In an hour long session on the 25th
of July, 2012 a hall of students received valuable information from Pankaj A.
Desai (a former student of M.E.S.) on a subject that perplexes all those who hope
to further their studies abroad-how exactly do you go about it? Since he spoke
from personal experience, his talk leaned slightly towards universities in the
U.S. giving students who want to go there a minor advantage over those who
would prefer other countries instead. Each individual however was benefitted
since a general pattern is followed when it comes to university application
procedures. With a warm manner and a PowerPoint presentation that was peppered
with good-natured humour, he doled out the following guidelines.
What foreign universities want to see from
you:
A
good academic record but more importantly, a sincere student
Good grades are a pre-requisite for admission
into any decent university. However more than just the ability to learn, the
university wants to see in you a desire to learn.
TOEFL
score
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (or
TOEFL) is designed to evaluate your hold over the English language. This test
is basically meant to check your ability to cope with various accents abroad.
GRE
score
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is
designed to test your Verbal skills (in English), Quantitative skills (Math)
and Analytical writing (in the form of Essays).
Statement
of Purpose (SOP)
The statement of purpose is an essay that
records your educational journey so far and your goals for the future. This is
where you are given the opportunity to present yourself as a unique individual
with a definite aspiration and why you are convinced that this particular
university will guide you on your journey.
A
well-balanced Résumé
Foreign universities do not only look for a
good academic record from you. They want to see a well-rounded individual with
interests and capabilities beyond textbooks. Letters of recommendation from
your mentors play a vital part in delivering this message across.
Your
financial standing
The universities need to be convinced that you
can support yourself in an abroad setting from a financial standpoint.
10 steps that will help you in
your Endeavour
1. Identify your interest
Introspect and discover what it is that you
truly want to dedicate yourself to.
2. Narrow down to a specialization
Pinpoint your interest to an exact
specialization. Once you learn the technical term of the field you want to
enter, you will find doors opening to universities that offer your
specialization.
3. Research on universities that offer your
specialization.
4. Examine the syllabus
Do the topics covered in the syllabus rouse
your thirst for learning?
5. Shortlist colleges that fit your bill
Are their tuition fees and the living costs
within your reach? What endowments does your university offer? Are you
comfortable with your living conditions? Do you find the faculty qualified
enough to match your expectation? Positive answers to questions like these
bring you one step closer to your final destination.
6. Is your degree a degree?
A Bachelor of Arts degree in the U.S requires
1600 contact hours (time spent ‘in contact’ with a lecturer…i.e. total class
hours) stretched over 4 years whereas in India, we achieve the same within a
period of 3 years. Does your university recognize and accept your 3 year degree
and qualify you for a Master’s degree?
[Agencies that research such universities for
you exist but they provide their services for a hefty fee]
7. Prepare a final list of your selected
colleges
Remember-each application form requires a fee.
Although tempting, it may not be possible to apply to numerous universities at
one go. Plan according to your finances.
8. Prepare for your entrance tests
Depending on the region you are planning to
pursue your studies, you will have to take entrance tests (like GRE and TOEFL
for the U.S., IELTS for the U.K or even entrance tests conducted by the
university itself)
9. What goes into your file?
Your file is the list of documents you will
need to send across in order to secure your admission. Your file must contain
the following:
1.
Résumé
2.
SOP (Statement of Purpose)
3.
Official transcript (original marks
card)
4.
Letters of Recommendation
5.
Financial Documents
10. And finally…
Once you’re done with your tests, it is time to
finally fill out your application forms and send them. This must be done by
courier and not post. Verify with your universities if your file is complete
and has been forwarded to the selection committee. Stay alert throughout your
admission process as ignorance is not a viable reason for inconsistencies and
it could cost you.
He also mapped out The Ideal Timeline for students in the current 2nd year
which goes something like this-
The seminar ended with an interactive
question-answer session following which The Department of English bestowed upon
Pankaj a token of thanks for taking the time to impart his knowledge to a room
full of hopefuls.
Shivani N.
II BA (PJoE)