Why study abroad?

Studying abroad is not for everyone. It is for those who are adventurous, who have an open-mind and who are willing to try new things. You may not like everything you try, but you must explore. You must leave your assumptions and biases behind. You must be curious. You must be willing to observe and learn. And you must know that many faculty, staff, and students in the U.S genuinely want you to succeed!

Many international students miss out on the benefits of studying in the U.S because they are eager to stay “close to their own.” In other words, they will hang out only with students from their own country, speak in their home language, if possible, eat at local restaurants that serve their food, and watch movies in their language, to name a few. I highly encourage you not to build a “mini” version of your home country on a U.S. campus. Instead, teach others about your culture and be willing to learn from others.

The purpose of study abroad is to expand one’s mind!

Dr. Uma G. Gupta is the CEO of PlanetGPA, an international student recruitment company.

Practice Gmat with Gmat Sample Questions

Practice GMAT is the first advice an expert in US top universities will give you! The chances of doing well in GMAT increase only when you practice GMAT over and over again. It is not enough to practice GMAT a week or two weeks before you give the GMAT. Instead practice GMAT as a way to learn how to take the GMAT. This is a very different approach, but one that will guarantee your success.

Practice Gmat Test Tips

This article will give you GMAT test Tips but not the actual practice GMAT. Here is a great resource that can help you with many GMAT questions, practice GMAT links and a service that connects students with the best universities in the USA . Here is the best part, because this website is only a few months old these services are free right now. They have already helped thousands of students and can help you too. Go to this link and when you arrive on the site click the green “Register” button in the upper right corner of the page. Do this today because I don’t know how much longer they will continue to do this service at no charge. Click here: Practice GMAT

 

Ok let’s get back to our article. Many students study for the GMAT and take a few practice GMAT tests to see how they did on different sections. We recommend that you start with a practice GMAT test. Don’t worry about your poor scores. Take your time to answer each question. Don’t be in a rush and don’t be discouraged if you don’t know the answers to most questions. The key is to become familiar with the GMAT. The most useful practice GMAT tests are designed to help you understand your weak areas (remember your strengths won’t hurt you!)

It is important to practise (this is not a spelling error! In some parts of the world, practice is spelt as practice) GMAT because it is an adaptive test. What does this mean? This means that the test questions are automatically adjusted to your ability. If you answer the easy questions, the test will become a little harder. If you answer those correctly, slightly more challenging questions are presented. Of course, your scores increase as you answer more and more tough questions. You cannot skip a question in GMAT. So your practice GMAT sessions force you to make an educated guess!

GMAT scores are usually between 200 to 800. When you first start to practice GMAT, your scores may be low. Do not be discouraged. Practice tests have both easy and difficult questions. GMAT scores are not a simple addition of what you got right. Instead, it is based on the number of questions you answered correctly but also the level of difficulty of the questions, along with certain other criteria that GMAT uses. By practicing both easy and tough GMAT questions, you will be better prepared for the test. GMAT prep takes time and effort, but is well worth it.

Students often pay a lot of money to prepare for GMAT tests. While a tutor or a coach may help you address your weak areas, the proven approach to doing well on the GMAT is to practice GMAT! Practice GMAT over and over again! The more you practice GMAT, the better prepared you will be! go to Practice Gmat for more information

Admission to Biomedical engineering in the US

Biomedical engineering is a rapidly growing field in the US and international students are interested in this program. It is an interdisciplinary field that overlaps engineering and medicine.  It includes theory in traditional engineering along with topics in biology including instrumentation, biosensors, biomaterials, biomechanics, and biomedical imaging. This is a tough program and getting admission requires a decent GRE score, a good GPA, and a good TOEFL or IELTS score. Most universities that offer this program require the GRE.  

While different universities have different criteria, most good universities will require calculus including differential equations, physics, circuits, a computer programming course (C++) and biology, chemistry,  and organic chemistry. Here is another good article about Biomedical Engineering Schools

I have never heard about this university!!

International students and their families sometimes wrongly assume that if they haven't heard about a college or university, it must be a bad university. That is like saying if you have not heard about a city somewhere in the world, it must be a terrible city. The United States has close to 3500 colleges and universities. Even people born and brought up in the US often don't know or have not heard about all the 3500 institutions. It doesn't mean they are bad or not worth getting to know. It simply means YOU have not heard about it. 

 

London, Paris, New York and a few other cities in this league are like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and MIT. Everyone (almost everyone) has heard about these cities and these institutions. But there are many great places in the world (that is why travel magazines sell so well!) that no one has heard about and yet are great treasures. This is true for universities as well.

Advice: Don't disregard a university because you have not heard about it. Research it and then decide what you want to do! The most important lesson for those interested in study abroad is to keep an open mind!

Dr. Uma Gupta is the President of USAsiaEdu. She blogs about study abroad and international students.

Why study in the US? Eight Good Reasons!

Many students are excited about the prospect of studying abroad. "I
want to study somewhere else in the world other than my home country!"
is commonly heard around the world. Today there are many interesting
study abroad destinations – US, UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore – to
name a few. While several countries offer great programs at great
universities, the US continues to attract record numbers (yes, I am
biased!)

So what makes the US the most favored destination in the world:

1. US colleges and universities offer hundreds and hundreds of
   programs in every imaginable subject and even in those fields that you
   never imagined existed! If you are looking variety, look no further.
2. The US has a range of universities from the very best in the world
   to average ones and some even below par. Select the right university
   for the right reasons.
3. US education is recognized world over.
4. US education encourages creative thinking and problem-solving (not
   in all cases, but in many cases!) Case studies, class presentations,
   group projects, research papers, and essay exams all test the abilities
   of the learner in different ways and caters to different learners as
   well.
5. If you want to pursue higher studies, it is easy to move from
   undergraduate to graduate to post-graduate in the US. There are many
   gates that open readily for the student who wants to continue to study.
6. You will meet people from all over the world! Guaranteed!
7. A meaningful degree from a good university will lead to a good
   job. You have to compete with the best, but if you are good, you will
   land in a good place.
8. Most faculty genuinely care about international students and will
   work closely with them. They are bright, dedicated, and creative (not
   all faculty, but most are!0

I am sure there are other good reasons as well including making
lots of friends, being free to do what you like, and achieving great
things.

Dr. Uma G.Gupta is CEO of USAsiaEdu (http://www.USAsiaEdu.com), a New
York company that helps international students with study abroad
decisions.

I want to study in the US!

For many international students, studying in the US is a life-long
dream. A great education, great career prospects, and a great nation
that values freedom and diversity is an exciting landing place for any
student! Unfortunately the process of selecting the right university
for the right reasons is not an easy choice for many international
students. They are overwhelmed with questions:

1. What should I study?
2. How do I find the right university?
3. What kind of a job will I get once I graduate?
4. What is the time line for applying?
5. Will I get admission?
6. Will I get a scholarship?
7. What tests should I take?
8. What scores should I make on these tests?
9. What should my essay say about me?

These and many other questions make it difficult, very difficult, for international students to take the next step forward.

While
there are many websites, combined, they tend to confuse the student
more than offer clear counsel. What should a student do? Where should a
student begin to learn about this process? When is it a good time to
start researching your university and your career? These and other
similar questions will be addressed in this blog.
In the meantime, if you have any questions you can write to me at exec@USAsiaEdu.com

Dr. Uma G. Gupta is the CEO of USAsiaEdu, a New York company, that helps international students interested in studying in the US.

Five Tips for International Students Studying in the USA

Contributed by Maya Richard, content writer, primarily writing about comcast deals

The university system is the United States provides an extensive research network that allows international students to work with world-renowned scholars. While these opportunities are great, so are the guidelines and restrictions that apply to students coming from abroad to study in America. We consulted with some leading international education experts to gain insight into the top tips to help students seeking to study in the USA:

 • Select Your College Institution Carefully During the Admissions Process Although you may be tempted to apply to the most highly rated academic programs overall, there are a number of important factors that will determine the success of your international study program. In particular, inquire into the specific international student cultural and academic programs to help you get acquainted on a new campus. Once you feel comfortable with the accommodations, then look into the specific courses of study and the academic resources (including professors), especially if you're considering graduate study.

• Look into All of Your Financial Options Today's student loan market is much more competitive than it was a few years ago, so tuition and living costs should be a primary factor to consider before deciding upon a college. Inquire with the prospective college's financial aid department to determine the merit scholarships or work-study programs that might help you to finance your education.

 • Find Options to Continue to Develop Language and Cultural Skills For many students, coming to the US for studies can be an extensive transition from their home country. Even if you speak fluent English, there are a number of colloquialisms and regional dialects that will take some time getting adjusted to – check if the college offers programs for students who speak English as a second language, along with cultural groups, to help you get acquainted to American culture.

• Make Sure You Apply Early for your Student Visa Often times, you can work with the University you intend to enroll with to get all of your student visa paperwork figured out. (see Student Visas.) Take the lead on the process by ensuring that you have a passport from your out-bound country, as well as an visa, along with demonstration that you have the necessary funds to pay for your course of study. If you're coming into the country with a domestic sponsor, fill out your I-134 affidavit form in advance. For students who intend to remain in the US for the long-run, begin to look into the citizenship acquisition process.

• Once You Decide Upon a College, Make Contact with the University Early After you go through the decision process, take extra care to cover all the bases in the enrollment process as well as reaching out to University representatives early on to facilitate the transition process.

Plenty of jobs in a land where education is valued – India!

It is raining jobs in India amid global crisis

By    siliconindia news bureau

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

 

Bangalore: Even as the deteriorating economic conditions are rendering thousands jobless worldwide, India seems to be bucking the trend. In just one week, companies have unveiled plans for massive hiring.

The IT outsourcing sector now has huge hiring plans, despite being vulnerable to the global slowdown. The top five IT companies are set to recruit over 80,000 people this year even after revising earlier hiring targets. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Infosys Technologies – both have adopted a strategy of staggered recruitments – did not so far have scaled back its hiring targets announced earlier this year. TCS, in fact, is set to hire around 48,000 people – just a few thousand short of the number its top customer Citigroup announced it plans to shed in the coming months.

Life insurance companies, the Indian units of foreign drugmakers and the outsourcing sector are clearly on a hiring mode. MetLife, Max New York Life, Tata AIG, Bharti AXA and Aviva are some insurance companies that are in a ramp-up mode as the sector looks forward to boost its staffing levels by around 50 percent over the next few months.

While MetLife India is looking to recruit about 2,000 managers and a whopping 30,000 advisors in the coming months, global management consultancy firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu is planning to hire 3,500 employees in the country, aiming to take the total headcount in the country to 12,000 in the next three years.

The industry could hire up to 300,000 financial planning advisors and some 30,000 managers by the end of this financial year to end-March 2009, as it girds up to tap a virgin market, industry officials say.

"Insurance products are perceived as long-term investment tools and people will continue to buy irrespective of the financial crisis. We plan to expand our operations and spruce up recruitment in the next few months," said Max New York Life Insurance director & head of agency distribution, Rajender Sud. The company has around 61,000 agent advisors and 15,227 employees, of which around 21,000 agents and 8,000 managers were hired in the last six months. It plans to add 70,000 agents and 10,000 employees by the end of 2009.

The sector was long dominated by state owned LIC. The companies expect a good financial performance by the sector to justify their hiring spree. Private players have recorded a growth rate of around 42 percent in first-time premium collections for the first half of the current financial year, indicate data available with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority.

Source: The Economic Times & Business Standard

Top schools in the US – wrong!

Ask any international student anywhere in the world and they probably can name the top one, or two, or three, or may be even five colleges and universities in the US. Of course, the favorite ones all over the world are Harvard, Princeton, Berkely, MIT, and Yale. But this is like saying the only good shirt in the world is a Polo shirt or the only good watch in the world is a Rolex. In fact, there are many outstanding colleges and universities in the US that many international students have never even heard about and hence won't consider even applying! Finding a good college is a dance that involves two partners: the student and the college or university trying to recruit the student! Both have to be in harmony if it is to be a great dance!

As an international student, look beyond the four or five colleges that your friends and family can name. Think about what your study of interest and identify all the colleges and universities that offer such a program. Look into the qualifications of the faculty who teach in the program; examine their career placement and assistance; look at the Advisory Board; see if the faculty have published in leading journals; examine the kind of courses and electives the school offers. Don't be biased against a college or university because you have never heard about it!

Students often complain that finding a "good" school is hard work. Amen – it is true. But if you don't invest the time and effort upfront, you may get an education that is not worth much or you may have paid too much for your education!

What is your degree worth?

Today in many parts of the world, a college degree is necessary to find a job and launch a career. For those looking for an exciting and profitable career, the first step is to earn a degree from a good college. So many parents in India invest hard-earned money so that their children can get a college education and earn a degree. Unfortunately sometimes this degree has no value. In fact, some employers openly say that the degree is not worth the paper it is written on! So what should a student or parent do to make sure that the degree has value?

What did I learn? If the degree is easy to earn, watch out. If after you graduate, you still don’t know much about your field, watch out. A degree is a way of guaranteeing employers and others that a student has acquired fundamental knowledge. If that does not happen in some colleges and universities, then employers will not be interested in hiring such students. So even if the college is not strict or rigorous, make sure that you learn discipline-specific knowledge. Apply yourself. Learn about your field as much as you can. Otherwise, your degree is not worth much to you or to anyone else.

Can I read and write? English is widely spoken in India today and employers expect their employees to speak in English. If you can’t read or write well in English, then employers will hesitate to hire you. On the other hand, if you can read and write well in English, your value goes up with employers. This is true not only in your first job, but also when it comes to future opportunities and promotions. So pay attention to your language skills. Learn English. Speak English even with your friends. Listen to English news and programs. Read the newspaper. Write a letter in English. View English as an opportunity to advance your career.

Specialize: Think about your future employer even before you graduate. Who is your ideal employer and why? How can you learn more about the hiring needs of this employer? One way is to visit the Career Section on their website. Study the skill sets that they are looking for and start to prepare yourself for such jobs.

Study Abroad: Not everyone has the financial power to do this, but if you can it is a wonderful learning experience. Today in the US, many colleges and universities provide excellent study abroad programs whereby a student will study in a university in another country for a short period of time. The US is looking for Indian colleges and universities that can host American students and vice versa, looking for Indian students to attend its colleges.