<p>I’m currently at the end of my 2nd year of my bachelor’s degree in economics in a Swiss university. I’m gonna start my 3rd and final year in September.</p>
<p>I want to do my graduate degree, aka my master degree, in another country, either the US/Canada/UK…</p>
<p>When is the right time to start looking for contacts, inquiring about universities, programs,…</p>
<p>Should I start right now?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I’m from Austria, and I have approximately one more year to go as well. I’m currently working on a MA rather than a bachelor’s degree, but anyway, I’ve already begun to look into universities and done research on their specific strengths and weaknesses. </p>
<p>I’m trying to find out more about the professors I would be working with in the US, find out what my chances are like etc. I’m also preparing for the GRE, trying to get some research done, talking to my professors here, trying to get a 4.0 GPA on my MA etc.</p>
<p>In my opinion it’s not too early to begin planning. You should start right now. One year isn’t particularly long, and there’s a lot to do.</p>
<p>yeah, one year isn’t that long.</p>
<p>Also, on average, when are the application deadlines for universities for a graduate degree? On average?</p>
<p>In the US, typically December to January.</p>
<p>Typically, applications are due in December, with some in November and January and a few oddballs at other points in the year. You should at least start planning about a year ahead to do a good job of it, but you can do it all in 3-4 months if you need to.</p>
<p>As a foreign student coming to a US university, you would need to know that many grad programs will NOT consider a 3-year degree as adequate to meet their admission requirements - US bachelor degrees are 4-year, and many grad programs require that you complete a fourth year somewhere before applying to masters programs. From what I understand, there are a number of international schools that offer either 4-year undergrad options or 1-year masters degrees to prepare international students for US schools.</p>
<p>I had no idea of this. Is this for most grad programs? Because I thought this had been fixed with the “Bologne” system.</p>
<p>I don’t really see the logic behind this. After 3 years I normally have the same amount of knowledge as someone in the US who has done 4 years. In switzerland, if you study economics you only have courses on economics, unlike the US where you have to do english, maths, history, etc… I’ve never heard of this anywhere.</p>
<p>Not all grad programs do so but many do, so make sure that when you are assembling your list of schools that you know beforehand whether or not they will accept your 3-year degree.</p>
<p>Is there a link somewhere to a grad program that considers a 3-year undergraduate program inadequate? I would think that it is the type of degree (i.e. you should have a Bachelors) rather than the length of the program that matters. Well-known universities such as Oxford and Cambridge typically have 3-year programs as well, and I know many people who routinely get accepted into US Masters and PhD programs, both in the sciences and humanities.</p>
<p>I have also heard this, but I have no idea how widespread the practice is. The best thing for you to do is to research the admissions requirements of the programs you are interested in and call programs if you have any doubts about whether you meet their requirements or not.</p>
<p>Here is one example:</p>
<p>[Admissions</a> Instructions - The Graduate School at UNC-Chapel Hill](<a href=“http://gradschool.unc.edu/admissions/instructions.html]Admissions”>Instructions for Graduate Applicants - Graduate Admissions - The Graduate School at UNC-Chapel Hill)</p>
<p>I have run across it a few times, but being a US graduate it has not been particularly relevant and so I have not kept track.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information people, I had no idea of this 3/4 year issue.</p>
<p>Now, what I am supposed to do? I have no idea where to start? If all goes well I’ll be abroad in a year. The reason I have no clue what to do is that most of the people I go to uni to stay in the same uni to do their master degree (switzerland) cuz they already know the place, know the teachers, have their friends.</p>
<p>I personally know how to speak English, I’m bilingual French-English and I’ve never had the opportunity to use it in my studies. I also want a change of scenery, I’m sick of Switzerland, I want to experience something new, meet new people. I’m almost sure staying here and living at home would be easier and there would be less change but I don’t want that.</p>
<p>I’m considering the UK, the US and maybe Canada. The UK is much closer to Switzerland and would maybe make things easier in terms of travelling back home for christmas and such but I really wanna experience the US, everytime I’ve been there, I loved it.</p>
<p>My macroeconomics teacher’s assistant told me that the macroeconomics professor has some contacts, especially in England but also has a couple in the US. Because the assistant asked me what i wanted to do after my bachelor’s degree and I told him I wanted to do my master in English. The professor went to University College London and the London School of Economics. I don’t know what US universities he has contacts with. The assistant told me that the professor could give a good word or something…</p>
<p>anyway, where do I start looking? I’m lost.</p>
<p>thanks people</p>
<p>First, like all other prospective grad students you need to compile a list of departments to which you want to apply. Your criteria are up to you, but they need to be schools where you will be happy to attend and graduate.</p>
<p>Second, you need to determine which of these schools will have issues with your undergraduate degree. Some will have no problem at all, and others may have an intermediate step you can take (perhaps enrolling for a single year at the school as an undergraduate, or returning to your current school for an additional year). </p>
<p>Third, you need to decide whether or not it is worthwhile for you to do an additional year in Switzerland before coming to the US or UK. If most of your prospective schools require this, then it is a good idea, but if a large number of realistic programs will accept you as you are, then you are fine.</p>
<p>Finally - apply, and see what happens! Remember that many grad students do not get into what they consider an “acceptable” program the first time around, but once you have done this you will better know what steps to take.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>