<p>Here’s a situation. You really wanted to go for further study. You know you’re competitive enough for graduate study. You have prepared everything you can in your reach. You got perfect GPA, decent GRE score (General, Subject), TOEFL as well, proper graduate experience for 2 years, it seems perfect. And then you’re gonna to be stuck at recommendation letters especially if you are from Asia. </p>
<p>As you’re an international student, you need to get past all other competitive applicants. First of all, you are automatically out comparing US citizens and permanent residents. And then you are left with those international students in the states. Being physcially out of the states put you handicap when it comes to interview or professor’s interest. You are then left with about 2-3 graduate spots for how many applicants from all over the world. So you have to throw many applications because you’re not sure where you can get a grand opportunity to fill that left-over spot. </p>
<p>You go and ask Prof that you’re going to apply 10 graduate schools. You’ll get the staring eyes you have never seen in your life because probably asian professors (not sure of percentage) had never experienced such rigorous applications. Count the reputable Universities in Asia. Some Profs don’t want to write once they know you’re not going to apply to their Asian alma schools. Luckily, some profs are willing to write for you. But then to fulfil the requirement of at least ‘3’ references seems elusive. </p>
<p>Have anyone of you experienced such a thing? Obviously my fellow Asian aspirants!!!</p>