No uniform procedure exists for graduate admissions in the United States. The graduate admissions office almost always shares the responsibility for admissions with the academic departments, and most commonly there is a graduate admissions committee for each department made up of faculty members and graduate admissions office staff. However, the roles and the relative authority of the graduate admissions office and the academic departments, as well as the relationship between them, vary markedly from institution to institution. To make your admissions experience more positive, it is a good idea from the beginning of the process to network with both the graduate admissions office and your specific department of interest. Develop a clear understanding of the institution's general admission requirements and the department's academic and research objectives to see if they match your personal and professional goals.
In addition to the match between the strength of your application and the admissions standard of a school or department, two other factors may influence your chances of admission. First, graduate student research may be highly specialized and dependent on the availability of a faculty member who shares a student's interest, and on resources available in the department. A department may suggest that you be admitted because your research interests match well with those of a particular faculty member, or may advise against admission because faculty members and resources for your research are lacking. Secondly, since faculty members review applications to decide who should receive any available research or teaching assistantships, departments often look for applicants who can teach or do research in particular areas.
Interviews
It is rare that U.S. universities are able to interview candidates outside the United States, although business schools or other professional programs occasionally send admissions officers on international recruitment trips to conduct interviews with applicants. International students are not at a disadvantage because they are unable to be interviewed. However, if you are offered the chance to have an interview in your country, or if you can visit a campus in the United States, do not refuse the opportunity; it is a good way to learn more about the school and ask any questions you may have.
Acceptance
If you plan to begin studies in September, you should hear from the universities you applied to by mid-April of that year. They will probably put a limitation on how long they will keep the place open for you, and may ask you to send a deposit if you wish to accept their offer. If you receive more than one offer of acceptance, write to the universities you turn down so that they can make offers to those students still on waiting lists. It is also recommended that you return unused student visa Certificates of Eligibility to those schools. Universities usually send information on housing, health insurance, and orientation at this point.
