Q & A
I have come across many individuals with doubts and issues! I have been asked tons of questions regarding the entire graduate application process and I have hence decided to open this question – answer section through my blog! Anybody having any doubts or issues are more than welcome to ask through the comments below. I would get back with the answers as soon as I can. I am quite confident that most answers should definitely be available through this blog. Therefore I urge you to first go through the archives or better go through the recommended section to get the necessary information. I am on a hunt of sorts for new topics to cover and therefore would encourage everyone to come up with questions!!! I hope to elaborate on interesting queries at a later date as well, maybe in the form of new posts! At the same time, please do understand that I am but a wannabe grad with engineering background. So please do understand if I am not able to clarify or answer your questions in entirety!!
rita said
i am currently doing hotel mgmt,what i’d like to know is that if i did an MBA after my 3yr hotel mgmt degree would that affect my career in any way as i have no intentions of working in a hotel.
saintdeb said
To be honest, I am no expert when it comes to management….more so HM! I know of the opportunities u might have after hotel management but I am sure you would know better. When it comes to an mba after HM, you can surely go for it! It would be like a dual degree (dual masters) which you can always go for provided you can give a valid reason for an mba after HM at the time of admission to the b-schools!!
Hrishikesh said
Also one more querry I have is :
I am very average or may be below average candidate in academics.
BE : final year — 62% (first class)
BE : Agg ——-54%
SSC : 73 %
HSC : 73 %
Work Exp : 2 and 1/2 years in May 2009(in which I would be giving GRE to take admission in AUG 2010)
So from my above record, am I eligible to get admission in top 20 Universities for MS.
how much GRE score should I have to Get to get in top 20.
Cornell Univ is my ambition.
Can I get it with high GRE score(how much req) ?
Please reply asap…
Hrishikesh said
After BE (EXTC) I got placed in Citigroup (IT Firm). Basically a good company for IT or Computer engineers. But I got there bcos I was in VSNL earlier for initial 5 months after engg and that exp was counted and there was networking related project available in CITI.
The profile I am working here is an basically Network Support Type and Not Core Networking, so don’t like it very much.
Currently working on Infovista and Niksun applications …these are network troubleshooting tools and are good once.
Also, my link for EXTC is now broken and I am least interested in doing MS in EXTC and more into MIS or Finance or IT.
Now after 2 yrs of exp in IT firm, all fields are same to me (bcos forgotten EXTC subjects)
OK… this is my background so far.
Here are few questions I want to ask.
———————————————
1) Generally fresher (after engg) go for MS, I would be going there in AUG 2010 ie 4 yrs later of my engg(ie. giving exam in MAY 2009)
Are there placements available for exp people also? And will they in schools treat me as a fresher or exp?
2) Are all the students opting for MS in an average ranked univ get placed? What is the pay package generally given to them?
Would my experience will be counted and then my package would be decided or I would be given same as that of fresher?
This is bcos I would be having 3 and half years of exp at that time (2010).
3) Does the finance mentioned in the admit for MS. remains the same or later on it increases when we actually go there.
This is bcos some xtra amount would be needed for books or laptop or medicines or few necessary things or they are included in tuition and housing fees etc.
What situation did you faced? Do you had to pay more there when you reached at school?
4) Though my interest is in Finance, IT, or MIS, generally which field has the maximum number of placements in an avg rated univ?
What the status of your univ regarding placements? Like in India for engg, though extc has max boom, but Computers and IT have the maximum number of placements.
Is it easy to get temporary jobs like in consultancies during our 2 yrs of MS? How much they pay us in consultancy per month.
How much you were paid during those 2 yrs and could you be able to save that for our 50% of tuition fees of atleast one year.
5) Is there any way, I can cope up with Finance, IT or MIS since I am an EXTC grad (but least interested in EXTC)?
6) What do you think the field I should select between Finance, IT and MIS? Bcos my seniors told me these are the only fields which can be take by any graduate of any other field(like extc or comp or mech etc.)
7) Can you provide me a list of Univ’s that are good academics in these 3 fields and also got good placements?
Also , once I had given GRE I can opt for applying to 4 univ for free right. what are the steps to be followed after GRE what are the documents required for application and the procedure for the same. Since I would also not like to go for counseling after GRE and want to do it by m own.
————————————–
Please answer them one by one.
saintdeb said
hi
1) this is very ambiguous at best. Ofcourse you will be allowed for placements and obviously you will be treated as an experienced candidate (with work experience). I think I am not able to get your question!
2) Its a generalized question with no generalized answer. Placements are generally through secondary means as most univs in USA don’t have campus placements. Having said that, MS should be from a good university to make sure that you get a good job later on. Try and make sure that you pick schools in the heart of technology driven regions!
3) I am a 2008 fall applicant. So to be honest, I am not the right person to ask I guess. But I can assure you that the amount mentioned in i20/univ website should be taken as an indicator. However, many are able to stay at lower spending rates as well. Most people save on living expenses.
4) As I ahve mentioned, I am yet to get there. Moreover, I am a PhD student and therefore have no issues of funding. AFAIK, in USA, chemical, telecom, petroleum get the highest salaries. Placements are dependent on the “region”. The current recession however has put a lot of pressure on both the universities and the students.
5) You can go for finance….no issues.
6) Its your decision. I don’t think I am in a position to comment on what you should go for!
7) Well I won’t be able to provide a list per say. You can look at some of the articles I have written which do cover the three mentioned by you (barring MIS i think). wrt procedures, it is very simple. You need to get your docs ready (which are univ dependent but include transcripts, SOP’s, recos, etc). Finish your apps (online) and send the material. Once you get your decisions, choose your final univ, get your i20 and apply for visa (you will need to fill forms and pay the fee ofcourse).
sujjatha said
hi…
I am into my 2nd yr chem engg.I am planning to pursue higher studies in the US.Can you please mention the Chemical Engineering Journals where students publish their articles.
Danielle said
hi my name is danielle sena and i have a concern about my graduation and that i was wondering that i have a little problem and its about my grades i try so hard to pass my class and my fcat and they say that i did not pass and im taking florida vertual school online and they are trying to hold me back a grade and that this year there telling me that i’m in 10th grade and i know that im not and i suppose to graduate next year and that i really want to graduate more then any thing in the world that woulb be my dream and i almost done with the first half ofmy classon florida vertual school and then i was wondering what can i do to not stay bak and graduate 2010 and one more thig im only missin 1 credit what can i do? im dessperate please!!!
saintdeb said
Hi Sujjatha,
You can look at aiche journals, journal of chemical and engineering, chemical engineering journal, chemical technology, etc.
saintdeb said
Hi Danielle,
I am not sure how I can help you!!!
Sonali said
hi,
I have 3 recommendation letters sets frm 3 diff prof., the problem is dat one of them forgot to mention date in it, so will the letter do without date or should i ask them to make me new sets…..
saintdeb said
hi sonali,
As far as I know, the absence of date should not matter much if your letter is with the original letter head and seal. However, if its not too big a deal, you could ask for another set of letters.
sonali said
thanx, i think i will ask for another set…….
Sonali said
hi saintdeb,
i have some more questions to ask.
Previously i had query about recommendation letter without date, i asked the college and came to know dat the prof. who had written me the recommendation letter has left the college so i cant make the new sets of letters.The lettersare made on original letter head of college and are sealed with college stamp and sign of prof.So should i go on with these letters or make another set signed by other lecturer….if yes previous one was signed by prof who is Mtech from nirma university now if i have to signed it from other faculty , dat faculty is lecturer having only BE degree dat also from my college…so pls suggest what should i opt for.i also wanted to know what is online recommendation filling? what is required for it?
As per my information MS in Comp engineering consist of 30 credit hours without thesis and 24 hours with thesis to be completed in 2 years. is this info right?
I also wanted to ask dat during application process, should i also submit syllabus and marksheet enclosed in a sealed envelope with college stamp containing transcript or should i put them seperately ?
Thanks,
Kindly waiting for the reply.
saintdeb said
Hi Sonali,
You better go with the letters you already have.
Online recomendation is an alternative to offline letters that you are sending now. All that is needed is internet connection and the person giving you the recommendation should be notified in advance. Some schools prefer online recommendations and might even insist on the same.
The total number of credits that you require to graduate will depend on the school/ program. There is no set rule defining the number of credits. You should check out with the schools you are applying.
There is no need to submit syllabus and mark sheets if not asked for explicitly by the school. But then again its a personal choice. If you do feel better sending it, just put it any envelope. The reason is most programs don’t want to know about your syllabus/ marksheets as they already know your courses and grades from your transcripts.
hope this helps!
-deb
Sonali said
hey saintdeb thanx a lot…..
Sindhu said
Hi..
I have 2 years of experience and i want to do my MS now will that add to my career.
Will this experience taken into consideration in the Universities there.
My academic scores are like—
B.Tech-83.05%
INTER-89%
SSC-78%
How much should score in GRE & TOEFL to get into one of the top 20 universities (like stanford).I didn’t do my B.Tech from a reputed college will that effect me from getting into a top university.
Will my academic marks help even if i don’t get good score in GRE & TOEFL.At worse how many marks should i atleast get to get into top university with the marks i have in my B.Tech.
Please guide me.
Thank you in advance.
saintdeb said
Hi,
I would urge you to try and do some research on the internet, publications, friends etc! Your questions have no simple and straight-forward answers. To answer as briefly as possible,
yes your experience should help. I have no idea how much you need to score in your GRE and TOEFL. Try and score as much as you possibly can!!! As far as I know, universities; atleast the “top 20″ don’t have cutoffs! Yes your undergrad will influence the decision but it should not deter you from trying!
Don’t think about admission at this stage!! Try and get a good score! Its no use trying to decide on it before hand! If it were upto me, I would have got 1600!!!
best wishes!
yashi said
i need t kno dat howmany gre marks are required t get the admission in top U.S.A. college