As someone who wants to pursue an MS in US, you may be wondering: how to get a scholarship for masters in USA? In this article, we will outline ways in which you can increase your chances of getting a scholarship for MS in US.
In this blog:
- Scholarships for MS in US: Get a Headstart
- Strengthen Your Scholarship for MS in US Application
- Apply for Multiple Scholarships for MS in US
- Double-Check Your MS in US Scholarship Application Materials
Scholarships for MS in US: Get a Headstart
It always helps to get started early! Do your research well in advance, make a list of relevant scholarships, and get a sense of deadlines, eligibility, and application requirements. It’s better to have clarity on which program you wish to apply to at this stage. However, there are many scholarships that apply to everyone applying to MS programs, irrespective of subject or field.
Read: Scholarships to Study in USA: Understanding CSS Profile for International Students – Jamboree
Once you’ve done your preliminary research, it’s time to gather application materials, (including LoRs, SoPs, and transcripts). This may take some time: for instance, if you need a letter of recommendation from a professor you’ve had in the past, it’s important to reach out to them ahead of time. They might get back to you quickly, and even send your LoR over within a few days. On the other hand, they could be preoccupied with other things and may not be able to fulfil your request for a few weeks. So, it’s best to be on top of things from the beginning: you don’t want to be panicking about deadlines, especially when such a crucial aspect of your application is directly dependent on someone else.
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Strengthen Your Scholarship for MS in US Application
One of the best ways to strengthen your scholarship for MS in US application is to ensure that your application materials are the best they can be. At the time of applying, you may not have much control over your work experience or transcripts for instance, but other aspects of your application can really make you shine. Let’s have a look at some of these:
Statement of Purpose (SoP)
Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re writing a winning SoP for your applications:
- Originality: Perhaps the most important aspect of writing a Personal Statement or SoP for US Universities is originality. There should be strictly no plagiarism whatsoever! Plagiarism is a serious academic offence and your application will be immediately flagged, or sometimes even discarded, if you are found guilty of plagiarism. Be original in your writing, and practice honesty.
- Avoid cliches: Generic statements and cliches must be avoided. They add little value to your SoP or Personal Statement, and often do more harm than good. Authenticity is always appreciated!
- No errors: There should be absolutely no errors in your Personal Statement or SoP for US universities. This includes factual errors and, especially, grammatical errors. Take the time to make sure everything is totally error-free.
- Proofread: A crucial part of writing a great Personal Statement or Statement of Purpose is proofreading. Go over your document several times and make sure everything is airtight and good to go. Check for grammatical errors, discontinuities in narrative flow, and ensure that your writing engages your reader. Sometimes, we overlook obvious errors when going over our own writing, so it may be a good idea to get someone else to proofread for you as well in order to get a fresh outside perspective.
Read more: SoP vs Personal Statement: Everything You Need to Know – Jamboree
Test Prep: Give It Your All
This may be glaringly obvious, but it really pays to be thorough with standardised test preparation. Be it the GMAT, GRE, SAT, TOEFL, or IELTS, one of the best ways of ensuring that you get a scholarship for MS in US is to have a score card that exceeds expectations. Your standardised test scores are a metric common to almost all applications, and will be used to objectively compare you with other applicants. Needless to say, you should do your best so you can score as high as possible on these tests.
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Apply for Multiple Scholarships for MS in US
This may be obvious, but we’ll say it anyway for the sake of being thorough: send in applications for multiple scholarships for MS in US.
However, make sure that each of your applications follows guidelines specific to each individual scholarship as closely as possible. Different scholarship applications often have varying requirements (they may ask you to discuss very different things in your essays), and so, it’s important to be mindful of what they’re asking of you.
Read: Realistic Ways to Find Fully Funded Scholarships for Studying Abroad – Jamboree
Double-Check Your MS in US Scholarship Application Materials
Be it test-prep or your application materials: revision makes a huge difference. Going over your work thoroughly (several times!) helps you refine your materials the best you can. One small mistake has the potential to cost you your application, so it’s always better to be safe and double-check. For a different perspective, and to help you pick out things you may have missed, consider enlisting the help of a family member, friend, colleague, or mentor. Have them read through your application materials for fresh insight.
We hope this article has given you valuable perspective and tips on how to get a scholarship for masters in USA, and how to increase your chances of getting a scholarship for MS in US. Give it your best, and everything shall work out. Good luck! Feel free to speak to our expert counsellors for further guidance on getting scholarships for MS in US.