Transcript – follow the requirements on the university www site regarding submission and translation. Some institutions may want to see your diploma. Note that at some institutions if you do not have a GPA of 3.0 you are required to write the GRE. Also note that usually the USA used a 4.0 based GPA model. Indonesia uses the same model. If the country of your transcript uses a different model it will be converted at the university to which you are applying. You can probably find a concordance online to show the equivalency.
Regular student
GRE (Graduate Records Examination)
Graduate Records Exam (GRE – usually for PhD only). (Test cost approximately 2juta IDR + travel cost to test site). At USA Graduate Schools, it is common to take a GRE Test for admission, mostly to PhD programs. This test is created in the USA and is not always taken for admission in other countries. Therefore, it will be harder to find a testing center. At OSU, there is no minimum score for admission, but lower scores are looked at more carefully and not in a favorable way. A lot of the content of the GRE are the kinds of things you will find in a second year writing and mathematics course. In the USA the GRE score is believed to be a predictor of how well you will do in Graduate School, although this is not always the case.
INSIDER TIP: At OSU, many programs are interested in admitting students who score in the top 50 percent of GRE test takers. This is especially the case on the quantitative score for people in the sciences. Using the ‘elastic’ principal, faculty are often willing to admit students who score in the 25th percentile because faculty understand that the GRE is in English, and that for Indonesian students the test is as much a test of English as it is of the content. Faculty also understand that the content tested by the GRE, mostly second year undergraduate degree writing and Math skills, are not especially significant for some programs, or for students who have completed their S1 degree many years ago. At OSU, there is no minimum score, so theoretically if you receive the lowest score in the world you can still be admitted! But in practice, when you drop below the 25th percentile it raises a lot of questions for those reviewing your application.
In practice, we have found the average Indonesian who shows up at the GRE Test Center with absolutely no preparation, will score about 15%. Some have scored as low as 5%. However, with some moderate level of preparation, the same person will score 25%. Therefore, PLEASE, take some time to prepare for this expensive test. Google the test. Know the kinds of questions asked. Take some online preparation that may be free of charge. Practice with old tests. Get a friend to help you with some of the Math skills that you may have not used or forgotten since high school. In summary, take this seriously. Prepare. But if the score is not good still proceed in submitting your application. Note: At many universities including OSU, if your GPA is below 3.0, you can still apply but you must take the GRE.
TOEFL and IELTS
TOEFL (Test cost approximately 1.5juta IDR + travel to the test site). Most USA programs require minimum 79 ibt (internet-based TOEFL) or 6.5 IELTS. OSU requires 7.0 IELTS. Based on our experience we believe the ibt is ‘easier’ than the ielts. But do look at the requirements for institutions to which you are interested in applying. For example, we have seen requirements such as a 100 ibt or 7.0 ielts and in that case the ielts would be the better choice because there is a ‘mismatch’ between the equivalent scores. You can google ‘ibt ielts concordance’ to learn approximately what one score would be equivalent to on the other test. Some universities, including OSU, offers the MELAB for admission but only if administered by a faculty/staff member of OSU. We think MELAB is a little ‘easier’. At OSU 82 is required on the MELAB. Contact us for more details.
IBT and IELTS tests are expensive and if you are in rural Indonesia you will likely need to fly somewhere to take it. Therefore, we think a good idea is to pay the Indonesian price for the paper based toefl (not eligible for admission to USA Universities) and see if you can score 550 on it. Look at the concordance to see what score you are likely to get on the ibt or ielts. This way, you are not spending a lot of money to take a lot of tests you may not pass. Better to take the ‘cheap’ test and when it seems you will pass the more expensive test, then take that one. Note – if you have completed an S1 degree or higher from an ‘English speaking country’ a toefl is not usually required.
Programs
After looking at the scholarship, now look at the university web sites for programs you are interested in. What faculty are researching in your area? What is the reputation of the program? What are the entrance requirements and deadlines? Create a grid where you can track all this information.
Then, narrow your list to universities you think you are likely to gain admission to. Everyone wants to go to Harvard and Oxford, and they are on the list, but your likelihood of admission is very very low. You can apply to as many universities as you like but each application will cost you money, so our advice is to target 4 universities where you are likely to be accepted, with the hope you will be accepted to two and than can select one. Also, be realistic about your English score. For example, if you are always scoring 450 on the pbt and the university you are interested in requires 550, is it likely you will ever score 550? Probably not unless you spend a lot of time studying intensive English. Therefore it may be more realistic to look for a graduate program in Japan for example, where 450 is usually the minimum score. In the USA, 550 is usually the minimum score. Although we are not interested in ‘selling’ you on a program, we can tell you that the USINTEC universities are interested in working with students from Indonesia, and that The Ohio State University (sometimes listed in the LPDP university list under ‘T’ for ‘The’ ) is very interested in and has many supports for Indonesian students. We are interested in receiving your application!
Third, start the application process. You will want to apply for the program and the scholarship around the same time. The LPDP rules and timelines change every year so look to see what it is for the upcoming year. If no information is available contact us and we can tell you what they did last year, but what they did last year is not always a predictor of what they will do next year.
Fourth – this is an INSIDER TIP – Most universities will NOT look at your applicationunless it is COMPLETE. This means:
- you have submitted everything that is required.
- you have submitted it in the way the university wants it.
Regarding submitting ‘everything that is required’, there have been cases where applicants have submitted all 3 reference letters were submitted as 1 pdf, but the university clerk who check for complete applications sees 1 attachment and thinks that is 1 reference letter. THEREFORE, if a university asks for ‘three’ of something, submit three attachments.
Also, know that the guidelines will ask for minimums. For example, you may be asked for a ‘minimum of 3 reference letters’ – if you have 4 GOOD letters than submit them.
Insider Tip: Regarding, submitting your materials in the way the university wants it, if the university asks for a signed letter on letterhead, than MAKE SURE your letter is signed and on letterhead. We routinely see letters ‘not on letterhead’ or with a typed signature and not a signed signature. You may be told your application is complete but this does not meet the requirements. Check your materials and format them in the correct way before you submit them.
After all materials are submitted, ask the office if they are ‘complete.’ At OSU, you can usintec if they are complete and we can check it for you.
Below are the typical things you will need to complete for your application, and advice about each.
CLICK HERE TO SEE A PRESENTATION TO @AMERICA ON APPLYING TO GRADUATE SCHOOLS