International students wishing to attend graduate school in the United States have more hoops to jump through in the admissions process than simply earning a great GRE score. The application process can be very confusing and a little daunting, not to mention expensive and time-consuming. The key to making it through the application process alive is to stay organized and keep track of deadlines. The following tips can help you keep your cool and submit stellar applications.

Before you apply. . .
The decisions you make before you start filling out the forms can dictate how focused or chaotic the whole process will be. With a little careful thought, you can streamline the process significantly.

Realistically assess your ability to do well in a program conducted entirely in English.
Graduate programs require a substantial amount of heavy reading, in addition to classes, group projects, and papers. If you're not completely comfortable reading, writing, speaking, and comprehending English, you'll have problems completing a course of study.

Make sure you have the money to attend school and pay your living expenses.
While some graduate programs give financial aid and grants to foreign students, some do not. Be sure you can cover all your costs (including things like travel home for breaks and entertainment expenses) if you don't receive a grant.

Research the programs you'll be applying to.
It can cost $300 U.S. or more to apply to each program you're interested in, so be sure you're willing to attend every program you apply to. Programs with the same name often have very different philosophies or specialties. Comb the websites and literature of the programs to gain information, and talk to any current students and alumni that you can find to help you decide if a program is right for you.

The application process. . .
This is where the bulk of your time and effort will be spent. Some people estimate that it takes 50 hours to put together each application, so start early and stay organized. While it may be physically possible to complete an application form in one sitting, remember that you have to build time into your plan to allow for delays in local mail. It may take several weeks for application material to reach you and a few more weeks for your completed application to reach the school.

Know the deadlines.
Be sure you know when all parts of your application are due to every program you're applying to. It may help you to buy a special calendar to hang on the wall with all your deadlines marked on it in red ink. As soon as you get each application, take note of ALL deadlines so you know in advance what you have to do and when you have to do it.

Have your transcript sent.
You'll need to request that the university you earned your undergraduate degree from send a transcript of your courses and grades to the programs you're applying to. Most programs will not accept copies you send; they need "official" copies sent directly by the university you attended. Expect to pay a fee for this service. It can take anywhere from three weeks to three months for the transcripts to be sent, so request them as soon as you have chosen the programs to which you'll apply.

Also, it is likely that you'll need to submit a transcript evaluation along with your actual transcript. A transcript or academic credential evaluation converts your academic transcript into the U.S. format. It allows admissions officers at American schools to assess your undergraduate coursework and equate it to U.S. standards. Some will even provide you with a standard U.S. grade point average (G.P.A.) equivalent. There are fee-based services that will do this for you. Investigate them early and thoroughly.

Take the TOEFL.
Unless you're a native English speaker or earned an undergraduate university degree from an American university, you will probably be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). For more information about the TOEFL, go to www.toefl.org.

Prepare for the GRE.
Make sure you are prepared for the test when you take it. While you can take it again if you don't earn the score you want, most schools prefer to see no more than two or three scores on your score report. Don't use the actual exam for practice, there are practice materials available for purchase that you should use instead. You can try a free online GRE course right from our GRE section.

Take the GRE.
Most graduate programs in the United States require that you take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). There is a lot more information about the format, content, and structure of the GRE, as well as advice on how to prepare for the test, right here, on this website. For information about registering to take the GRE, go to www.gre.org.

Take a GRE Subject test, if necessary.
Some programs will ask you to take a GRE Subject test in your specific area of study. Since the subject tests are only offered four times a year, keep your application deadlines in mind when registering for the test.

Ask for recommendations from professors or employers.
If you are still in school you should ask your professors to write your letters of recommendation, If you have been out of school for several years, your current employer can write one of your recommendations (but most programs will still want one from a former professor, too).

Submit any published articles or studies you've written, or a portfolio of your work.
If you have been published, include that information on your application. If you're applying to a program such as architecture, fine arts, or creative writing, you should include a portfolio of your work.

Write, rewrite, and rewrite your essays.
Applications essays are your chance to show the admissions committee what makes you stand out from the other applicants. Be direct and honest, and allow your own personality to come through. Have a native English speaker read your essays to make sure you haven't made any major mistakes, although bear in mind that the admissions committee knows if English is not your native language. Do NOT, however, get someone else to write your essays for you. This constitutes fraud and you will be immediately rejected if (and when) you are caught.

It's not over yet. . .
Once you've been accepted and have chosen a program. . . don't relax yet! You still need to take care of the details that will allow you to move to the United States and enroll for classes.

Contact your program to begin the application for a student visa.
Do this well in advance, since you could be forced to miss the first few weeks of classes if you're not allowed into the country because your visa hasn't arrived. Your program will be able to help you with the paperwork.

Finalize financing for your studies.
Make sure all your money is available when you need it. Most programs will require a substantial deposit before classes begin. You will typically need to prove that you have the funds for at least one year of study in order to obtain your student visa anyway.

Arrange for housing.
Ask if your program offers student housing. If not, ask for the names and email addresses of other incoming students to arrange for housing before you arrive. At some schools, there are housing options geared specifically for international students. These can be a great option, or not, depending on what experience you hope to have at school. Make sure you consider all options when making your decision.

Applying to graduate programs in the U.S. can be confusing, but it doesn't have to be if you stay organized and stay on top of the application deadlines. Once you've got all the ugly details taken care of, you'll be able to focus on your studies and experience life in the USA!