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?
U.S. schools require the equivalent of a U.S bachelor's degree for admission to an MBA programme. 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 programme prior to application to a graduate programme 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 programmes. It is essential to familiarise yourself with the test pattern and practice to optimise your test performance. Another important factor that MBA programmes consider when reviewing applications is work experience. You may consider getting work experience before you apply for a graduate programme. Willamette University in Portland offers an MBA programme specially tailored for new undergraduates without work experience. However, most MBA programmes 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?
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 programme, you may need to have your current credentials and coursework evaluated by organisations 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 programme 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.
Step one in the application process to American universities is to obtain information about institutions that offer the programme 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 his/her distinct profile in terms of academic, work and extracurricular activities and needs to find the right fit with the university based on career objectives and job prospects.
Once you have identified and shortlisted universities, 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.
For detailed information on the process of planning, short-listing, and applying to U.S. universities, you can 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 university concerned sends 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 postgraduation or continue to look for a job. Should I pursue my postgraduate 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?
Work experience for engineering students may not be a requirement for admission into a master's programme. However, work experience can enhance your application and help 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 programme in the U.S., you should start the pre-application process about 14 to 18 months before the start of the programme. You can start by learning about the admissions requirements and preparing for tests such as GRE and TOEFL.
When short-listing programmes, draw 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 programme, accreditation, student requirements, level of competitiveness, costs, aid possibilities and geographic locations .
A good place to begin researching suitable universities would be www.petersons.com which allows you to search programmes by several parameters – subject, highest degree offered, location, public/private institutions, and so on. For more information, 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 is based on assessment of student capabilities, and a typical application will comprise a student's academic record, standardised 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 profile and your chances of receiving admission and financial assistance.
For more information on the process of planning, short-listing, and applying to graduate programmes in the U.S., 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 dos and don'ts?
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 standardised tests. U.S. universities choose new students based on a comprehensive assessment of student capabilities, including academic record, letters of recommendations, statement of purpose and research/work experience as well as test scores. For more information you can 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 U.S. 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?
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 U.S., 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.
