applying to schools abroad? here's why and how
DESCRIPTION
This is Donny Eryastha's presentation that was delivered in the Indonesia Mengglobal Bandung Outreach Event on September 28, 2013 in ITB and Unpad.TRANSCRIPT
INDONESIA MENGGLOBAL
Applying to Schools Abroad?Here’re Why and How
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Donny Eryastha
|Indonesia Mengglobal
AGENDA
1. Indonesia Mengglobal video: Harvard Kennedy School
2. Introduction to Indonesia Mengglobal
3. My own experience
4. Studying abroad: why and how
1. Q&A
2 www.indonesiamengglobal.com
|Indonesia Mengglobal
What is Indonesia Mengglobal?
A network of over 90 students and alumni of top global schools, i.e. Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Columbia, Cambridge, ANU, etc
A website with more than 200 articles on school and scholarship application. The website was published in March 2012, and there are currently > 100 writers and contributors.
Syndication with the JakartaGlobe, Kompas.com, and the US-Indonesia Joint Council on Higher Education Partnership.
Conducts informational events, essay clinic, mentorship program.
3 www.indonesiamengglobal.com
|Indonesia Mengglobal
The questions…
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|Indonesia Mengglobal
Why go to graduate schools abroad?
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• For better education “None of Indonesian universities are among the top 200 best
universities according to Times Higher Education World University Ranking.”
• For better career “Median earnings of those with a graduate degree are an average of 38.3% higher than those with a bachelor's degree in the same field.” –Georgetown study
• For the experience “My years at Harvard are among the most fun, enriching years in my
life.” –Donny Eryastha
www.indonesiamengglobal.com
|Indonesia Mengglobal
Why Harvard Kennedy School?
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1. It’s Harvard
|Indonesia Mengglobal
Why Harvard Kennedy School?
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2. It’s the Kennedy School
|Indonesia Mengglobal
Why Harvard Kennedy School?
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3. The money
|Indonesia Mengglobal
My own experience..
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• Harus cum laude, lulusan terbaik
• Anak orang terkenal
• Rekomendasi dari orang terkenal
• Pekerjaan sesuai jurusan yang dilamar
• Harus dapat beasiswa dulu/bayar sendiri
• Harus ikut les TOEFL/GRE
• Sudah pernah berkunjung ke sekolah
www.indonesiamengglobal.com
• Bukan cum laude, bukan lulusan terbaik
• Bukan anak orang terkenal
• Rekomendasi bukan dari orang terkenal
• Pekerjaan tidak sesuai jurusan
• Belum dapat beasiswa /tidak sanggup bayar sendiri
• Tidak ikut les TOEFL/GRE
• Tidak pernah ke Amerika
Myths Facts
|Indonesia Mengglobal
Basic principles of graduate school application
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• It is POSSIBLE for Indonesian graduates to get accepted in the best universities in the world. Every element of application CAN be prepared.
• Allocate significant time and resources for school application; it could be the MOST IMPORTANT action in your life.
• Focus on getting accepted into good school first, NOT on getting scholarship.
• Prepare ALL aspects of school application, NOT LIMITED TO standardized tests.
• Forget MYTHS that are not productive to application preparation.
• Research school options EXTENSIVELY.
• Apply to SEVERAL schools strategically.
www.indonesiamengglobal.com
|Indonesia Mengglobal
School options for college graduates: Degrees (USA)
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MASTER Degree
Taking more advanced and specific classes in a specialized field
Research may be required
Thesis may be required
Typically 1 to 2 years
Industry-oriented track
Internships strongly encouraged
DOCTORATE Degree
Taking more advanced and specific classes in a specialized field
Research is required and is the bulk of the experience
Thesis and publication are non-negotiable
Typically 4 to 6 years.
Academic track (teaching component)
Close working relationship with adviser and professor(s)
www.indonesiamengglobal.com
|Indonesia Mengglobal
School options for college graduates: Types of schools (USA)
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Graduate School
Can be done straight from undergraduate
Switching is easier (technical/non-technical)
Hard and soft skills (technical/specialization)
Major, e.g. Social Sciences
(Economics, Political Science, Sociology)
Engineering (Chemical, Electrical, Civil, Computer)
Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
POLICY School
>2 years experience
Prepares graduates for career in government, non-profit, int’l org.
Accepts almost all backgrounds.
Learn from cases and soft skills
Concentration, e.g. Economic
development Social policy International affairs
BUSINESS School
>2 years of experience
Prepares graduate for career in private sector
Accepts almost all background.
Learn from business cases and soft skills
Concentration, e.g. Marketing Finance Entrepreneurship
Professional Schools
|Indonesia Mengglobal
School application: Essay (1/2)
What is graduate school application essay?
“An important element of application – the only opportunity to speak about yourself directly to the admission committee”
What should I write in the essay?
“Most importantly, make sure you answer the question in the essay prompt then incorporate (smoothly) anything you’d like the admission committee to know about yourself – your experience, your achievement, your personality, you name it”
Be interesting, a bland admission essay can put an overworked admission committee to sleep!
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|Indonesia Mengglobal
School application: Essay (2/2)
TIPS:
Can be generic, but tailor to the institution you are applying to
Personalize your essay
Seek for opinions from others
Never lie, exaggeration is often justifiable
No grammatically error and typo
Think how to make your essay stand out among other applicants
Spare enough time (months, not days!) to prepare
Target the institution
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|Indonesia Mengglobal
School Application: Recommendation Letter
What is recommendation letter?
“A letter from people who know you very well, generally at a higher level, that can
reflect your quality”
TIPS:
Request from someone who knows about yourself (professor, work supervisor)
Make sure that the letters are written in favor of you
Higher credibility from famous people
Help the person you are asking recommendation letter from:
Tell them your strengths, areas of interest, and aspirations
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|Indonesia Mengglobal
School application: Standardized test (1/2)
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IELTS
Usually for UK-based and Australian-based schools. Type of questions are more varied: multiple choice, short answers, diagrams, charts, true/false.
#Sections: Reading Listening Speaking Writing
Highest score: 9.0 ; Typical score for top schools: minimum 6.0 – 7.0
TOEFL (IBT – Internet Based Test)
Types of questions: multiple choice (reading and listening), and essay (writing)
# Sections: Reading Listening Speaking Writing
Highest score: 120. Typical score for top schools: Minimum 100 – 110.
www.indonesiamengglobal.com
|Indonesia Mengglobal
School application: Standardized test (2/2)
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GRE
•Graduate Record Exam is designed as a measuring tool and is required by most graduate schools in admission process.
# Sections: Verbal Reasoning Analytical Writing Quantitative
Reasoning
Typical score for top schools: 600 for Verbal,700 and above for Quant Reasoning, 3.5 and above for Writing.
Score range: 200 – 800.
LSAT
•Law School Admission Test is a standardized and required test for JD program admissions at all law schools that are members of Law Schools Admission Council.
# Sections: Reading
Comprehension Analytical
Reasoning Logical Reasoning Writing
Typical score for top schools: above 160.
Score range: 120 – 160.
GMAT
•Graduate Management Admission Test is designed to assess applicants’ ability in continuing advanced study in business and management.
# Sections: Analytical writing
assessment Integrated Reasoning Quantitative Verbal
Typical score for top schools: above 700.
Score range: 200 – 800.
www.indonesiamengglobal.com
|Indonesia Mengglobal
More resources and Q&A
www.indonesiamengglobal.com
@IndoMengglobal
http://www.facebook.com/IndoMengglobal
Donny Eryastha Email: [email protected]
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