If you are considering going to an English speaking university, you’ve probably been practicing your academic writing. Academic writing, the kind of writing you need to do on the TOEFL and other entrance exams, is formal and complex. But for many university applicants, academic writing is not the only writing they need to do. During […]
Student Life
Yes, there is life after TOEFL. And for most test-takers, student life is what comes after you pass the exam. Read on to learn all about applications, admissions, and the campus experience!

The Components of a PhD Application in the USA
Let me start with this picture showing the various elements of the application package. In addition to all the components shown above some schools have specific requirements which will be mentioned in their websites. Now let’s look at each element in detail: 1. Application Form This is a document which is available on the […]

A Guide to College Admissions Essays
The college application essay is known by many names like “personal statement” or “statement of purpose” which is the most popular one. International applicants use the acronym SOP for it and I shall use the same in this post. The SOP is one of the most important pillars of your application – it can make […]

Choosing the Right University: Part 2
The previous post on this topic helped shed some light on how to choose universities to apply to. Initial screening generally leads to a list that includes quite a large number of universities. It’s important to trim that list to about 10-15 schools. Applications can be quite expensive; most universities charge an application fee plus […]

Choosing the Right US University: Part 1
The single most difficult question that haunts most prospective applicants is the choice of the university or school to apply to. It is a mammoth task considering the future of an applicant depends on the program chosen and the opportunities it has to offer. The United States has a vast choice of universities on offer […]

I’m Omanjana, Magoosh’s New Student Blogger!
Hello everyone! I am Omanjana, the new student blogger for the TOEFL blog. I am a graduate student from India moving to the United States in the fall to pursue my doctoral studies in Environmental Science at Rutgers University. I presently work at a national laboratory in India which focuses on environmental research. I am […]

Free Online Course: Applying to US Universities
Hi Magooshers! We know the US admissions process can be incredibly confusing and stressful, especially if you’re applying from outside the country. I recently came across a free course from Coursera called Applying to US Universities, and I wanted to share it with all of you. 🙂 It looks like an incredibly helpful resource. Here’s what Coursera […]

Which Country Sends the Most Students to the United States?
During the 2013/2014 school year, 886,052 international students studied at US colleges and universities. This is an 8% increase from the prior year! But, who are these students? Which countries do they come from? And which country sends the MOST students to the US? According to the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors Report, China […]

Writing College Admissions Essays: An International Student’s Guide
9 tips you can use to put together a winning admissions essay, from our friends at i-studentglobal! Not long ago I received this email: Dear Mrs. Epstein, I am an international student, so the admission process has been quite a challenge to me. As a student outside of the United States, I am a little […]

5 Ways to Find Scholarships to Study Abroad
What will it take to afford an international education? Our friends at TopUniversities say, “Start with scholarships!” For a large majority of those planning to study abroad, finding funding to cover tuition fees and living expenses is a major priority. I know this from the daily questions we get asked on TopUniversities.com, as well as […]