Admissions Facts and Myths

Test Information- GRE®, GMAT™, TOEFL® and IELTS®

  1. Which examinations are required for Higher Education in America?
  2. Which examinations are required for courses in Management Information Systems (MIS)?
  3. What is the minimum score required on the GRE® , the GMAT® and the TOEFL® tests for admission to a good American University?
  4. How many times can the GRE® test, the GMAT® test, the TOEFL® test be taken and which score is considered?
  5. When should the tests be taken if one wants to apply in the Fall/Spring semester?
  6. What is the subject GRE® test? Is it compulsory?
  7. Do Business schools accept GRE® scores for admission to MBA programs? Where can I find such schools?

    8. Admission Criteria

  8. Is a 15-years of formal education in India enough for applying for a master's degree in USA?
  9. Are external degrees, distance learning and autonomous courses or part-time post-graduate diplomas accepted by US universities?
  10. Is work experience required for an admission to MBA course?

    11. Opportunities for Non-Engineers

  11. What is the scope for Medical students in the US?
  12. Is it true that only Engineering and Computer Science students have opportunities in the US?

    13. Practical Issues - Costs and Funding

  13. What are the sources/types of Financial aid available?
  14. What is the average cost per year at US universities?
  15. Can I work while I am studying in the US?
  16. Which semester is preferable - fall or spring?
  17. Does work experience help to get funding?
  18. Can I change my university while studying in the US?
  19. Is it possible to change my field of study at the time of application?

Q1. Which examinations are required for Higher Education in America?

  • The GRE® (Graduate Record Examination) is required for Master's and Doctoral Degree courses in all subjects other than Management (i.e. in Engineering, Physics, Biology, Pharmacy, Computer Science, Psychology, etc.)
  • The GMAT® (Graduate Management Aptitude Test) is required for all Management courses. It is also advisable to take the GMAT® if you are applying for an MS in related fields like Finance, Accounting, Marketing.
  • The SAT™ (Scholastic Aptitude Test™) is required for all undergraduate i.e. bachelor's-level courses.
  • The TOEFL® (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required for all international students whose native language is not English and are seeking admission to American universities.

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Q2. Which examinations are required for courses in Management Information Systems (MIS)?
Some universities require you to take the GRE® whereas some require you to take the GMAT™. The majority of the universities accept both. However, we recommend that you check the specific requirements of the universities you are interested in applying to.
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Q3. What is the minimum score required on the GRE®, the GMAT® and the TOEFL® tests for admission to a good American University?
Most universities do not have a 'cut-off', but to secure admission to a good American university, the score required in these examinations is as follows:

The GRE® test: 320 and above out of 340 for admission to the top 50 universities with financial assistance. 306 and above for universities in the top 100 universities. Of course a student may get admission in a reasonably good university if his score is at least 290.

The GMAT® test: good business schools require a GMAT® score of 600 out of 800 for admission. Obtaining financial aid and admission to the top 50 universities requires a score of more than 730. Of course a student may get admission in a reasonably good university if his score is at least 450.

The TOEFL® test: Most graduate/undergraduate schools require a minimum score of 80 (out of a maximum of 120) for admission, but some good universities demand a minimum score of 100.
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Q4. How many times can the GRE®, the GMAT® and the TOEFL® tests be taken and which score is considered?
The tests can be taken more than once. Universities generally consider the best score but sometimes they may consider the average score. The decision is totally at the discretion of the university concerned.
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Q5. When should the tests be taken if one wants to apply in the Fall/Spring semester?
Students aspiring to join American Universities in the Fall Semester beginning in August/September should take the examinations latest by January of that year. Students planning to join in the Spring Semester beginning in January should take the examinations latest by July in the preceding year
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Q6. What is the subject GRE® test? Is it compulsory?
For admission to master's courses in biological sciences, pure sciences and computer science, it is recommended that you take the subject GRE® test. A good performance in the test proves that you have adequate preparation to enter a graduate program. Moreover the subject GRE® test score may be an added advantage for getting financial aid.
To know more about the subject test, please visit the official web site
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Q7. Do Business schools accept GRE® scores for admission to MBA programs? Where can I find such schools?
Yes, many Business schools have started accepting GRE® scores for admission to MBA programs. To get a complete list of schools and MBA programs that accept GRE® scores please click here.
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Admission Criteria

Q8. Is a 15-years of formal education in India enough for applying for a master's degree in USA?
Generally, American universities require that you complete 16 years of education before enrolling for a graduate program. Therefore students who have obtained a bachelor's degree after 15 years of education are required to complete a master's degree to qualify for admission to an American university. Students with an exceptional academic record can get admission in spite of 15 years of education, especially in pure sciences and humanities
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Q9. Are external degrees, distance learning and autonomous courses or part-time post-graduate diplomas accepted by US universities?
American universities are not generally willing to accept bachelor's or master's degrees obtained through correspondence courses. Also, degrees offered by institutes not affiliated to recognized universities are not accepted.
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Q10. Is work experience required for admission to an MBA course?
Apart from a good GMAT® score, many universities ask for work experience of at least 2 years

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Opportunities for Non-Engineers

Q11. What is the scope for Medical students in the US?
M.B.B.S. degree holders can undertake further studies in clinical fields in the United States only if they pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). But M.B.B.S. degree holders can seek admission in M.S. or Ph.D. programs in non-clinical subjects such as Immunology, Bacteriology, Anatomy, Genetics, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Toxicology, Pathology, Bio-medical Engineering, Public Health, Health Administration, Biotechnology etc. For this they will have to take the GRE ® test and the TOEFL ® test.
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Q12. Is it true that only Engineering and Computer Science students have opportunities in the US?
No, this is not true. The American education system and job market needs students from various fields. In fact non-engineering students stand a better chance of getting financial support from US universities. Every year we send several students in the fields of Economics, Mathematics and Statistics, Literature, Environmental Sciences, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Immunology, Biomedical Sciences, Toxicology etc. A majority of these students secured admission with financial aid.
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Practical Issues: Costs and Funding

Q13. What are the sources/types of financial aid available?
Most universities offer substantial financial assistance to their students. This can be divided into three types:- Fellowships/Scholarships, Teaching or Research Assistantships, on-campus jobs.
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Q14. What is the average tuition cost per year at US universities?
The tuition cost in the United States ranges from $15,000 to over $40,000 per year. In addition to tuition fees, books and food, you have to plan for housing, health insurance and transportation.
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Q15. Can I work while I am studying in the US?
US laws do not allow students on an F-1 visa to work off-campus. But It is possible to work on-campus for up to 20 hours per week. The pay can vary between $6.5 to $10 per hour, depending on the area and type of work. Jobs can involve working in a computer lab, the library or in the cafeteria.
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Q16. Which semester is preferable - fall or spring?
It really doesn't make any difference whether you join in fall or spring. But in some universities certain courses are available only in fall. Funding opportunities are the same in both the semesters.
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Q17. Does work experience help to get funding?
Generally yes. But you should have work experience of at least a year in the relevant field.
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Q18. Can I change my university while studying in the US?
Yes. If you are not satisfied with your university, you can apply and transfer to other universities. You can do this at any time, but usually most students transfer admissions after the 1st semester.
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Q19. Is it possible to change my field of study at the time of application?
Yes, the American system is very flexible. You can apply to a different field e.g. an engineering student from any field can apply to programs in Industrial Engineering or Engineering Management. Similarly, anybody can apply for a Computer Science program but the student might have to take some pre-requisite courses.
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