Starting February 3rd, graduate exam scores have been released one after another. After checking scores, some are happy and some are worried. In the fierce competition, those who did well should hurry to prepare for the re-examination, while those who didn't do well missed the offers from their dream schools by a whisker. So where should the unsuccessful candidates go from here?
Now, look at those around you: among your four roommates, Xiaodan found a good job in the fall recruitment and is relaxing at home; Xiaosha scored high on the graduate exam and is preparing for the re-examination; Xiaoyue steadily worked hard throughout four years of college and got admitted to a top U.S. university. And there are many like me who failed the graduate exam—half are preparing to retake it, and half are looking for spring recruitment. How should you choose?
All roads lead to Rome. Although you didn't get into a domestic graduate program, you still have the opportunity to study abroad. Compared to domestic education, overseas education not only has a higher-quality education system and teaching methods, but studying abroad also allows you to broaden your horizons and understand a bigger world.
When God closes a door, he opens a window. Studying abroad is not only a fallback for failing the graduate exam, but also a great path forward.
Want to advance your education?
Graduate programs aren't just domestic; you can also earn a master's at a foreign university! Search for the latest world university rankings: besides the U.S., U.K., and Canada, there are many highly-ranked good schools in Hong Kong and Singapore as well.
What's it like to study at a world's top university? You only live once—don't you want to experience it?
Want to pursue academic advancement?
Perhaps you took the graduate exam with a very pragmatic mindset, aiming to find a good job. But after four years of college, can you also feel the charm of your discipline?
It's no exaggeration to say that the quality of higher education in the U.S. is the best in the world. In the latest 2017 top 100 world universities, American institutions accounted for nearly half. In terms of supporting facilities, faculty quality, education spending, teaching standards, and even the educational environment and society's recognition and emphasis on education, the U.S. is undoubtedly number one.
Perhaps the meaning of a prestigious university lies in its resources and perspectives. Being exposed to cutting-edge attitudes, ideas, and topics, renewing your thinking daily, and opening the door to understanding the world is very important.
Want to find a good job?
If you choose to take the exam again, and then study after passing, another four years will have passed. A master's degree and fresh graduate status might add some points to job hunting and meet the thresholds of some good job descriptions (JDs). However, studying abroad will give you richer work experience, better connections, and resources.
How to Best Plan Your Study Abroad Application After the Graduate Exam?
Option 1
If you want to study in the U.S. after failing the graduate exam, you might need a year to prepare.
This is because U.S. graduate admissions typically have fall and spring semesters—fall in September and spring in January. Fall deadlines are usually between November and February, and spring deadlines are usually September to October. Due to timing, applying to U.S. schools in the same year after failing the graduate exam is not very realistic.
For those still preparing for the graduate exam, preparing for both the exam and study abroad simultaneously is a good option.
If you're not ready yet but want to attend a highly-ranked university, then start preparing quickly. You have a year to prepare for language exams, personal statements, and background enhancement. For the September 2019 intake, all U.S. universities are open to you.
Option 2
There are many schools and programs in the U.S., so there are still opportunities to apply for fall admission this year.
But applying to U.S. graduate schools generally requires scores from two types of tests: a language test (TOEFL or IELTS) and a graduate entrance exam (GRE or GMAT).
As of now in early February, many top U.S. schools have closed their applications. However, many programs at schools ranked 30th and beyond are still open, especially in STEM fields where most programs haven't closed, with deadlines typically on March 15th or in April/May (depending on the program).
Suitable Student Group
Students who have already studied for TOEFL and GRE during their undergraduate years and are preparing for both domestic graduate exams and international applications simultaneously.
Advantages
Directly enroll in a U.S. institution in the fall, starting professional coursework without any delay.
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate average score above 80%; TOEFL score meeting the school's requirements; GRE score meeting the school's requirements.
Some programs at these schools are still accepting applications
U.S. Business: Tulane University, Fordham University, Pepperdine University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Stony Brook University (SUNY), etc.;
U.S. Economics: University of Southern California, Boston University, Northeastern University, University of Connecticut, etc.; U.S. STEM: Lehigh University, Northeastern University, Southern Methodist University, Syracuse University, etc.;
After identifying your target schools and majors, start preparing scores for the two tests and begin preparing application materials, preliminary school selection, and essay materials, and apply as soon as possible.
Option 3
If you want to apply for graduate study starting in September this year but can only prepare language scores and don't have enough time for GRE/GMAT, you can also consider applying for pre-master's programs at top 50 schools. For example, the pre-master's programs at USC and Northeastern have relatively late deadlines and the schools have good overall rankings. After being admitted to a pre-master's program, you can directly proceed to the main courses after completing the preparatory program, saving time and avoiding the hassle of deferred applications.
Suitable Student Group
Students who had no study abroad preparation during undergraduate, no TOEFL and no GRE.
Advantages
No language scores required; the foreign pathway program offers professional teaching and includes credit-bearing courses that count toward the graduate degree.
Available Majors
Some programs that haven't yet closed
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate average score above 75%; no TOEFL/GRE score required.
If you choose to defer your application, whether applying for the following spring or fall, you should plan your time accordingly, accurately assess your GPA, write a thorough graduation thesis, and strive to get an outstanding thesis or even the title of outstanding graduate.
Your graduation thesis is a summary of the knowledge you've gained throughout your studies and a reference for your research direction and interests. Achieving an excellent grade (or at least close to excellent) is, aside from your GPA, the best evidence of your research ability.
Your senior spring semester won't have many courses, so you'll have plenty of time to prepare for language tests and study abroad materials. You should manage your time well to prepare for GRE/GMAT scores, while simultaneously working on school selection, essay writing, and application materials. This way, you can apply as soon as applications open and get an offer from your dream school.
Want to study abroad? Want to know the timeline for applying after failing the graduate exam? Want to find out what good programs are still open for application in the U.S.? Add “CheersYou（清柚教育） Bro” (WeChat ID: qingyouge23) as a friend and note “Race” to receive priority consultation!
