Step 1: This step is to be taken during the second year itself or latest by half of the third year. It is important to chalk out how you want to shape up your career early on. You can either opt to pursue further studies or get a job. Watch out for my next post on various options after engineering. Here, let us assume you have decided to go for master’s to the U.S.
Step 2:Once you have taken the decision of heading abroad for further studies, you must check if you have enough resources to sustain there. Education in US can easily cost around 15 lakhs for 2 years (This is a rough amount. Actual amounts can vary a lot depending on the university and place you have to reside at). Once your parents have given you a green signal, you can go meet a counselor or any knowledgeable friend/relative who can give you the right advice from time to time.
Step 3: Give GRE and TOEFL. It is imperative to give these exams early. Refer my posts ‘GRE-Must Read’ and ‘Interesting Story-TOEFL and Me’ for details.
Step 4:Once you get your GRE and TOEFL marks, you will have to start researching on the universities you can apply to and find the ones where you will have a fair chance of getting admitted to. Of course, your counselor (a friend or relative who helps you is also referred to as your counselor) will have to start working on your university list too. Along with this, you will have to start preparing your transcripts, marksheets, financial documents consisting of affidavit of support (in case your parents are funding you) and bank letter, SOP (Statement of Purpose) and LORs (Letter of Recommendations, you require three of these). SOP and LORs are very crucial are given tremendous importance while considering your admission. It is not rare to find students with good profiles to get rejected because of faulty SOPs and LORs. Sometimes, only these two these act as the ‘deciding’ factors for granting/rejecting admissions. Many students prefer writing SOPs on their own and it is not as impossible task. An essay (SOP is also referred to as an essay) written straight from the heart will always carry more weightage than a copied essay. However, the essay requires to be written in a professional manner with excellent grammar and vocabulary (excellent does not mean using all the GRE words you know in one page. It implies using the correct words at the correct place so as to have a positive impact.).LORs should be given by professors or by people whom you have worked under, in case you have any job experience that you are going to declare. It is preferable to have at least one SOP from a person who has completed his PhD or is a HOD of your department. Some universities have their own formats of LORs. In that case, you take a print of those formats and write nothing there, but only “RECOMMENDATIONS ATTACHED”. DO NOT FILL ANY OTHER DETAILS THERE.
Step 5: Get ready with your ‘plastic money’. Most of the universities provide an option of applying online. This is the safest and the best option. Applying online is quite easy. Once you have filled the form and checked everything, you can pay with your VISA or MASTER CARD. You will get a ‘confirmation’ page at the end of the process. Take the print of this page and send it along with your package. So your package should contain:
1) Transcripts (No junior college transcript is required. Xeroxed and attested copies are accepted.)
2) Marksheets (Xeroxed and attested)
3) LORs
4) SOP
5) Project synopsis (Not more than 3 pages long)
6) Financial documents
7) Confirmation letter
8 ) Work experience letter, if any
9) Xeroxes of GRE and TOEFL marksheets (You have to arrange for the originals to be sent also)
10) Extra curricular certificates, if any (Please do not send ‘3rd prize-singing competition in 3rd standard’ or ‘certificate of participation in group dancing competition’)
Step 6: Wait for admits/rejects. Mail them consistently if they don’t inform you of their decision within 8 weeks. Once you get all the admits/rejects, seek help of the seniors on networking sites and ask them for their experiences/suggestions. Most of them are more than happy to help. Finalize a university on the basis of:
1) Course
2) Internship opportunities
3) Funding/Scholarship opportunities (On campus jobs)
4) Job scenario
5) Place (Safe or not, weather, proximity to bigger cities etc.)
6) Student feedback
Step 7: Take a visa date. Read the posts ‘Visa Woes’ and ‘Visa Power-I Got It!‘ for details. Pay the token fee and get the admission secured. Remaining fee can be paid once you go there, before your classes begin. You can also pay in installments. Check with your university for details. For information on funds, read ‘The Fundas of Funds’. For more on loans read ‘Lone Loan’
Step 8: Get in touch with seniors there and stay in touch with them till you go. Students there are friendly and you will not have much hassle in getting new friends. Next, you will have to start looking for an apartment. Seek your seniors’ help on this.
Step 9: Well, considering everything goes as expected, you get the visa, shop and book your tickets. Here is a ‘List of things‘ you have to shop for. There you are, all set to leave. So here’s wishing you a happy and safe journey ahead!
Popularity: 43% [?]
even this is also awesome…so u followed the same way ryt??
but i think u missed many things related to get admission in reputed US universities…
Shagun
October 1st, 2007
Yes, I followed exactly the same steps. Surely I have missed many things in this column. I could have written a 3-page article here but considering the lack of space I have just decided to write about how to get started with the basic things. I will surely elaborate on any particular step if anyone requires me to.
Manjiri Keskar
October 1st, 2007
Would just like to add a few things that your packet should contain. A well drafted cover letter is a must. That sometimes plays an important role in getting an admit. You may not get an admit because of your cover letter but you surely could win a reject because of a bad cover letter. Financial Documents implies an affidavit of support and a bank statements giving your sponsors’ net worth. I would be glad to elaborate on these if anyone needs them especially the bank letter. It sometimes gets really difficult to get a bank letter if you actually dont have sufficient funds in the bank. But there’s always a way out….
Cheers!!!
Pratik Shah
October 2nd, 2007
[…] After-Grad.com M.S. In U.S. In 9 Easy Steps […]
Evolution » Carnival of Education
October 3rd, 2007
good job folks
nikhil
October 4th, 2007
hey everything is fine!!!!
But a few doubts after earlier posting my GRE score(1300) i was referd to check this.But still some doubts linger inmy mind!!!
But a few doubts on my side???
1)Shd i meet a counsellor? If so what are the precautions i ought to take?
2)i made a great mistake by not applying to universities on the exam day!!!So should i call and ask for the score card .I didnt give my TOEFEL still i am in 3rd year First sem??when shalli giv emy toefel and apply for universities at right time for scholarship?
3)can i get any scholarship for my score(1300) in some good coleges???
4)If u know some few colleges plz let me know
I guess iam not overstraining u with a bundle of questions!! i would be ver much happy if u could plzz let me know frnds!!!!!!!!!!
vasu
October 9th, 2007
Vasu, we are not strained by anyones’s questions. The very purpose of after-grad was to help out students like you.
Coming to your questions,
1)If you have any trusted friend/relative who has been through the entire process and can give you timely guidance, then you do not need any counselor. Otherwise, you do.
2)Yes, not applying on the exam day is a big mistake, simply because you waste 15$ per university, and so not applying on that day implies a waste of 60$.You cannot do anything about the free scores once your exam is over. Now you will have to pay for extra copies.
Regarding your TOEFL, you should take it as soon as possible. You should apply around November or earlier for fall term to stand a greater chance of scholarship.
3)Yes, if your acads and extra curricular projects are excellent, you do stand a chance of getting a scholarship. 1300 is not a bad score.
4)There are many colleges you can apply to. You have to finalize on the basis of many factors. It is best to take help of seniors who have a similar profile and are pursuing the same course.
After-grad team is glad to help you.
Manjiri Keskar
October 10th, 2007
hey i got a score of 880 in gre n 80 in toefl .my academics are 55% .but i am will have a experience of 1+ by this april 2008.will there be a problem during the visa interview
i cant write gre once more
rahul
October 13th, 2007
Well, if you cannot write the GRE once more then you can go for MS with this score too. I have seen people with lesser scores go for Masters. Just keep some reason for a low score ready during your Visa interview. I do not think low score will cause any big trouble. All the best!
Manjiri Keskar
October 16th, 2007
hi manjiri,
i have given GRE on23rd …i have one query. my address is changed after registering my test. So where should i give new address so that analytical writing score and score reports reach to my new address?
hemant
October 23rd, 2007
@Hemant
You have no reason to worry. Contact ETS and tell them about this. They will send the reports to your new address.
Manjiri Keskar
October 23rd, 2007
thanks manjiri, how to contact ETS ,with email or i will have to call them ?
hemant
October 24th, 2007
@Hemant
Calling them will be a better and more efficient option.
Manjiri Keskar
October 24th, 2007
Do i have to submit bank solvency statement stating i am financially well of to meet the expences at the time of applying. Can i submit them once i get the admission letter>?
devendra
October 24th, 2007
Yes Devendra, you do require bank statements while applying.Make sure you have enough funds in the form of liquid money to cover your one year’s equivalent of tuition fee and living expenses. You will find the rough amount on the websites of the individual colleges. You may have to submit them again if the particular university asks you to.
Manjiri Keskar
October 25th, 2007
hi..ur blog was very informative..i have doubt regards project synopsis.. wat is dat? i mean is it our final year pjt dat v do to complete our engineeering?
Sowmya
October 25th, 2007
cant i submit bank statement after i get the admission letter(not the i20)?
devendra
October 26th, 2007
@Sowmya
Project synopsis is the summary of your final year project. It covers the basics and the “planning” and “implementation” part of your project.It should not be more than 4 pages long.
Manjiri Keskar
October 26th, 2007
@Devendra
No, you have to send it along with your application package otherwise you will not be considered for admission.
Manjiri Keskar
October 26th, 2007
@Manjari
Thanks a lot for the info… Congratrs for ur score
Sowmya
October 26th, 2007
plz guide me……….when should i give my gre and how to go for preparation….iam in final yr
ashutosh
November 1st, 2007
hi manjiri can u plz elaborate step 5 for applying to univ.I want to apply to univ but I dont knw exactly how to start nd collect all the requirements.I will be very thankful if u elaborate step 5.
sindhu
November 3rd, 2007
Helloo….Manjari….
ur site is xcellent……
never seen any other site with so much clear cut info…….good job……
can u help me witha doubt plzz……
i want to pursue my masters in canada is the whole process similiar to the one u posted above????????
i hav heard that selction process of canada n us r of same kind………
Anisha
November 3rd, 2007
@ashutosh
Give your GRE as soon as possible. It’s best to have spare time in hand.
Manjiri Keskar
November 3rd, 2007
@Sindhu
It is very difficult to explain each little thing. Let me know if you wish to know about anything in particular and I will surely help you out.
Manjiri Keskar
November 3rd, 2007
@Anisha
Thanks for all the appreciation. I have no idea about the selection procedure followed by the universities in Canada. Please check with seniors studying there or consult a counselor for the same.
Manjiri Keskar
November 3rd, 2007
Hello Pratik,
I have scored 1140(Q-750 V-390).I want to do MS in VLSI.Please evaluate my profile and suggest me some good universities with some kind of aid or scholarship.
I have a LOR from MENTOR GRAPHICS.
Thanks and Regards,
Gaurav Sharma
Gaurav Sharma
November 4th, 2007
Hello Manjiri,
I have scored 1140(Q-750 V-390).I want to do MS in VLSI.Please evaluate my profile and suggest me some good universities with some kind of aid or scholarship.
I have a LOR from MENTOR GRAPHICS.
Thanks and Regards,
Gaurav Sharma
Gaurav Sharma
November 5th, 2007
@Gaurav
You don’t have to write two different posts directed to the two of us. After-grad members work as a team.
I do not have much idea about specialization in VLSI. Pratik will get back to you as soon as possible.
Manjiri Keskar
November 7th, 2007
hi manjiri.
i have planned to do my ms in us.my academics marks are 10th75%,12th79%,BE 65%.. is my academic marks are good to do MS in US???what mark should i scor in GRE to get good university and to get scholarship???
hari
November 10th, 2007
How much average amount of money I might have to spend to do MS in US ??
what GRE score do I need to get a good scholarship ??
Is it cheaper in Europe ??
Mahak
November 10th, 2007
@Hari
Your academics are fine. To get higher ranked universities you should aim to achieve a score of 1350+. Scholarships depend upon many other factors other than solely the GRE score. All the best to you!
Manjiri Keskar
November 10th, 2007
@Mahak
The amount of money required varies largely from University to University. As an example, suppose one student gets full tuition waiver with assistanship that will cover his living cost. In this case, there is no money required for the entire course at all. On the other hand, assume a student pursuing a degree from a very expensive University at a city like New York. Obviously the money required in this case will be much much higher.
There is no score that will gaurantee you a scholarship. It depends on many other factors like your academics and extra curricular activites too.
I have no idea about Europe.Keep visiting after-grad for updates.
Manjiri Keskar
November 10th, 2007
hi manjiri
thanks for ur information and i have one more doubt im going to apply for a bank loan..will bank provide me full course fees or i have to put some amount..
hari
November 12th, 2007
@Hari
Banks do not provide you the full amount. Firstly you have to show provision for approximately 15% of the fees and also be able to pay it. For more information read the post on ‘A Lone Loan’
Pratik Shah
November 12th, 2007
k thank u.but still i have a doubt.if bank gives 15% of loan..can i work(part time)and pay the remainig part of money…
hari
November 12th, 2007
@Hari
As Pratik said, YOU will have to show that you can pay atleast 15% of the fees yourself. The bank will pay upto the remaining 85%. In majority of the cases, working part time can help to pay off only the living expenses and it is not possible to manage the tuition fee by working part time. However, if you manage to get an assistantship then a certain amount of your fee will be waived and on top of that you will be paid some money too. Most of the times one gets an assistantship only after going there and there is no surity if one will get it or not and hence, you have to be prepared to pay the entire tuition fees. DO NOT depend on jobs/funding for the same.
Manjiri Keskar
November 12th, 2007
thank you manjiri and pratik..
hari
November 13th, 2007
hey my acads are fairly decent like 71% in BE-comp
toefl score 111.
GRE im giving in december, expecting around 1300.
so, what are the chances of geting into a decent school with aid?
ameya
November 14th, 2007
@Ameya
You have a good profile. No one can gaurantee you an aid as it depends upon several factors. Apply as early as possible to improve your chances of getting it.
Manjiri Keskar
November 15th, 2007
hiii… its a fentastic work dear..but will u please tell me d information regarding financial documents? n d question is if sum 1 dont have financial background,can he 2 emgine to go der 4 study?
gaurav
November 16th, 2007
wat i mean 2 say is dat if ny1 not able to pay such big amount of fee, den can with the help of BANK LOAN,can he go and study abroad???????
wat is procedure to get VISA with loan??????
gaurav
November 16th, 2007
@Gaurav
Almost all the student who go abroad for further studies take student loans. The procedure for VISA is almost the same for a non-loan taker and a loan-taker. Only difference is that you might have to show a bank letter that says that they are ready to grant you the loan of a certain amount. Otherwise there is no difference.
Manjiri Keskar
November 17th, 2007
hi Manjiri,
I am planning to pursue for Masters in U.S.
So a part of research work i went through some of the university sites, to view costs and other stuffs.
I found that for M.S there are two options 1. M.S (Thesis)nd M.S (Non-Thesis). Can you explain the difference and which one is preferred?
raj
November 20th, 2007
can you advice me about the solvency certificate when do we have to submit it and should the amount mention in the letter thankyou
munira
November 22nd, 2007
hi manjiri,
when should i finish my GRE xams if i want to take a december intake……
hari
November 23rd, 2007
@Hari
By December, do you mean Spring or Winter?
In any case, you will have to finish applying before August-September so you must give your GRE latest by June.
Manjiri Keskar
November 23rd, 2007
@Munira
By Solvency Certificate I think you mean Bank Letter.
It is to be submitted alongwith you application to the university. The amount mentioned should be greater than or equal to the amount obtained by adding the tution fees and living expenses for one year.
Manjiri Keskar
November 23rd, 2007
hii,i was planning 4 ms in US,but sum1 says dat in US after u complte ur MS dey will sent back to u in india if u will not get work permit which is given to only sum amount of people,so its depend on ur luck to stay der or not, is it right?
gaurav
November 28th, 2007
dey also advice to try for ielts for australia or canada…
is it better dan us???or ny difficulties?
gaurav
November 28th, 2007
@Gaurav
There are nearly 80000 Indians who fly every year to the US to pursue their MS. Either all these 80000 are a little stupid or the ‘theys’ that you mention have got something wrong. There are obviously concerns regarding the work permit called the H1B visa but its not as bad as it is portrayed. I know of people who are jobless in australia and canada as well. The choice is yours.
Pratik Shah
November 28th, 2007
As i had earlier posted, i have given gre and i scored 1320(720+600) but consideraby lower quant score for comp science,
acads- 71% BE-comp pune university
TOEFL-111
Most of the colleges demand a high quant score irrespective of verbal, atleast 750, shud i apply or giv another go at gre??
I aim for anything within rank 30-50!!
ameya
December 6th, 2007
to make things clear
720- quant, 600- verbal
ameya
December 6th, 2007
You definitely stand a good chance… in fact you can aim at a slightly higher range of universities also. All the best…
Pratik Shah
December 6th, 2007
hi Manjiri…
I am planning to apply for MS in springs of 2009… I hv already appeared for TOEFL and gonna sit for GRE early next year… I want to know wat are the chances of getting a scholarship in the spring semester coz it is generally said tht spring sem offers less no of schols as compared to fall sem… In all I hv a very faint idea about the applications made during the spring sem… Can u make it a bit more clear for me???
Laxmi
December 7th, 2007
@Laxmi
I can tell you about the scholarships but Manjiri will be in the best position to tell you about Spring intakes and stuff.
There is a huge misconception with this word ’scholarship’. Any form of educational financial support should be considered as scholarship. It mainly depends on the availability of funds, projects and also the university you go to. There is a post on all this called “Fundas of funds”. That should give you most details about this. In case you have further questions, feel free to ask us.
Pratik Shah
December 7th, 2007
@Laxmi
Besides the information that Pratik has provided, I would like to add that as far as I know, scholarships are semester-independant. People claim that very few Spring applicants get scholarships but they forget to consider the fact that very few students apply in Spring as compared to Fall, hence the ratio of applicants to aid turns to balance out.
Both Fall and Spring terms have their own pros and cons. I am planning to write a post on this soon so keep checking after-grad. Be assured that Spring will not have any major drawbacks and that you can easily go ahead with it. Write back to us in case you have any more queries.
Manjiri Keskar
December 8th, 2007
thanks guys for your prompt reply… can u guys help me out with another issue… i m planning to write GRE in mid feb… but my frnd said tht you need at least 4-5 months to prepare for this exam…can u tell me the approximate time one requires to get fully prepared to write this exam…
Laxmi
December 9th, 2007
another query… by what time should i get over with my GRE to apply for the springs of 2009….
Laxmi
December 9th, 2007
@Laxmi
Yes, your friend is correct. To prepare thorougly you will need atleast around 3-4 months.
Manjiri Keskar
December 9th, 2007
ok… so is it fine if i start preparing today and take a date in the last week of March?
Laxmi
December 9th, 2007
Yes Laxmi, you can manage in that time. All the best to you!
Manjiri Keskar
December 10th, 2007
hii manjiri,
If the univ has its own LOR form thn we hve to fill it nd send or else is it enough to write “reccommendations attached”as u hve stated above.But where I hve to write “recommendations attached” in tht form.plz help.
sindhu
December 10th, 2007
thanks a lot….
Laxmi
December 10th, 2007
@Sindhu
Write that on top (near the letter head)of the recommendation letter provided by the university in bold letters. In fact you can write it anywhere but it should be easily noticeable.
Manjiri Keskar
December 11th, 2007
Hi team, appreciate your help …
I am applying for fall08 for MSEE in following colleges-
UT dallas
IIT Chicago
San Diego State university
NCSU
George Mason University.
can u plz tell me whether universities are really good for EE.
Also plz suggest me some safe universities with GRE 1240, Toefl 99, acds 60% (BE EnT)working for 6 months with AVAYA.
Thanks
Parag
parag
December 14th, 2007
@Parag
As far as I know, UTD,NCSU and San Diego are all good schools. For your profile, GMU and IIt can be counted as safe. Since you worked for AVAYA, you must have some inclination towards Telecom too. In that case you can try applying to the course ENTS at Maryland College Park.
Manjiri Keskar
December 15th, 2007
@Manjiri
Thanks Manjiri,
I will be looking for ENTS at Mary land college park ..
Can you also predict my profile for UTD,NCSU and San Diego.
Are GMU & IIT colleges.
Do you have any idea for UT Arlington and Northeastern State University?
parag
December 16th, 2007
@Parag
Well no one can assure you of admit/reject but as far as I know, you can count them as moderately ambitious. So you have around 60-65% chance of getting admitted to them.
Please repeat your question regarding IIT and SMU.
UT Arlington is good but you have better ones on your list. I would count UTA as safe for your profile. NEU is a really good school. No qualms in applying there.
Manjiri Keskar
December 16th, 2007
I am sorry i missed a word in above question …
I was asking whether IIT and GMU are good colleges..
And can I try for TAMU, and Houston ??
and thanks for the help you guys are giving …
parag
December 16th, 2007
@Parag
They are moderate. Your profile would deserve better colleges.
Well there is no harm in trying for TAMU and Houston, though as far as I know, it isn’t so easy to get into them.
Keep visitng after-grad for updates.
Manjiri Keskar
December 17th, 2007
can you suggest me some colleges according to my profile
parag
December 17th, 2007
@Parag
UTD,UPenn,Maryland College Park,University of Colorado,Arizona State,USC and NCSU are some I would suggest.
Manjiri Keskar
December 17th, 2007
@Parag
With your GRE score of 1240, I would suggest you to avoid UPenn and College Park. Also, last year, UTD rejected a lot of Indian students with a better profile. Also, when you write your SOP, mention the number of months of experience you will have when u leave the job and not what you have now. e.g if you joined in june, you will work till at least next may so say ‘you will have 1yr experience’. that will strengthen your profile.
Pratik Shah
December 17th, 2007
@Parag
Upenn and College Park were suggested for Telecom, where I think you stand a good chance of getting through.
UTD is difficult to get into but considering you have a good experience and decent profile it is worth a try, for sure.
Manjiri Keskar
December 18th, 2007
thanks friends
parag
December 27th, 2007
Hi Friends,
Please review my profile:
GRE 1130(Ver-440.Quant-690)
TOEFL 100
BE(E&C): 64.3%
Presently working in Qualcomm India and have 3 years of experince in Telecom
I am interested in applying for Fall 2008 courses with Communication and Signal Processing/Telecom as Major
Below is the list of Universities I am planning to apply:
1.University of Maryland,College Park, both ENEE and ENTS courses
2.University of Pittsburgh
3.McGill University,Canda
4.SDSU
5.UT,Dallas
6.University of Colorado,Boulder
7.UPenn
Please suggest which unis are safe for my profile and if few unis could be removed or others added to my list.
Thanks
Ishwinder
Ishwinder Singh
December 30th, 2007
@Ishwinder
I think you are being a little optimistic with the selection of your universities. At least I do not see a university where you can be sure of getting an admit with the GRE score that you have. I would suggest that you review your selections and may be add UMR to it.
Pratik Shah
December 30th, 2007
@Pratik
Thanks for your inputs Pratik.I understand that I am little optimistic with my university selections, but with my present score i am only applying for the above listed first 3 universities.I am planning to reappear for the GRE and will apply for the rest 4 if and only if I score 1300 and more on the GRE in my second attempt as few universities in the list have their deadlines uptill May for the Fall course.Please let me if you have anymore inputs…
Ishwinder Singh
December 30th, 2007
@Ishwinder
Make sure that how will the second GRE attempt affect your selection in the college. Some colleges tend to take the average, or any score. Make sure you check this on the website or confirm with the authorities by email.
Pratik Shah
December 31st, 2007
Any inputs from Manjiri???
Ishwinder Singh
January 2nd, 2008
hi, i gave gre and scored 1380; my academic profile is like this: 10th with 92%; 12th with 92%; btech (Ece) in NIT with CGPA of 7.9 (so far after 5 sems). didnt give toefl yet. what r my chances of doing MS in likes of Georgia Tech/Carnegie in CS/EE? I’ve also done a couple of in-plant trainings and an intern at IIT. Please comment on it. Thanks!
arun
January 2nd, 2008
@Arun
I am not very sure of Carnegie Melon but I think you have a strong chance at G. Tech. CMU is also worth a try.
Pratik Shah
January 3rd, 2008
I got GRE 1280 (Q-790 V-490 AWA 4.5)
TOEFL 111
B.tech 62% ECE
pls suggest universities.
Anish Sharma
January 8th, 2008
@Anish
I am sorry but we cannot suggest you universities because we do not have research done and would not like to misguide students. You mau look at applying to MST, Rutgers, SUNY Buffalo, etc…
Pratik Shah
January 9th, 2008
Okay thanks.
I have San Jose State U
San Diego State U
CSU Chico
CSU Fresno in mind.
Anish Sharma
January 9th, 2008
@Anish
These seem decent.. all the best with your applications
Pratik Shah
January 10th, 2008
hi
i wrote my gre in nov 2007 with the score of 610 in quant n 330 in ver..hvnt go for toefl yet..should i revise my score or i can go with this score and apply for some gud univesities..
karan
January 12th, 2008
@Karan
I suggest you take the GRE again or settle with a low profile university…
Pratik Shah
January 13th, 2008
hai!
plz review my profile
gre-880
tofel-91
b.tech bio-82%
10th -90%
12th- 90%
presented papers in national level seminors
done a mini project
i am intersected in applying for fall 2008 for MS BME
i have applied for
univ of utah
yet to apply for
njit
wayne state univ
wright state univ
FIU
univ of houstan
plz help me out !!!!!
vel
January 18th, 2008
@Vel
I am sorry, but I think neither I nor Pratik are in a position to help you with your query as we are miles apart from Biomedical industry and would not like to misguide you.
Manjiri Keskar
January 19th, 2008
its ok ! thanks a lot !
vel
January 19th, 2008
hi………
first of all ….im greatefull to u for that work….!
im doing my b.tech 3rd yr …
i’v planed to do ms …
n im going to hav gre in this may ..
n as im doing B.E in information science and tech(branch)…i would like to know the estimated gre score for univs’ in us ..with aid…
anush
January 26th, 2008
n im in a dilema of the course that would fit for my branch to…..
anush
January 26th, 2008
@Anush
A GRE score in excess of 1300 is always good. You may look at the IST program at Missouri University of Science and Technology. Make sure you do not mess up on your AWA as most of the others have been doing. All the best!!!
Pratik Shah
January 28th, 2008
Hi, I am in need of real help regarding my plans for MS. My profile goes like:
Btech: ECE 80.3% (NIT)
GRE: 1480 QA: 790: VA : 690
Wrk ex: 9 mnths in imaging 12 mnths till april 08 in audio DSP
Can you plz suggest some univ for me for spring/fall 09.
i have not taken toefl yet.
GD
February 2nd, 2008
@GD
You have a tremendously strong profile. With your profile I see it really difficult for you to not be able to get into any university of your choice. You must aim only at the top 20 nothing beyond that. May be if you want to be really safe then go down to rank 30. All the best and do keep us informed about your applications.
Pratik Shah
February 3rd, 2008
Fall 08 for MS EE
Profile:
GRE 1050 : Verbal 330 : Quans 720
Toefl : 97
Work exp: 2 years
List of univs:
University of Kansas
IIT, Chicago,
USC
UTD
Witchita State Univ
Portland State Univ
SJSU
I am plannin to apply for abov univs. Please suggest me how good these univs and whether i will get admit.Suggest me some good univs as well..
Saravanan
February 10th, 2008
@Saravanan
I think USC and UTD are very optimistic with your GRE score. Also, U Kansas may be a little difficult. The others seem reasonable.
Pratik Shah
February 10th, 2008
Fall 2009 for MS EE
Profile
GRE : 1380( quant : 800, verbal 580)
10th : 87.3%
12th : 93.6 %
BE (electronics) : 72% mumbai university
I am presently workin with L&T strategic electronics.
i will have 2 years of work ex by july 2009.
i am planning for masters in telecomunications.
universities
maryland (ents)
pennstate, university park
upenn
texas A&M
georgia institute of technology
rutgers state university
Please evaluate my profile and give suggestions if i need to apply to other univs.
what are my chances in getting into the above universities.
I would be thankful if you could suggest universities that offer good courses in power electronics.
Dharav
February 16th, 2008
I’m doing my 3rd year ece now I’m planning to do my MS in US in fall 2009 When would it be apt to take up gre and toefl?When should I start applying for the universities
Karthik
February 22nd, 2008
@Karthik
You must look at applying to universities sometime in October, a year before you plan to start your MS. So decide to take GRE and TOEFL accordingly so that you have enough time to get your scores and then accordingly decide on your universities.
Pratik Shah
February 24th, 2008
hi. my gre score is 1390, 790q+600v+AWA 3.5. i’m doing my fourth yr of civil engg. my gpa is 8.3 and my 10th percentage is 84%, 12th percentage is 92%.toefl 110. could u plz suggest some good universities where i can get an aid. thank u.
bhavna
March 13th, 2008
@bhavna
I have already mentioned in one of the replies that we do not do counseling. It is difficult for us to suggest universities, especially in your case where its a totally different field. We would be glad to evaluate your chances in the universities that you can short list. You have a pretty decent profile and I think you should aim at the top 30 universities or so. That’s all I can say…
Pratik Shah
March 14th, 2008
Hi Pratik and Manjiri,
i jus happened to read the blog out here..seemed very interesting and highly useful. I would like u 2 assist me also..iv applied for fall 2008 MS Biotech to
IIt Chicago
kansas State University
Suny buffalo
CSU Fresno
Iv got admitted into IIt Chicago. I would like to knw if it is a good uni, iv removed CSU bcoz my senior seems to b struggling out there, so i left with KSU and IIT. Which of it is good..plz kindly help me out, Kindly ans my query
Plz continue this gr8 job tat u doing..dunno how many usr benefiting from this!
Sunitha
March 20th, 2008
@ Sunitha
Sorry but neither me nor Pratik have any information about Biotech so we are in no position to help you. It is best to consult seniors from the universities you wish to attend.
Manjiri Keskar
March 25th, 2008
Ok thank you so much, but can you tell me as to how the university IIT, Chicago is in general. Please it will be very helpful if this can be done.
Sunitha
March 26th, 2008
@Sunitha
As far as I know it is an okay-ish university. It has a lot of Indians and the competition is fierce with not so much compensation for the same. However, since your field is a little different, you can get better feedback from seniors studying at IIT.
Manjiri Keskar
March 26th, 2008
i have gone through this blog…..it seems to b very useful….
i am doing final year b.tech…..as i have applied for the master’s prog for this fall-2008…..
one of the univ(TAMU-C) is asking my 8th sem marks and provisional certificate…
can u plz tell me what to do…
shilpa
March 31st, 2008
@ Shilpa
Most of the students apply without the last semester marksheet. Tell the university that you cannot get the marksheet and ask your college if they can provide you a provisional marksheet. Though the final semester marksheet is required by the university before you start your second semester there, the admission is granted on the basis of previous marksheets. Hope that clears my point!
Manjiri Keskar
April 3rd, 2008
Hello Manjiri,
My Profile is as follows,
GRE 1260 (Quants 690 & V 570).
BE (Ind & Prod) with Post Graduate diploma in Thermal.
Graduation - 74%
Post grad dip - 77.5%
With 5 yrs of experience in Power sector.
What are my chances for MS/Phd in the following universities,
1. University of California - Berkely
2. University of Florida.
3. Carnegie Mellon Universtiy.
4. Texas A & M - College Station.
5. Purdue University - West Lafyette.
6. Upenn.
7. Univ. of Illinoi - Urbana.
Please suggest i want to do sourse in mech.
Is it required to take GRE once again
Amaan
April 28th, 2008
Hi all, I want to pursue higher education in VLSI,planned to do MS in US, I am working in a software firm for the past 1.5 years, writing GRE in few days, Can anybody tell me which all universities offer spring admission in Electrical department for a nominal GRE score, since I dont have much idea about GRE, I may not get good score..
Lesly Mendonca
April 29th, 2008
@ Amaan
Apart from your GRE, your profile is excellent. The universities you are applying to are quite ambitious but you might get through on the basis of your profile. To improve your chances I would suggest you take the GRE again. It is only my personal opinion though, make sure you take all factors into consideration before coming to a decision. Wish you luck!
Manjiri Keskar
May 1st, 2008
Hello Manjiri,
Thanks for your reply.
I am also worried due to my bad Quants score it raised some doubts about my maths skills.
How universities consider the scores, they take average of two tests or best of two tests.
Do you know the weigtage for GRE,Acads & Experiance while evaluating a profile for admission.
What are the chances of Aid.
Your reply would be highly appreciated in this regard.
Amaan
May 1st, 2008
hi,
i want to apply for spring 2009 application.I want to m.s in ece with communicaions as specialization.My profile
GRE;Math:800 Verbal:690 Analytical:4.0
UG percent;75%
exp:3yrs in telecom out which one year is in research telecom
3yrs experience in telecom
Please let me know if I hv a good chance at below mentioned universities.
1.University of maryland
2.TAMU
Please suggest university where communications is well known and they take students in spring.
poonam
May 15th, 2008
@Poonam
You have a very strong profile. Whats most important is the research experience in telecom and your on field experience just adds to it. Your only concenr could be your low AWA score. I think you should apply to TAMU and Maryland. Also look at Texas-Dallas(UTD). Make sure your SOP projects your strong points really well and you should be good to come here in spring 09.
Pratik Shah
May 15th, 2008
I got an i20 from both write state univ and wayne state univ for ms in biomedical engg . can plz tell me about the univ and which univ is better to choose or still i should wait for other univ reply? plz guide me
vel
May 19th, 2008
what are the different courses in m.s….n is it preferable to do m.s. in india n in which college.?
sonam,tanya
May 25th, 2008
@vel
You can wait till you get all replies. Prolly look at getting your visa date some time 2nd week of june. All the best.
Pratik Shah
May 26th, 2008
@Sonam,Tanya
What do you mean when you say different courses in ms? what field are you referring to? Do you mean different courses in a field like electrical, chemical etc?
I do not know what ms is like in India, but after pursuing my ms here, I feel you can look at MS in USA.
Pratik Shah
May 26th, 2008
@pratik,manjiri
you two are doing a good job guiding students..
i am currently working for infosys as a software engineer from the past 7 months..
Still confused b\w MBA and MS
i have gone through all the posts and just wanted you all to know that you are doing a good job..
shall get back to u ll in case of any queries..
keep up your good work
jay
May 26th, 2008
Hi
I am giving my gre in the end of this month
My profile is as follows :
Btech CS (upto 6th sem):71.41%
12th CBSE : 78.8%
10th CBSE : 88%
ETS asks us to give names of 4 univs. just after the test so I have made a list of some univs. i’ll be appying to acc. to the score.
1400
Univ. of Washington,Seattle
Georgia Institute of Technology
Univ. of Texas Austin
Univ. of Minnesota- Twin Cities
I hope I am not being over optimistic with my selection of univs. If yes, please suggest me some universities.
Mahak
June 9th, 2008
Its not displaying the list i made properly so I’ll put it again
less than equal to 1300 :
SUNY Stony Brook
Univ. of Minnesota- Twin Cities
University of Arizona,Tucson
University of Massachusetts -Amherst
Arizona State Univesity
less than equal to 1400:
Univ. of Texas Austin
Univ. of Minnesota- Twin Cities
University of Arizona,Tucson
Arizona State Univesity
greater than 1400
Univ. of Washington,Seattle
Georgia Institute of Technology
Univ. of Texas Austin
Univ. of Minnesota- Twin Cities
Mahak
June 9th, 2008
@Mahak
I think you are ok with the selection of your universities…
Pratik Shah
June 10th, 2008
Ok..Thanks
Mahak
June 11th, 2008
Hey guys,
u r doing gr8 work here!
I hv just completed my BE, my avg of 7 sems so far is close 2 60% (mumbai university). Final year i m expecting close 2 65%. My branch is IT. GRE score is 1250 (790v + 460q). Am yet 2 give toefl. Will be working for an year wid accenture. i plan 2 apply for fall 09.
My areas of interest include MS CS, MS information security nd MIS. Hvnt decided abt the major yet.
Do i stand a chance in any of the good schools? also i wanted 2 know if i stand a chance at the following schools:
johns hopkins isi for security informatics, gatech for MS IS, purdue cerias for IS, syracuse, usc, ASU, NYU, SUNY buffalo for CS
Priya
June 16th, 2008
@Priya
I think gatech and purdue might be a little optimistic but there is no harm in trying. You should safe with the others.
Pratik Shah
June 17th, 2008
wat abt indiana university fr cs? cud u recommend me a few universities fr CS
Priya
June 17th, 2008
@Priya
I don’t know about Indiana university at all. As far as suggesting universities is concerned, we are really apprehensive about doing that. This is because we do no expertise in this field. You can try Rutgers and USC. These are just suggestions and should not influence your decisions. All the best with your applications!!
Pratik Shah
June 17th, 2008
Hey! I have taken my GRE in July 08 and I have available dates for TOEFL only in end of september. Is it ok to write it then? I don’t really have any other dates before that. I want to apply for Fall09.
thanks.
maithri
August 17th, 2008
@Maithri
I dont think that will be a problem…
Pratik Shah
August 18th, 2008
hi .. i just wrote my gre last week and toefl 2 months back .. i want to start apllyin for the fall 2009 batch . pls cud u guide wats the first thin i need to do . i do know abt lor s and documents and the money tc , but i need a start and a proper way to so ..
dheeraj
August 29th, 2008
Hi Manjiri
I have a GRE of 1290(q=790;V=500)
Toefl(R=29;l=28;s=24;w=21)
Acad=73% Mumbai Univ
I have following univ
Can u classify as ambi,mod & safe
I want to apply for Telecommunication
1.gatech
2.USC
3.Virginia Tech
4.Boulder
5.TAMU
6.Austin
7.UTD
Can u suggest me a some more univ which hv telecom courses
5.
Tasneem
October 10th, 2008
@Dheeraj
You could start off my preparing a list first. After you shorlist your universities, proceed to finalize your SOP and LORs. Then follow the steps given above.
Manjiri Keskar
October 12th, 2008
@Tasneem
Ambi:
VTech
UTD
Safe:
Boulder
Austin
USC
I have never heard of telecom or telecom related EE programs from the other universitites. Generally, GaTech and TAMU will not be that easy to get into.
Other univs with Telecom courses are NEU, Stevens,UPenn etc.
Manjiri Keskar
October 12th, 2008
Hi,
I aspire MS in CS in USA. I need admission with funding.
Here is my profile:
GRE : 1240 (Q-760,V- 480,AWA - 3.5)
Acads: 78%
Publications: One international journal paper publication in bioinformatics
Job Experience: One year experience as a lecturer.
My Primary list of Selected universities:
1.University of California - Santa Barbara
2.University of Texas at Dallas
3.Pennsylvania State University
4.University of Connecticut - Storrs
5.University of Florida
6.University of Oklahoma
7.Louisiana state univ - Baton Rogue
8.Georgia Institute of Technology
9.Arizona State University
10.Iwoa State University
11.Ohio State University
13.Virgina Tech University
14.University of California - San Diago
Though i aspire for MS, as far as i hear, funding in ms has become erratic now a days.So I am planning to apply for PHD program also.
Please suggest me for which program (and also universities) i should apply for keeping in mind my funding requirement.
shihab
October 16th, 2008
can i apply online to the universities without GRE AWA and TOEFL score
Ashutosh
November 3rd, 2008
well .. i wanted to know if is it necessary to get your LORs from the college professors .. i mean cant i get it from some other source.
nimish
February 2nd, 2009
@nimish
Letters of Recommendation are not only something that college professors give you. They essentially mean that there are some people who know you work well. So if you have relevant experience or expertise in a certain field, get those people to recommend you. Most of the students get LORs from professors because they haven’t worked with anyone else.
Manjiri Keskar
February 6th, 2009
HI
i am shravan i have completed my btech from NITK surathkal
my gre score is 1130 quant 700 verbal 430 acads 6.00 GPA is this good for auniversity like GMU FOR COMPUTERSCIENCE MASTERS? Can u please let me know what would my goa be on terms of 4.0 please kindly let me know what other possible univs can i selct with this profile
i have good sop and LORS i have a good project from IISC also.
shravan
June 28th, 2009
Hi
I have completed my Btech 2008 in Chemical Eng Currently working for Oracle.
GRE score (Jul’07)=1460(800 quans 660 verbal)
CGPA =7.64
I am interested in Operation research
University of California–Berkeley
Georgia Institute of Technology
University of Southern California (Viterbi)
Cornell University
Columbia University (Fu Foundation)
Pennsylvania State University–University Park
North Carolina State University
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey–New Brunswick
University at Buffalo–SUNY
London School of Economics
Looking at these universities..
is that too ambitious?
Aparna
August 12th, 2009
thinking of writing gre in november…if i do it in nonvember end can i go in next year 2010 aug intake..pls give suggestions
sathish
August 22nd, 2009
I am giving my GRE on oct 27th…i want to get into RUTGERS(MIS)..How much shud i get to get into it?
PLZZZZ suggest
Ajinkya
September 6th, 2009
Hi
I am giving my gre in the end of this month
My profile is as follows :
Btech CS (upto 6th sem):71%
12th CBSE : 76.2%
10th CBSE : 86.6%
ETS asks us to give names of 4 univs. just after the test so I have made a list of some univs.I have given a sample test of GRE and scored 1260, i think of a score around 1300 in the GRE. so if i get that much of score i have decided to opt for:
1>Univ. of Minnesota- Twin Cities
2>University of Arizona,Tucson
3>Washington State University
4>Syracuse University
i will like to mention two things:-
1> I cannt afford my studies without proper scholarship.
2> I am pursuing my b.tech not from a very reputed college, its just a private college under West Bengal University of Technology..
Plz help me and suggest me certain other universities to apply…plzzzz
Ravi Kumar
September 10th, 2009
Are the universities to which i have decided to apply much more ambitious???? Should i change my university selection???
Ravi Kumar
September 10th, 2009
Hi,
I gave my GRE on Nov 6 and got 1290 (780Q, 510V). I plan to pursue MS in Electronics. I wish to apply to Univs in and around NY. Could you please suggest some on the basis of my score? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Arnab
Arnab
November 8th, 2009
hey guys…great blog site…very very informative n responsive…bt i dnt see any replies off late…i gotta few questions myself,which need urgent replies to…
kindly lemme no if dis blog is still active so i can post my queries…. thnx..
n really a good n worthy/helpful/god bless ul kinda effort…
dhivya
November 19th, 2009
hi guys
i wrote my GRE last week and ended up with 360 verbal + 780 quants =1140.
applied to 4 universities:-
1.UTD
2.TAMU
3.Lamar university
4.louisiana tech
What are my chances with/without fundings in these unis…
i chose lamar & louisiana just for the fundings.
please gimme advice
aby
November 25th, 2009
hiii m a 4th year electronics and communication engg studnt…… i have a CGPA of 7.04 on a scale of 10.00.. will it be difficult for me to get admisson to a good university /course in d US even if i do well in GRE
anushka ray
December 16th, 2009
hii i m 4th year entc engg student.. can i get admission for a core mechanical MS course in US
sushil
December 19th, 2009
Hi,
Gre—1260
10th –83
12th—84
Acad(Mumbai University)—–62
Working with Telecom MNC(Huawei) for 1.5 yrs.
Can u plz. evaluate my profile.
Deepak
January 2nd, 2010
i ve got 720 in gre 70% in b.e if i get my admit will gettin my visa be a problem pls reply
Raj
January 7th, 2010
and i would like to know the list of colleges for my gre score in the u.s for aerospace engineering plssss rerply
Raj
January 14th, 2010
Hi to all,
For no reason, I read all the communications. I am really happy to see the nice communication, helping attitude and proper guidance by you all to each other. Nice team work. I am 50+ but young at heart and like to watch closely the progress of your generation.
Dr. SAMS
February 16th, 2010
I read about www.cecservices.us. They provide education loan @2.5%, which is very low rate of interest. Does anybody know the credibility of this organization? Whether they are genuine or fraudulent?
Santosh
February 16th, 2010
@ Santosh
Sorry, I’ve never heard of it before so I cannot comment on its credibility.
Manjiri Keskar
February 21st, 2010
Is USC Viterbi expensive for MS ? I believe it is in Top 10 ranking by US News for Elect.engineeing ? Are there other universities cheaper than USC but top ranking?
Vish Narayan
March 21st, 2010
I want to MS in petroleum engineering, I am studying in NITW chemical engg. Will be giving GRE in summer. I heard that there is a huge competition in that field and it is not easy to get a job after MS. I dont want to do PhD but i am really interested to do MS. I just wanted to know whether getting a job is so tough ther after MS?
Aditya
March 22nd, 2010
Hi, I got admits to
1. UMD, College park - ENTS
2. University of PENN - TCOM
3. ASU - Communications
For me UPenn is ruled out considering the fee etc.
Could amyone let me know ASU v/s UMD??
Rashmi
May 3rd, 2010
Hi every one here
I am doing my BE in Telecommunication . Now em in final year. I am very much interested to do my higher studies and I want to purse it abroad. I wanna do my MS in communication stream. so kindly provide me with primary details so that I can decide further.
thanking you in advance
kavya
May 27th, 2010
please mail me the details.
this is my id kavya.l.setty@gmail.com
kavya
May 27th, 2010
Hi,
I am a B.Tech 3rd year student at Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology.I’ll be completing my B.Tech in the month of June next academic year.Could you’ll please help me in when to start my preparation and when to apply.I don’t think i can concentrate on GRE preparation and Engg concurrently, so plaese find me a way
Shashank.Adimulam
June 5th, 2010
can anyone talk about the job opportunities after MS , specially for Indians !
Vikram
June 16th, 2010
Hey,
i’m gonna step into the final year in july..And am preparing for GRE..and giving it in the first week of july..and am from the Electrical background..Can you suggest me some univ for Control systems and VLSI..I prefer california…
Cheers
Anu
June 19th, 2010
I wish getting over a broken heart can be so easy as following a few steps to selling more.. but its not?
brand positioning
June 25th, 2010
Hi,
I’m planning for fall 2011. I havent appeared for GRE and TOEFL as yet. By when latest can I appear for both of these? Am i late??
Smita
July 12th, 2010
Hi,
I am a chemical engineering graduate from NIT Durgapur. I want to pursue my M.S. in USA but my cgpa is 6.46. I am planning to give GRE in january 2011 for admission in the april session. Should I at all give GRE? I am asking this question as if I score high in GRE can I get any scholarships as it is impossible for me to bear my own costs there as i am from a middle class family. By the time of giving my GRE i will get two papers published. One in a national journal and one in an international journal. Will these things help me in getting admissions?
Waiting avidly for your reply. I need assistance very eagerly.
Needagh Bhattacharya
Needagh
July 14th, 2010
Hi,
I had applied to a list of universities last year -fall but was not able to make it to even one.This time I am aiming for MS/Phd in computer science fall 2011 in computer science.My profile is as under:
CGPA-7.95/10,
TOEFL-114
GRE-790+570,AWA:3
Let me know if the universities that I am applying to are a good mixture of safe and moderate ones.Also please tell how good are the universities in terms of CS course work and placements if I just go for MS.And the funding oppurtunities.
The Universities are:
SUNY Buffalo,NY
George Mason Univ,
UMBC,Maryland,
University of Cincinnati,OH
University of Florida,
North Carolina State University
Shreya
July 27th, 2010