Step by Step Guidance to Study Abroad

Step By Step Guidance to Study Abroad

Dr. Samaa Hazem HosnyAssistant Professor at Cairo University

Harvard University contact person in Egypt

[email protected]

02/05/2023 The Economic Society

Useful General Tips

• Be patient and open to learning along the process

• Do your research thoroughly• Give yourself enough time: usually you need 9 to

12 months of preparation (if not more!)• Read the websites of schools, programs, and

scholarships very very well• Ask: alumni, program directors, educational

advisers,…etc.

How to get a scholarship at a university abroad?

• Stand alone scholarships• Scholarships for a certain discipline or research topic• Scholarships for a certain country

– DAAD – Germany– Chevening – UK– Ford Foundation – Worldwide– Fulbright – USA– JICA – Japan– KOICA – Korea– …etc

• Scholarships for a certain topic• Scholarships for certain students (criteria)• Scholarships from the university itself

How to apply for it?

• Read the website of the university/school• Select your preferred program from the

program list• Check the link [APPLICATION]• Read the instructions and required

documents• Application is done online + some

documents need to be sent by snail mail as hard copies.

Do all scholarships require fluent English, IELTS or TOFEL ?

• It depends: Read the website

where do we get IELTS and TOEFL? Can we prepare for them without courses?

• IELTS – British Council– http://www.britishcouncil.org.eg/en

• TOEFL and GRE– ETS – https://www.ets.org/

• GMAT – – http://www.mba.com/global

• Yes, you can study online: For eg. • GRE book

– https://www.ets.org/s/gre/pdf/practice_book_GRE_pb_revised_general_test.pdf

• TOEFL iBT test samples, practice tests– http://demo.toeflibtcourse.com/

Is it essential for all scholarships to get GRE (graduate

record examination) or GMAT (graduate management admission test) ?

• Read the website of the program

Is there a certain age to apply for scholarship?

• Read the website or brochure • Some of them yes – eg. Chevening max 32 years old, Sawiris for MBA

• Most of them no– eg. MOF for Harvard and MIT

How to write a biography for scholarship ?

• Read their website and see what they are looking for in a candidate

• Read their areas of research• Read their mission and vision• Get a professional to help you if needed– Educino http://www.educino.com/– TCA http://topchoiceadmissions.com/– Newton Educational Services http://www.newton-prep.com/– Someone who went there before you– …etc

Resume and CV writing for application

• https://vanderbilt.optimalresume.com/

• http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/index.php/content/download/67154/1241426/version/1/file/SkillSheet_Resumes.pdf

How to get a recommendation letter?

• Tailored to the program• Tailored to you

– i.e. Someone who knows the program you are applying to and your motive behind joining it

• Someone who knows you really well• At least one academic and one non-academic (some programs

require all to be academic)• There is NO One-size-fits-all recommendation letters!• DON’T go to a famous figure who barely knows you or has no time

to write enough about you• Preferably someone who has studied in the same country or same

university

How to write an essay ?

• Check the questions indicated in the application• Why do we want you? – Past experience, vision for the future– What are your strengths?

• Why do you want us?– What in the program or university are you specifically

looking for?– How is the university or program going to fill in the

knowledge gap that you need?• What is your plan upon completion of the program?

How can we evaluate the university we are applying for? And if it does fit me ?

• Google: Top schools in [DISCIPLINE]• Top 500 universities in the world• Programs• Faculty• Alumni• Extracurricular activities• Percentage of international students• City and neighborhood• …etc

Is there a fee for the application?

Yes for MOST universities and programs, but NOT ALL of them. Check their websites.

Specifically, how to apply for Harvard University scholarships for Egyptians?

• Check this linkhttp://www.mof.gov.eg/english/pages/mitharvardscholarships.aspx

Thank You

Any Questions?