Photographs: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com
When contemplating an overseas education, there are a number of issues to consider -- which country you should choose, which college and course best suits your qualifications, how much are the fees, will the fees be covered by an educational loan, and what are the job prospects once you graduate?
To answer these and many other related questions overseas education consultant Karan Gupta hosted a chat with readers on September 3. For those of you who missed the chat, here's the unedited transcript:
Karan Gupta says, Good afternoon friends and welcome to todays 'Study Abroad' session.
pe asked, hi, i want to study in US for MS. can u tell me what the fees for USC are pl.
Karan Gupta answers,The average tuition fees at the US universities are about $30000 per year and the average living expenses are about $10000 per year. Please check the website for the exact fee of the program you are interested in.
jhgj asked, Which country is better for MBA apart from USA , UK or AUS?
Karan Gupta answers, When students are applying for the MBA program, I suggest that they look at good universities worldwide, rather than focussing on one country. Hence, apart from the above you can also look at universities in Canada and some European countries such as Spain, France and so on.
vickybuzz asked, hi.... i want to do IMC in USA, suggest the best universities for it??? Thank u in advance........
Karan Gupta answers, NYU SCPS in the US offers the Masters in Integrated Marketing.
jhgj asked, does studying in a Accredited MBA college in UK a safe bet for career?
Karan Gupta answers, Remember, no one can ever guarantee you jobs after you graduate. Keep in mind that you most likely will not get a job in any country by virtue of just your degree irrespective of which country you pursue it from. It is important to be pro active and constantly network with your peers, seniors, professors and so on. Job prospects are better (even in India) if you graduate from a well known university.
tara asked, Hi, i am planning to go to the US for my masters, but people are advising me to go to the UK or NZ, what do you suggest?
Karan Gupta answers, In my opinion, the US is a better option to pursue your Masters in because of the flexibility of the course structure and the OPT which allows you to work in your field of study on completion of your course.
sd asked, hello, can u tell me abt educational loans for studying in Aus. Is the whole amount of fees taken and what is the tenure?
Karan Gupta answers, Banks in India now offer loans to students wanting to pursue their studies abroad. The maximum loan that you can get is Rs 20 lakhs from state banks in India. The interest rates are around 11% and you need security of around 100% - 150% of the loan amount in order to be approved for the loan. The repayment period is around 5-7 years. Please contact individual banks for more information on the loan procedures.
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'After MS, what are the opportunities for PhD in US?'
chandu asked, Can you pl give some tips to admission into the prestigious AIM, Manila,Philippines
Karan Gupta answers, Universities consider various factors such as past academic record (minimum first class and above), standardized test scores, and the application documents (including essays, resume, recommendation letters), extracurricular achievements, work experience (if required) while reviewing an application for admission. Hence work on an all rounded profile and then apply at least 9 months prior to the course starting date.
lalit asked, sir, i would like to do MS in US and the PhD. can u tell me what the prospects are for PhD opportunities there? is it very difficult?
Karan Gupta answers, PhD admissions are competitive and many times requires you to find a professor at your prospective university who will be interested in your area of research. It is important to contact the professors at the universities you plan to apply to and discuss your research work with them. Your prior research work would definitely be a deciding factor during the admission process and may also affect your funding chances. Getting full scholarship is possible if you get admitted to a PhD course.
mystud asked, How much we get paid for on-campus jobs while studing?
Karan Gupta answers, Students generally earn about $13 - $15 per hour for campus jobs in libraries, computer laboratories, dining halls, and so on.
Deepak asked, Hi Mr. Deepak.Last time i asked you whether to apply for US Or UK for M.S in Computer Science,you suggested me certain universities.But when i checked various sites of Universities in UK,they offer M.Sc instead of M.S.Please clarify the difference between the two?Are they same on the basis of course content and duration?
Karan Gupta answers, Both MS and MSc are the same and there is no difference between the two.
naveen asked, i want to pursue photography degree which is the best out of country destination
Karan Gupta answers, You can look for universities in the US or UK for a course in photography.
anup asked, hello, are one year post graduation courses of UK recogznised every where
Karan Gupta answers, Yes, provided the university is recognized and accredited.
raju asked, Hi my visa(F1 for MS) got rejected twice for USA now i am working with a software MNC and again want to apply for USA visa but people are advising me not to apply becoz again if it got rejected it will hamper my h1b chances...wat u say
Karan Gupta answers, If you are have the opportunity of applying for an H1 visa, then i do not recommend that you apply for a student visa again. Why dont you apply to UK universities instead for your further studies.
manish asked, Hi Karan,Can u let me know prospect of doing MBA from USA.Will they provide good placement or else I shall opt to do from India with some renowned institute
Karan Gupta answers, No one will guarantee you a job in any country. But pursuing a degree abroad will give you the international exposure and also an opportunity to learn in a diversified environment. Hence, if you have the finances, i suggest you apply abroad to good universities and your networking will bring you good placements as well.
Divya asked, How long does it take to get a student visa to the UK. I have a confirmed offer from the University of Oxford and have applied for my visa?
Karan Gupta answers, Generally between 2-4 weeks depending on the rush at the Consulate.
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'Medium ranked business schools in USA?'
krishna asked, Hi Karan, will work experience count when applying for Masters admission in US? My work experience is related to the Masters degree course..
Karan Gupta answers, Though work experience is not a requirement for most Masters (non business) courses, if you have some experience in the same field, it will definitely be an addition to your profile.
Deepak asked, Thanks for your reply.I heard that M.Sc in UK is for 1 year,whereas M.S in US is for 2 years.Is that true?And moreover,getting technical jobs in UK difficult than in US?
Karan Gupta answers, Yes it is true.
sam asked, What are the chances of getting PR in australia after 2 years study in hairdressing
Karan Gupta answers, Please check with the Australian Consulate for this information.
shona asked, I am last year student of CSE and after compleating my degree I want to make my carrer in mass media.Suggest please.
Karan Gupta answers, Journalism, Media Studies, Advertising, Public Relations and so on are generally courses that are offered by the Mass Communication department. Boston College in the US and University of Leeds and Brunel University in the UK offer the Mass Media (Communication) programme. Have a look at the course offered by these universities to see if the program suits you and for the requirements. Also, you will need to pursue some pre requisite courses before you apply to this program, because of your previous educational background.
Dhananjay asked, Hi.. I am appling for MS+PhD in organic Chemistry.. How much weightage is given to standardised scores? MY GRE general score is pretty low-1280 n TOEFL- 108.. Will also give subject(Chemistry) GRE in nov.. What else shld i do to boost my portfolio..
Karan Gupta answers, Universities consider various factors such as past academic record (minimum first class and above), standardized test scores, and the application documents (including essays) while reviewing an application for admission. Your GRE score is decent and you can apply with it. Do well in the subject test and also try to build on your achievements through papers and presentations.
shankar asked, Hi I am want your help on doing phd in abroad, in pharmacolgy or clinical research field.
Karan Gupta answers, Have a look at the University of Southern California for their PhD program in Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology. Also, Columbia University in the US may have a course that suits you.
budhuram asked, Dear Karan : I'm 44 year old, i dont have a degree, I desperately want graduation,I can afford studiying in US what best u can suggest please
Karan Gupta answers, Why dont you look at some certificate or intermediate programs in courses that interest you. Read the program structure on various university websites to see what interests you and contact individual universities to discuss your profile.
rakshit asked, which r medium ranked business schools for MBA in USA
Karan Gupta answers, Ohio State University, Boston University, University of South Carolina, are among some medium ranked B schools in the US.
Rajesh Neogy123 asked, Hi,I want to apply for my Post Doc.Which country will be better in terms of savings of my earned salary so that I can bring back some handsome to home.
Karan Gupta answers, In my opinion, the US would be a good bet.
rrn asked, How is Newcastle University, UK for MS Mech Engg.? Would like to know about job prospects after studies in UK
Karan Gupta answers, In my opinion, Newcastle University is an average university. It is best you check with them directly about their placement statistics as well speak to alumni for their direct feedback about the course of your interest.
Valerie asked, My niece has just successfully completed her BSc with a 1st Class and now doing her MSc - Part I (Zoolongy); however, her passion is veterinary; what are her chances to try abroad to pursue this field?
Karan Gupta answers, She can look at universities in the US offering a Masters degree in Veterinary Sciences. Have a look at Ohio State University in the US for the Master's degree in Veterinary BioSciences to get an idea of the program structure.
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'How can I get into Stanford University?'
Manju asked, How useful is the part time MBA degree in USA from top 5 B schools for our career growth of asoftware engineer? Is it worth the effort and money?
Karan Gupta answers, International students cannot take part time classes and have to be enrolled in full time study only.
krishna_s asked, Hi, I am applying for Masters Program in US. if i have a low GRE,TOEFL scores and good experience in the same field, will the universities accept my aplication??
Karan Gupta answers, Since universities consider an overall profile, you should not have a problem if your academics are good. However, high test scores will make you eligible to better ranked schools.
shri asked, what all courses I can take in Medical field in US. I am MBBS and want to do PG in US.
Karan Gupta answers, Why don't you read up the course structure of various programs related to health sciences such as Public Health, Health Administration, Health care Management and so on to see where your interest lies? These courses are generally offered at the Masters level and you will find them at some good US and UK universities.
darshak asked, I have applied for University of North Texas, can i expect a scholarship while i am studying there?
Karan Gupta answers, If you maintain a high GPA, it is possible to get a scholarship or assistantship while studing though this is never guaranteed.
kamlesh.tailor asked, Is it preferrable to do bachlrs or master from malasyia with affilation from US, UK colloge..
Karan Gupta answers, It is difficult to answer this question without knowledge of the universities offering this degree.
sunny asked, What should be done basically to get an admission at Stanford ?
Karan Gupta answers, Universities abroad consider various factors such as previous academics, entrance test scores, application documents, extracurricular achievements and so on while assessing an application for admission. Admission to top schools such as Stanford is very competitive and they do accept only students with exceptional profiles; I suggest that you work hard on strengthening your profile in all areas (academics, entrance tests, achievements) before you apply.
MD asked, Hi Karan, I am software professional with a work ex of 6.5 years with a descent overseas exposure. My GMAT score is 640. Which B-schools could best suit this profile . Location is not a concern.
Karan Gupta answers, Have a look at NYU in the US, Oxford Business School in the UK and IE Business School in Spain among a few.
kabirg asked, I want to apply to LSE, Leeds Business school, Sheffield Univ, University of Glasgow for Masters in Media related courses like Public Relations, etc. Sir Currently I'm in my final year of my graduation in BACHELOR OF JOURNALISM FROM MAKHANLAL CHATURVEDI UNIVERSITY, BHOPAL and till now I have an aggregate of 69% utpo 2nd year. Sir do I stand a chance of getting slected in LSE (LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS) or LEEDS leaving aside my SOP which solely depends on my language skills. Academically do i stand a chance? At the same time I have 7 months of work experience in RADIO, TV and PR firm in forms of internships. Will it be helpful? Do i stand a chance? And sir what are academic transcripts? Is it the original marksheets which we get from the university?
Karan Gupta answers, You have a good profile and can apply to good universities as well provided you do well in the entrance tests. Transcripts are academic documents to show conversion of marks to grades while applying to universities abroad and are not the same as mark sheets. Transcripts must be on your graduating college letterhead as well as mjust be attested by them.
jhgj asked, Will US provide Post Study Work permit for student completing MBA ?
Karan Gupta answers, Yes through the OPT (Optional practical Training).
prashant asked, hi karan i done BE(IT) in 2006 with 72%. but since then i am jobless its been 4 years of unemployment.can i do MBA from a top US university or its a dream
Karan Gupta answers, B schools worldwide require students to have at least 3 years of full time work experience before they apply. Hence if you are keen on studying, I suggest that you apply for an MS degree instead.
ab asked, Hi,I have got admission in EDHEC MBA(Full Time).I will have 4 years of work(Accenture) experience by the time I join the college.After the scholarship and grants,my total expenses will be 15 Lakh.Can you please suggest is it worth joining and how are the career opportunities for Indians in france?Also,Is a global MBA recognized in Indian companies?
Karan Gupta answers, In my opinion, EDHEC is a decent university, though job opportunities in France are tough for international students because of language barriers. Indian companies do recognize global degrees provided they are from reputed and recognized universities.
cv asked, Does the rejection of a Tier 4 UK visa affect the result of reapllying for it?
Karan Gupta answers, Generally not.
Karan Gupta says, It is time and we will have to stop here. I hope most of you have received your answers today.
Karan Gupta says, Look out for this space for another Study Abroad chat soon.
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