Show Stoppers at the Time of Application

In this blog we wanted to go over a few hurdles that may lead to a rejection or delay in your admission application process.

INCORRECT NAME
Although a lot of students are unaware of this, it is a very common problem faced by around six out of ten students at the time of application. The name on passport, college/university mark sheets, degree certificate and GRE & TOEFL scorecards should be the same. It is crucial there aren’t any spelling mistakes in your name, middle name name and surname.
At times the surname is different, especially in cases of students with South-Indian names. Make sure the name matches on all-important documents. In case it doesn’t, make sure to get it changed before you begin the application process.

YEAR DOWN & BACKLOGS
You may have backlogs and year down during your Bachelor’s/Master’s degree. It is important that you not only mention this but also justify the reasons behind your backlogs and year-downs in your statement of purpose.

ACADEMIC GAP DUE TO OTHER FACTORS
In some cases an academic gap may occur due to reasons such as an accident or health conditions. This should be mentioned very clearly in the SOP or else it may work against you.

ISSUANCE OF TRANSCRIPTS
You are supposed to send college/university transcripts at the time of application. Apply to the college/university well in advance because some institutions take up to two months to issue transcripts, which in turn may delay your application process.

GRE & TOEFL SCORE REPORTING
ETS takes time to report official scores to the universities. Hence once you have a final list of universities that you are applying to, have your official scores sent immediately to these universities. In case the US University doesn’t receive the official scores in time, your application shall be placed on hold.

ONLINE SUBMISSION OF RECOMMENDATION LETTERS
Most US universities require online recommendation letters. Your recommender will have to upload the letter online or send it from his official e-mail. You should inform your recommenders about this so that they are prepared for it.

BANK SOLVENCY/STATEMENT
The bank solvency/statement is a crucial document at the time of application. This document has to be submitted either at the time of or before issue of I20 form, depending on the university requirement.