1. MAIN ELEMENTS OF AN APPLICATION
USA Application Process
MAIN ELEMENTS OF AN APPLICATION
Shilpa Menon
PhD student, Anthropology
University of Illinois at Chicago

2. USA Application Process
Main elements
Statement of Purpose (SoP)
Letters of Recommendation
Academic CV
Writing Sample
Exam scores: GRE, TOEFL/IELTS
Transcript

3. USA Application Process
TIMELINE

4. USA Application Process
Timeline
Month(s)
Task(s)
June-August
Register for exams; begin preparation
Shortlist
Mail faculty and students
June-September
Write exams
September-October
SoP master draft
Writing sample
Recommenders
October-November
Prepare separate application packets and drafts
December-January
Application deadlines; portals close
February-March
Admit decisions; check Grad Cafe
May-June
Start Visa application process

5. USA Application Process
Timeline
Month(s)
Task(s)
June-August
Register for exams; begin preparation
Shortlist
Mail faculty and students
June-September
Write exams
September-October
SoP master draft
Writing sample
Recommenders
October-November
Prepare separate application packets and drafts
December-January
Application deadlines; portals close
February-March
Admit decisions; check Grad Cafe
May-June
Start Visa application process
Longlist, then shortlist
Budget

6. USA Application Process
Timeline
Month(s)
Task(s)
June-August
Register for exams; begin preparation
Shortlist
Mail faculty and students
June-September
Write exams
September-October
SoP master draft
Writing sample
Recommenders
October-November
Prepare separate application packets and drafts
December-January
Application deadlines; portals close
February-March
Admit decisions; check Grad Cafe
May-June
Start Visa application process
See uni websites:
GRE General
Subject GRE
TOEFL or IELTS

7. USA Application Process
Timeline
Month(s)
Task(s)
June-August
Register for exams; begin preparation
Shortlist
Mail faculty and students
June-September
Write exams
September-October
SoP master draft
Writing sample
Recommenders
October-November
Prepare separate application packets and drafts
December-January
Application deadlines; portals close
February-March
Admit decisions; check Grad Cafe
May-June
Start Visa application process
Master draft: get input
Writing sample: tweak existing work
Recommenders: contact in advance, share material
Tips and Info: The Professor Is In (blog)

8. USA Application Process
Timeline
Month(s)
Task(s)
June-August
Register for exams; begin preparation
Shortlist
Mail faculty and students
June-September
Write exams
September-October
SoP master draft
Writing sample
Recommenders
October-November
Prepare separate application packets and drafts
December-January
Application deadlines; portals close
February-March
Admit decisions; check Grad Cafe
May-June
Start Visa application process
Tailor documents: word limits and content
SoP: word limits, highlight relevant info
Other statements: personal history, research proposal

9. USA Application Process
Timeline
Month(s)
Task(s)
June-August
Register for exams; begin preparation
Shortlist
Mail faculty and students
June-September
Write exams
September-October
SoP master draft
Writing sample
Recommenders
October-November
Prepare separate application packets and drafts
December-January
Application deadlines; portals close
February-March
Admit decisions; check Grad Cafe
May-June
Start Visa application process
Don’t wait until the last day to upload

10. USA Application Process
Timeline
Month(s)
Task(s)
June-August
Register for exams; begin preparation
Shortlist
Mail faculty and students
June-September
Write exams
September-October
SoP master draft
Writing sample
Recommenders
October-November
Prepare separate application packets and drafts
December-January
Application deadlines; portals close
February-March
Admit decisions; check Grad Cafe
May-June
Start Visa application process
Grad Café: forum for grad students

11. USA Application Process
Timeline
Month(s)
Task(s)
June-August
Register for exams; begin preparation
Shortlist
Mail faculty and students
June-September
Write exams
September-October
SoP master draft
Writing sample
Recommenders
October-November
Prepare separate application packets and drafts
December-January
Application deadlines; portals close
February-March
Admit decisions; check Grad Cafe
May-June
Start Visa application process
Be in touch with programme coordinator and adviser

12. Some External Funding Options
Inlaks Scholarships
Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships (for Masters in certain disciplines; an option for Masters-integrated PhD programmes)
Wenner Gren Wadsworth International Fellowships (Anthropology)
AAUW International Fellowships: American Association for University Women