The U.S. has a radically different academic system compared to India. A non-thesis master's degree student has to take 10 courses within two years. Out of the 10 courses, two courses have to be taken outside our area of specialisation. All courses have home works, projects and tests over a period of 15 weeks. Copying another student's work is not acceptable here and would lead to deportation. The most refreshing change for me is that I am allowed to take the courses that I want.
Also, students are allowed to carry a cheat sheet (a piece of paper where we can write whatever we want: for example, formulas) to tests and exams. The questions in exams are generally application-oriented, based on the concepts learned during lectures. One day is sufficient to prepare for any exam provided the student has been performing well consistently in the course. However, one bad performance in either a test or project can bring down the grade significantly. Moral of the story: It is important to be on your toes all the time.
Campus life The lifestyle in Tempe is a bit laidback, as the city is devoid of the bustling streets and noise-inducing traffic of Los Angeles and Manhattan. A quiet dinner can be enjoyed with friends once an important deadline is met. All the daily chores, like cooking and doing dishes, must be taken care of by the student which, I believe, will make him or her more independent and confident.
Jobs The job scenario is pretty good provided one has the necessary skillsets that the employer seeks. I believe it is important to do more than just course work, something like research or internship. The student’s profile has to be in resonance with today's industry's wants.
I found the view “A student wakes up at 6 a.m. during undergraduate studies, but the same person goes to sleep at 6 a.m. while he or she is at graduate school” to be so true. While going to sleep on some of those mentally draining days, I tell myself that the U.S. is indeed worth all the hype, and I haven’t looked back so far.
The writer is currently pursuing his master's at Arizona State University, Tempe.
