The United States administration offers a variety of non-immigrant visas for foreign nationals. For instance, the United States issues B-1/B-2 visa to visitors and businessmen, and H-1B visas to those who have been granted permission to work in the country. An M-1 visa is issued to students enrolling in short-term vocational programs like flight schools, language institutes, etc. However, students going to an accredited university for a full-time academic program, require an F-1 visa stamp.
Currently, student visas are being processed faster than other types. Those who already hold a B1/B2 visa can obtain a visa by appearing for VFS appointment and by submitting their application via drop box. In other words, they get an interview exemption.
Students are allowed to apply for the F-1 visa 365 days before the start date of the program mentioned on their I-20 form. The I-20 form is an official document issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The following important details are mentioned in the document:
- the name as printed on the passport of the student
- the name of the university which the student is joining
- the program to which the student has been admitted
- the date of commencement of the program
- the date by which the program has to be completed
- the total cost of education for one year.
The fall 2023 semester generally begins in the third week of August. So, if you plan to attend an American university this fall, you can begin applying for your visa now.
How to Apply for an F1 Visa?
- Get your I-20 from the SEVP institution
- Apply online by filling the DS-160 form
- Pay the general visa application fee ($160)
- Pay the SEVIS fee ($350)
- Schedule your OFC appointment followed by F1 visa interview date
- Attend the F1 visa interview on the scheduled date
Keep in mind that you should have adequate liquid funds to cover the total cost of one year of education – this is mentioned in the I-20 form. Many students are under the wrong impression that their sponsor needs to deposit this entire amount in the bank and that otherwise their visa can be rejected. Contrary to popular belief, this is not the case. Bank deposits (savings, fixed deposits) and other liquid assets like shares, mutual funds, Public provident fund and employee provident fund etc. education loans are all acceptable forms to prove financial capability. The following are additional points are also taken into consideration by the consulate officer:
- Accreditation and reputation of the university to which you have been admitted (this shouldn’t be an issue if you go through Dilip Oak’s academy; we only recommend accredited universities)
- your academic background is good along with a satisfactory GRE score
- Annual income and financial stability of your sponsor
- Your communication skills along with your ability to give convincing and honest answers to the consulate officer’s questions
If your Visa Application gets rejected in the first attempt, you can apply again. You have to go through the same process again, except the SEVIS fee.
Start preparing your financial documents now and apply for an F-1 visa as soon as you get your I-20 form from the university you desire to attend.
At Dilip Oak’s Academy, we provide detailed guidance on these processes under our Admission Counseling Services that include, selection of universities, documentation process and visa counselling along with mock visa interviews. As India’s leading Study Abroad Consultants, we have helped more than 30,000 students to secure their dream-admits for various universities in America including MIT, Stanford, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon and other top-ranked universities.
We also offer GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS coaching, GRE Self Prep and guide students with university selection, application essays, and visa counseling under our Admission Counseling Services for USA, Germany and UK. To enroll, call us on 91-020-67444222, 91-8007878495.
Understanding IELTS Test Formats
The International English Language Testing System is an English language proficiency test one has to take if one wants to study, work or immigrate to English-speaking countries. For a long time, IELTS was a paper-based test. However, recently, IELTS offered students a choice of taking the test in computer-based mode [CBT] or paper-based mode [PBT]. Choosing the suitable mode of examination is no mean feat here!
Comparing CBT and PBT
The test format is the same, you get the same sections, the same question types, the same difficulty level, and the same time per section with the same evaluation and marking scheme. The Speaking section is conducted face-to-face, and often on different dates. It is the SAME for both PBT and CBT. The main differences between CBT and PBT can be seen in the Listening, Reading, and Writing modules, which are discussed in detail below:
| Modules | Pen-Paper based | Computer-based |
| Listening |
|
|
| Reading |
|
|
| Writing |
|
|
| Speaking |
Same |
Same |
Click here to read more blogs about IELTS. You can also visit our sections on GRE and Admission Counseling.
Other differences between CBT and PBT
| Pen-Paper based | Computer-based |
|
4 slots in a month |
90 slots in a month |
|
Results in 12-13 days |
Results in 3-5 days |
|
Test centers are less crowded |
Test centers may be more crowded |
|
– |
Noise because of typing during the writing section can get distracting |
Factors to Consider When Choosing Between CBT and PBT
While choosing the most appropriate mode of the exam, we recommend that you keep in mind your application deadlines. In addition, find out your comfort level by checking the sample of the CD-IELTS on the IDP website to know the Page Look and feel of the CBT exam. Similarly, you can try out a paper-based test to eventually decide which mode to choose.
As India’s leading Study Abroad Consultant, Dilip Oak’s Academy offers a comprehensive suite of services, including GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS coaching, as well as GRE Self Prep. Furthermore, our admission counseling services can guide you through the entire process from Shortlisting Universities to Visa Counseling. With our expertise, we have successfully sent 32,000 students to various prestigious American universities like MIT, Stanford, Cornell, and Carnegie Mellon. To enroll in our comprehensive overseas education consultancy services, book a free consultation or call us at 91-20-67444222.
MS in Spring 2024? Here’s what you need to know!
If you are planning for the January 2024 intake, this blog will help you plan systematically to fulfill your dream of MS in the US.
Before we get into the details, for those of you who are still on the fence about applying for the upcoming Spring semester because of the misinformation available online, the section below will allow you to confidently make your decision.
Should I Apply for the Spring Semester?
Some common misconceptions:
- Spring enrolment is lower at most schools. Not really! Nearly all colleges and universities in the United States accept new students for the spring semester. The only caveat is that some universities only offer certain classes in the fall semester, so new students who enroll in the spring miss out.
- Financial aid is scarce. Again, this is not correct. Financial aid opportunities in the spring are comparable to those in the fall. Also, most universities only give financial aid to students who have already completed one semester with a very good GPA in the form of Research and Teaching Assistantships, tuition waivers, etc. (Grade Point Average). Accordingly, it makes little difference whether you enroll in the fall or spring semester.
Now that you are better informed, the timeline mentioned below will help you plan your entire application process.
What is the Best Time to Apply for the Spring Semester?
The optimal time to submit an application for the spring semester is between June and July of the preceding year. While many schools continue to accept applications through September, ensure that you confirm your specific program deadlines.
Step by step guide to spring 2024 applications
Here is the application schedule for the upcoming spring semester. The following instructions are universal and should be followed by all students applying for the spring intake. There’s no time to waste now, so hurry up and get to work.
February – March 2023
- Review your goals for MS education and choose some specific areas in which you would like to specialize
- Register for the GRE and TOEFL/IELTS examinations – these examinations should preferably be taken by mid-June in order to have time to complete all of your online applications and courier the required documents by the end of July.
- Start preparing for GRE and TOEFL/IELTS, as it will take approximately 2-3 months to achieve your target score.
April – May 2023
- Make a preliminary list of about 30 universities that meet your requirements considering:
- Location
- Costs
- Broad specializations you are interested in
- Recommendations by seniors your professors etc.
- Whether your academic profile fits the university’s requirements.
- Arrange for 4 -5 sets of transcripts in sealed covers from your college or university – some universities insist on university transcripts
- Choose your recommenders (generally, 3 recommendations are required, at least one of which should be from the educational institute last attended) and give them the necessary details – resume, copies of your mark sheets etc.
- Start working on your Statement of Purpose (target date for completion 31 May 2023) and Resume
June-July 2023
- Take the GRE and TOEFL/IELTS exams latest by 20 July
- Carry out a comprehensive review of the 30 universities considering:
- Your academic performance in the bachelor’s degree
- GRE and TOEFL/IELTS scores of students admitted in the past
- Any minimum cut-offs with respect to GRE and TOEFL/IELTS scores
- Whether courses of your choice are offered in the spring semester
- Cost of education
- Complete your Statement of Purpose (SOP) and Resume
- Make your final shortlist of 8-10 universities.
- Request the ETS to forward your GRE and TOEFL scores (IDP for IELTS scores) to the universities you are applying to, specifying the correct codes for the universities/departments you are applying to.
- Complete the online application process and send the required documents by courier
This completes the application process; however, there are further steps to be taken:
- Track the status of your application on your status page of the university’s website. Though universities generally communicate decisions or requirements by either e-mail or post, it may happen that the only source of information is your status page.
- If there are any deficiencies in your applications (missing documents, non-receipt of GRE or TOEFL/IELTS scores, recommendations etc.), act immediately to correct the deficiencies.
- When you receive an offer letter from the universities (or when an admission decision is indicated on your status page), email your acceptance. This is very important, especially when you are offered funding.
- When you have accepted the university’s offer of admission and the documentation formalities are complete, the university will send you the 1-20, an immigration document, which is essential for obtaining a visa.
- When you receive the I-20, check that it is correct in all respects:
- Your name and date of birth should be exactly as in your passport
- Your course and course duration are correctly specified
- The financial sources indicated exceed the costs.
- Prepare the visa documentation
- Study the visa application formalities specified on the websites of the applicable US Consulate and the VFS (Visa Facilitation Services)
- Apply for a visa interview date – you can apply for a visa interview 120 days before the joining date mentioned on your I-20.
As India’s leading Study Abroad Consultants, we offer GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS coaching, GRE Self Prep and guide students with university selection, application essays, and visa counseling under our Admission Counseling Services for USA, Germany and UK.
Contact us at 020-67444222 or email us at support@dilipoakacademy.com.
Students have been submitting their applications for fall 23 since October 2022. Even though many universities have deadlines until March 31, 2023, they begin processing applications on a first-come, first-served basis. As a result, students will begin receiving admissions offers in January 2023. By May 2023, all admissions decisions will be made.
If you have been accepted, you may be wondering what your next step should be after receiving admission to any university.
Let’s start with the types of acceptance that you can receive from a university.
Types of admissions:
a) In some cases, universities send an admission letter along with the I-20 form, an immigration document that is essential for obtaining a visa. This is the most convenient option for students. This type of acceptance also allows you to hold onto this letter of acceptance for some time while you await decisions from other universities. You can accept this admission and wait for offers from other universities.
b) You will receive an acceptance letter from the university, but the I-20 form will not be issued until after you have accepted the offer of admission. You can accept the offer of admission to be on the safe side, but the decision to join is still in your hands even after acceptance.
c) Some universities demand bank certificates before issuing the I-20. When you have accepted the university’s offer of admission and the documentation formalities, along with the financial documents, are complete, the university will send you the I-20. In that case,
- Students will need to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds in their bank account (including savings and fixed deposits) to cover the annual fee.
- The amount should be enough to cover two semesters of tuition fees in addition to a year’s worth of living expenses.
- Funds are only required to be available on the date the certificate is issued. For this reason, many students borrow money from family and friends for a single day, then pay it back as soon as the bank issues the certificate.
- It is recommended that students bring a bank certificate for an amount equal to the sum total of the most expensive university on their list of schools to which they have applied.
- As you will have to send this letter to multiple universities, it is recommended that you obtain around eight copies of the bank certificates (which are valid for three months).
- Students can also submit a letter of sanctioned education loan for the equivalent amount if he or she does not have the funds in his bank account to show. Loans are approved in principle. Such a letter is issued by a bank or non-banking financial institution (NBFC). The admission letter serves as a preliminary for loan approval.
d) Before sending an I-20 form, some universities require a non-refundable deposit as confirmation of admission. This is just another way of asking for a commitment from you. The required deposit amount can vary from USD 100 to USD 500.
- If you aren’t confident that you want to enroll at that particular university, then you should hold off on making this payment.
- However, some universities require this money to be paid by a certain date. In such cases, you can make payments if this university is one of your top and safest choices.
Now let’s talk about the funding.
Securing the funding:
Pursuing M.S. in the USA is often expensive, especially for international students, because unlike American citizens who pay in-state tuition fees, international students have to pay out-of-state tuition fees. For example, if the annual in-state tuition fee is $8,000, the out-of-state tuition fee can be as high as $20,000. These tuition fees are also dependent on the ranking and location of the university. Cost of education in US has also increased because of appreciation in USD value and increase in living cost due to inflation in the US. An average master’s degree from a decent university can cost between Rs. 35-45 lakhs.
Since the cost of education has increased, most students prefer to take out an education loan. Loans can be obtained from nationalized banks, private banks, cooperative banks, and private financial institutions. Rates of interest can range from 9–12%. (Nationalized banks tend to have a lower rate of interest compared to private institutions.) Female students can also benefit from a 0.5% discount on the rate of interest from a nationalized bank. To know more, read our detailed blog on this topic.
At Dilip Oak’s Academy, we provide detailed guidance on these processes under our Admission Counseling Services that include, selection of universities, documentation process and visa counselling along with mock visa interviews. As India’s leading Study Abroad Consultants, we have helped more than 30,000 students to secure their dream-admits for various universities in America including MIT, Stanford, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon and other top-ranked universities.
We also offer GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS coaching, GRE Self Prep and guide students with university selection, application essays, and visa counseling under our Admission Counseling Services for USA, Germany and UK. To enroll, call us on 91-020-67444222, 91-8007878495.
The United States is without a question every student’s first choice when thinking about studying abroad for master’s. To convert this dream into reality, many of you may have already started with your applications for the fall 2023 intake. Most universities began accepting applications in October. You might be thinking that it’s too late to apply for the fall of 2023 now that January has arrived. The good news for you, It’s not too late!
Let’s delve deeper into this topic.
- Roughly 10% of the universities had their final deadlines on 31 December
- Around 10% have their final deadlines on 31 Jan.
- However, the majority (about 80%) of universities allow you to apply till March and some of them even accept applications till May.
Which means that you can still secure an admission in a good university even if you start with your applications now!
Why Fall 2023
Fall intake is usually the most preferred among Indian students and for good reasons
- Fall intake offers a more diverse range of courses
- Fall intake allows students a better access to funding
- Many universities have waived of GRE requirement for Fall 2023
- It also allows students to explore part-time on-campus job opportunities such as research assistant and teaching assistant
- Probably the most important reason for the popularity of fall admissions is the higher availability of post-study work options for students who start their studies during fall
You must move quickly
Although most universities will still be accepting applications till march, you need to consider time required for documentation and university shortlisting. Documentation includes procuring transcripts, drafting SOPs, personal statements, diversity statements LORs and resumes. University shortlisting involves lot of research to select right universities according to your profile and interests. You also need to move quickly because even after securing an admission, securing a visa can be equally tedious considering you are already on a tight timeline.
We are here to help you
We at Dilip Oak’s academy are here to help you.
- We are the best when it comes to admissions counselling. We will provide you with a well-balanced list of universities with safe as well as ambitious options, thus increasing your chances of admission.
- We offer counselling for SOPs (statement of purpose), LORs (letters of recommendations) and resumes and help you prepare everything from personal statements to diversity statements
- We also provide guidance for visa along with mock visa interviews
Dilip Oak’s academy can be your perfect guide into this often confusing admission process. We have been in this business since 1996 and we have more than 30,000 success stories to attest to our expertise in this field. Our counselors are experienced professionals who interact with every student personally to understand his/her unique requirements and provide guidance accordingly.
Best Wishes and Happy applying!!
As India’s leading Study Abroad Consultants, we offer GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS coaching, GRE Self Prep and guide students with university selection, application essays, and visa counseling under our Admission Counseling Services for USA, Germany and UK.