What are your reasons for wanting to study in the United States?

Which universities will meet your needs?

Will you need financial assistance?

Find out application and financial aid deadlines. This will affect when you take the standardized tests required for admission since test results must reach admissions offices no later than these deadlines. The tests should be taken in advance of submitting university application forms.

Register to take standardized tests if required by the universities to which you are applying.

Begin narrowing down your choices of schools to approximately 10 to 20 institutions.

12 MONTHS PRIOR to enrollment, complete the following (months indicated are estimates, based on fall enrollment):

AUGUST
Contact universities for application and financial aid forms and catalogs.
Obtain test registration forms to take the TOEFL and SAT I and SAT II, if necessary.

SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER
Continue narrowing down your choice of schools. While some students apply to more, 5 to 10 well-researched choices are sufficient.
Request an official transcript from your school.
Request letters of recommendation from your teachers.
Submit completed application forms (for admission as well as financial aid).
Double check that transcripts and references have been sent.
Take the necessary admissions tests.

JANUARY – APRIL
University application deadlines must be met; note that these are for regular admission — early admission deadlines will be sooner.

APRIL – JUNE
Letters of acceptance or rejection arrive. Decide which university to attend, notify the admissions office of your decision, complete and return any forms they require.
Send letters of regret to those universities you turn down.
Organize finances: arrange to transfer funds to a U.S. bank; make sure you have funds for travel and expenses on arrival.
Finalize arrangements for housing and medical insurance with your university.

JUNE – AUGUST

Use information from your Form I-20 or DS-2019 to fill out the SEVIS Form I-901 and pay the $100 required SEVIS fee (see SEVIS information for description of SEVIS form and fee).
Upon receipt of your I-20 and SEVIS I-901 payment receipt, apply to your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for a visa. This should be as far in advance of your departure date as possible (see “Visas”).

Make travel arrangements.
Contact the International Student Office at your university with details of your arrival plans, and confirm details of any orientation for new students held by the university.
Requesting Application Materials

Because of the work, and the costs, involved in putting together a good application, most students limit their applications to between four and seven colleges. However, you can request information from as many universities as you like, keeping in mind any postage costs you may have to pay. You may have a clear idea of exactly which schools you will be applying to and request information only from those. Or you may prefer to request information from between 10 and 20 schools that you believe meet your needs, and then narrow down your list once you have read through the catalogs, application forms, and other information you receive.

If you have access to the Internet, you will find that many U.S. universities also put their college catalogs onto their websites, and some have even stopped printing paper copies. Many also have on-line application forms that can be completed on the computer and sent back to the university electronically, or the forms can be downloaded and printed. If there is an on-line application, you should use it. This is the quickest method for submitting your application. If you can download the application, appropriate parts of the catalog, and other information from a college’s website, you will not need to contact the school directly. Also, college websites increasingly offer other features, such as video tours of their campuses.

If you do not have access to the Internet and need printed copies of application materials and catalogs, contact each university by writing a letter or by sending a fax or e-mail request separately to each school. Include the information detailed in the section below, “What to Include,” in your written request. Or, you may prefer to submit a preliminary application form instead; contact your nearest EducationUSA information and advising center for copies of these forms.

Due to the cost of mailing to other countries, you may receive a shortened version of course listings, and you may be asked to pay if you require the entire catalog. Check to see if your information or advising center has copies of catalogs you need. If you do not receive, or cannot find, all the information you require, write or e-mail again to the international undergraduate admissions office and ask the specific questions you wish to have answered.

E-mail is an easy way to obtain an application and other materials, and U.S. universities are usually quick to respond. However, sometimes you may need to make a telephone call to follow up on a particular item. In that case, send a fax or e-mail ahead of time, telling the appropriate person that you will be telephoning, when you will call, and what you wish to discuss.

When to Send Your Inquiry

Send your first inquiry approximately 12 months before you plan to enroll. Give yourself sufficient time for possible delays in international mailings, especially if you are posting applications or requesting information in November or December when the high volume of holiday mail will often double the length of time mail takes to reach its destination.

Where to Send Your Inquiry

Address your requests for information to the Office of International Undergraduate Admissions. Be brief but clear in your request. Be sure to include the full zip (postal) code for the institution on the envelope to ensure that your letter reaches its destination as quickly as possible. You may also send these inquiries by e-mail.

What to Include

• name, address, age, and nationality (always be consistent in the spelling of your name and address);
• your secondary school diploma or examination results that you have obtained or that you will obtain;
• any postsecondary study you have undertaken (if applicable);
• the degree and subject you would like to major in (if known), and the proposed starting date;
• how you expect to finance your studies — if you need financial assistance from the university, inquire about the possibilities;
• results of TOEFL, SAT, and any other admissions tests, if already taken.

U.S. Visa and Immigration-Related Information

We are delighted that you are interested in studying in the United States, and we hope that you will be able to do so. Here is some information about student and other types of visas that we hope you will find useful as you plan for your academic program. Important questions about visas:

1. What is a Visa?

A visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to a U.S. port-of entry and request permission from the U.S. immigration officer to enter the United States. It does not guarantee entry into the U.S. For more information about the definition of a visa, as well as policies and procedures regarding visas, please visit Destination USA.

2. What type of visa do I need to become an academic student in the United States?

Most non-U.S. citizens who wish to study in the United States will seek an F-1 (non-immigrant) student visa, but there are other visa types that are sometimes authorized for those who study in the U.S. Here is a short description of the different visa types that involve study:

F-1, or Student Visa: This visa is the most common for those who wish to engage in academic studies in the United States. It is for people who want to study at an accredited U.S. college or university or to study English at a university or intensive English language institute.

J-1, or Exchange Visitor: This visa is for people who will be participating in an exchange visitor program in the U.S. The “J” visa is for educational and cultural exchange programs.
M-1, or Student Visa: This visa is for those who will be engaged in non-academic or vocational study or training at an institution in the U.S.

3. Applying for a Visa – Key Points to Keep in Mind

In order to apply for a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate, you must first have a SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System)-generated document (either an I-20 or DS-2019) issued by a U.S. college or university or Department of State-designated sponsor organization. You will be required to submit this form when you apply for a visa. The U.S. academic institution or program sponsor will provide you with the appropriate SEVIS-generated form only when you have been academically admitted to the institution or accepted as a participant in an exchange program. The institution or program sponsor will also send you additional information about applying for the appropriate visa, as well as other guidance about beginning your academic program in the United States.

Once you have all the required documentation, you may apply for the visa, even if you do not intend to begin your program of study for several months. It is best to apply early for the visa to make sure that there is sufficient time for visa processing.

Planning Ahead for the Visa Process, Not Just Your Academic Admission

One of the most important things you can do to ensure that you will be able to arrive in time for the start of your educational program in the United States is to plan well in advance, not only for the academic portion of your U.S. program, but also for the visa process. This means you will need to request and receive the appropriate visa-qualifying document (either an I-20 or DS-2019) from the U.S. institution or program sponsor well in advance of your planned departure to the United States. You will also need to make an appointment for your visa interview. Please consult the U.S. Embassy or Consulate nearest you to find out how long it may take to get an appointment.

Applying for a Visa – Key Points to Keep in Mind

Among the things you’ll need to do is pay the SEVIS fee, pay the visa processing fee (the procedure will differ from one U.S. Embassy/Consulate to another, so visit the website of the U.S. Embassy, and make an appointment for the visa interview (again, procedures will differ, so visit the website of the U.S. Embassy). You should also make sure you have all the documentation you will need when you go for the interview, including the visa-qualifying document (I-20 or DS-2019), financial support documents, proof of payment of the SEVIS and visa fees, and a completed visa application form. Ensure that you complete the visa application correctly by following the Department of State website procedures carefully.

Key Information about Visas and Entering the United States

There are two additional bits of information that are useful to know. The first is that the U.S. Embassy/Consulate cannot issue a visa more than 120 days before the actual start of the program in the United States. However, visa applicants are encouraged to apply for their visa as soon as they are prepared to do so. Thus, if the college or university to which you have been admitted states on the I-20 or DS-2019 that the program will start on September 1, a visa cannot be issued before June 1. Second, even if you have been issued a visa to enter the United States, you will not be allowed to enter the country more than 30 days before the start of your program, if you are an initial entry student. Returning students do not have this requirement. Using the earlier example, if the program of study starts on September 1, you will not be permitted to enter the United States until August 1 or later.

4. Where can I find more information about the visa application process in my country?

Most of the procedures and requirements for applying for the various types of student visas, as well as for the Exchange Visitor visa are standardized and are described at the websites behind the “learn more” links provided above. Some procedures vary from country to country, for example, how to pay the visa application processing fee and how to make an appointment for an interview. For details on applying for a Student or Exchange Visitor visa in the country in which you are located, please visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate nearest you.

5. What is SEVIS?

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), administered by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is an Internet-based system that maintains data on foreign students and exchange visitors before and during their stay in the United States. For more information about the SEVIS program, visit the ICE website.

In order to enroll students from other nations, U.S. colleges and universities must be approved by the School Certification Branch of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Most U.S. institutions of higher education have received this approval.

6. What happens when I arrive in the U.S.?

Arriving & Studying in the U.S. - Immigration Related Information

U.S. immigration law governs the entry of all visitors to the United States, including students and exchange visitors. It details what they are authorized to do during their stay in the country. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the agency responsible for ensuring that these visitors comply with U.S. law and regulations. When you arrive in the United States, you, too, will come under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security, and one of the three units within DHS responsible for non-U.S. citizens: the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection; the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Bureau.

On your plane to the U.S. or when you arrive in the U.S., you will receive a Form I-94 (Arrival-Departure Record). Please safeguard this form; it contains the official record of your stay in the United States. For more information about arriving in the U.S., see, “Arriving at a U.S. Port of Entry — What a Student can Expect,” or, “Arriving at a U.S. Port of Entry — What an Exchange Visitor can Expect,” on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website.

To obtain answers to questions you may have regarding your stay in the United States (for example, travel outside the United States, employment, and much more) visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website. After you arrive in the U.S., you may wish to direct your questions to the office at your educational institution that is responsible for services to international students. This office should be able to provide you with the answer(s) you need or refer you to a person or office that can.

What to Do When You Arrive at the College or University in the U.S.

Once you arrive on campus, you should report immediately to the office that is responsible for assisting international students and scholars. It may be called the Office of International Services, the Office of International Education, the International Programs Office, or some other similar name. Whatever the name, however, that office can help you with any questions or concerns you may have about immigration rules and regulations. Moreover, that office must report your arrival within the SEVIS system. If this report is not submitted, you may be considered to be in violation of your status in the United States, so be sure to make the international student office one of your first stops on campus.

We hope that this information has been helpful to you, and we wish you good luck as you prepare your plan to study in the United States.

These web pages will be of use to those who want to pursue their studies in the US

Click here for higher education accreditation

Click here for education USA

Click here for GRE

Click herefor MBA

Click here for GRE

Click here for VISA

Click here for US Visa policy and how to get a VISA

Click here for Department of Homeland Security - Form I-901 Application

Click here for Websites of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions

Click here for Student and Exchange Visitor Program

Click herefor Student and Exchange Visitor Program Approved Schools

Click here for US immigration and customs enforcement

Click here for US Citizenship and immigration

When one should take the GRE ?
How long does it take for ETS to report to the GRE scores to the first 4
universities ?
Is there any difference between applying for the Fall semester and the
Spring semester ?
How do I prepare the financial support statement ?

This is quite a comprehensive guide to the GRE. It is available at our forums(You will need to register to download, don’t worry registration is free!): http://www.careers-india.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=113

1. Please ensure that all fields are completed. If you have no response for a question, put “none” or “nil”.
   Do not draw a line or write “NA” or “not applicable”.
2. All applicants above the age of 14 must sign their application form. Where applicant is below 14, either parent can sign the application form.
3. The photo affixed must be front facing, not more than 6 months old with a light color background.
4. Applicable if you have filled the form online while taking an appointment:For Boxes 1 through 14 in DS-156 form, you may amend, at any time, in pen if the details of your application change or you made a mistake. Do not complete and print another DS-156 Form. Amend your original forms instead.
5. All applicants are personally responsible and accountable for the answers on their application forms,
   regardless of who fills out the form.

ds156.pdf

ds157.pdf

ds158.pdf

Name of Main Sponsor
Correspondence Address

Dear Sir,

Re: Balance in your S.B. A/c No. XXXXX

This is to certify that the balance standing to your credit in the above account at the close of business on dd/mm/200y was Rs. 11,10,416.05 ( Rupees Eleven lacs ten thousand four hundred sixteen & Ps. Five only). At TT Selling Rate of dd/mm/200y ,
@ Rs 47.20, this would amount to US$ 23525.76 (say US Dollar Twenty three thousand five hundred twenty five only).

Yours faithfully,
Chief Manager/Bank Manager

1. I always learn from my mistakes
2. I know my dreams will come true
3. I can make a difference
4. _________ is my passion
5. I no longer take my loved ones for granted
6. These lessons are useful both on and off the field (or other sporting arena)
7. I realized the value of hard work and perseverance
8. _________ was the greatest lesson of all
9. I know what it is to triumph over adversity
10. _________ opened my eyes to a whole new world

Importance

How important is the essay part of the application? This depends on your marks to a certain extent. If your marks are very high, then it may not be as important as it is for someone whose marks are not so good. Nevertheless it is important. A person with high marks can spoil his/her chances of admission with a bad essay. At highly competitive schools, where most applicants score at the 97th percentile level on standardized tests, a winning personal statement may be the deciding factor in admission.

What Are Universities Looking For?

First of all don’t second guess. Don’t try to figure out what you think they want and supply it because you won’t be able to do that. Nor can you understand the mind of a 50 year old American who is living 10,000 miles away from you and may have woken up that morning with a headache and then was bitten by a dog on his way to the office. There is no way you can second guess, you cannot read their minds. Having said that, I can tell you some things which all college admissions officers want to see in the application:

·         A Picture of Your Overall Personality
How will you give a picture of your personality? I would suggest that you imply rather than state the facts. For instance, don’t say ‘I am a smart person.’ Demonstrate it, imply it. Don’t say ‘I am energetic.’ Give evidence by the fact that you worked after school for six hours every day and still had time to play on the volleyball team.

·         Academic Background and Work Experience
It would be a mistake to talk about your high school. Start with your undergraduate career. School records may be worth mentioning if there is something extraordinary about them.

·         Continuity
Admissions officers are looking for some continuity in what you have done, what you want to do in the near future and what you hope to do in the distant future. So, connect them.

·         Commitment and Motivation
Rather than simply saying ‘I am committed’, find a way of inferring that you are indeed highly committed and motivated to your proposed field of study.

·         Communication Skills
They will be looking at your writing skills - how well you can present yourself clearly and intelligently when writing, hence the importance of spending considerable time on the statement.

These five points are very general but almost every university wants to know about them. They may be too general but if you miss one of them you are probably missing something important.

General Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

·         Do take a lot of time.
Don’t do this at the last minute. Plan to spend a month or so preparing for the essay. Plan to let it rest for a week, so you have time to mull it over and get a perspective on it. Don’t be hasty and sloppy.

·         Do read the question carefully.
If they ask you why you want to go to law school, answer that. If they ask what are your career goals, answer that. Don’t go off on a tangent or get too verbose.

·         Do write the length of essay they ask for.
If they ask for 200 words give them that or 190 or 220. You don’t given them a 1000 and you don’t give them 50.

·         Type your final draft unless they tell you not to.
Type it well with no mistakes. Buy some good paper. If you’re writing it, see that it is clear and legible.

·         Do write a separate essay for each university.
There is no reason why you can’t take a paragraph from one essay and apply it to another. Your essays don’t have to be every word different but each university would like to think that you are especially interested in their program. Each university is different. Make something about your essay distinctive to that university and mention its name. Don’t write an all-purpose general essay. Admissions faculty don’t like that.

·         Do as much research on the university as you can.
If you can get hold of a catalogue, read it. If you can find someone who went to the university, talk to them. Find out as much as you can about the university. You don’t want to say ‘I have always wanted to go to Harvard because I wanted to find out about the Great American West’. As most of you know, Harvard is not in the Great American West. It is in Massachusetts.

·         Accentuate your positive qualities.
If you had the highest mark in class, make sure that they know it. Make sure that they know that you were able to hold a full-time job while going to school. Make sure that they know that you won any awards. Make sure that they know that you were captain of a team.

·         Mention your positive achievements as they apply to your graduate admission.
The information you provide about your important achievements must be related to your field. If you are applying for medicine and you have won a poetry prize, don’t mention your poetry prize because you may not have space. It is a good thing, but you may need to fill your application with more relevant information. On the other hand, you could mention your work as organizer of blood donation camps or your internships as a psychiatric care worker.

·         Do mention your work experience, or volunteer work that you may have done or extra-curricular activities if they relate to your field.
For example, if you are going to apply to business school and you were on the basketball team you may think that it is not relevant. However if you learnt leadership qualities, if you learnt how to endure defeat, if you learnt management skills by being captain of the basketball team, then it is relevant. You have to show the relevance. If you had a job after school, working in the college bookstore or you have done volunteer work at a hospital, this is relevant - you have learnt management skills at the shop. You have learnt to interact with people while you worked in the hospital.

·         Be definite in your application.
Don’t say - ‘I hope to do this’, ‘I might like to do that’. Say ‘I want to do this’, ‘I am planning to do this’, ‘I intend to do that’. Your language is definite. It is not hesitant and indecisive.

Don’ts

·         Don’t try to second-guess admissions faculty, as I have already said, and don’t flatter them.
Don’t say ‘I’ve always wanted to study at the University of Montana because I have heard that it is the best university in the world to study medicine.’ It may not be and even if it is, it sounds like flattery.

·         Don’t be phony.
Be honest. Admissions faculty can spot a dishonest essay a mile away. It would not be to your advantage to be dishonest as you might get into a university and then find it was not the right place for you.

·         Don’t glorify yourself.
Don’t say - ‘I was the best tennis player in the whole city of Madras’. That is boasting. However being modest and subtle are also not good qualities. There is a medium between being modest and boastful.

·         Do not repeat materials that are already on the application.
Don’t say ‘My major is Physics’ because you have already said that somewhere else. Instead say ‘While I majored in Physics I also took …’ or ‘My Physics major enabled me to take special courses in… and…’. Do mention your knowledge and experience in the field at the university level. It is usually a poor idea to mention your high school experience unless something exceptional happened at that time that changed your life or affected your career choice.

Tips on Writing Style

·         Write simply, not in a flowery and complicated manner.

·         Write in a straightforward way.
In other words don’t be subtle or cute. Write in a clear and logical manner. If you have to be creative, that is fine, but does so in a straightforward way. These people are really interested in your vocation. They don’t want to read something that is in the form of one act plays nor do they want to read three adjectives per noun. They want you to be direct and straightforward.

·         Be clear in what you are saying.
Make sure you are logical. Explain yourself with great clarity. Finally, most important of all, be specific, not vague. Don’t say - ‘My grades were quite good’ but say ‘I belonged to the top 5% of my class’. Don’t say - ‘I am interested in sports’. Say ‘I was captain of my hockey team’. Don’t say ‘I like poetry’. Say ‘I did a study of Shakespeare’s sonnets and wrote a twelve-page bachelor’s degree dissertation on Imagery’. Don’t say - ‘I want to be a Supreme Court Judge that is why I want to go to law school’. Say things like ‘I was an apprentice in a court’ or ‘I often went with my father to the courts to listen to cases’ or ‘I wrote a legal column for a school newspaper’. That is being specific.

Writing the Essay

Stage 1: Preparation

Brainstorming is an important part of preparation. Take some time and write down in note form the important events and facts about your recent life - from the time you graduated from high school. List the things that you have done and the things that have been important to you. For example:

• Won a poetry contest
• Got A’s in Physics and Mathematics
• Member of volleyball team
• Worked after school in shop
• Won a contest
• Worked with a social welfare group on a slum project
• Went to Hyderabad for six months to stay with an aunt because she was sick

Write out the answers to some questions. Write them out in some detail, being as specific as you can.

·         What have you learnt about your field that has stimulated you and given you the conviction that you are best suited to that field?

·         How have you learned this? Classes, important reading, work experience, extra-curricular activities…

·         How have your work experiences contributed to your personal growth?
If you have not had a job, don’t worry about it, but mention it if you have - even if you were not paid for it. Perhaps you took care of neighbors’ children for a number of years. If you are applying for graduate study in social work, psychology or education, you can make this relevant.

·         What are your career goals?
Be as specific as you can be. Not all students are clear about what they want to do ten years from now. If you don’t know it, don’t fake it. Be as specific as you can be. Not everyone can be clear - some students are not old enough or experienced enough to know what their future goals are.

·         Explain any discrepancies or gaps in your record.
If you dropped out of university for a year to take care of your father who was ill, that will show up in your student record or transcript. You will have to explain that. You don’t have to make a big deal about it. However admissions faculty will want to know why you were not at university for a certain period. Suppose you had poor marks in the first two years and then your grades picked up and the reason you had poor marks is because you were not sure what you were doing or you were sick a lot or you were moving from one city to another. Explain that. For example, ‘My marks in the first two years were not up to my expectations but once I got settled into a new home, they improved remarkably’ or ‘My father was ill at that time and I had to take care of him. After his death, I had to face university again.’ If such experiences have influenced your record you should mention them. Don’t make silly excuses. But if something really needs explaining, don’t skip over it.

·         Have you overcome any special obstacles?
Some of you may have faced troubled times in your life - financially, medically or have had family problems. If they are really obstacles explain how you have overcome them. This makes you appear like a person of considerable character.

·         What personal characteristics do you have that will enhance your prospects for success in your field?
Can you demonstrate that, give evidence? If you can’t give evidence that you are a hard- working person then don’t say you are hard-working. If you are a hard-working person and you have worked ten hours a day at a job and studied, that is worth noting. Again inference may be the best way of stating it.

·         What special skills do you possess?
Ask your friends. You may have special skills in communication, articulation, or are you especially good at leadership, do you have sharp analytical skills, or are you creative. This is where your autobiography would be useful. You acted in a college play and people thought you were terrific. What does this mean in terms of applying to a graduate school of law? It means you are able to get people to pay attention to you. Being a good actor can make you a good lawyer. Actors have gone on to become lawyers and politicians as we all know, so look over your life. What special skills do you have? Perhaps you have a technical skill, a pilot’s licence or you know how to repair motors.

·         What are the most compelling reasons the committee should be interested in you?
What is so great, so wonderful about you? If you have done a good job with your autobiography and you have done a good job answering these questions half of your work is done. It takes time to do this. Spend time on it.

·         What is special and impressive and unique about you?
This is not an easy question to answer. You should ask someone ‘Hey what is so special about me’. Your mother may not always have the same ideas you have: ‘You eat well’. That’s not going to help you figure out an answer. Ask a friend.

·         What details in your life have shaped you and influenced your growth?
What details in your life have made you the person you are and have influenced your choice of career goal?

Stage 2: Writing

Write several outlines and decide which you like best. Remember the essay has an introduction, a body and a conclusion. Outline the things you want to say and from all the material you have written, select the material which you think will go well in your essay. Select the most significant details. Put that into your outline. Make your outline useable, make it neat and leave lots of space. Now you are ready to write the essay. Write on lined paper, double spaced, using only one side of the page.

The first attempt at writing the essay is going to be terrible, but don’t worry; it is only the first draft. Do not edit as you write. Write it out. Make it too long.

Stage 3: Revision

Let the essay sit for a day or two. Then go over it with a red ink pen making little lines; cross out words or sentences. Revise it carefully and write your second draft. This may also be disappointing. Don’t expect too much from your first attempts. It takes a lot of work. I have often put in a lot of work, put it in an envelope, taken one last look and said ‘Oh hell, I have to do it again’ and I did it again. Do as many drafts as you feel is necessary.

Spend time on the first paragraph. Make sure that first paragraph is terrific and interesting. Don’t make it cute or flowery. Don’t say anything less than fascinating. You won’t get it on your first draft. You will probably get it on your sixth or seventh try. Also pay attention to your last paragraph which may be only one sentence - make it a snappy last sentence.

Be clear, specific and interesting.
You are likely to be exhausted, fed up and sick of the whole project. At that time don’t push yourself. Let it sit. Give the essay to somebody else to look at. Someone who is older, perhaps a former teacher; not a friend who is afraid to criticize you. Somebody who cares enough to be critical and tell you the truth. Then write it again.

Once you think you have got the final draft, what do you do? Proofread it as if you were the editor of India Today or Times of India. Not a single mistake must survive - spelling or grammatical. Look every word up in the dictionary that you are not absolutely sure of.

Remember that content and styles are both important (60%:40%). Make sure that the essay looks perfect.

Plan
Take time to sketch out an entire outline before beginning to put down sentences. The outline will assist in picking good content as well as developing a good flow of thought for the essay.

Begin well
Universities go through hundreds of SOPs routinely. Opening your SOP well is extremely important to capture the attention of the reviewer. The beginning is where you can establish your uniqueness. Use quotations, short anecdotes even couplets to spark the reader’s interest in you.

Keep it simple
Your SOP is not the place to show off your vocabulary. Flowery phrases and long winding Proustian prose are sure turn-offs. Use simple words and short sentences to convey your ideas. Simplicity does not mean discounting passion. The SOP is fundamentally supposed to reflect your sense of purpose.

Divide the essay into short paragraphs each encapsulating an idea. If you do the planning properly, it will be easy to connect each paragraph to the next so that the flow is never broken. If you like to discuss disconnected topics, then subheadings can be used. Basically, having a structure with head, body and end is a must.

Be honest
Sincerity can easily delight the experienced eye of the reviewer. By the same token, deliberate lies and fraudulent claims are much more easily spotted that imagined by the writer. It is your personality that needs to be etched through those lines. So stick to your own thoughts and life experiences and be judged fairly.

Avoid cliches
Avoiding cliches is the easiest way to establish your uniqueness. Dime-a-dozen sample SOPs are available all over the place. Closely imitating them leads to dozens of SOPs appearing to be carbon copies of each other packed with “power phrases”, “catchy verbs” and “must have adjectives”.

Revise
The SOP should evolve into its final form over a period of time passing through multiple rewrites. Use the revisions to trim each sentence, paragraph and idea. All unnecessary words should be avoided. The SOP should be clear and concise, smart and simple and all the great writers of the world agree that such a product demands several patient hours of editing.

The author is a PhD student at Texas A&M University.

1) graduate
2) graduate from
3) graduating
4) graduating from

Answer:2

Hint: “Graduate,” in this context, is used with “from.” A question with “did” does not take the -ing form of the verb.

2. You look pale. You had better _____ a doctor.

1) consult
2) consult to
3) consult with
4) consult by

Answer: 1

Hint:Consult is a transitive verb, so it is not used with a preposition.

3. New York is a large city, _____?.

1) aren’t it
2) doesn’t it
3) won’t it
4) isn’t it

Answer: 4

Hint: A tag question uses the same verb as the main part of the sentence.
If the main part is positive, the negative form is used;
if it is negative, the positive form is used in the tag.

4. Japanese houses are made of wood, so they easily _____.

1) catch to fire
2) catch the fire
3) catch on fire
4) catch with fire

Answer: 3

Hint: This means “start burning,” using “catch” in an idiomatic expression.

5. Do you enjoy _____?.

1) to hike
2) hiking
3) hike
4) to hiking

Answer: 2

Hint: “To” is not usually followed by -ing forms. “Enjoy” takes a gerund.

6. Mary has trouble _____.

1) to remember her homework
2) to remembering her homework
3) remember her homework
4) remembering her homework

Answer: 4

Hint: An infinitive means the future in this context. “To” is not followed by -ing forms. Since “has” is the verb here, another verb is not used.

7. Do you have _____ to do this afternoon? If not, I’d like to take you to a movie.

1) many work
2) much work
3) many works
4) much works

Answer: 2

Hint: “Many” is not used with an uncountable noun. “Work” is an uncountable noun.

8. Our friends will _____ for two nights.

1) provide us up
2) provide us in
3) put us up
4) put us in

Answer: 3

Hint: This sentence means that our friends will let us stay with them for two nights. “Provide” is not used in this context. Which idiom is used in this context?

9. When will the conference _____?

1) hold on
2) hold place
3) take on
4) take place

Answer: 4

Hint: This means when the conference will be held. This sentence is an active form. Which idiom is used in this context?

10. The meeting was held _____.

1) at Tuesday
2) on Tuesday
3) with Tuesday
4) in Tuesday

Answer: 2

Hint: The preposition “at” is used with 3 o’clock, and “in” with October. What preposition is used with a day of the week?

11. Why don’t you _____ us ?.

1) go to the party with
2) go together the party with
3) go the party with
4) together the party with

Answer: 1

Hint: “Go” needs “to” before the destination. A sentence needs at least one verb, and “together” is not a verb.

12. That accident occurred _____.

1) before three weeks
2) three weeks before
3) three weeks ago
4) three weeks past

Answer: 3

Hint: “Before” or “ago” is used with a past event. Which is used when the present time is the starting point?

13. Many people like my plan. Will you _____ it ?.

1) agree with
2) agree to
3) agree
4) agree about

Answer: 2

Hint: “Agree” is not a transitive verb and needs a preposition. “With” is used when referring to a person.

14. The minister _____ a member of the church who was ill.

1) called to the house of
2) called on the house of
3) called to
4) called on

Answer: 4

Hint: This sentence states that the minister visited the church member. In English, we say that we visit a person rather than a house. Which idiom is used to mean “visit?”

15. Tomorrow is Mary’s birthday. Let’s _____ it.

1) celebrate
2) praise
3) honor
4) congratulate

Answer: 1

Hint: Some verbs are used with people; others are used for occasions. Which of these words would we use for a birthday?

16. If you don’t understand, don’t hesitate _____.

1) ask a question
2) to ask a question
3) asking a question
4) to asking a question

Answer: 2

Hint: Since “hesitate” is the verb in this sentence, there should not be another verb. “To” is not followed by -ing forms.

17. It’s snowing. Would you like to _____ this weekend?.

1) skiing
2) go to ski
3) go skiing
4) go ski

Answer: 3

Hint: “Go” is used with the “-ing” form, the root form, and “to.” “To” is not followed by -ing forms. Which idiom means going somewhere for the purpose of skiing?

18. Our company didn’t pay _____ for that advertisement.

1) much funds
2) many funds
3) many money
4) much money

Answer: 4

Hint: “Funds” is used for money saved for a certain purpose. Is “money” countable or uncountable?

19. Do you feel like _____ now?.

1) dancing
2) to dance
3) dance
4) to go dancing

Answer: 1

Hint: The main verb of this sentence is “feel.”

20. Tom was happy to be _____ such a famous person.

1) introduced
2) introduced at
3) introduced with
4) introduced to

Answer: 1

Hint: “Introduce” takes a direct object and indirect object. I’d like to introduce you to Mary.

21. “We will order merchandise now.” “But payment should be made _____.”

1) for advance
2) advancing
3) in advance
4) to advance

Answer: 3

Hint: What is the idiomatic expression for “prior?”

22. “Where do you live now?” “I live in Kansas City; my _____.”

1) parents too do
2) parents do
3) parents do, too
4) parents also do

Answer: 3

Hint: The speaker’s parents live in Kansas City, the same town that the speaker lives in. This is an affirmative sentence. Think about which word is used where.

23. I cannot hear every word in her lecture. I wish she would _____.

1) speak clearer
2) clearer speak
3) more clearly speak
4) speak more clearly

Answer: 4

Hint: “Clear” cannot modify “speak.” You can say “Speak clearly” but not “Clearly speak.”

24. Why do you walk so fast?, “I’m _____.”

1) must be hurry
2) in hurry
3) in a hurry
4) hurrying

Answer: 3

Hint: “Am” and “must” are not used together. What is an idiomatic expression meaning “to hurry?” 25. We have a large selection of men’s clothes for sale. We _____ many women’s clothes in stock.

1) also have
2) have too
3) too have
4) have further

Answer: 1

Hint: This means that the store has many women’s clothes for sale, too. What could you use with “have” in this context?

26. This is our new library. _____ like it?.

1) How do you
2) How
3) What you
4) What do you

Answer: 1

Hint: This is a question. The speaker is asking you whether you like the new library.

27. I have to go now. I have _____ the dentist.

1) appointments to
2) an appointment to
3) appointment with
4) an appointment with

Answer: 4

Hint: You can make many appointments, but you make one appointment each time. What preposition is used with “appointment?”

28. We can meet at Grand Central Station. Will _____?

1) convenient for you
2) that convenient
3) that be convenient
4) you be convenient

Answer: 3

Hint: “Will” needs a verb. The speaker is asking whether this arrangement is convenient for you.

29. This store does not have any oranges today. It _____ tomorrow.

1) have any
2) may have any
3) have some
4) may have some

Answer: 4

Hint: The speaker is not sure whether the store will have oranges tomorrow. “Some” is used when the meaning is positive, and “any” is used when it is negative.

30. She doesn’t want anything alcoholic now. She would rather _____ a soft drink.

1) have
2) to have
3) prefer
4) prefer to have

Answer: 1

Hint: “Would” is used with a verb. She prefers soft drinks to liquor.

31. I have heard your views on the tax reform. Let me _____.

1) express my opinion
2) express my viewing
3) make my views
4) make my opinion

Answer: 1

32. When are these assignments due?”
“The professor told us that they must be turned in _____.”

1) by Friday
2) until Friday
3) Friday before
4) Friday beginning

Answer: 1

Hint: This means anytime before the end of the day on Friday.

33. They are visiting the Rockies. I hear the Rockies have _____.

1) beautiful scenery that is much
2) many beautiful landscapes
3) many beautiful sceneries
4) much beautiful scenery

Answer: 4

Hint: “Scenery” and “landscape” are, in this context, uncountable.

34. “Where is ABC Store?”
“It is _____ the apartment house.”

1) before
2) ahead of
3) in front of
4) preceding

Answer: 3

Hint: S ABC Store is facing the front of the apartment house.

35. “Most ski resorts are crowded. There are many people _____ skiing.

1) enjoy
2) that enjoying
3) who enjoy
4) who enjoying

Answer: 3

Hint: The main verb of the second sentence is “are.

36.It is already nine o’clock. Can you _____ time to catch the train? 1) have enough
2) have it in
3) make in
4) make it in

Answer: 4

Hint: The speaker wants to know if the hearer will arrive at the station in time to catch the train.

37.Tom went to see the optician. He wants to have his glasses _____.

1) fit
2) fitted
3) fit on
4) fitted on

Answer: 2

Hint: “Have (something)” with a past participle is used to mean “get someone to do something. For example, he wants to have his toys fixed. Opticians fit glasses.

38.Mary’s house is _____ the post office. Do you think you can find it easily?

1) along
2) near to
3) against
4) next to

Answer: 4

Hint: This means that Mary’s house is beside the post office.

39.The rope was catching fire. Nancy let _____ just in time.

1) alone it
2) go alone it
3) go it
4) go of it

Answer: 4

Hint: “Let” takes an infinitive without “to,” and “go” cannot take an object.

40.It costs 100 dollars. Do we have _____ money?

1) a lot of
2) plentiful
3) plenty of
4) enough

Answer: 4

Hint: In this case, the speaker is not asking whether there is much money, but whether there is more than 100 dollars.

41.I need some physical exercise. I decided _____ golf.

1) to begin
2) to commence
3) to take up
4) to start up

Answer: 3

Hint: The speaker has decided to learn to play golf.

42.”Would you like to go to a movie or a play?”
“It _____ to me.”

1) makes no difference
2) makes not a difference
3) is indifferent
4) is not a difference

Answer: 1

Hint: The second speaker means that it does not matter whether they go to a movie or a play.

43.We were hiking in the mountains all day today. Therefore, we are _____.

1) wear out
2) outworn
3) weary out
4) worn out

Answer: 4

Hint: This is an idiom meaning “tired.”

44. Were there many people waiting in line at the stadium?”
“Yes, I saw _____.”
1) quite a few
2) quite much
3) quite many
4) quite some

Answer: 1

Hint: Only certain words can follow “quite.”

45. Tom and Mary have not come yet. I think we should _____ them.

1) await for
2) wait for
3) await on
4) wait on

Answer: 2

Hint: This means that we should stay until they come, not that we should serve them.

46. When I woke up, everything was _____ snow.

1) covered
2) covered by
3) covered with
4) covering

Answer: 3

Hint: This means that snow covered everything. Does “cover” take nothing, “by,” or “with” in the passive voice?

47. Do earthquakes _____ often in the United States?

1) break
2) break out
3) happen to
4) occur

Answer: 4

Hint: This is asking whether they often have earthquakes in the United States.

48. We had better _____ soon.

1) leave
2) leaving
3) to leave
4) to leaving

Answer: 1

Hint: What form of the verb follows “had better?”

49. A large crowd _____ in front of the station.

1) gathering
2) to gather
3) had gathered
4) had gathering

Answer: 3

Hint: This Sentence needs a Verb

50. In the winter, accidents occur quite _____ in the mountains.

1) frequently
2) many
3) much
4) a few

Answer: 1

Hint: This means that accidents occur often in the mountains in the winter.

51. Do you want to _____ to the United States?

1) trip
2) voyage
3) travel
4) went

Answer: 3

Hint: What follows “want to?”

52. Most people have a feeling _____.

1) responsible
2) responsibility
3) of responsibility
4) to be responsible

Answer: 3

Hint: This means that most people are concerned about doing the right thing.

53. This movie theater can hold ______.

1) much audience
2) a large audience
3) much audiences
4) many audiences

Answer: 2

Hint: “Audience” refers to a group of people, not individual people.

54. When the forests _____ , there can be forest fires.

1) become dry
2) becoming dry
3) become drying
4) drying

Answer: 1

Hint: There should be a verb in a clause.

55. “What kind of work are you doing here?” , “I’m _____ as an accountant.”

1) worked
2) occupied
3) hired
4) employed

Answer: 4

Hint: This means that he/she is working as an accountant.

56.”I don’t want to buy anything in this store, do you?”
“Yes, I’d like to buy _____”

1) pencil
2) much pencils
3) any pencils
4) some pencils

Answer: 4

Hint: “Pencil” is a countable noun. You need to indicate

57.The rainy season is over, and the weather is nice. We can _____ sports.
1) do
2) have
3) play
4) enjoy

Answer: 4

Hint: Which verb can be used with “sports?”

58.It is the height of the tourist season now. _____ the rooms in the hotels are reserved.

1) Almost
2) Almost of
3) Almost all of
4) Most of all

Answer: 3

Hint: This means that most rooms, but not all rooms, in the hotels are reserved.

59.”Where did you work before?”
“I worked only ten yards _____ railroad track.”

1) from
2) from the
3) near
4) away

Answer: 2

Hint: This means that the railroad tracks were only ten yards from where the second speaker worked.

60.”I don’t think it will rain today, do you?”
“No, I _____ so.”

1) think not
2) not think
3) don’t think
4) do think not

Answer: 3

Hint: In English, even if the form of a question is changed, the answer is the same.

61. He coughs a lot. I have advised him _____ smoking.

1) give up
2) giving up
3) to give up
4) to giving up

Answer: 3

Hint: “Advised” is the main verb in the second sentence. Does it take an infinitive (to + verb) or the -ing form of the verb?

62. “What would you like to do this summer?” , “I’d like to _____ swimming every day.”

1) do
2) enjoyed
3) play
4) go

Answer: 4

Hint: This is an idiomatic expression.

63. We will have an examination next week. It is necessary _____.

1) study hard
2) to study hard
3) hard study
4) to hard study

Answer: 2

Hint: Which sounds correct, “I study hard” or “I hard study?” The main verb of the second sentence is “is.”

64. They open the door at noon. Some people are already _____.

1) in line to wait
2) in line waiting
3) line in waiting
4) waiting in line

Answer: 4

Hint: This means that some people are in the line already.

65. The audience cheered after the curtain went down. The performance _____.

1) succeed
2) successful
3) was success
4) was a success

Answer: 4

Hint: The second sentence needs a verb.

66. “When you visited Jack, did you find his house easily?”
“No, I had _____ finding it.”

1) quite time
2) a quite time
3) a time quite
4) quite a time

Answer: 4

Hint: This is an idiom that means “had difficulty.”

67. “Guess who I _____ yesterday. I saw Mr. White at the bank.”

1) into run
2) into ran
3) ran into
4) run into

Answer: 3

Hint: The speaker is talking about someone he/she happened to see yesterday. This is a two-word verb.

68. The next train will arrive _____.

1) three o’clock
2) at three o’clock
3) on three o’clock
4) in three o’clock

Answer: 2

Hint: in 1988, in December, on Thursday, _____ one o’clock

69. “Many of your students were studying hard in the library.”
“They are _____ have an examination today.”

1) supposed
2) supposing
3) supposed to
4) supposing to

Answer: 3

Hint: “Are” is the main verb in this sentence.

70. “Why are you walking so fast?”
“I have _____ with my doctor.”

1) an appointment
2) a pledge
3) a promise
4) a contract

Answer: 1

Hint: What do you make when you want to see your doctor, dentist, etc.?

71. “Let’s _____ a movie tomorrow.”
“Yes, let’s.”

1) take in
2) take into
3) take to
4) taking

Answer: 1

Hint: What form of the verb comes after “let’s?” This is an idiomatic expression.

72. I will stay in the Atlantic Hotel in New York. Why don’t you _____?

1) visits
2) visit in
3) drop in
4) call in

Answer: 3

Hint: This is a suggestion that the hearer come see the speaker at the hotel. This is an idiomatic expression.

73. We will serve dinner to our guests soon. We had better ____ now.

1) have table set
2) set table
3) setting table
4) set the table

Answer: 4

Hint: This means “put the dishes on the table.” This is an idiomatic expression.

74. “I don’t think Tom did it intentionally.”
“Yes, I think he did it _____.”

1) at purpose
2) for purpose
3) in purpose
4) on purpose
>
Answer: 4

Hint: This is an idiomatic expression which means “intentionally.”.

75. How are you _____ these days? I hope you are doing well.

1) get along
2) get to along
3) getting along
4) to getting along

Answer: 3

Hint: This is an idiomatic expression that asks how you are doing. Pay attention to “are.”

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