Written in: August 2000
By Ian Chambers (chambi01@student.ucr.edu )

This little report on the process that I experienced when applying to the US may seem frightening at first but press on through to the end. I have started with some of the hoops you have to jump through and the problems you may face and concluded with a little bit about how my personal path has worked through them.

Possibly one of the main things that my US Graduate Study application process has taught me, or rather reminded me, is that despite outwards appearances of similarity there are enough differences between the UK and the USA to trip you up if you do not pay close attention. These differences range from timing, through costs, to attitude.

Timing
Dealing with these in turn the first confusion is timing. In simple terms when fellow students are beginning to write their applications for UK funding you will be awaiting replies from the applications you put in several months before, you have to plan ahead or you will not get there. All the Universities, to which I applied, had deadlines around Christmas or New Year, if you wanted to be included in their internal funding process. A similar situation arises when looking at funding from the UK, you need to be quick. The time to begin the whole process is as soon as you enter your final undergraduate year or begin your Masters year.

Money, money, money
Turning to costs I was totally aware that the costs for US graduate study was huge compared to the UK ($20,000 a year not being unusual in my experience). You are responsible for finding this money and will need to search long and hard for the money, there are options out there, but you have to find them there are not single bodies such as the AHRB or ESRC. However, I had not totally appreciated the add-on costs, firstly unlike the UK it costs to apply. I found on average there was a $40 -$50 processing costs for each application, so if you want to spread you applications you will have to allow somewhere around an £80 - £100 initial outlay. Secondly are those wonderful GRE tests. If you want to apply to a US university you will need to take the GRE exam, a three-part computer based test. This will cost around £100 and it is only possible to take it in London, add on train fare and the fact that the administration centre for Europe is in the Netherlands, add on phone costs, and you can see how costs are beginning to mount. And don't forget the postage for applications, weighty envelopes to the US, although thankfully many Universities are now offering on-line applications.

Attitudes
Finally attitude, the whole tenure of the application is different for the US, remember the maxim: Be Positive. Someone, I forget whom, once told to me that the easiest way to tell an American from a Briton was to ask how they were? The reply from a Briton would be "not bad, thanks" whereas the American would yell "Great! I am doing … and soon I will be doing….". Although overstated I found this an invaluable reminder to sell myself heavily on my Statement of Purpose within my application.

Ok up to now it has been a little threatening or even frightening but all of these problems are lessened by the fact that people are incredibly helpful. From the people at the Fulbright to everyone I came into contact with at US universities from departmental secretaries to Professors, everybody was very willing to help.

Despite all of these potential pitfalls, I began my application process. I decided to apply to do my Graduate study after spending a wonderful year in the US as an undergraduate. However, timing tripped me up and I didn't apply early enough to begin the year after I had finished my Undergraduate degree. After chatting to various people I decided to embark upon an MA in the UK and apply for my PhD in the US. I completed my MA by Research on a part-time basis, rather than by taught courses, this had both benefits and problems. When it came to putting this on my application the lack of class grades caused confusion, which took a few telephone conversations by both myself and my MA supervisor to clear up. However, as a part-time research student I had time to work and earn a little money, which helped to defray the application costs.

More importantly it gave me the time to add to my personal academic value, by this I mean I worked at turning my MA chapters into conference papers. I was fortunate to have them accepted at several conferences, which placed added value on the academic CV. I also wrote a couple of book reviews for Journals and helped to organise internal conferences at my home University, again all beneficial points on the CV. I decided to apply to only two US universities, a decision I now regret as both were very high standard universities and I believe I limited myself to much. I also applied for several UK based funding bodies and managed to get to the interview stage for the Thouron award. I was offered a place at the University of Pennsylvania, but was unable to secure funding. Despite this setback, which did come as a huge blow and somewhat of a surprise - how dare they not take me! I decided to persevere.

I began a PhD in the UK, but still with one eye on the US for the following year. I applied to several universities in the US and was able to secure a one-year exchange scholarship, but although this was a great opportunity I also carried on with my full applications. I finally cleared all the hurdles and I am now able to write this case study in the few weeks holiday that I have allowed myself before I board that plane, with my one way ticket. I have finally proceeded to the fulfilment of a dream - a fully funded PhD at the University Of California.