Prepare a strong resume

Dear Madam,

I am a second year BA student with Political Science, Economics and Journalism as my subjects. I want to pursue my Master's in Journalism abroad. I am confused about the choice of universities and the country. Which country is the best to study Journalism? Also, could you let me know about the scholarships available?

Mahima

Dear Mahima,

I would recommend UK and US for Journalism. Your academic grades are good. Prepare a strong resume and write an interesting statement of purpose. In the next one and a half years, try and get some written work of yours published either through an online blog, in a journal, newspaper or magazine. Take an English language test that is accepted by the university you are applying to. Other than scholarships that are offered by universities, you can also explore scholarship options in India that fund meritorious students for higher education abroad. These are the Lore India Foundation Scholarship Trust, the Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship for Higher Studies, scholarships by the Inlaks Shivdasani foundation and the J N Tata Endowment for Higher Education.


Dear Madam,

I am a third semester student of Civil engineering. I am planning for MTech in USA. Is it important to start preparing for GRE and TOEFL from now itself? And, I want to know the courses I can take up. Please guide.

Jiya

Dear Jiya,

I am glad you are preparing well in advance for your MTech in USA. You could start practicing on the prepatory tests for GRE. I would recommend Manhattan and Magoosh prep tests. You can take the GRE and TOEFL iBT during your third year of engineering. You could specialise in Geoinformatics, Hydraulics, Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Earth quake and Disaster Management, Construction Management, Project Management etc.


Dear Madam,

My son is in II PUC now. He is interested in going for his undergraduate programme in the US. He is planning to take SAT in July or August this year. Will his performance in II PUC matter to get a seat in any university in the US? Are extracurricular activities also important? Would it be possible for him to work there after completing his studies? Please guide.

Bhaskar

Dear Bhaskar,

SAT scores are of primary importance for students to even be considered for scholarships. Having said that, your son needs to maintain good grades throughout his education to qualify for merit-based scholarships and financial aids. US universities look for students who are well rounded with awards and achievements in academics, sports, extracurricular activities and community service.

Students with F-1 status who have completed or have been pursuing their degrees for more than nine months are permitted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work for one year on a student visa towards getting practical training to complement their education under Optional Practical Training (OPT). OPT is a temporary employment that is directly related to the F-1 student's major area of study. Eligible students can apply to receive up to 12 months of OPT employment authorisation before completing their academic studies and/or after completing their academic studies.

Students who have earned degrees in certain science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT employment. Your son is only in PUC now, hopefully by the time he completes his degree, the US job market and work visas would be more accessible to hard-working students.


Dear Madam,

I am a PUC I student and I have taken up commerce stream. I am aiming to do MBA from a top ranked university like Harvard, INSEAD or Yale. As I have become aware of the difficulty of gaining admission in such universities, I felt the need for immediate action. Can you guide on how I should start preparing? Could you also let me know about the tuition fees for these courses?

Yashas

Dear Yashas,

It is good to come across a focused student who is planning so well in advance. You have around eight to nine years before you can apply for an MBA to the universities you have mentioned. To get into a good B-School, you need good grades, a high GMAT score, and have three to four years of full-time work experience. Universities look for students who are well rounded in their interests and achievements. So, for the next five years of your education, focus on academics, extra-curricular activities, sports, community service and internships. The tuition fee for MBA programmes is quite high compared to the regular MS programmes. Many multinational corporations sponsor their employees who wish to pursue an MBA in a top B-School and come back to work for them.


Dear Madam,

I am a final year engineering student. I am planning to study Master's and then do PhD. The countries that I prefer are Germany and New Zealand. Which of these places is better? Is writing IELTS better or GRE? Since I don't have time to write GRE, can I only write IELTS? Can you tell me the tuition fees for a PhD programme?

A student

Dear Student,

Both the countries you are interested in have excellent universities and offer high quality education. Both also offer long stay visas and work permits for students who want to stay back and work for a few years. GRE may not be required by all universities but can't be substituted by IELTS. If you don't have time for GRE, apply to universities which don't need a GRE. IELTS, TOEFL and PTE are simple English exams which tests your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. This is mandatory for all students who want to study abroad. PhD in most countries is fully funded. For more information on universities, programmes and entry requirements, please visit www.umaaswani.com.


Dear Madam,

I am a Bachelor of Physiotherapy student. I would like to do my postgraduation in the same area, in Australia or Canada. What is the application procedure? Are scholarships offered? What are the exams that I should take?

A student

Dear Student,

You need to only write the IELTS, TOEFL iBT or PTE to go to either one of these countries for your Master's in Physiotherapy. The universities that offer this programme in Australia are University of Sydney, Griffith University, Curtin University, University of Canberra, The University of Queensland and University of Technology Sydney.

In Canada, it is offered by University of Toronto, McGill University, University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, University of Manitoba, University of Western Ontario and Dalhousie University. A range of scholarships is offered on each of the university websites.