| The American graduate degree is slightly different | | | | will have to get TOEFL score too. Some universities |
| from the graduate degree conferred in commonwealth | | | | require you to write an essay or statement of purpose |
| countries. Here graduate degree means not a | | | | while filling up the application. Reference letters also |
| bachelor's degree like B.A or B.S but a master's | | | | carry considerable weight. |
| degree like M.A, M.S, M.B.A or a doctoral degree like | | | | Usually older people find it tough to get good GRE |
| Ph. D. It is offered by a graduation school or a | | | | GMAT scores. Since most of the distance education |
| university. One can earn a graduate degree either | | | | programs are targeted at the employed people who |
| from a regular or distance education program. | | | | don't have the time to attend regular college many |
| Many people entertain the idea that enrolling for a | | | | schools relax the traditional admission procedure for |
| correspondence program is very easy. On the | | | | older applicants. Especially on-line colleges are relatively |
| contrary, it is as tough as enrolling for a regular | | | | flexible and give more importance to other criteria such |
| program. Most schools adopt the same standards to | | | | as GPA score, work experience and career |
| process the applications for on-campus and | | | | achievements. |
| off-campus programs. In US each university has its | | | | The time frame to earn the degree varies from school |
| own admission procedure. You should contact the | | | | to school. Master's programs are normally completed in |
| Distance Learning department of the college or the | | | | 18 months to two years time in the regular course. But |
| concerned authority of the on-line college you have | | | | a distance program may take much longer, probably |
| chosen for the application formalities. | | | | two-three years. Some on-line colleges facilitate faster |
| Graduate schools require a bachelor's degree from an | | | | completion compared to the distant education |
| accredited college. The required GPA (Grade Point | | | | programs of regular colleges. You can earn an on-line |
| Average) of the degree differs from school to school. | | | | bachelor degree within 13-18 months. Doctoral |
| You need to take at least one of the standardized | | | | programs through correspondence may take |
| admission tests such as the Scholastic Assessment | | | | four-eight years to complete. |
| Test (SAT) or the Graduate Record Examination | | | | Better compensation and promotions are motivating |
| (GRE) or the Miller Analogy Test (MAT). Business | | | | many employed people to pursue correspondence |
| Administration/Management courses require the | | | | graduate courses. Studies show that graduate |
| Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) | | | | employees earn 40-50% more than non-graduates. |
| score. Students from non-English speaking countries | | | | |