Indian students applying to a foreign university have to take exams to certify that they have the required basic minimum skills in English. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are the two leading tests for this purpose.
This post gives you links to some of the most important information about these two tests of English proficiency published earlier on this blog. Take a look. You may find answers to questions you have been waiting to ask.
- Some students want to apply for admission to a German university. Some to a British or, Canadian one. Some to a combination of American and other universities. So, which exam should you take? If you are confused, find out here: IELTS or TOEFL – Which Exam Should I Take?
- TOEFL and IELTS: Which Test is Easier? What is the pattern, what are the challenges, what are the skills required – and does it really make a difference? This blog explains it all.
- Though it shouldn’t happen, it sometimes does: you get less than the minimum TOEFL/IELTS score required by your university. So, is that the end of the road? Do you have to give up your dream of education in a foreign university? Or is there still some chance of studying abroad? ‘What Happens if I Get a Low Score in the TOEFL or IELTS?‘ discusses that dreaded possibility and what to do about it. The good news is that there is still hope.
- Have you been looking for good resources for free study material on the TOEFL – and did you know that there are free resources from the maker of the test? TOEFL Prep – Nice Resources at toeflgoanywhere.com gives you the details.
- If you have decided to give the TOEFL exam, then how do you proceed? Click on the following link and read on: The TOEFL iBT: Registering, Rescheduling, Canceling – Get All the Details Here!
- If you are applying to a number of universities then you may need extra score reports. But how to get them? If you want to know, read: TOEFL iBT: Additional Score Reports – Find Out How to Get Them!
- Tips from Adheesh Gokhale (GRE Score: 338/340) – working student: Admitted to State University of New York, Stony Brook (fall 2013), Master’s in Computer Science
- Tips from Ashwin Ranna (GRE Score: 337/340): Admitted to Carnegie Mellon (fall 2013), PhD in Environmental Engineering
- Tips from Tanmay Gurjar (GRE Score: 335/340): Admitted to University of Texas, Austin (fall 2013), Master’s in Mechanical Engineering
- Tips from Debanjana Nayak (GRE Score: 330/340) – working student
- Tips from Rasika Joshi (GRE Score: 325/340): Admitted to Wisconsin Madison (fall 2012), MS-PhD (Electrical Engineering)
Tips from the Academy (for our students)
Gathered together here are some useful links that will help you get prepared for that all-important exam!
Reading Comprehension
Data Sufficiency
Read these blogs and never get confused about Data Sufficiency questions on the GMAT again:
- The Importance of DS Questions in GMAT
- A Few Great Tips on How to Solve GMAT DS Questions
- Tackle Options in GMAT DS Questions the Dilip Oak’s Academy Way
Integrated Reassoning
Wondering what Integrated Reasoning is and why it was introduced? Find out with these simple explanations.
Analytical Writing Helps
Problems with writing good essays in English affect almost everyone. Here are some important links on cutting out the mistakes that pull you down.
- Hypergrammar from Ottowa UniversityFind out about:
– what kind of sentences work best in formal writing assignments such as essays
– the purpose of different types of sentences
– the importance of sentence structure - Purdue’s Online Writing Lab (OWL)
Find out about:
– how to how to move smoothly from one paragraph to another by using transition words and phrases effectively
– tips on how to improve sentence clarity through using parallel constructions, transition phrases, clear pronoun references and other grammatical devices
– when to use capital letters and when to go with small case:
– making sure you don’t confuse your a’s, an’s and the’s:
– advice on proper subject-verb agreement
Do You Have Any Idea of How You Are Going to Pay for Your American Degree?
Funding for your education in the United States is an important issue. Costs can range from Rs. 20 to 40 lakhs. Where is all that money going to come from?
If you’ve been wondering about that crucial question, here are two links that will help you. You don’t have to be super rich to get your master’s or a PhD from the States, nor do you have to have an uncle with a Swiss Bank account! The universities themselves will help you and so will others. Find out how with these two really important links:
The US government issues more than 30 different types of visa. For example, tourists and business-men are issued B-1 or B-2 visas and those authorized to work in US are given an H-1B visa. Students going for vocational courses, such as, in flying schools or English language courses get an M-1 visa. However, most students require an F-1 visa stamp.
This is the most commonly issued type of visa for students going to an accredited university for a full-time academic program lasting for one or more years.
Students are allowed to apply for the F-1 visa 120 days before the date of reporting mentioned on their I-20 form. The I-20 form is an official document issued by the University on behalf of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The following important details are mentioned in the document:
- the name and passport number of the student
- the name of the university which the student is joining
- the program to which the student has been admitted
- the date of commencement of the program
- the date by which the program has to be completed
- the total cost of education for one year.
The fall 2012 semester will begin sometime in the third week of August. So, if you plan to join an American university this fall, you can start applying for your visa from the third week of April.
Keep in mind that you should have adequate liquid funds to cover the total cost of one year of education – this is mentioned in the I-20 form. Many students are under the wrong impression that their sponsor needs to deposit this entire amount in the bank and that otherwise their visa can be rejected. This is not true. Funds can be shown in the form of bank deposits, shares, mutual funds, provident fund etc. Even education loans of up to Rs. 20 lakhs are also permitted. Of course, having adequate funds alone does not guarantee a visa approval. The consulate officer also considers the following points:
- whether you have admission to an accredited and reputed university
- whether your academic background is good
- whether your GRE score is satisfactory
- whether your sponsor’s income is adequate
But the more important factor is you should have good communication skills and should be able to give convincing and honest answers to the consulate officer’s questions.
Most students show their parents as their sponsors. If this is not possible, they can show support from any other family member e.g. their brothers or sisters, their grandparents, either individually or as co-sponsors with their parents.
Sponsorship can also be taken from other immediate relatives, like uncles and aunts, provided their financial position is very sound and their income level is high.
Start preparing your financial documents now and apply for an F-1 visa as soon as you get your I-20 form from the university you desire to attend.
All the best as you prepare for this crucial part of the application process – and if you need help, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Related Links
Basics of the Student (F-1 visa) Simply Explained
Other Application Documents: