I am going to complete my undergraduate degree in April and plan to pursue an MBA in the U.S. The bachelor's degree accepted in the U.S. is four years and I have a three-year degree and I'd like to join as a freshman. How can I get in to a good university given this discrepancy? When should I give my GMAT?
Krishna Karwa
U.S. schools require the equivalent of a U.S bachelor's degree for admission to an MBA program. A three-year Indian bachelor's degree is not always regarded as an equivalent. To overcome this, students enrol for a master's degree/diploma recognised by UGC/AICTE/GOI or other accrediting bodies, and take the first year exams or even complete the program prior to application to a graduate program in the U.S. Preparation for admission to U.S. universities requires 12 to 18 months and so you can complete the extra year of education while applying to American universities.
During this period, you may also consider writing the GMAT, which is an admission requirement for business programs. It is essential to familiarise yourself with the test pattern and practice to optimize your test performance. Another important factor that MBA programs consider when reviewing applications is work experience. You may consider getting work experience before you apply for a graduate program. Willamette University in Portland offers an MBA program specially tailored for new undergraduates without work experience. However, most MBA programs prefer applicants with three to five years of work experience.
I completed my intermediate second year and want to study B. Tech in the U.S. but was late in applying to the colleges. Can I apply as a transfer student?
Ram
A transfer student is one who decides to migrate from one university to another after having completed coursework in the first admitted university. If you have already enrolled into an undergraduate program, you may need to have your current credentials and coursework evaluated by organizations such as World Education Services (http://www.wes.org/), and meet university specific transfer student requirements. Since the U.S. education system is very open and flexible, transfer between colleges is not unusual. If you are convinced that the U.S. undergraduate degree is important to you, you may consider the transfer option. Alternatively, you may take a gap year, meet the entry level requirements and try to enter an undergraduate program as a freshman student.
I am pursuing my graduation in computer science engineering in Hyderabad. I am going to take the GRE test in April and would like to do a master's degree in the U.S. I need information on how to apply to universities and on the visa process. Any other suggestions you can offer would be helpful.
Javeed Shaik
Step one in the application process to American universities is to obtain information about institutions that offer the program you want to pursue. Use reference guides, such as Peterson's Guide /College Board and the Directory of Graduate Programs, to identify institutions for higher education and their entry level requirements. Every student has their distinct profile in terms of their academic, work and extracurricular activities and needs to find the right fit with the university based on their career objectives and job prospects.
Once you have identified and shortlisted universities, you are required to send your standardised test scores such as GRE and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), academic credentials, letters of recommendation and statement of purpose as part of your application package. The application of each student is viewed holistically and therefore every component is considered during the admission process. For more detailed information on the process of planning, short-listing, and applying to U.S. universities, you can also visit the U.S. India Educational Foundation website http://www.usief.org.in/
Study-in-the-US.aspx.
As for the student visa, once you receive an admission offer, and confirm your acceptance of that offer, the concerned university sends the admitted student an important document called the I-20. It is on the basis of this I-20 that you can apply to a U.S. Embassy or Consulate for your student visa. Information on visa application procedures and processing fees can be accessed at https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/
USIndia/Index.html.
I completed my B. Tech in 2011. I was selected to join a company in Hyderabad but in the end it didn't work out and I've been searching for a job in Bangalore, to no avail. Now I'm in a dilemma as to whether I should do my post graduation or continue to look for a job. Should I pursue my post graduate degree in India or in the U.S.? If I choose a U.S. degree I would have to go in December 2012. Will I have any problem getting a visa, since it is almost 18 months after my bachelor's degree?
Nitesh
Work experience for engineering students may not be a requirement for admission into a master's program. However, work experience can enhance your application and helps you get a perspective on the industry's needs while better understanding your own interests. Admissions counsellors review all applications holistically, looking for ones that show a track record of academic success, GRE scores, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation and other significant achievements.
If you plan to apply for a graduate program in the U.S., you should start the pre-application process about 14 to 18 months before the start of the program. You can start by learning about the admissions requirements and preparing for standardised tests such as GRE and TOEFL. When short-listing programs, we suggest drawing up a chart that helps you compare departments of universities with respect to field of study, area of research quality and areas of faculty interest, the thrust of the program, accreditation, student requirements, selectivity or level of competitiveness, costs, financial aid possibilities and geographic locations .
A good place to begin researching suitable universities would be www.petersons.com which allows you to search programs by several parameters – subject, highest degree offered, location, public/private institutions, and so on. For more detailed information on the process of planning, short-listing, and applying to U.S. universities, you can also see http://www.usief.org.in/Study-in-the-US.aspx. As for the student visa, you need to prove that you are a credible student with the financial resources to complete your degree.
I am currently pursuing my B.Tech and would like to know test score requirements for schools such as Northwestern University, New York University and University of Virginia.
The admission process at U.S. universities is based on a comprehensive assessment of student capabilities, and a typical application will comprise a student's academic record, standardized test scores, letters of recommendations, statement of purpose and research/work experience. Each of these is factored into the admissions decision, so there is no minimum or cut-off scores as such. You should aim to score as high as possible on the GRE, as it will enhance your student profile as well as your chances of receiving admission and financial assistance. For more detailed information on the process of planning, short-listing, and applying to graduate programs in the US, please see http://www.usief.org.in/Study-in-the-US/Graduate-Study.aspx. To get information about particular universities, we advise you to go on their websites or use reference guides, such as Peterson's Guide /Gradschools.com and the Directory of Graduate Programs, to identify their admissions requirements.
Please give details of how to book a slot for writing the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and requesting a student visa interview. What is a good GRE score to get into any of the top 50 state universities and what are some of the important do's and don'ts?
Purnima Murali
To register for the GRE exam, please visit the ETS web site: http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/register. Once you have accepted an offer from a U.S. university and have an I-20 in hand, you can access information on visa application procedures and processing fees at https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/
USIndia/Index.html.
You should aim to score as high as possible on the GRE, as it will enhance your student profile and chances of receiving admission and financial assistance. However, there are no minimum or cut-off scores for any of the standardized tests. U.S. universities choose new students based on a comprehensive assessment of student capabilities, including a student's academic record, letters of recommendations, statement of purpose and research/work experience as well as standardized test scores. For more information you can also talk to an EducationUSA adviser on a toll free number (1800 103 1231) Monday and Friday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
My son would like to proceed to the United States for higher studies after completion of his bachelor's degree. He has an expired green card. I would like to know whether his previous green card will help him in obtaining visa, or does this count against his visa application?
Khalid Mirza
Having held a green card in the past may be a positive or a negative depending on why the green card expired. In addition to looking for a credible intent to study in the United States, the visa officer will be looking for reasons that your son will return to India following his studies in the U.S. In many cases, former green card holders have credible reasons for returning to India, and can easily demonstrate that, while they had the right to stay in the U.S., they chose to leave.
However, in some cases applicants who lost their legal permanent residence (LPR) status due to an oversight by the applicant may find it difficult to convince an officer that they want to return to live in India.
My friends say that it is not advisable to go to the visa interview with only one I-20. Is this true?
Prospective students who have been accepted by more than one school must present an I-20 from the school they plan to attend. There is no advantage to having multiple I-20s instead of just having one. You should apply to schools that you believe will offer you a good education, and if it happens that you only like one university, then there is no need to apply to others. Generally, students have multiple I-20s because they are not sure whether they will be admitted into any particular university.
