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MS in Spring 2024? Here’s what you need to know! 

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MS in Spring 2024? Here’s what you need to know! 

If you are planning for the January 2024 intake, this blog will help you plan systematically to fulfill your dream of MS in the US. 

Before we get into the details, for those of you who are still on the fence about applying for the upcoming Spring semester because of the misinformation available online, the section below will allow you to confidently make your decision.

Should I Apply for the Spring Semester?

 Some common misconceptions: 

  • Spring enrolment is lower at most schools. Not really! Nearly all colleges and universities in the United States accept new students for the spring semester. The only caveat is that some universities only offer certain classes in the fall semester, so new students who enroll in the spring miss out. 

  • Financial aid is scarce. Again, this is not correct. Financial aid opportunities in the spring are comparable to those in the fall. Also, most universities only give financial aid to students who have already completed one semester with a very good GPA in the form of Research and Teaching Assistantships, tuition waivers, etc. (Grade Point Average). Accordingly, it makes little difference whether you enroll in the fall or spring semester.

Now that you are better informed, the timeline mentioned below will help you plan your entire application process.

What is the Best Time to Apply for the Spring Semester?

The optimal time to submit an application for the spring semester is between June and July of the preceding year. While many schools continue to accept applications through September, ensure that you confirm your specific program deadlines. 

Step by step guide to spring 2024 applications 

Here is the application schedule for the upcoming spring semester. The following instructions are universal and should be followed by all students applying for the spring intake. There’s no time to waste now, so hurry up and get to work.

February – March 2023 

  1. Review your goals for MS education and choose some specific areas in which you would like to specialize
  2. Register for the GRE and TOEFL/IELTS examinations – these examinations should preferably be taken by mid-June in order to have time to complete all of your online applications and courier the required documents by the end of July.
  3. Start preparing for GRE and TOEFL/IELTS, as it will take approximately 2-3 months to achieve your target score. 

April – May 2023

  1. Make a preliminary list of about 30 universities that meet your requirements considering:
    • Location
    • Costs
    • Broad specializations you are interested in
    • Recommendations by seniors your professors etc.
    • Whether your academic profile fits the university’s requirements.
  2. Arrange for 4 -5 sets of transcripts in sealed covers from your college or university – some universities insist on university transcripts
  3. Choose your recommenders (generally, 3 recommendations are required, at least one of which should be from the educational institute last attended) and give them the necessary details – resume, copies of your mark sheets etc.
  4. Start working on your Statement of Purpose (target date for completion 31 May 2023) and Resume

June-July 2023

  1. Take the GRE and TOEFL/IELTS exams latest by 20 July
  2. Carry out a comprehensive review of the 30 universities considering:
    • Your academic performance in the bachelor’s degree
    • GRE and TOEFL/IELTS scores of students admitted in the past
    • Any minimum cut-offs with respect to GRE and TOEFL/IELTS scores
    • Whether courses of your choice are offered in the spring semester
    • Cost of education
    • Complete your Statement of Purpose (SOP) and Resume
  3. Make your final shortlist of 8-10 universities.
  4. Request the ETS to forward your GRE and TOEFL scores (IDP for IELTS scores) to the universities you are applying to, specifying the correct codes for the universities/departments you are applying to.
  5. Complete the online application process and send the required documents by courier 

This completes the application process; however, there are further steps to be taken:

  1. Track the status of your application on your status page of the university’s website. Though universities generally communicate decisions or requirements by either e-mail or post, it may happen that the only source of information is your status page.
  2. If there are any deficiencies in your applications (missing documents, non-receipt of GRE or TOEFL/IELTS scores, recommendations etc.), act immediately to correct the deficiencies.
  3. When you receive an offer letter from the universities (or when an admission decision is indicated on your status page), email your acceptance. This is very important, especially when you are offered funding.
  4. When you have accepted the university’s offer of admission and the documentation formalities are complete, the university will send you the 1-20, an immigration document, which is essential for obtaining a visa.
  5. When you receive the I-20, check that it is correct in all respects:
    • Your name and date of birth should be exactly as in your passport
    • Your course and course duration are correctly specified
    • The financial sources indicated exceed the costs.
  6. Prepare the visa documentation
  7. Study the visa application formalities specified on the websites of the applicable US Consulate and the VFS (Visa Facilitation Services)
  8. Apply for a visa interview date – you can apply for a visa interview 120 days before the joining date mentioned on your I-20.

As India’s leading Study Abroad Consultants, we offer GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS coaching, GRE Self Prep and guide students with university selection, application essays, and visa counseling under our Admission Counseling Services for USA, Germany and UK. 

Contact us at 020-67444222 or email us at support@dilipoakacademy.com. 

Received Admission for Fall-2023. What Next?

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Students have been submitting their applications for fall 23 since October 2022. Even though many universities have deadlines until March 31, 2023, they begin processing applications on a first-come, first-served basis. As a result, students will begin receiving admissions offers in January 2023. By May 2023, all admissions decisions will be made.
If you have been accepted, you may be wondering what your next step should be after receiving admission to any university.
Let’s start with the types of acceptance that you can receive from a university.

Types of admissions:

a) In some cases, universities send an admission letter along with the I-20 form, an immigration document that is essential for obtaining a visa. This is the most convenient option for students. This type of acceptance also allows you to hold onto this letter of acceptance for some time while you await decisions from other universities. You can accept this admission and wait for offers from other universities.

b) You will receive an acceptance letter from the university, but the I-20 form will not be issued until after you have accepted the offer of admission. You can accept the offer of admission to be on the safe side, but the decision to join is still in your hands even after acceptance.

c) Some universities demand bank certificates before issuing the I-20. When you have accepted the university’s offer of admission and the documentation formalities, along with the financial documents, are complete, the university will send you the I-20. In that case,

  • Students will need to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds in their bank account (including savings and fixed deposits) to cover the annual fee.
  • The amount should be enough to cover two semesters of tuition fees in addition to a year’s worth of living expenses.
  • Funds are only required to be available on the date the certificate is issued. For this reason, many students borrow money from family and friends for a single day, then pay it back as soon as the bank issues the certificate.
  • It is recommended that students bring a bank certificate for an amount equal to the sum total of the most expensive university on their list of schools to which they have applied.
  • As you will have to send this letter to multiple universities, it is recommended that you obtain around eight copies of the bank certificates (which are valid for three months).
  • Students can also submit a letter of sanctioned education loan for the equivalent amount if he or she does not have the funds in his bank account to show. Loans are approved in principle. Such a letter is issued by a bank or non-banking financial institution (NBFC). The admission letter serves as a preliminary for loan approval.

d) Before sending an I-20 form, some universities require a non-refundable deposit as confirmation of admission. This is just another way of asking for a commitment from you. The required deposit amount can vary from USD 100 to USD 500.

  • If you aren’t confident that you want to enroll at that particular university, then you should hold off on making this payment.
  • However, some universities require this money to be paid by a certain date. In such cases, you can make payments if this university is one of your top and safest choices.

Now let’s talk about the funding.

Securing the funding:

Pursuing M.S. in the USA is often expensive, especially for international students, because unlike American citizens who pay in-state tuition fees, international students have to pay out-of-state tuition fees. For example, if the annual in-state tuition fee is $8,000, the out-of-state tuition fee can be as high as $20,000. These tuition fees are also dependent on the ranking and location of the university. Cost of education in US has also increased because of appreciation in USD value and increase in living cost due to inflation in the US. An average master’s degree from a decent university can cost between Rs. 35-45 lakhs.
Since the cost of education has increased, most students prefer to take out an education loan. Loans can be obtained from nationalized banks, private banks, cooperative banks, and private financial institutions. Rates of interest can range from 9–12%. (Nationalized banks tend to have a lower rate of interest compared to private institutions.) Female students can also benefit from a 0.5% discount on the rate of interest from a nationalized bank. To know more, read our detailed blog on this topic.

At Dilip Oak’s Academy, we provide detailed guidance on these processes under our Admission Counseling Services  that include, selection of universities, documentation process and visa counselling along with mock visa interviews. As India’s leading Study Abroad Consultants, we have helped more than 30,000 students to secure their dream-admits for various universities in America including MIT, Stanford, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon and other top-ranked universities.
We also offer GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS coaching, GRE Self Prep and guide students with university selection, application essays, and visa counseling under our Admission Counseling Services for USA, Germany and UK. To enroll, call us on 91-020-67444222, 91-8007878495.

It’s not too late to apply for fall 2023

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The United States is without a question every student’s first choice when thinking about studying abroad for master’s. To convert this dream into reality, many of you may have already started with your applications for the fall 2023 intake. Most universities began accepting applications in October. You might be thinking that it’s too late to apply for the fall of 2023 now that January has arrived. The good news for you, It’s not too late!

Let’s delve deeper into this topic.

  • Roughly 10% of the universities had their final deadlines on 31 December
  • Around 10% have their final deadlines on 31 Jan.
  • However, the majority (about 80%) of universities allow you to apply till March and some of them even accept applications till May.

Which means that you can still secure an admission in a good university even if you start with your applications now!

Why Fall 2023

Fall intake is usually the most preferred among Indian students and for good reasons

  • Fall intake offers a more diverse range of courses
  • Fall intake allows students a better access to funding
  • Many universities have waived of GRE requirement for Fall 2023
  • It also allows students to explore part-time on-campus job opportunities such as research assistant and teaching assistant
  • Probably the most important reason for the popularity of fall admissions is the higher availability of post-study work options for students who start their studies during fall

You must move quickly

Although most universities will still be accepting applications till march, you need to consider time required for documentation and university shortlisting. Documentation includes procuring transcripts, drafting SOPs, personal statements, diversity statements LORs and resumes. University shortlisting involves lot of research to select right universities according to your profile and interests. You also need to move quickly because even after securing an admission, securing a visa can be equally tedious considering you are already on a tight timeline.

We are here to help you

We at Dilip Oak’s academy are here to help you.

  • We are the best when it comes to admissions counselling. We will provide you with a well-balanced list of universities with safe as well as ambitious options, thus increasing your chances of admission.
  • We offer counselling for SOPs (statement of purpose), LORs (letters of recommendations) and resumes and help you prepare everything from personal statements to diversity statements
  • We also provide guidance for visa along with mock visa interviews

Dilip Oak’s academy can be your perfect guide into this often confusing admission process. We have been in this business since 1996 and we have more than 30,000 success stories to attest to our expertise in this field. Our counselors are experienced professionals who interact with every student personally to understand his/her unique requirements and provide guidance accordingly.

Best Wishes and Happy applying!!

As India’s leading Study Abroad Consultants, we offer GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS coaching, GRE Self Prep and guide students with university selection, application essays, and visa counseling under our Admission Counseling Services for USA, Germany and UK.

Is This the Best Time to Pursue a Master’s Degree in the US?

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With their impeccable quality of education, well-designed coursework and on-campus placement programs offered by the US universities, the US is one of the most sought destinations for higher education. Why US? (read blog). But the current uncertain economic scenario has posed many questions for these prospective graduate students, thus making it difficult for them to decide their future plans. Let us try to address these concerns:

Is the US on the verge of recession?

Recession alarms are being sounded in the US, predicting an economic downfall and, consequently, an increase in unemployment. According to statistical reports, in January 2022, the unemployment rate in America was 4%. which currently is 3.7%. In fact, it has been consistent in recent months, and the Fed is making efforts to ensure that it does not exceed 4%. More specifically, the tech unemployment rate is only 2.1%, indicating a continuous demand for technical skills. Technical jobs have always dominated the job market. So pursuing a graduate program to make yourself technically proficient will help you easily secure these job opportunities.

Layoff/Hiring freezes by tech giants:

This year has witnessed many layoffs and hiring freezes by companies like Facebook, Twitter etc., to implement cost-cutting. Marc Zuckerberg explained the reason for this extreme step in his message to the Meta employees. According to him, the online market had received a boost during the pandemic, and the surge was expected to continue. Consequently, huge investments were made; however, the returns were below expectations, thus resulting in economic losses. Moreover, various cost-cutting strategies implemented to combat these losses were inadequate, leading to downsizing and suspension of new hiring. Of course, the other companies could have a similar reasoning, but should this affect your decision to pursue a graduate program?

Even amidst these adverse circumstances, the available data shows that the aggregate demand for technical expertise is still strong enough to counterbalance the slowing economy. Nonetheless, this is the correct time to equip yourself with the latest skill set so you will have an edge over your peers when the scene changes.

Is there inflation in the US?

Post the 2008 recession, the US economy had revived within three years and continued performing well until the pandemic shook it again. However, it quickly revived within two years. But in mid-2021, the inflation rate started rising and was at its peak in June 2022, reaching 9.1%. As this was well above the targeted 2% inflation rate, the Fed is making desperate efforts to alleviate the inflation rate or ensure that it does not escalate. Interest rates have been increased to encourage the flow of capital, and manufacturing activities are being promoted. Consequently, the average annual inflation rate has stooped down to 7.7% in October, the lowest since Jan 2022. The recent data trends are definitely encouraging and indicate signs of improvement. (Optimistically, we believe it will soon change). More importantly, you will complete your program in 2 years, so making any hasty predictions about the future is not logically justified.

Now what?

So when this cloud of uncertainty is looming over our heads, how do we decide? As mentioned earlier, this would be the best time to pursue higher studies. On a more philosophical note, remember that change is the only thing constant in this universe. Indeed, we cannot predict the future, but we can prepare for it. One of the things that the pandemic has taught us is to be prepared for the unpredictable. Remember, amidst all these cyclical changes, highly skilled technical manpower will always be in demand. So, if your decisions are firm, take this calculated risk and pursue your dreams of studying in the US!

 As a trusted study abroad consultant for nearly three decades, Dilip Oak’s Academy will be with you through every step of your journey! Wishing you all the BEST!!!

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Top 5 Reasons to Pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in the USA

Dilip Oak's Academy

The last few years have seen an increasing number of Indian students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in America. This trend has been strengthened by the increasing economic power of families who now want their children to benefit from the high-quality education that is available in America. For this reason, many professionals and those in business or top corporate positions are now sending their children to join American bachelor’s programs.

This trend has been further boosted by the fact that even parents who are not financially very strong can still afford an American education because their children can get tuition waivers and scholarships if they have exceptional academic credentials and high scores in the SAT, ACT or AP exams.

But what else makes getting a bachelor’s degree in America a good choice?

Tough Competition in India

Getting admission to top-ranked Indian institutions like the IITs, BITS, and NITs is now even more difficult than it used to be. Around 10 lakh students appear for the entrance examinations for these institutions but, only 11,300 secure admissions to the IITs, 19,000 to the NITs and 380 to BITS. This amounts to a total of 30,000 students, which comes to hardly 3% of the total number of applicants. As a result, other intelligent and above-average students who often miss getting admission by very narrow margins have to take admission into local colleges which do not provide the same level of facilities as the elite institutions. Nevertheless, it is still possible for such students to get admission to even some of the best US universities which offer high educational standards and world-class facilities.

American Education can be Affordable

As mentioned above, students who get high SAT scores (more than 1400 out of 1600) and have good academic records in standards 9, 10, 11 and 12 (if available), can get tuition waivers and scholarships from good American universities. In addition, campus jobs as tour guides, library assistants, food court and front desk staff and other such positions pay enough to take care of living expenses. This makes education in America can be affordable.

Academic Flexibility

In India, you are required to select your desired branch of study (e.g. Mechanical, Electrical or, Computer Science) right at the beginning of your bachelor’s degree and then, you cannot change your field of study.  However, in the US, you are allowed to take general courses and study different subjects of your choice in the first one or two years. Then, in the second or third year, you can select your specialization from a broad range of programs. The initial exposure you gain in the first two years of your course allows you to make an informed decision regarding which specializations to take up. You can also take a dual degree, e.g. as an engineering student, you can also take economics as your minor and graduate with both the degrees, an advantage that you do not have in India.

Updated Courses and the State-of-the-art Labs

With curricula updated according to the latest trends in education and industry, US universities offer students excellent exposure. The courses focus on practical skills and in-depth application, and research labs are well-equipped. This means that graduates from American universities are always among the best-trained in the market which increases their chances of securing good jobs anywhere in the world.

To help you get started with your preparation, we offer SAT Coaching  and also Admission Counseling through which we provide guidance on selection of universities, application essays and visa counselling.

Our next SAT batch starts 8th January 2022. Enroll Now and get started with your prep!

Eligibility Requirements for MS and PhD programs in the USA

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MS and PhD programs in the USA

In order to pursue a MS and PhD programs in the USA, you need to meet the following academic and English language requirements:

Academic credentials:

A majority of American universities require you to have completed 16 years of education (12+4). So, complete a four-year Bachelor’s degree before applying for the master’s program. This is applicable for students from technical backgrounds like Engineering, Pharmacy, and Architecture. For non-technical fields like Arts and Management, students must complete 17 years of education (12+3+2).

A good GRE score:

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a standardized aptitude test that assesses a student’s verbal and mathematical ability. The GRE, which is scored out of 340, is an internet-based test and can be taken throughout the year. The score is valid for five years and a minimum score of 300 is strongly recommended.

The minimum required TOEFL or IELTS score:

Since our native language is not English, we need to show that we have the minimum required English language skills to pursue graduate programs in America. For this purpose, you can take the TOEFL, which is scored out of 120. Most good American universities require a score of 80+ in TOEFL. You can also take the IELTS, another English proficiency examination, which is scored on a scale of 9. Most universities require a band score of at least 6.5 in IELTS.

Explore our numerous blogs on GRE Quantitative Reasoning and GRE Verbal Reasoning and pursuing education in the USA.

Good academic performance:

Your academics are as important as your GRE score. To get admission in good MS and PhD programs, you should have a consistently good academic record in all four years of your degree course. As far as possible avoid backlogs and year-downs.

Curricular and co-curricular accomplishments:

When applying for MS and PhD programs in the USA, American universities give weightage to the projects and seminars you have done as part of your course. They also consider co-curricular activities such as the publication of papers in nationally and internationally recognized journals and participation in conferences. Take up internships, whether paid or unpaid, to gain practical experience and boost your profile.

Relevant work experience:

Relevant work experience increases your chances of getting admission to good universities and securing good jobs after you have completed your MS.

As India’s leading Study Abroad Consultant, Dilip Oak’s Academy offers a comprehensive suite of services, including GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS coaching, as well as GRE Self Prep. Furthermore, our admission counseling services can guide you through the entire process from Shortlisting Universities to Visa Counseling. With our expertise, we have successfully sent 32,000 students to various prestigious American universities like MIT, Stanford, Cornell, and Carnegie Mellon. To enroll in our comprehensive overseas education consultancy services, book a free consultation or call us at 91-20-67444222.

Advantages of Pursuing a Master’s degree in the USA

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Master’s degree in the USA

Here are top 7 reasons why you should pursue a Master’s degree in America:

Strong American economy:

America is the largest economy in the world, with a GDP of $ 23.32 trillion, which is 24% of the world GDP. For this reason, they have the capacity to absorb thousands of immigrants and offer those with good technical skills high paying jobs.

Shortage of technical manpower:

America is the world leader in technology for the past 100 years. Apart from engineering fields, IT giants like Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple have created vast employment opportunities, which is constantly generating the need for technically skilled resources. Since the available domestic manpower is insufficient, skilled immigrants will always be in great demand.

Updated university syllabi:

American universities keep updating their syllabi to keep pace with industry trends and the latest technologies. This enables their alumni to get good job opportunities all over the world.

Research-based education:

This is perhaps the most important reason why the American education system is so popular. Universities in America lay a strong emphasis on research. Most of their professors are constantly engaged in active research. Likewise, they encourage students also to take up the thesis option and carry out independent research during their programs of study. Their labs are also outfitted with the most advanced equipment and facilities. The overall exposure that students receive greatly builds up their practical skills.

Explore our numerous blogs on GRE Quantitative Reasoning and GRE Verbal Reasoning and pursuing education in the USA.

Scholarships and funding opportunities for your Master’s Degree:

American universities are non-profit organizations funded by the government and private donors. They offer financial assistance to students in the form of scholarships, Research, Teaching and Graduate Assistantships, tuition waivers, campus jobs and internships. This makes education in America very affordable.

No discrimination:

The American social system is unbiased. American universities and corporates welcome people of all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds. Hard working, intelligent and innovative students can prosper in the American corporate world. Good examples are Sunder Pichai and Satya Nadela.

Special quota for H-1B Visa:

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) students with a master’s degree have an additional quota of 20,000 for the H-1B visa (work permit) over and above the general quota of 65,000.

Considering all these benefits, we strongly recommend that students consider pursuing graduate degrees in the US.

As India’s leading Study Abroad Consultant, Dilip Oak’s Academy offers a comprehensive suite of admission counseling services that can guide you through the entire process from Shortlisting Universities to Visa Counseling. With our expertise, we have successfully sent 32,000 students to various prestigious American universities like MIT, Stanford, Cornell, and Carnegie Mellon. We also offer classroom and online coaching for GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS, as well as GRE Self Prep. To explore our services, book a free consultation or call us at 91-20-67444222.

Advantages of Pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in the USA

Dilip Oak's Academy

The last few years have seen an increasing number of Indian students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in America. This trend has been strengthened by the increasing economic power of families who now want their children to benefit from the high-quality education that is available in America. For this reason, many professionals and those in business or top corporate positions are now sending their children to join American bachelor’s programs.

This trend has been further boosted by the fact that even parents who are not financially very strong can still afford an American education because their children can get tuition waivers and scholarships if they have exceptional academic credentials and high scores in the SAT, ACT or AP exams.

But what else makes getting a bachelor’s degree in America a good choice?

Tough Competition in India

Getting admission to top-ranked Indian institutions like the IITs, BITS, and NITs is now even more difficult than it used to be. Around 10 lakh students appear for the entrance examinations for these institutions but, only 11,300 secure admissions to the IITs, 19,000 to the NITs and 380 to BITS. This amounts to a total of 30,000 students, which comes to hardly 3% of the total number of applicants. As a result, other intelligent and above-average students who often miss getting admission by very narrow margins have to take admission into local colleges which do not provide the same level of facilities as the elite institutions. Nevertheless, it is still possible for such students to get admission to even some of the best US universities which offer high educational standards and world-class facilities.

American Education can be Affordable

As mentioned above, students who get high SAT scores (more than 1400 out of 1600) and have good academic records in standards 9, 10, 11 and 12 (if available), can get tuition waivers and scholarships from good American universities. In addition, campus jobs as tour guides, library assistants, food court and front desk staff and other such positions pay enough to take care of living expenses. This makes education in America can be affordable.

Academic Flexibility

In India, you are required to select your desired branch of study (e.g. Mechanical, Electrical or, Computer Science) right at the beginning of your bachelor’s degree and then, you cannot change your field of study.  However, in the US, you are allowed to take general courses and study different subjects of your choice in the first one or two years. Then, in the second or third year, you can select your specialization from a broad range of programs. The initial exposure you gain in the first two years of your course allows you to make an informed decision regarding which specializations to take up. You can also take a dual degree, e.g. as an engineering student, you can also take economics as your minor and graduate with both the degrees, an advantage that you do not have in India.

Updated Courses and the State-of-the-art Labs

With curricula updated according to the latest trends in education and industry, US universities offer students excellent exposure. The courses focus on practical skills and in-depth application, and research labs are well-equipped. This means that graduates from American universities are always among the best-trained in the market which increases their chances of securing good jobs anywhere in the world.

To help you get started with your preparation, we offer SAT Coaching  and also Admission Counseling through which we provide guidance on selection of universities, application essays and visa counselling.

Specializations available in various Engineering streams for MS in the US

Dilip Oak's Academy

It’s time to gear up and start completing your applications if you are planning to pursue masters in the USA starting fall 2021. But before that, it is imperative to understand the various specializations your field of study offers and chose the right one. Every year, we come across a lot of students who are confused about specializations under various streams of engineering.

Here are a few things you should consider before choosing a specialization:

  • Your area of interest and long-term goal
  • Your technical background, skill set, work experience
  • Career prospects of your chosen area

Considering the above factors, here is a list of some of the most popular and recommended stream-wise specializations you can choose from to pursue MS:

Computer Science

  • Algorithms
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Cloud computing
  • Comp arch
  • Comp security
  • Databases Data mining
  • Embedded systems
  • Graphics
  • Human Computer Interaction
  • Image processing
  •  signal processing
  • Machine Learning
  • Natural Language Processing
  • Networking
  • Operating System
  • Parallel & distributed systems
  • Programming
  • Robotics
  • Software Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

  • Automobile
  • CAD/CAM
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Combustion
  • Control
  • Design
  • Dynamics
  • Energy
  • FEM
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Heat Transfer
  • Hybrid Vehicle
  • Manufacturing
  • Material
  • Mechatronics
  • Noise and Vibration
  • Robotics
  • Solid Mech
  • Thermal Fluids
  • Thermodynamics

Electrical Engineering

  • Artificial intelligence
  • Automation
  • Communication
  • Communication systems
  • Computer Architecture
  • Control Systems
  • Digital Signal Processing
  • Design
  • Electric Power
  • Embedded Systems
  • Energy Systems
  • Image processing
  • Machine Learning
  • Networking
  • Power Electronics
  • Power systems
    Robotics
  • Telecom
  • VLSI
  • Wireless communication

Industrial Engineering

  • Health care system
  • Human factor and ergonomics
  • Logistics
  • Manufacturing systems
  • Operations Research
  • Production
  • Quality and Reliability
  • Supply chain management
  • Systems
  • Transportation

Civil Engineering

  • Construction engineering
  • Fire protection engineering
  • Geo-technical engineering
  • Hazardous materials management
  • Hydraulics
  • Structural engineering
  • Surveying science and engineering
  • Transportation and highway engineering
  • Water resource engineering

 

 

 

7% country cap on green cards likely to be removed; great benefit to Indians students and H1-B visa holders

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Untitled design (1)

Following the US presidential elections, a major turnaround of events has taken place in favor of Indian students and immigrants with the new bill passed by the US Senate last Wednesday, December 2, 2020. The bill eliminates the 7% per country cap on the employment-based immigrant visa (EB-2 and EB -3 categories) green cards. The bill has proved to be a huge relief for Indian immigrants stuck in the green card backlog for years.

Every year, the US grants more than a million green cards for the following types:

  1. Family-sponsored Green cards: This type of Green Card is given only to immediate family, such as spouses, children, siblings, or parents of a US citizen or a US permanent resident.
  2. Employment sponsored Green cards: This Green Card is given to you if you have found a job in the US and your employer is going to pay for the forms and application procedure and sponsor your stay in the US.
  3. Returning resident Green Card: This Green Card is for those who previously had a Green Card but travelled outside of the US and did not come back for more than one year for unavoidable reasons.
  4. Diversity Visa Green Card: Every year the US holds a visa lottery for citizens of countries with low immigration rates to the US.

The employment sponsored green cards are further categorized into the following types:

  1. EB-1: Employment-based first preference, priority workers with a 40,040-annual cap.
  2. EB-2: Employment-based second preference, professionals with 40,040 workers with offers of employment in jobs requiring an advanced degree or higher.
  3. EB-3: Employment-based third preference, skilled workers: 40,040 workers with offers of employment in jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree and skilled workers with at least two years of experience.
  4. EB-4: Employment-based fourth preference, special immigrants: 9,940 religious’ workers, broadcasters, US government and military employees, and abandoned juveniles.
  5. EB-5: Employment-based fifth preference, investors: 9,940 foreign investors who made investments in a new commercial enterprise in the United States.

Out of these, the EB-2 and EB-3 visas apply to students pursuing masters and bachelor’s degrees in the US. Every year, as the number of applicants for green cards kept increasing, the backlogs also kept accumulating due to the 7% country cap.

As of November 2019, the backlog for EB-2 and EB-3 green card applications for India is a whopping 706,097 and only around 8000 green cards are being cleared annually because of the 7% country cap. Considering these figures, it might take 89 years to clear this backlog. As of December 2020, EB-2 applications up to 15th May 2011 and EB-3, applications up to 1st January 2014 have been cleared.

But there are chances that the clearance process for these backlogs will now accelerate if the 7% country cap is removed, and the number of green cards cleared annually will increase from only 8000 to 1,40,000, thereby benefiting H1-B visa holders and aspiring students.

However, even if the Senate has passed the bill, the chambers must reconcile their differences before the bill goes to the president. It is not yet clear whether President Trump would sign the bill into law, as the White House has previously expressed opposition to the concept of removing per-country caps and anti-immigration groups are publicly opposing the bill.

 

Impact of COVID-19 on American universities & admissions: An overview by SUNY Binghamton

Dilip Oak's Academy

IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES & ADMISSIONS (1)

Last week, Dilip Oak’s Academy conducted a webinar on the current scenario in American universities, the impact of COVID-19 on admissions for Master’s degree, and funding opportunities in the USA. The webinar was presided over by Maggie Wolford, director of graduate admissions and recruitment, SUNY Binghamton. Here is an overview of her valuable insights into the scenario in America concerning several important pointers viz.:

  1. Location: Universities in the major cities like San Francisco, Chicago and New York have been more affected by the pandemic as compared to those in remote areas, like SUNY Binghamton, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, University of Oklahoma, Norman, etc.
  2. Financial impact: High class, Tier 1 research universities (those offering STEM courses) can sustain the effects of the pandemic, but liberal arts and other smaller universities have incurred significant losses.
  3. Factors for resuming in-person instruction: Universities will decide whether to start the in-person instruction soon or wait, depending upon the number of COVID cases in the area, cost of testing, and testing policies. (whether they have compulsory testing, voluntary testing, or symptomatic testing, and the budget for each)
  4. Spring semester schedule: The majority of the universities are quite likely to push their spring semester start dates. Usually, the spring semester commences in January, but universities might extend it to February. In that case, students will have extra time for project completion, but their holidays will be reduced.
  5. Impact on funding: Due to online instruction, positions for Teaching Assistantships are likely to reduce. Research Assistantships will also depend upon whether the university is funded by the government or by private agencies. Government funding has been reduced significantly for other fields, but a few like Supply Chain Management and Healthcare Management will still receive enough funding. Graduate Assistantships won’t be affected since university jobs like web page development, networking, etc. will continue.
  6. Impact on CPT and internships: CPT is activated only after completing two on-campus semesters. If you join in the spring semester, you cannot work on the CPT in summer. In that case, you can utilize the time for summer courses and graduate early, or take campus paid internships which don’t require CPT. For example, lab assistant jobs, office jobs, admin jobs, etc. You can also take up certification courses free of cost, which will add to your résumé.
  7. Impact on admissions: Presently, the examination system all over the world has been disturbed due to the pandemic. Many universities have waived the GRE requirement, and they are accepting unofficial transcripts as well. But the situation will remain uncertain for a few more months.

For the full webinar, you can visit our YouTube channel:

and subscribe to it for regular updates and videos on higher education in America.

For detailed guidance on higher education in America, Canada and Germany and assistance on university selection, drafting SOPs and LORs, join our admission counseling today!

 

 

 

 

15 cheapest and 15 most expensive American universities for international students

Dilip Oak's Academy

 

cheapest & costliest American universities

Pursuing M.S. in the USA is often expensive, especially for international students because unlike American citizens who pay in-state tuition fees, international students have to pay full tuition fees. For example, if an annual in-state tuition fee is $8000, an out-of-state tuition fee can be as high as $20,000. These tuition fees are also dependent on the ranking of the university. US universities are given rankings by certain private agencies like the US News, Princeton Review, etc. and as a thumb rule, the higher the ranking, the costlier is the university. Generally, state-funded universities are cheaper than private universities. Of course, there are certain exceptions to this.  However, just because the universities are cheaper, it does not mean they do not offer quality education.

Taking all these factors into consideration, at Dilip Oak’s Academy, we have shortlisted around 150 accredited universities which offer quality education and also offer good job opportunities.

Below is a list of the 15 most expensive and the 15 cheapest universities you can apply to, for pursuing a master’s degree program in the USA. The list is based only on tuition fees for fall 2020 and is not inclusive of living expenses because the living expenses mentioned on the I-20 form are on the higher side and the actual living expenses are less than that.

15 cheapest universities

SR.NO                Name of University State Code Tuition Fees
1 Minnesota State University MN 7424
2 University of Central Missouri MO 8697
3 South Dakota State University – Brookings SD 8876
4 University of South Dakota SD 10330
5 University of Texas – El Paso TX 10664
6 Brigham Young University UT 11160
7 Bowling Green State University OH 11611
8 Sam Houston State University TX 11630
9 North Western Polytechnic University IL 12150
10 Indiana State University – Terre Haute IN 12260
11 University of Wyoming – Laramie WY 12566
12 Texas A and M University – Kingsville TX 12839
16 University of Arkansas-Littlerock AR 13320
13 Arkansas State University AR 13500
14 Wright State University-Dayton OH 13800
17 California State University-Long Beach CA 14568
15 Central Michigan University MI 15300

15 most expensive universities

SR.NO                Name of University State Code Tuition Fees
1 Columbia University NY 58656
2 North Western University – Evanston IL 56067
3 Dartmouth College NH 55605
4 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute NY 53757
5 Johns Hopkins University MD 52170
6 University of Michigan – Ann Arbor MI 50326
7 Boston University MA 49886
8 Carnegie Mellon University PA 49372
9 Brown University RI 49146
10 Duke University NC 49080
11 Cornell University NY 48900
12 New York University NY 45426
13 University of Pennsylvania PA 44814
14 University of Rochester NY 44608
15 University of Southern California CA 46948

For more guidance on university selection and admission process, enroll for our expert admission counseling today!