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“Higher education in the U.S. is the best in the world… There is sufficient money in every university. But don’t look for the money, look for the courses. Make sure you find the right one for you. Be careful going with consultants, some may not be acting in your best interest,” said Dr. Pallavoor Vaidyanathan, Assistant vice-president for Research, University of Florida, at a presentation for students on applications to the U.S., organised by the US Education Foundation of India (USEFI) at Stella Maris College on Friday.

The University of Florida is the sixth largest in the U.S. and offers specialist programmes including optics and photonics, business administration in environmental economics, education (teaching) and hospitality management. U.S courses are highly demanding — Dr. Vaidyanathan found that in one academic quarter in the U.S he had done as much work as in the whole of his Master’s in Engineering in India. But, he said, because you can choose your own course components they can be very rewarding.

Among the many tips he offered there were three that stood out. One, anyone wishing to contact a professor in advance of making an application should find out faculty members’ work, read their papers and demonstrate knowledge of their work and why you want to join. “Don’t just send hundreds of the same letters to every person in every field. They will spot it,” he said. Two, when taking the GRE exam, “don’t aim for marks just above the minimum requirement. Aim for the best score you are capable of. Someone elsewhere in India, in China or in the U.S may get your place because they have a better score that is well above the minimum,” he advised. And three, apply for research or teaching assistantships to help fund your studies. But, he stressed, don’t lie about your income — it could land you back in India sooner than you think.

SARAH HIDDLESTON

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