Graduate Admissions
Indiana University
Sociology Website
International Application Timeline
It usually takes 5-12 months from the time an international student requests an IU application to the time a prospective student receives permission from the United States Consul to legally enter the U.S. as a student. The slow pace of international mail and U.S. government regulations significantly complicate the process. This slow pace is currently being mitigated, to a degree, by the fact that Indiana University now accepts (and very soon will require)graduate applications on-line. However, it remains critical that students apply as early as possible, preferably a year in advance of the session they plan to attend. The typical steps in the admission process are:
- 1-3 weeks - Student sends request for application
materials.
(Note: Student can begin an on-line application immediately with no delay) - 1-3 weeks - Application materials are mailed to and received by the student.
- 1-12 weeks - Student completes paper or on-line application, orders transcripts, gathers financial disclosure information, obtains letters of recommendation, writes statement of purpose, and orders GRE and TOEFL scores.
- 1-3 weeks - Student sends application (by mail or electronically) and supporting documents to International Admissions. Application deadline for international students is December 1, 2002. This deadline is reflected on the international graduate application.
- 1-3 weeks - International Admissions processes
application materials, which are then forwarded directly to the Sociology
Department for review.
(Note: When you apply on-line, the Sociology Department will receive your application immediately. Both International Admissions and our Department receive your on-line application simultaneously) - 1-2 months- Application file is reviewed by the Sociology Department's graduate recruitment and evaluation committee and the academic and financial aid decision is made.
- 1-2 weeks -Entire graduate application package is sent to the graduate division of the College of Arts and Sciences and the University Graduate School, and is then returned to the International Admissions Office.
- 1-3 weeks - International Admissions reviews financial documents in accordance with federal guidelines. If the student has sufficient funds for 12 months here, admission letter and IU visa certificate is prepared. $29,418 is required for international Sociology graduate applicants for the 2003-2004 academic year.
- 1-3 weeks - Student receives admission letter and IU visa certificate; uses IU visa certificate to apply to the U.S.consul, in their country of residence, for permission to legally enter the U.S. as a new graduate student.
- 1 week-3 months- U.S. consul grants permission for student to enter the U.S.
- 2 weeks-2 months- Student arranges to travel to IU to arrive by August 15, 2003, for international student orientation (August 18-22) and then for the Sociology Department orientation (August 25-29). Fall classes begin on Monday, September 1, 2003.
Please note that students should be discouraged from entering the U.S. on a B-2 (tourist) or WT visa. U.S. immigration regulations do not allow a student to change to student visa status after arrival.
Also, these time estimates assume that complete academic and financial information is on file at the time of review. Students need to make every effort to provide IU with all required application materials as quickly as possible.
