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