the schools about deadline you are fine. Worst case scenario, just apply everything, if it does not work out, they will consider for Fall…

          Reply
          • Sanjay, depends on how you look at it and where you want to study…Yes, there are students with admissions with similar scores like yours…it depends on other factors too and not just your GRE and TOEFL.

  42. Hi Kumar, I think I will be comfortable with mid September for taking GRE test. Many persons told me that the scholarship are very less for Indian students(for M.S) and it won’t matter much if you take GRE in Sep or Aug.
    I’m planning for fall ‘11
    For funding, Is there any other way? Like instead of scholarship, sponsorship from any company?

    Need guidance.

    Reply
    • Yes, timing of taking GRE does not matter. You have to just apply to scholarship before their deadline. Yes, it can hard to get scholarship sometimes. Getting sponsorship from companies can be very difficult if you are coming from other country. If you are in US and work for company, they sometimes sponsor your education. I am not sure if there are any other options other than scholarships, fellowships or funding like RA or TA.

      Reply
    • Smitha, It is not late. You just have to squeeze in other things as listed related to application process in short time.

      Reply

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