This comprehensive course covers everything from the initial research phase, including effective emailing to prospective professors/advisors and writing a compelling Statement of Purpose, through securing admission and funding. It provides detailed guidance on GRE/TOEFL preparation, completing the I-20 form, preparing for the student visa interview (F-1), and navigating pre-arrival and first-day logistics in the US.
Course Content
Module 1: Introduction to U.S. Higher Education
Module 2: Academic Profile Building
Module 3: English Proficiency Exam Preparation
Module 4: University Search & Selection
Module 5: Professor Outreach, Emailing & Zoom Interviews – Resource Map
1.1 Understanding the U.S. Education System
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4 Topics
1.1.a Structure: Bachelor, Master, PhD
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1.1.b Research vs coursework-based programs
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1.1.c Ivy League vs public universities vs private universities
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1.1.d Semester systems and credit structures
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1.2 Types of Funding
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5 Topics
1.2.a RA (Research Assistantship)
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1.2.b TA (Teaching Assistantship)
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1.2.c Fellowship
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1.2.d Tuition waivers
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1.2.e Funded vs self-funded programs
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1.3 Research Culture & Expectations
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4 Topics
1.3.a How labs operate
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1.3.b U.S. academic culture
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1.3.c Publication expectations for PhD students
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1.3.d Mentorship style and advisor–student relationships
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2.1 GPA & Transcript Preparation
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3 Topics
2.1.a Converting grades to U.S. GPA
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2.1.b Transcript requirements (official vs unofficial, formats, etc.)
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2.1.c WES / ECE evaluations
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2.2 Building a Research Profile
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4 Topics
2.2.a Identifying research interests / getting into research
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2.2.b Choosing supervisors (for later MS/PhD)
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2.2.c Creating a research portfolio website
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2.2.d Maintaining GitHub / project portfolio
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2.3 Publishing Papers
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5 Topics
2.3.a How to start a research project (from idea to plan)
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2.3.b Selecting a conference / journal
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2.3.c Writing a paper: structure and process
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2.3.d Revising & resubmitting after reviews
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2.3.e Avoiding predatory journals
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2.4 Enhancing Profile with Certifications & Experiences
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4 Topics
2.4.a MOOCs / online certifications (Coursera, edX, etc.)
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2.4.b Research internships (local & foreign)
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2.4.c Competitions (ACM/ICPC, Kaggle, etc.)
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2.4.d Overall profile-building overview (nice intro to the whole module)
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3.1 IELTS Preparation
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6 Topics
3.1.1 Full IELTS overview (all 4 skills)
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3.1.2 Listening (structure, practice, mocks)
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3.1.3 Reading
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3.1.4 Writing (Task 1 & Task 2, coherence, common mistakes)
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3.1.5 Speaking
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3.1.6 Practice routines, mock tests, common mistakes
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3.2 TOEFL iBT Preparation
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3 Topics
3.2.1 TOEFL structure & updated format
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3.2.2 Reaching 100+ (score strategy + study plan)
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3.2.3 Academic writing focus (TOEFL essays)
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3.3 Duolingo English Test (DET)
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3 Topics
3.3.1 Format & question types (updated pattern)
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3.3.2 Practice & mock tests
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3.3.3 How to reach 120+ (strategy, study plan, comparison)
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3.4 Writing SOPs & Essays in Academic English
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4 Topics
3.4.1 Statement of Purpose (structure, examples, style)
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3.4.2 Academic writing style (formal tone, structure, coherence)
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3.4.3 Avoiding grammar errors & polishing readability
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3.4.4 Integrated practice for exam essays + SoPs
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4.1 Finding Universities
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2 Topics
4.1.a Using rankings wisely (US News, QS, THE)
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4.1.b Understanding acceptance rates & selectivity
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4.2 Understanding Program Requirements
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3 Topics
4.2.a Minimum GPA, GRE, English test requirements
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4.2.b Funding availability (RA/TA, scholarships, fully funded options)
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4.2.c Research match with faculty
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4.3 Creating the University Shortlist
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2 Topics
4.3.a Ambitious / Moderate / Safe categorization
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4.3.b Spreadsheet / tools for decision-making
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4.4 Financial Planning
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3 Topics
4.4.a Tuition fee comparison (per year / per program)
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4.4.b Cost of living by state / city
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4.4.c Funding vs self-funded decision & ROI
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5.1 Identifying the Right Professors
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2 Topics
5.1.1 Searching for potential advisors
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5.1.2 Evaluating fit, red flags, and lab culture
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5.2 Cold Emailing Professors
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2 Topics
5.2.1 Core cold-email strategy
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5.2.2 Email format, wording, and examples
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5.3 Writing a Short Research Summary for Emails
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1 Topic
5.3.1 (“Mini research statement” you paste in the email body)
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5.4 Supporting Documents & Portfolio (CV, Website, GitHub)
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2 Topics
5.4.1 Academic CV tailored for MS/PhD
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5.4.2 Simple academic website / portfolio
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5.5 Follow-ups, Reminders, and No-Reply Situations
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2 Topics
5.5.1 When and how to follow up
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5.5.2 Polite reminder / no response
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