Too Many Questions ??
I have all the answers
Does any work experience count for Masters ?
Yes, work experience matters when it comes to applications as it shows your practical experience of the field and ability to put to practice the skills that you have learnt in undergrad. This experience also helps when you apply for internships/ Co-op in the US.
To what extent does a research paper/patent contribute ?
Research paper can significantly contribute when it comes to higher ranked universities which are highly research focused. It can also contribute to your profile if you plan to do a PhD followed by a Masters Thesis in the near future. You have more opportunities to work with a professor based on this previous research experience
Do I choose a Thesis or Non Thesis ?
You admit by default would be for a Non - thesis program. Later when you start the first semester you have to find a research advisor and ask them about their openings by expressing your interest in pursuing a Masters thesis. Remember that professors expect you to follow a thesis with a PhD under them.
Does extracurricular work matter for admission ?
Yes, extracurricular work matters to US Unis as all Unis have a preference and interest in activities that show social inclusivity, diversity and healthy atmosphere that you would bring along to the university and your immediate peers.
How to shortlist Unis as Safe Moderate Ambitious ?
The first way is the visit websites namely https://www.usnews.com/ , https://www.topuniversities.com/. Look for your specific program and the current rankings per subject or as per year. Then make a list of the top 25 Unis. Consider a thumb rule of 3-4-3 ( Ambitious - Moderate - Safe). The ambitious Unis are usually the ones ranked in 1-5th , Moderate as ranked 6th to 12th and Safe13th to 25th.
How to apply to various Uni scholarships ?
Every Uni website will have a funding/ scholarship page where the university programs have their own fundings/private scholarships under various degree and research and eligibility criterias.
What is the process to get a RA/TA/Other Assistantship ?
Every department and program has a unique way of RA/TA openings postings and usually at discretion of the professors depending on their available funding, requirements to undertake specific coursework or certain course grades.
Is the GRE exam mandatory ?
Starting the Covid-19 and Fall 2020 cycle many Unis have permanently waived off the GRE score requirements. Irrespective of that, it is advised to take your GRE exam sincerely and meet the minimum score requirements section wise that would have been listed on the Uni<department page. Sending your GRE score and exceling shows your commitment towards pursuing the course at the University and could positively affect your chances of getting the admit.
Jobs on campus ?
Majority Unis have a dedicated campus town which hosts multiple student engagement opportunities such as the Bookstore/ Library/ Career center/ Union hall/ Dining areas/ Recreation centers/ Gym etc. where you could potentially be hired to work on Rate/Hr basis jobs upto 20hrs a week or less. The best way is to connect with fellow peers/ seniors and check website for such openings. Note that all these are first come first opportunities and tend to fill out during the start of the Fall/ Spring semesters.
Career fair opportunities ?
Every University and department hosts a Bi-Annual career fair once in Fall once in Spring where companies visit for a 2-3 day event with stalls setup. These are the best opportunities to present yourself formally and interact with employees and hiring managers and get to know the company project/ goals/ and hiring objectives. Usually these companies would be based in a major city around and near you. You should be prompt in presenting your CV to them in person and discussing your experience and interest in pursuing a summer internship/ semester long Co-op or a Full time role. At such time you may also discuss the visa situation and if they offer to sponsor your visa.
Internships and H1B visa conflict ?
As many have asked, You are not required to have a H1B at the time of internship meaning you can still intern at a firm does not sponsor H1B visa. However, for full time roles you need to have a company that sponsors your H1B visa, unless you have a plan to return back to your country after the end of your STEM visa.
What is the right time to start preparing for MS application ?
Usually I consider a 10 month rule that should consist of 3 month preparation for GRE , 1 month for TOEFL/ IELTS exam , 3 months for SOP / LOR / application documents and remaining 3 months for application submission and upload process. Note that during this time there would be delays from your end, from your professors to upload LORs and delays such as transcripts verification, required scores to send to Unis or another exam betterment attempts.
Post admit Visa process ?
Unis will require you to pay for a nominal seat reservation fee or maybe not. Then they will issue you an I-20 which is used to then fill out your DS-160 form for visa application. This is followed by the Visa Biometric and Visa Interview process. Note that the earlier you can finalize your Unis the earlier you can get the benefit of choosing your visa slot in the nearby consulates.
Costs to consider for Visa process ?
$500 approx. to reserve your admit
$350 to submit your DS-160
$200 to reserve your visa slot ( biometric and interview slots)
Note that all these costs are non refundable.
General timeline for Uni application cycles ?
If you plan to apply for the Fall semester, the cycle would start the year before in months of Late August - Early September and go upto Late December - Early January. For the Spring semester, the cycle would start year before in Early January and go upto Late April or Early May in cases of some Unis and programs. The admits for Fall intake start rolling out from January onwards upto March-April and for Spring intake start rolling out in June July and go upto October.