Careers360 - Think higher education! Study in USA: Best infrastructure, academic ambience

Study in USA: Best infrastructure, academic ambience
Within its fold of over 1500 universities it has not only world beaters like Harvard and MIT, but over 100-odd good-value-for-money education providers.
by Team Careers360
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Academic Cycle

Application begins: 12 to 18 months before you plan to begin studying in the US. Fill out the application form between August to October
Last date for submission: End of February
Admission Results: Between March to May universities notify whether you have been selected or not
Visa cycle: Begins in June and ends in August
Sessions begins: September/ October (Fall Semester)

WHEN Shantanu Narayan, an IIT pass-out wanted to pursue nanobiotechnology, his only choice was USA. It offers the best both in terms of infrastructure and academic ambience, he asserts. Be it nano technology, Business and Management, Engineering, Sciences or Fine Arts, the country remains the only abode for the best. The advantage of USA is that, within its fold of over 1500 universities it has not only world beaters like Harvard and MIT, but over 100-odd good-value-for-money education providers.

One of the biggest attractions that US offers is the job opportunities. Housing most of the high technology companies, US has tremendous need for postgraduates. University of southern California, Univ. of Texas, Ohio State Univ, Univ. of Illinois are some of the places with large concentration of Indian students. Some even have home-grown cricket grounds.

Costs are quite high, but aid is available, especially at the Doctoral stage. Some Master’s programmes also have good fellowships. Working while studying is not easy, since you could work only within campus. Some courses do permit Curricular Practical Training (CPT). But after Tri Valley University debacle (the university was shut down, and students were deported for visa violations. Read the story in our Aug. 2011 issue) one must be very careful. Despite all these hiccups USA still remains the land of opportunities and an education there is worth all the effort.

Visa Guidelines

Complete Form DS-160 (available online)
Scan a photograph in jpg format between 600*600 and 1200*1200 pixels and less than 240kbs
Print the barcode at the end of the application on a laser printer.
Pay the visa application fee at an approved HDFC bank.
Make your appointment through the VFS website. You cannot make an appointment without your DS-160 barcode number and HDFC fee receipt.
On your scheduled appointment day carry your valid passport and previously issued passports, one recent (within the past six months) passport size photograph 50 mm X 50 mm (2” x 2”) with a white background, the DS-160 confirmation page with barcode, the HDFC visa application fee receipts, VFS appointment letter, etc.
Issued visas can be picked up at VFS or couriered to you at no extra charge. Information on courier service, tracking passports or submitting documents is available on the VFS website.

Rajiv Gupta

CEO, EGE Global

Planning for studying abroad needs meticulous and disciplined effort. Colleges and Universities look at academic performance, standardised test scores, essays, recommendation letters and financial documentation while reviewing applications. None of these aspects should be overlooked and the student’s overall profile has to be presented in the best light.