Introduction

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Applying to US Universities has been shortened into the term 'apping' and also to 'app'. Apping is a lengthy and painstaking process, and requires diligence. Let this not be a deter your decision to app.

This site is made to provide as much as information as possible. As I applied to MS/PhD program, everything mentioned here would be towards MS/PhD. Applying to MS is basically the same, except that you will spend only 2 years in US as compared to MS/PhD who have to spend a minimum of 4 years (which stretches to 6 or 7, unfortunately).
Hence, before you embark upon this long-journey, I would like to address a few questions:

Why App?
Bachelor's degree is of no use! After few years of work, you will really feel the need to get a Master's degree. This is because, after reaching a level, there won't be much growth for someone with a Bachelor degree. Master's degree holders are supposed to have more skill-set and hence they get bigger responsibilities and bigger pay. Hence its of utmost importance that you get a Master's degree (either MS or MBA). Further, MS is an easy way to get into USA. [but I would urge you all to come back to India and contribute to its development :) ]

What are the benefits of doing MS?
There are lots. If you are in a fix whether to choose for MS or MBA, then go for what your interests say. If you want money, plenty of money, and you are interested in knowing about Finance, Economics etc. then MBA is your right choice. But if you are interested in technology, then MS is the right choice. (If you are not interested in doing both, go for job and you will identify your interest after some years of work experience).

MS or PhD?
You can do a PhD after you complete your MS or you can do a PhD alongside MS (MS/PhD or MS+PhD). The advantage in the latter case is that the number of years is reduced. If you are very much passionate about research then go ahead and apply for MS/PhD (note that you need a solid research background in your Bachelor's degree before you can apply to MS/PhD).
Generally you won't get scholarship for MS but you get scholarship easily if you are applying to MS/PhD.
PhD has its own ups and downs. While on a day you will want to break your head for the problem which wouldn't get solved for months, on a different day you will cry with joy for a new method you devised. Sometimes you might want to run away from the university but sometimes you will feel you made the right choice. And by the time you are in the middle of your PhD (and you look forward some more years of stay), your friend Tom might be earning a lot. Its all about job satisfaction, to do what you want. There will always be difficulties before you get what you want.

How costly is this affair?
Huh, very costly.
GRE would cost you $170, TOEFL about $160. To report the scores to the universities, you need to pay more. For TOEFL each extra university takes up $17 and for GRE you have to pay $6 as a processing fee and then $15 for each university. So don't forget to utilize the chance of free score reporting at the end of GRE exam and during TOEFL registration.
Further, each university charges about $70 on the average (eg: Princeton $65, Stanford $105, Rice $40).
Then you have the courier cost of sending your transcript and other materials to the universities. Those cost about Rs1000 (with student discount, FedEx might cost Rs1500).
So depending on the number of universities you apply, you can find out your cost.

How lengthy is the process?
Its a lengthy and tedious process. You have to spend lots of time for making your resume, for Statement of Purpose, selecting the universities and contacting professors in those if required, making a website and uploading your material, go through each of the university website and figure out the nuances of what to send, where to send, what all extra information is required etc.
Afterall, no pain - no gain! Don't be scared, the life after graduate studies will be great. A PhD means you are THE expert in your field and you will get a respect.

Next : Find out how to make a website, to help you in apping.

Recommendations

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Recommendation letters are crucial to your application. If you get a strong recommendation letter, then it makes a good impression upon your application reviewer and so your chances increase.
Generally universities require 3 online recommendation letters. Earlier it used to be paper recos but now its mosly online.
Tip for Paper recos : If you are applying to 'n' universities, then get 'n+1' recommendation packets. Open one of them and you will know how good your reco is!
Give the details of three recommenders. No need to give more because the reviewers wouldn't have the time to read all four. As a matter of fact, 3 strong recos are better than 3 strong + 1 medium. Normally, the recommenders (also called evaluators) would give the recommendation letters directly but if they don't have the time or patience to write it down, then they can actually get it written from you.

Next : Writing Statement of Purpose

Preparation

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Before the actual Apping stage, you need to carefully plan and prepare yourself. First of all, mentally prepare yourself that you are going to app, so that you will not waver at a later point of time. There are various preparations involved, written in the order to be done:

• Give the required testings
• Select the Universities
• Start writing the SoP
  
• Prepare the Documents
• Organize your materials
• Ask your Evaluators
  
• Fill out the forms.
• Send materials required
  

Give the Required Testings:
You have to give various tests before you can apply. If you are applying to Engineering stream, then you might have to write GRE and TOEFL examinations. While plethora of sites can give you information on what GRE/TOEFL tests are and how how to prepare for them, I recommend you to check out these links for GRE and TOEFL which give you some wisdom you wouldn't get elsewhere. Depending on your department and the university you are applying to, you might also have to give AGRE (subject GRE). Check out the various university sites for information whether it requires AGRE.

Select the Universities:
The main article is here.

Start writing your SoP:
It takes time to write your Statement of Purpose. Two months would be a great amount of time to make a great SoP. The article at SoP might help.

Prepare the Documents:

1. You will require an official copy of your Transcript. So get it in your college. Apply as soon as possible since, depending on how many people are applyin to foreign universities, towards the deadlines a lot of people will apply for Transcript, which will cause delay in obtaining the official copies. Generally the procedure is that you get the Transcripts and then xerox it say 2xnumber of universities you are applying and submit them along with those many number of envelopes (small air mails) to your Dean's office. They will arrange the Dean to sign on the Transcript and then put it in the envelope, close it and put a seal over the envelope so that it becomes an 'official' copy. Do this procedure immediately after your semester starts.
2. Apply for Passport. Passport takes a variable amount of time to obtain. So you must have it well before you apply. If you are applying in say fall 2009, you must have your Passport by fall 2008 which means you must apply in Jan 2008. Generally it takes three months to get, but sometimes it gets delayed. Be on the safer side.
   
3. Scan your Transcript and Passport once you get them. Conver them into PDF files.
   
4. Make your Resume. There are various places where you can get information on how to write resumes. The links on the right might help I guess :) Moreover, its not a resume that you write for Job interview, this one for apping must be different. Make sure your resume is within 2-3 pages and is of small size. Get a doc, pdf as well as text version of it (so that you can copy paste it at various places while filling the online forms)
5. Make a Website and upload the documents you have including the Resume. Check out the main article here.

Organize your materials:
Its important that you organize your materials. Since in due couse of time you will find that you have ten different resumes scattered all your computer. Follow this article, please.

Ask your Evaluators:
You must ask your evaluators whether they will give you a recommendation letters. Better don't give their names and then tell them that you have given their references. Also ask in advance. Some professors might get busy and towards the end say that its not possible to give!

Fill out the Forms:
Each university has its own online form. Moreover, some universities depend on external agents like Embark or Apply Yourself to provide them with this infrastructure. All you need to do is to spot the link, bookmark it and then start filling it out (by registering). Some forms might generate online code which you can put on the envelopes to be sent. Also get a credit card ready to pay all the universities. Its neat and simple that way.

Send the materials required:
Most of the universities require you to send one or two copies of the official copy of your Transcript. Some might require you to send a photocopy of passport or your resume etc. It depends on the university and you should check out the Admissions site of the university thoroughly to get all information required.

Next : Tips and Tricks