The US Study-Abroad Application Cheat Sheet

Before you really start preparing to study abroad, have you made sure you've truly thought it through?

First, ask yourself three questions:

1. Why do I want to study abroad?

2. What is my goal in studying abroad?

3. How will I change after studying abroad?

These questions help us examine our motivation for studying abroad and give us the drive to keep going when things get hard. Once we've made up our minds, we can start preparing!

1️⃣ School list

In Excel, list the schools and programs you want to apply to, their application dates, required documents and so on. This list helps you keep track of your overall progress during the long preparation process and makes sure you don't miss any important steps.

2️⃣ Test prep

- Language tests: Each school accepts different tests and sets different score requirements. In Europe and North America, the main ones are IELTS and TOEFL. The two tests focus on slightly different things, so do some research online and pick the one that suits you. I went with IELTS myself and will write another post later about my experience.

- GRE/GMAT: This is a nightmare for many students heading to the US😱. Think of it as the grad-school version of Taiwan's college entrance exam (學測); both domestic and international students have to take it. The good news is that many schools now think the GRE/GMAT is less and less useful for telling applicants apart, so they are gradually dropping the requirement, and some even treat it as optional.

3️⃣ Application documents

- CV/Resume: Unlike job resumes in Taiwan, an academic CV doesn't need a photo or a fancy template; simple and clean is enough. Professors' CVs are posted on every US university's website, and they make the best templates!

- SOP, PS: Statement of Purpose and Personal Statement. These are essential documents that help professors get to know you better. You can describe your motivation, interests, future plans and so on.

- Recommendation letters: Talk in advance with the professors, bosses or others you'd like to write your letters. In my experience, some professors will ask you to write a draft first, so you need to set aside time to prepare.

4️⃣ Other preparation

- Money💲: Studying abroad is an expensive plan, and you need enough stable financial resources lined up to support it. Making sure you have a reliable source of funds is very important.

- Research projects, portfolio: Depending on the field, some schools may ask for a thesis or portfolio you've completed before.

- Mindset and talking with your parents: Preparing to study abroad can feel lonely. There aren't many experienced people around you, and resources are limited. That's why strong motivation, a healthy mindset and support from family and friends all matter a lot.

Honestly, you'll face some challenges while preparing to study abroad, but trust that your determination and hard work will pay off. I hope this post helps those of you who are preparing or still deciding whether to study abroad. If you have other thoughts, feel free to share them with me in the comments.

More posts on preparing to study abroad are on the way. Feel free to follow me on IG @cj_phd.life