Go by interest, not what is easy

Studying ABROAD

Dear madam,
I am in the sixth semester, Electronics and Communication Engineering in SJCE. My CGPA is just 6.5 (till 5th semester) with one backlog, which I’ll be clearing soon. I am very much interested in pursuing MS in US, particularly in subjects like VLSI and embedded systems or networking. I have started preparing for my GRE which I'm planning to give during this August or September. But I don't know the exact procedure to book the dates. I've been attending the coaching classes for GRE and I'm thorough about the pattern. But I have no idea about the TOEFL pattern. Should GRE and TOEFL be given simultaneously? My low CGPA demotivates me every time I think of it. I would like to know the details of applying for GRE and TOEFL exams. Would it be a better option to switch from EC to CS subjects as I've heard there are more job opportunities for CS than EC?
Anupriya
 
Dear Anupriya,
 Your  scores are not too low  and they will  not hamper your further education as universities will be interested in your work experience and your entrance test (GRE and TOEFL) scores. It will be good if  you  can   get some experience by way of internship / entry level position  in the area of specialization of your interest,  to bolster your resume and then apply.  If you can prove that you are deeply interested in the field, then you'll have a better chance of acceptance.
Scoring very high in GRE will go a long way toward showing that you can manage a program.
Websites http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/register  and http://www.ets.org/toefl will give you the details of the procedure for GRE and TOEFL exams date booking. The time period depends entirely on how you feel about it. Taking TOEFL  first will get you acquainted with the test center and the environment and vice versa.
Do not go by what would be easy, go by your interest. The best course to study is the one that leads to your overall career goals and objectives.
Good luck to you!

Dear madam,
I will be competing my degree in a few days from now. I plan to do my MBA but am confused with two choices - getting admission in a college that provides an MBA program with one year in India and another year abroad or opting some other country for the entire program. What would be the best, spliting the program between India and abroad or opting another country for the entire course?
Nischal
 
Dear Nischal
 In twinning program you get to study abroad without the prohibitive cost of foreign education. The twinning programs can be less expensive, for the additional exposure that one gets. You need to be flexible in your attitude to people and cultures. You need to know before joining the course the credibility and the recognition of the co-university (whether internationally recognized).
With an MBA  abroad, you get a lot more culturally diverse exposure that moulds you to be more global in perspective. Be aware that the criteria to get admission in good MBA programme include 3-4years of experience and case studies which are based on real time work for students to learn the art of management. Cost and Finance is something which needs to be planned out.
   There are plenty of Business schools in the market, but you need to find the one that offers what you are looking for, in terms of specialization, credibility, good faculty, etc.
Best wishes!
Dear madam,
I completed my B E (Mech) in 2011 with distinction and now I am working as a design engineer with a reputed company. Based on my work experience and interests, I have decided to pursue a master's programme in management  with  some technical tinge. I have short listed Masters in engineering Management . However, I have a few questions,
1. What kind of job opportunities can a person with this degree expect and what are the career prospects in general?
2.Will this help me to move up in the mangerial line in a technical field?
3.Would you suggest this for a person with a total exp of 2 yrs?
4.Can you kindly suggest some good universities in US, Canada or Germany with a reasonable fee structure.
Sudesh Mirle
 
Dear Sudesh,
Master of Science in Engineering Management  blends  skills  of  business areas with technical  work . Due to the ever-changing nature of engineering you need to  remain open to pursuing additional courses to stay current with developing technologies. To be effective you  must be an excellent coordinator, administrator, communicator and budgeter.
   After completion of Masters in Engineering Management  you can look  into a wide range of functions, including product development and innovation, R&D, engineering management, general management, operations, project management, IT, software development, marketing, and sales. Employers like defense, government, information systems, telecommunications, energy, banking, and consulting can offer you good openings.
   As a guideline, 2 yrs of work experience is reasonable, but expectations of years of experience may vary in different universities. You need to contact the chosen institutions for further information.
The universities offering the subject can be selected from http://www.msinus.com/content/universities-engineering-management-usa http://www.msinus.com/section/ms-canada
   Cost of study is quite low in Germany compared to other Western countries.
Best wishes!

Dear madam,
I am currently pursuing Bachelor's degree in computer application(BCA) and I intend to pursue MS in information or computer science in Germany. I am preparing myself for TOEFL and GRE. What are the other things should I be prepared for?
A student
 
Dear student,
You can consider learning German languages (B1 level minimum)before you reach Germany or from the university as well, though at times the university might want you to take the classes once you reach the destination. Beyond this  German universities require 16 years of formal education as the minimum educational qualification (BCA gives you only 15).
   Any subject-related internship done will add additional weightage to your application .Please note that other or additional papers may also be required, depending on the university and degree program. Incomplete papers can also be a cause of rejection.
Good luck to you!

Dr Malini works as a career
counsellor and has a PhD in
Human Development.
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