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| Sunday, Nov 12, 2006
Some tips on studying in U.S.
International Education Week begins on Monday
Chennai: International Education Week, an American concept to encourage international students in the U.S., begins on Monday.
The United States Education Foundation in India (USEFI) rounded up a few students aspiring to study in the States to talk to The Hindu . They had different reasons for choosing to study in the U.S., from better facilities to less competition. Although all of them will be applying for admission only next year, they spoke about the research process and the preparation that goes into choosing the right college.
Vijaya Balakrishnan, who plans to pursue a doctorate programme in genetics/ molecular biology, says bioscience in India has not got its chance yet. There is not much knowledge about the field. "Someone actually asked me if genetics is a software!", she says, laughing.
Dos and don'ts
Both Sharmilee Kannan Balasubramanian and she plan to do their doctorates in the U.S. They say before deciding on a college, it would help to read recently published papers available on the Internet. Vijaya says, "This will help you decide on a professor as a starting point. Some colleges have very good research facilities, but are not that well-known."
Priya Vijayakumar, who wants to do a Masters in pathology/ plant genetics, says the lure of the U.S. is due to the flexibility in curriculum. "I want to work on plant science. There are many courses offered there."
Bio Informatics is another course with inadequate representation in Indian colleges, according to Deepak Gunasekaran.
He hopes to get a job there after his Masters. "That's because there are no research institutes offering bio informatics here," he says.
Chandan Kothari will be applying for an MBA course. Although he considered the U.K. and Australia, his education advisor favoured the U.S. "It is difficult to get into the IIMs. So instead of doing an MBA from an average university here, I would rather do it at an average university in the U.S.
"It is not just about the course. I also think studying in a different country will help me become more independent. And the tag of having studied abroad helps (in the job market)."
Jagadeshwaran, who will apply for a Master's in communication theory and microelectronics, explains that considering his field, it was the only alternative he had.
"I am an average student. With 67-68 percent, it is hard to get a job in my field. I would have to switch to a career in software.
"I have been studying about transistors ... I don't have software skills. Unfortunately, due to the lack of opportunities, 70 per cent of ECE students get to the IT sector."
He says the USEFI library is a godsend as has all the expensive reference books. The students also said the Internet was a boon while looking for the right college.
"Everything is available on the net. Even for your tests (such as TOEFL) all you need is your credit card number," says Vijaya.
USEFI advice
Start researching colleges one and a half years before you plan to apply
Do not stick to one source of information
Do not opt for only the highly selective or non-selective colleges. Have a mix of both.
Find out about the selection process, the criteria and acceptance rate.
Consider the cost and financial aid factor.
Check the faculty profile.
Courtesy: The Hindu
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