Abstract
This essay describes the specific application requirements for U.S. graduate programs and highlights the difficulties Malagasy students encounter in meeting these criteria. These challenges include obtaining a bachelor's degree in a system with historical disparities—for example, given the current education completion rate statistics, only 2.2% of students will complete secondary education in Madagascar. Upon completion, they could apply to a University program, however the acceptance rate to public universities in Madagascar is about 38.34%. Assuming students do enroll and earn a degree from a university in Madagascar, they must overcome many things to actually submit an application for graduate study. They must take English language tests, deal with the complexities of obtaining and sending official transcripts, secure letters of recommendation, craft resumes despite lacking strong work experience, and compose personal statements—all just to apply for admission. Many of these components require the use of online bank accounts which many students do not have or simply the cost is beyond students’ financial means. The essay estimates that the cost for a student from Madagascar to apply to a single U.S. graduate program to be at least USD 771.00. The journey to U.S.-based graduate education for Malagasy students is not only a financial commitment but also a test of resilience and resourcefulness. Admission officers should recognize the formidable barriers faced by Malagasy students in the graduate application process and appreciate the remarkable display of adaptability, commitment, and perseverance demonstrated by Malagasy students when submitting a complete application.
