8 steps to find a fitting US university for MS

Introduction
It is said that United States is the land of possibilities and opportunities. Everyone around the
world dream to pursue their education in US in order to gain extensive experience and quality
education. But dreams go in hand with reality. For making this dream come true, it is
important to follow certain steps.
There are more than 1,700 universities in US that are offering MS including Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, UC Berkeley, Stanford University etc.
These are the dream universities for students all around the world and let’s suppose that you
are one of them and you want to make your dream come true. What steps you should follow
to find your perfect university in US when there are multiple options to select from.
1. Identify your interest and passion
There is no doubt in the fact that a person can do its best work when the work is aligned with
interest. You may have seen people working on subjects which do not interest them.
Ultimately, they end up feeling depression and passionless. This leads to zero creativity in
your own field. So, it is crucial that you choose the subject in which you are passionate. You
may be planning to excel in your career and subject, but it is only possible when you choose
your subject carefully. Therefore, it is important that you stay honest with yourself and don’t
let other people get into your mind. Understand your passion and go with it. Once you are
done with this step, one of the most important steps is completed.
2. Shortlist universities
There are more than 1700 universities that offer MS programs in US. When you are at the
stage of choosing the University of your Choice, you should be very careful. All the
universities offer different courses and subjects. Once you have chosen your subject, its time
to choose your university in relevance with the subject. Subject-Specific ranking is crucial in
this case. While shortlisting universities, two things should be considered carefully. First,
University ranking overall and subject-wise ranking of the university. Second, International
student policy to make your procedure well-organized.
Shortlist universities and do your research. You could check their student forums and
prospectuses for detailed information. Now-a-days, social media channels are also great
source of information, so, check alumni groups. If you want to be fully prepared then you can
do some extensive research including LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook pages. This
information can prepare you for all that is to come.
3. Check your Course content
You should not only choose your program by its name. The course content of any program
should be read beforehand. Once, you have shortlisted the universities and their programs, get
their course outline. If you are particularly interested in a specific subject, the course contents
would play a very important role.
If your interests do not align with the course contents of the program, you should keep
looking. Do not settle on the first program you come through. Once, you find the program
and really like the course contents of that specific program, then go along-with it. Choosing
such subject would end up in excellent grades and amazing career opportunities.
4. Language requirements (throw some more light on test score requirements)
Every international university has certain requirements. When you are planning to study in
US, one of the basic requirements is language. Some of the standardized tests which are
accepted by US universities are
● IELTS (International English Language Testing Service): Generally, all U.S.
Universities require at least six band score on IELTS. Whereas, prestigious U.S.
Universities demand at least sever band score.
● PTE (Pearson Test of English): All the universities require a minimum of 55 score to
qualify. But sometimes, the curriculum may differ depending on the university.
● TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): TOEFL is a very famous English
test. Most of the universities in U.S. require a minimum of 70 score. Depending on
the university, the minimum required score increases to 80 to 100.
Every university has different requirements and every course has certain minimum language
score required.
5. Financial Aspects
Financial aspect is one of the most important area to consider when choosing a university. It
involves estimating the cost of the program. Your finances play a major role in considering a
US university. The costs should also include accommodation, transport and living expenses
along with tuition fees. In case, you are interested in a university but the tuition fees are not in
your budget, don’t cut it off your list. Different universities offer scholarships and financial
aids for students to cover up the costs. In addition, if you cannot avail any scholarship, you
could also apply for loan to fulfil your dreams. There are a lot of opportunities out there, you
just need to find the one that suits you.
6. Accommodation of US universities
Moving to study seems like a dream come true but it also comes with a lot of planning. You
need to have a proper plan for your accommodation when you choose a university. Therefore,
it is essential that you start doing your own research keeping in mind all the aspects. A
comfortable living is very important to focus on your studies. If you cannot find a convenient
accommodation, it will lead to stressful daily activities. Most of the universities in US do
offer accommodation on campus.
7. Decide the location which suits you
US has 50 states. When you think about studying is US, it is also very important to pinpoint
the state and the city in which you prefer to study. Each state has its own identity, culture,
history, climate and economy. So, have a look at the states before approaching any MS
program in US university.
8. Attend information sessions and events
Information sessions can be very interactive and help you out in making the final decision.
Attend every event or session related to your subject and university so that you can make a
well-planned program for your future studies. Therefore, it is recommended that you attend
and get all the piece of information.
It is clear that a well-organized and researched plan can help you land on the most suitable
university in US for MS program. Searching your best options and evaluating them could
make your dream come true. No dream should be considered impossible as with proper plan
you can reach your goal. It doesn’t matter if it is about studying in the most privileged
university in the US or about finding your dream career.