Indian Students in the USA

The USA has for long attracted students from all over the world as a global leader in imparting quality education. With its flexible syllabus and booming opportunities, the USA has indeed become the cynosure for those desiring to pursue their higher studies abroad. India too is no stranger to this flourishing trend and as a result every year hundreds of Indian students set off to the USA in pursue of higher studies. So in this article let’s just talk about the life of Indian students in the USA.

Indian student population after China is the second largest population in the world that opts for higher education in the US universities. As a result there are a number of Indian students in the universities there. When a student arrives in the USA for the first time, he/she is helped by the fellow students there i.e. Right from picking the student up from the airport to settling the student in, help is always at hand. However it is imperative that the student has contacted his/her fellow students well in advance about their arrival.

There are many Indian communities or groups formed within the universities where all the Indian students can come close together and share their common interests and ideas. A feeling of togetherness is imbibed among the students at such times.

But this in no way means that Indian students are comfortable only among themselves. Students from all over the world come to the US so naturally a culturally diverse campus life is created. Being a part of such cosmopolitan environment is truly an exciting and exhilarating experience for the students. It is here that the students develop a completely different and a much broader perspective of life when they see and learn new things that ultimately help to develop their personality. It is here that they become global citizens in the true sense.

So life for Indian students in the US though a bit tough (considering all the part-time jobs and cooking one’s own meals) is not lonely. They have their friends and their teachers who understand them and thus help them in their times of need.

Getting your USA Visa

You have given your GRE, TOEFL, applied to the universities in USA and have even got accepted to the program of your choice and that too in the University of your choice. So now what? The biggest question of all- Will I get my Visa?

Getting Visa is the biggest concern of both the students and their parents who wish to pursue their higher studies in the USA. The day of the Visa interview is enough to give the jitters to the most confident of students as it is after all the deciding factor in whether the student will be able to pursue his/her dreams of studying in the USA. So let’s just talk about how to go about the Visa Interview.

Firstly and most importantly it is imperative to get your Visa interview appointment as soon as you decide on the university and get your I-20. Remember that your I-20 is required for your Visa. Also do remember that you take your appointment for the interview well in advance so that you can leave for the USA early and have enough time on your hands to settle in(because believe me there is seriously lots to do) before the actual commencement of your program.

The Visa interview may last for 3 mins or for 15 mins. It really depends on the Visa officer. Unlike any other myth the only thing that the Visa officer looks for in a student is whether how serious the student is about pursuing his/her studies once he/she goes to the USA. DO NOT LIE or exaggerate to the officer about your past or your goals for he is sure to see through the farce. Being honest and clear of your achievements and aims in life will only help you to get through your interview successfully.

Moreover make sure that you have all the required documents with you at the Interview (including the SEVIS receipt) and that they are neatly filed or arranged systematically in the folder (check how it is to be done). The Visa officer may not even see your file if he is convinced that you are a genuine and sincere student. The biggest of all- answer all the questions in fluent English as it is after all the official language of the US and is also the medium of study. So DO NOT become so nervous as to stammer or speak in grammatically incorrect English.

Remember it is only through your confidence and your veracity that you will pass your Visa interview successfully. All the Very Best.

AWA- Analytical writing assessment

AWA- Analytical writing assessment

The analytical writing assessment section consists of two writing tasks- analysis of an issue and analysis of an argument for gre and gmat students

How are the essays graded ?

The responses of each of these tasks are scored on a 6 point scale , with 6 being the highest score and 1 the lowest. A score of 0 is given to responses that are offtopic, are in a foreign language, merely attempt to copy the topic ,consist only of key stroke character or are blank. The readers who evaluate the responses are college and university faculty members from various subject matter areas. These readers read your essays holistically – i.e they respond to the overall quality of your critical thinking and writing.

Each response is given to independent ratings. If the rating differs by more than a point, a third reader evaluates your finals score is the average of the 2 ratings.

What is the importance of AWA scores ?

Your awa score plays a vital role in fetching you your most desired admits although it has an indirect impact. First of all in case if two students are vying for the same admit in the same university for the sam e program,your awa scroe forms an important criteria for admits apart from your academics,extracurricular,etc…secondly your awa score acts as testimony for the admission council to tesat the authenticity of you rsops and essays.

Some strict DONTS of the AWA section :

1.Do no start attempting before reading and understanding the topic properly.
2.Do not start typing before brainstorming the points or preparing a skeleton of the essays
3.Do not use this section as a platform to showcase your linguistic skills like vocabulary ,proverbs and idioms. Use everything in moderation
4.Do not try to increase the length of the essay simply by circulating the points thinking long essays will fetch you high scores. It is just not the case.
5.Do not give/overdo the statistics until and unless you are sure of them.

How to prepare for GRE quant?

The math’s section in GRE exam contains only three types of questions Graphs, Quantitative comparisons, and multiple choice questions .It consist of 28 questions and the time given is 45 minutes. The format is like 14 Quantitative comparisons, about 10 multiple choice questions and about 4 questions on Graphs. They may come in any order.

Before you start preparing for GRE quant keep in mind that in GRE the Mathematics skills tested are very basic, only 7th to 9th std algebra and geometry (Don’t worry no proofs) Knowledge is needed. But this doesn’t imply that Math section is easier…
It is kept at basic level so that students, who didn’t study math after their school years, will be able to score same as engineering, maths or science students. As said before the problems are based on basic maths will have simple solutions, but finding the simple solution may not be easy.

This section is designed to see how skillful you are at finding simple solutions, if you are doing long calculations you will not finish same part of the test as those student who can find short and simple solutions, So if you end up doing long calculations, and more of advance mathematics be sure you are going in the wrong direction..

Best way to start preparing is take a GRE Barron’s book, go through all the examples, tricks that are explained they will help you in revising your basics .when you complete exercises work out the tests .Don’t forget to revise Barron’s once or twice before your exam. After Barron’s there are few more books which give you more practice examples like Nova, cliff.

After that you can complete Kaplan’s 120 quant questions without difficulty. Last book to solve will be GRE Big book, at least try to solve 15-17 tests from the book, before starting to solve CD tests. In that also start with Cambridge or Princeton CD tests, which are easier if compared to others. Keep Kaplan’s CD for last 8-10 days , the scores you get from Kaplan tests are found to be parallel to the actual GRE scores.( only if you don’t spoil your exam ) so you will get the range of your score. After solving tests always try to find your weak areas and keep on improving them.

All the best…

On the Day of TOEFL

TOEFL is one of the essential tests for pursuing higher education abroad especially in the USA. A test that assesses a student’s proficiency of academic English, TOEFL is one of the deciding factors for the university to admit a student as well as for the VISA procedure. Here is the brief overview of how to go about on the day when you take TOEFL.

Like GRE or GMAT your passport is your hall-ticket for TOEFL. Make sure that your passport is in order before you even register for the TOEFL test. You will NOT be permitted to give TOEFL without your passport. Be sure to reach the test centre well in advanced so you can well complete all the formalities beforehand. You will be asked to fill a form and then your seat will be allotted to you. This process takes a better part of 15-20 minutes therefore make sure well before time.

Unlike GRE you are allowed to carry your watch and water bottle with you so it is alright if you carry these items. TOEFL lasts for roughly four hours so it is important that you are refreshed and alert. Don’t stress your self. Keep a cool head and concentrate on your test. It may happen that while you are still on the listening section some students have already reached the speaking section so make sure that you don’t get distracted. Also many students around you may start speaking on the same time. This is the time where you have to really concentrate on your task and do not lose your focus.

TOEFL is a fairly easy test. Do not be nervous but on the other hand do not get overconfident as well. You may see some simple but tricky questions so it is very important that you are well aware of the test pattern and the types of questions asked. Do well and increase your chances of getting into a good University. All the very Best.

Getting into a Good University…

Whenever we talk about giving TOEFL or GRE or for that matter any other competitive exam, it is typical to feel tensed or nervous. But what is more important is just how we handle this stress. It is true that we have to score if not high, at least a decent score on these tests so as to increase our chances in getting admitted to a good university. But even after studying diligently we may still not score well. At such a time it is imperative to not get depressed or disheartened and instead try again with all the confidence and sincerity.

Moreover it is significant to understand that our test scores are not the only ones that decide our chances in getting into good universities. It is the entire package that the admission officers see and that in turn decides the ultimate outcome. For example if you are active in extra curricular activities throughout your academic career then that is an appealing facet of your personality as it shows that you have an insatiable interest of learning new things and are not just a bookworm. Thus it is this quality that helps you stand apart from the rest.

So even if you do get low test scores do not get depressed. Concentrate on how you can otherwise present yourself in an appealing light. But do remember that some universities do require a minimum score as their eligibility criteria, especially in TOEFL so do check out every university’s terms and conditions and also carefully scrutinize their course content. You may come across some variations which may ultimately decide your interest in that particular University. So be vigilant while deciding on the University in which you wish to pursue your education and also develop your personality as much as you can so as to befit your interest.

It is important to know that it is your uniqueness that ultimately increases your chances to get in the University of your choice. Overcome your weaknesses; acquire skills that truly draw out your personality. Show passion for what you want to learn for in the end it is your fervor and zeal to really gain knowledge that truly matters.

On the Day of the GRE

GRE is probably the first step towards your goal in getting into a good university. So it is understandable that you wish to score really high on your GRE. Memorizing the wordlists and practicing various types of sums indeed give you the kind of self-confidence and assurance that you need for cracking GRE successfully. So in the hope of giving you a peek in the actual GRE day, in this article I’ll talk about what you should do on the day of your GRE.

As you know it is in your hand to decide when to take your GRE. You are also given the choice of time when you would like to take the test. (Choose this time wisely as you may be more comfortable in the afternoon slot than in the morning or evening and so on.) It is advisable to reach the test centre at least 30 minutes in advance of the actual test time. This is so because as you enter the test centre you have to fill out the forms that will be given to you and this seriously consumes a lot of time. Once you are through with it be patient until your name is called and you are admitted into the adjoining examination hall.

Remember that you are not allowed to carry anything with you in the examination hall, not even water bottle or handkerchiefs which you have to leave in the locker you are provided with. Your passport is the only personal item that stays with you throughout the test. Remember that you are NOT allowed to give GRE without your passport. Make sure that your passport is in order before you register for your GRE.

While all these procedures are underway, remain calm and composed. Do not panic and moreover do not study at the last minute, it will only confuse you more. It is normal to feel nervous but don’t let your nervousness get the better of you. Remember that all the other candidates are also sailing in the same boat and are as stressed as you are. Just keep a cool head and if you have studied diligently then you will surely do well on the test.

So work hard ahead of time. Last minute preparations won’t help you. Practice from as many materials as you can but two days prior to the test only go through important stuff and revise your vocabulary. Score high and increase your chances of getting into the University of your choice. All the Best.

GOING FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION

There recently has been a virtual stampede of foreign Universities offering various courses, which country or course would be advisable? Any specific courses which do or may command a great demand?

The answer is very simple, though slightly clichéd. It is always suggested that students utilize their years of education in India, not just to earn a degree but also to identify the field his/her interest lies in. It is far better to develop a clear focus about career goals (be it speech therapy or film technology) and work towards it, instead of trying to follow the market trend, because market trends never last forever. And there is nothing worse than being stuck with a non- lucrative career he or she has no aptitude or interest in.

As far as the selection of the country is concerned, any prospective student usually aims at working as a professional, even if for a limited period, in the country he/she plans to study in. One has to understand that each country has its own distinct advantage and disadvantage, so just as in life – the selection of the destination should be based upon the fact whether ones goals and expectations from a career perspective are in line with what the country has to offer.

For example an automobile engineer just looking an affluent lifestyle, without being too particular about his/her job profile may find Australia or New Zealand, with the promise of Permanent resident status an attractive destination. But not so for a career focused professional who is not willing to compromise on his/her job profile, and such a person may end up frustrated, because the primary requirements of these countries happen to be automobile mechanics and not automobile Engineers.

Thus proper enquiries should be made pertaining to work permit/visa/ immigration rules. Relevant exception clauses and possible scenarios must be analyzed to avoid future disappointments. A specifically important factor that should be taken into consideration is the consistency of the country pertaining to immigration and VISA rules (that is how often have they been changed/modified in the past few years) and whether it promises a long-term ability to absorb the number of international professionals landing on its shores.

A simple but effective way of choosing a destination and university is asking oneself as to how much weightage the university places on you as a student, that is whether the key factor in admission process happens to be the strength of your financial documents or your credentials as a student.

Understanding the TOEFL

TOEFL (Test of English as a foreign language) is a test that measures the English Speaking skills of the students whose native language is not English. The test is actually very easy and students can score high provided they have had enough practice beforehand. One of the most significant point that one has to remember in order to acquire a high TOEFL score is to understand the pattern of the test and that is only possible if the student has practiced and acquainted himself with the type of questions asked.

Although an easy test, it is important that one does not take TOEFL lightly. It is only through practice that one can give TOEFL confidently. TOEFL tests the student’s academic English i.e. it determines how well a student is likely to perform in the academic setup entirely different than that of his own. To assess the student, the TOEFL tests the student in its four sections- reading, listening, speaking and writing, so as to get a picture of the student’s command on English. It is important to know that unlike GRE, TOEFL is not a computer adaptive test and as such questions are same for all the candidates.

The duration of the test is roughly 4 hrs where the students have to first attempt the reading and listening sections followed by a ten minute break and then proceed to attempt the speaking and the writing sections. Many students face problems in the writing and speaking sections but again with ample practice beforehand one can definitely overcome one’s weaknesses.

Therefore it is most important to understand your weakness and working on it. For this purpose do plan your time and stick to the schedule. Remember it is only with hard work that you can crack the TOEFL successfully.

Basic principles to keep in mind while preparing for GRE.

Anyone wanting to study abroad is aware of what GRE is, it consists Verbal (Analogy, Antonyms, Sentence completion & Reading comprehension) Quantitative (Problem Solving & Quantitative Comparison) Essay – One Issue & One Argument.

Wordlist is what he will start with mugging up all the time, and then will start solving analogies or antonyms. The Basic rule for any thing is to read and understand what you are doing. Do a detail analysis of, study the subject well. How many of you have actually read the preface of the book? It is a very important part you must not miss reading before you go any further.

Get your diagnostic test done, so that you understand which your weak area is and work hard on that section. Because a diagnostic test will reveal on what section you should concentrate harder.
How many of you read the Direction of the specified section? No one!! Direction, my dear students are very important, because it tell you what is expected from you. So, try to understand it well. As mentioned in my earlier article too; do things in an organized manner go step by step. Make it a habit of always reading the direction first so that you become familiar with it, and during actual exam you don’t waste your valuable time in reading directions. Because by this time I am sure, you must have understood its importance.

Remember in GRE there is no RIGHT OR WRONG answer, it is the BEST ANSWER or SIMILAR TO or ANSWER CLOSEST to the Pair of words in capital letters. As Direction states, “pair of words with a relationship most similar to the relationship between the pair of words in capital letters.” Choose your best answer.

Learn your words starting with Roots Suffix & Prefix first. Buy a Thesaurus which has synonyms & antonyms listed after each word, and how the word is used in different contexts. Those who some foreign languages like Latin or Greek will benefit heavily because most GRE words come from these languages. If ever you don’t come to a proper answer choice then do an intelligent guess. As at times you can use the root or stem to dig up the meaning of an alien word.

All the Best.