If you are applying to an American University, congratulations. It is a good investment in your future and we wish you all the best. At this point of time, every bit of information helps. You have probably given your GRE and are wondering about your chances for aid and admission.

We thought we'd give you some pointers:

1. Contact the department : Things like GRE are relative. Most departments look at the entire package. If you want to know about your chances, please contact the department. They will probably have a range in mind. A GRE score of 1900 but with great, relevant research/work experience might be as good as a 2200 GRE score with no work experience. What is more, many departments do not look at your composite score. In areas like psychology, emphasis might be on quant and analytical reasoning scores, but in mass communication, they might just look at your verbal and quant scores. ISA cannot be expected to know your chances for admission and aid. Only your department will know. Write to the department email address. Please be polite, concise and clear and usually. they will reply.

2. Choose a professor: Departments webpages list research interests of faculty for a reason - so that people can choose their advisor. Look at the faculty, choose someone who has compatible research interests, start a dialogue with him/her several months before the application deadline. They might be too busy to reply, but they might forward your letter to someone who might have answers to your questions. Please do not ask them petty questions like `do you think I could aid' or `with a score of 2040 can I get into your university'.

3. Please feel free to write to ISA for clarification and for more suggestions.

4. Stay positive : Don't be discouraged if a few universities don't reply and don't get back to you. Stay positive, and write to as many universities as you can.

All the best with your career!

India Students Association at Kansas State University

www.ksu.edu/isa