Tharoor, Nilekani release book on US courses

Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor and former Infosys co-chairman and Unique Identification Authority of India chief Nandan Nilekani released the book here on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, Tharoor said there was always a paucity of information for Indian students who were eager to study abroad. The book (brought out by Pearson Education) has addressed that need, he said, adding that studying in the US would give an extra-ordinary opportunity for students to broaden their horizon. 

Praising the effort of the author, Nilekani said it promises to provide students with authoritative, accurate and invaluable information packed in an easy to read, students-friendly style, which was almost completely missing during his student days.

Social worker Rohini Nilekani, who along with Nandan, has written the foreword for the book, said the timing of the book launch was strategic as this was the admission time in the US. American colleges and universities were eager to enroll Indian students now as they brought in diversity.

The author, referring to the education system in the United  States, said the biggest contingent of students there was Indians over the last few years and now it was almost like a stampede.

“Conditions for students there are conducive but competition is getting more intense. Getting into the US colleges, which offer excellent infrastructure, is not a cakewalk”, Renuka, wife of Karnataka-cadre IAS officer Gurucharan, said.

The book provides advice and unbiased information on the application process, tests and financial matters. It also guides students on the US visa process.