Applying to Schools Abroad? Here's Why and How

Applying to Schools Abroad?

Here’re Why and How
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Donny Eryastha

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

www.indonesiamengglobal.com

Indonesia Mengglobal

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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 USIndonesia Joint Council on Higher Education Partnership.
 Conducts informational events, essay clinic, mentorship program.



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The questions…



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Why go to graduate schools abroad?
•

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



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Why Harvard Kennedy School?
1. It’s Harvard



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2. It’s the Kennedy School



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3. The money



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My own experience..
Myths

Facts

•

Harus cum laude, lulusan terbaik

•

Bukan cum laude, bukan lulusan terbaik

•

Anak orang terkenal

•

Bukan anak orang terkenal

•

Rekomendasi dari orang terkenal

•

Rekomendasi bukan dari orang terkenal

•

Pekerjaan sesuai jurusan yang dilamar

•

Pekerjaan tidak sesuai jurusan

•

Harus dapat beasiswa dulu/bayar sendiri

•

Belum dapat beasiswa /tidak sanggup bayar sendiri

•

Harus ikut les TOEFL/GRE

•

Tidak ikut les TOEFL/GRE

•

Sudah pernah berkunjung ke sekolah

•

Tidak pernah ke Amerika



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Basic principles of graduate school application
•

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.



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School options for college graduates: Degrees (USA)
MASTER Degree

DOCTORATE Degree

Taking more advanced and specific
classes in a specialized field

Taking more advanced and specific
classes in a specialized field

Research may be required

Research is required and is the bulk of
the experience

Thesis may be required

Thesis and publication are nonnegotiable

Typically 1 to 2 years

Typically 4 to 6 years.

Industry-oriented track

Academic track (teaching component)

 Internships strongly encouraged

Close working relationship with adviser
and professor(s)



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School options for college graduates: Types of schools (USA)
Professional Schools
BUSINESS School

POLICY School

Graduate School

>2 years of experience

>2 years experience

Can be done straight from
undergraduate

Prepares graduate for
career in private sector

Prepares graduates for
career in government,
non-profit, int’l org.

Switching is easier
(technical/non-technical)

Accepts almost all
backgrounds.

Hard and soft skills
(technical/specialization)

Accepts almost all
background.
Learn from business cases
and soft skills
Concentration, e.g.
 Marketing
 Finance
 Entrepreneurship

Learn from cases and soft Major, e.g.
 Social Sciences
skills
(Economics, Political
Science, Sociology)
Concentration, e.g.
 Engineering (Chemical,
 Economic
Electrical, Civil,
development
Computer)
 Social policy
 Science (Physics,
 International affairs
Chemistry, Biology)


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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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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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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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School application: Standardized test (1/2)
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.

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



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School application: Standardized test (2/2)
GMAT

GRE

LSAT

•Graduate Management
Admission Test is designed to
assess applicants’ ability in
continuing advanced study in
business and management.

•Graduate Record Exam is
designed as a measuring tool
and is required by most
graduate schools in admission
process.

# Sections:
 Analytical writing
assessment
 Integrated Reasoning
 Quantitative
 Verbal

•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:
 Verbal Reasoning
 Analytical Writing
 Quantitative
Reasoning

Typical score for top schools:
above 700.

Typical score for top schools:
600 for Verbal,700 and above
for Quant Reasoning, 3.5 and
above for Writing.

Score range: 200 – 800.


# Sections:
 Reading
Comprehension
 Analytical Reasoning
 Logical Reasoning
 Writing
Typical score for top
schools: above 160.



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More resources and Q&A

@IndoMengglobal
http://www.facebook.com/IndoMengglobal
Donny Eryastha

Email: donny@indonesiamengglobal.com

Visit our website and subscribe!


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