Education without borders
PAROMITA PAIN
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In an increasingly globalising economy, international qualifications can be an additional advantage. A quick guide to get you started.
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In today's global economy, developing a truly intercontinental perspective is important. Education abroad often broadens horizons and with organisations insisting on those able to work in international environments, a foreign education becomes often mandatory.
The DHL "Study Abroad Show" conducted by Madhavi Desai, of Madhavi Desai Consulting, Mumbai, stressed this important aspect of developing careers today and discussed the various options open to students aspiring for international degrees. Studying in a foreign country, especially with the kind of perceptions people tend to have of countries like America or Britain, sounds like an adventure and if those who have had a taste of it are to be believed, it truly is.
Madhavi says there are vast differences in the teaching process abroad and here. Evident advantages include internationally recognised degrees, worldwide networking and good infrastructure. Subtler rewards include exposure to different cultures as students come from different countries. This enhances personal growth. There are plenty of academic choices, enhanced with flexibility of elected subjects. For example, while the core may be engineering, optionals may include art or music just as economic studies can be combined with martial arts! Scholarships are plenty for research and masters programmes but bachelor's degrees funding is generally rare.
The school and study area must be carefully investigated and selected. Madhavi Desai believes this depends on:
Which schools offer the programme wanted and is the syllabus suitable?
Which of these schools are officially recognised?
Academic grades of the past four years are important, but they are not all.
Test scores must be estimated on the standardised tests.
Especially important in the case of MBA candidates are work experience and positions held but funding here is rare. Extracurricular activities are important, as are academic scholarships or certificates.
Schools not quite so well known as Cambridge and the Ivy League colleges, are also good, with above average facilities. It is a wrong belief that only ranked schools are the best and that it is not worth going if it isn't a famous college.
A pre-application letter requesting application kits can be sent to the respective colleges or online forms filled up at individual websites. Such to-the-point correspondence must state the degree, major, term and year you are applying for, present level of education and the institute of current study. The pre application process is painstaking and deadlines must be noted and strictly adhered to. Time limits differ and Madhavi Desai says, "Some colleges have early deadlines. For example the University of Colorado Boulder has a December 1 deadline for graduate students applying for the Fall term. Almost all schools have financial aid deadlines that begin on January1 and usually end by mid- Feb. At the undergraduate level some schools have deadlines as early as November."
Students have to prove to the University and to the Consulate Officer that they have sufficient funds to cover living expenses, insurance expenses as well as university tuition and fees which conservative estimates put at $35,000 annually for room, board and tuition. Scholarships therefore are important as loans are available but they are to be paid back with interest. University fee structures differ with lower tuition fees at State universities when compared to private universities but there are more scholarships here. Since different countries have diverse systems of evaluation, universities gauge performance levels on standardised tests. High school candidates must take the TOEFL and the SSAT while undergraduates take the TOEFL and the SAT I. The SAT II may be required for top ranked universities. Opting for a Masters means taking the TOEFL and the GRE. Certain majors demand an AGRE. MBA Aspirants must take the TOEFL and the GMAT. Doctorate aspirants must take the TOEFL and the GRE. Other examinations include the TSE, TWE, ACT, LSAT. The key to succeed here is practice.
The application process to any university, whether in America or Britain must be accompanied by the statement of purpose. Adhere to word limits. Recommendation letters by teachers and employers play crucial roles in admission and financial aid procedures.
A transcript is an official copy of a student's academic record, documenting courses successfully and unsuccessfully completed and is updated as grades are received. Universities often want this mailed directly from the current institute of study. Transcript envelopes must have attested photocopies of previous years' mark sheets signed by the registrar's office of the organisation on its letterhead. Madhavi Desai considers extra curricular activities an important indicator of the applicant's personal growth: "Majority of the universities look for applicants with a good academic background who are also involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities, as these are good indicators of an individual's emotional and social maturity." Resumes are not important for undergraduate programmes but necessary for those applying for graduate programmes as they give an overall view of your educational qualifications and work experience at a glance. The final form has to be very carefully done as no mistakes are allowed.
Once the visa is acquired the journey is all set to begin. Reading up about the place and getting acquainted with certain important customs and practices helps reduce the culture shock to a great extent.
For further assistance Madhavi Desai can be contacted at: inquiries@madhavidesai.com
Log onto www.madhavidesai.com for more information on studying abroad.
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At a glance
TOEFL/ TWE
Test of Written English (TWE), given with the TOEFL, examines a student's writing skill with a short essay on a given topic. The maximum score on a TWE is 6.0. The standard TOEFL format lasts for about 2 hours, and normally has 150 questions. There are three sections here consisting of multiple-choice questions, designed to measure English skills. They consist of Sections on Listening Comprehension, Structure and Written Expression and Reading Comprehension. The TOEFL test fee is US $110 and is valid for 2 years only. Explore www.toefl.org for more information.
TSE
Test of Spoken English (TSE) tests a student's ability to use English as a spoken language. Lasting 20 minutes, the test asks taped questions and responses are recorded. Recommended for all graduate students, institutes in the U.S. award teaching assistantships based on this score.
GRE/ AGRE/ GMAT/ LSAT
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) has three multiple-choice sections, Quantitative, Analytical and Verbal, and a essay section called the Writing Assessment. This cannot be retaken in the same calendar month as the previous test date. The Subject GRE is also known as the Advanced Graduate Record Examination (AGRE). You can register online or download the form from www.gre.org.
All MBA aspirants must take the GMAT test, which tests a candidate's verbal, mathematical and analytical skills and is available round the year. Refer to www.gmat.org. Administered by the Law School Admission Services, the LSAT test dates are generally in June, October, December and February. See www.home-lsat.com.
SAT
The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is for those applying for bachelor's degrees, valid for a period of 5 years. The SAT 2 test is an aptitude test that evaluates a student's knowledge on specific subjects. Each subject test is scored on a maximum of 800. See www.collegeboard.org.
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