Fall 2023 Pre-departure Orientation

June 30, 2023June 30, 2023Dilip Oak's Academy

*A glimpse of the Fall 2019 Pre-departure Orientation*

Dilip Oak’s Academy’s annual Pre-Departure Orientation is back for all students joining American and Canadian universities in the fall of 2023. This is your best opportunity to get all of your questions answered, learn about student life in the US, and connect with other students enrolling in the same university.

18th June 2023

Siddhi Banquet Hall

DP Road, Near Mhatre Bridge, Erandwane, Pune 411004

This session is open to all students joining US and Canadian universities for Fall 2023

Parents are strongly advised to attend

Conducted by Mr. Dilip Oak himself, this session will clear all your doubts regarding:

Pre-Departure: Forex Regulations, Medical Checks and Immunization, Insurance and Port of Entry Procedure
Life in the US: Campus Tips, Accommodation and Jobs after MS

Additionally, you’ll be able to arrange shared housing and coordinate travel with other students who are enrolling at the same university!

Also receive a free copy of “Get Set Go”, a guide on studying in the USA by Mr. Dilip Oak!

Event Chief Guests

Jennifer Gruber (Associate Vice-president)
California State University, Chico

Dr. Seema Sehrawat (Chief of Staff)
California State University, Chico

Session Timings

As the capacity of the venue is only 1,400 pax, we have split the program into two groups based on alphabetical order. Find details of which session to attend below:

Group 1 (Timing: 8:30 am to 10:30 am)

Students joining universities with names ranging from A to S (e.g. Arizona State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, San Diego State University)

Group 2 (Timing: 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm)

Students joining universities with names ranging from T to Z (e.g. Texas Tech University)

Entry-Passes for the Event

Students are expected to collect entry passes for themselves and their parents from the Academy.

Collect passes for event at the Academy between 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

If you are unable to collect the entry pass before 18th June, click HERE to fill up the required form and carry the same along with you on the day of the orientation at least 45 minutes before the program.

Prerequisites to Obtain the Entry Pass

Admission Centre and Visa Counseling Students
Produce your Academy I-card (compulsory) and a photocopy of the I-20 form.
All Other Fall 2023 Students
Produce a photocopy of the I-20 form, or
stamped F1 visa, or
the admission letter from the university (in case you have not received the I-20 form/visa).

FREE seminars on bachelor’s and master’s in America!

Along with the Pre-departure Orientation, we have also organized FREE seminars on bachelor’s and master’s in America! Those aspiring to study in the USA, this seminar is the right place for you to get complete information about studying abroad.

18th June 2023 at Siddhi Banquet Hall DP Road, Near Mhatre Bridge, Erandwane, Pune 411004

11:30 AM( English and Marathi)

6:30 PM (English)

This seminar will cover

Present status of the American economy and job opportunities
Funding your education
Prerequisite examinations
Application timeline

Book your seat Here

Please share this information with all your friends.

Prior registration is mandatory.

See you there!

1000 Students Of Dilip Oak’s Academy Set To Go To America For Higher Studies

June 29, 2023June 30, 2023Dilip Oak's Academy

Like every year, Dilip Oak’s Academy, in association with HDFC Credila, conducted the Pre-Departure Orientation for students joining US universities in August 2023 (Fall semester) for bachelor’s and master’s degrees. This event is one of the largest of its kind in India and has been conducted since 1996.

The event was held in two sessions at Siddhi Banquet Hall and was attended by an audience of around 1500, including students and parents. Dr. Jennifer Gruber, Associate Vice-President; Dr. Seema Sehrawat, Chief of Staff, both from California State University Chico and Ms. Sarika Oak, Director (Operations) Udemy, San Francisco, graced the event as chief guests.

Mr. Oak gave crucial information on things to do before traveling to the US, like medical checks, immunization requirements, insurance and foreign exchange regulation.

Mr. Oak explained that the overall unemployment rate in America is all-time low, i.e., 3.6% and the tech unemployment rate is only 2% in May 2023, suggesting that demand for tech professionals remains.

He further added that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the U.S. will need over 1 million more tech professionals over the next decade. While some large IT companies may have experienced some job losses in recent years, there are still many opportunities for employment in midsize and small IT companies. Moreover, jobs in the non-IT field like engineering, architecture, and finance are not affected at all.

Sarika Oak threw light on campus life, accommodation and security, and important documentation like Social Security Number. She also discussed how to get financial assistance, including campus jobs and job opportunities, after completing the degree. She urged students to be proactive and focus on opportunities that would make them well-rounded, work-ready employees. She emphasized that relationships and networks are important in securing internships and jobs, so students should make friends beyond the Indian community.

Dr. Gruber and Dr. Sehrawat also pointed out that students engage in campus life, make friends beyond the Indian community, and explore student clubs and leadership opportunities. Students should take advantage of the different on-campus employment.

Both students and parents were greatly impressed by the program. Mrs. Geeta Velankar added, “The guidance given was very professional and comprehensive, covering all aspects from settling down in the university, finding housing, and even landing a job. Now, I can rest assured that studying in an American university far away from home will not be a struggle for my child.”

Sameer Bhuvaji said, “Before the orientation, we thought spending such large sums of money on our children’s education was a big gamble. But, Mr. Oak and the university representatives assured us that our children would have good job prospects in America after their studies. So now, we see the money spent on their education as an investment.”

Academy student Sharvari Joshi shared, “I got assistance from the academy regarding the selection of universities, drafting of Statement of Purpose and visa interview. The entire process was seamless, and due to Oak sir’s guidance, I secured admission from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, for Mechanical Engineering.

Informative Seminars Receive Overwhelming Response

Along with the Pre-Departure Orientation, the academy conducted two free seminars on Masters’s education in America. Both seminars received great responses from around 1600+ students and parents.

In the master’s seminar, Mr. Oak highlighted the trending specializations for Computer Science, especially Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Cyber Security, Robotics and Data Science. Also, engineering fields like Mechanical, Electrical, Civil and Bio-Medical have very good job opportunities.

At Dilip Oak’s Academy, We provide detailed guidance on these processes under our Admission Counseling Services, including a selection of universities, documentation process and visa counseling, and mock visa interviews. In addition, 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

Fall 2022 Pre-departure Orientation

May 25, 2022December 23, 2022Dilip Oak's Academy

For all the students joining various American and Canadian universities in Fall 2022 – our mega event is back: Dilip Oak’s Academy’s yearly Pre-Departure Orientation, your best chance to clear all your doubts, gain insights on student-life in the US and meet other students joining the same university.

19th June 2022

Siddhi Banquet Hall

DP Road, Near Mhatre Bridge, Erandwane, Pune 411004

This session is open to all students joining US and Canadian universities for Fall 2022

Parents are strongly advised to attend

Conducted by Mr. Dilip Oak himself, this session will clear all your doubts regarding:

Pre-Departure: Forex Regulations, Medical Checks and Immunization, Insurance and Port of Entry Procedure
Life in the US: Campus Tips, Accommodation and Jobs after MS

You will also be able to make joint travel plans and secure shared accommodation with other students joining the same university!

Also receive a free copy of “Get Set Go”, a guide on studying in the USA by Mr. Dilip Oak!

Event Chief Guests

Dr. Seema Sehrawat (Associate Dean)
Jennifer Gruber (Associate Vice-president)
California State University, Chico

Session Timings

As the capacity of the venue is only 1,400 pax, we have split the program into two groups based on alphabetical order. Find details of which session to attend below:

Group 1 (Timing: 8:30 am to 10:30 am)

Students joining universities with names ranging from A to S (e.g. Arizona State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, San Diego State University)

Group 2 (Timing: 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm)

Students joining universities with names ranging from T to Z (e.g. Texas Tech University)

Entry-Passes for the Event

Students are expected to collect entry passes for themselves and their parents from the Academy. A maximum of two passes for parents will be issued.

Collect passes for event at the Academy between 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

If you are unable to collect the entry pass before 19th June, click HERE to fill up the required form and carry the same along with you on the day of the orientation at least 45 minutes before the program.

Prerequisites to Obtain the Entry Pass

Admission Centre and Visa Counseling Students
Produce your Academy I-card (compulsory) and a photocopy of the I-20 form.
All Other Fall 2022Students
Produce a photocopy of the I-20 form, or
stamped F1 visa, or
the admission letter from the university (in case you have not received the I-20 form/visa).

Seminar on “Opportunities for Bachelor’s in America”: 19th June, 11:30 am, Register

Seminar on “Opportunities for Master’s in America”: 19th June,6:30 pm, Register

See you there!

Have you Met our Roommate Finder!

March 20, 2015March 6, 2023Dilip Oak's Academy

Living in a foreign country can be both exhilarating and daunting. So can finding the ‘perfect’ roommate.

Anyone who plans to do an ‘MS in US’ has to stay away from family and venture out on their own; and most of you will have come a ton across of horror stories about staying with complete strangers. Differences over how to arrange the apartment, food preferences, keeping different hours or even a sharing a bathroom can turn your dream of studying in America pretty sour! What may not have been significant when you lived with your family may become huge issues when you start sharing living space with others. So, maybe this will sound like advice for someone who is looking for a life partner rather than just a room partner but remember you are going to be sharing cooking, washing up and even laundry duties with that person (or those people). You are going to have to make arrangements to pay the rent and other bills and to share the keys – if that’s not like being married then what is? So, you have to make up your mind about what you are looking for in someone you are probably going to see, be with and work with almost every single day of your stay in the United States.

Do you simply need someone to help pay the bills or are you looking for someone you could be comfortable just being with as well? Would you like to work together with your roommates on cooking and washing and laundry or would you prefer that everyone made their own independent arrangements. Are you the social, friendly, partying type who would like to invite friends over for get-togethers on weekends? Or are you more of a reclusive loner who would prefer others to respect his or her privacy? And so, for example, would you like your roommates to welcome social ‘invasions’ or strongly resist them.

Even if you are the more gregarious type, remember that your new-found roommates may not automatically become your new best friends; people come with their own social circles ‘pre-loaded’. So, if you expect to immediately integrate into the social life of your roomies, you may end up feeling shut out for a while. Conversely some lifelong friendships begin when people started sharing a room, and you too might discover that meeting your roommate was one of the best things that ever happened to you.

On another note, you also need to find good accommodation. You are going to a foreign land, but you can still use your common sense to sniff out and avoid bad options. Here’s a simple pointer: if something seems too good to be true it usually is. Be especially careful if:

An ad quotes rates that seem too low for the area and the standard shown in the photos.
The landlord tries to get you to pay before you have seen anything (they may sometimes claim that they can’t show you the place but you have to pay if you want to seal the deal – in such cases, just say, “No thanks!”).

But as they say, joys are doubled and sorrows halved when you share them with friends – or roommates! A fresh, completely free and, very importantly, safe way of finding a room or roommate is Dilip Oak Academy’s Roommate Finder. This feature will help you find other students who are already in your desired US University or who are headed there.

Here’s how it works: if you are a signed up member of Dilip Oak’s Academy Online, all it requires is that you update your application status. Once you’ve done that, the names of other students going to the same university as you are will automatically be updated on your Roommate Finder page. Then, just hit the contact button.

If you’re not a member then, joining up is free and easy – it just takes a minute or two – and then you will be able to find roommates.

Remember, Dilip Oaks Academy Online is free to join! So, tell all your friends who are applying for an ‘MS in US’ to join and update their admission updates. The more people join, the more everybody benefits! But, even now there are enough folks like you signed up with us to make this feature a big help to you!

Dilip Oak’s Academy – Roommate Finder for the Spring 2015 Semester

November 28, 2014March 6, 2023Dilip Oak's Academy

So, you’ve got the admission news you were waiting for: your coveted admission for an ‘MS in US’ is confirmed. You’re scheduled to join your American university in the spring 2015 semester – and now it’s time to book airline tickets and start thinking about travel plans and accommodation.

One problem, however, is contacting senior students who are already in your desired US university, so you can arrange for a pickup and drop from the airport and some temporary accommodation. Another is finding other students who are heading to your US university, so you can choose room-mates and make joint travel plans.

So, here’s one more thing that Dilip Oak’s Academy is doing to make finding travel and room companions easier for you through Dilip Oaks Academy Online. We call it our Roommate Finder and it will help you locate and coordinate with other students joining the same university.

If you’re not a member then, joining up is free and easy – it just takes a minute or two – and then you will be able to find roommates as explained above, AND explore all the other cool features that Dilip Oak’s Academy Online has to offer!

US University Information and Document Checklists
Question & Answer Forum
University Applications Tracker
Full-length Online GRE Practice Tests

P.S. we love your feedback, so let us know how we are doing at: support@dilipoakacademy.com

Pre Departure Orientation For Spring 2015 Semester

November 10, 2014February 27, 2023Dilip Oak's Academy

Congratulations! You’ve secured admission to an American university – and you’re rightly thrilled. But do you know all the formalities you have to go through in order to get there? And, even if you have thought about them a bit, do you know all the details relating to the important matters below?

• the student (F1) visa
• foreign exchange
• airport formalities (port of entry/immigration procedures)
• insurance
• medical checkups & immunizations
• initial formalities in the university
• accommodation (on- & off – campus)
• financial and other formalities for the first semester of studies

If you don’t know about these, then you need to find out because they are all a part of the next stage in getting to your university in America. There’s a lot to take care of, it’s all complex and crucial – and if you are a first time traveller it’s all going to be very new and confusing. You know that mistakes will mean headaches, delays and increased costs you can’t afford; and you know that there’s only one way to do this: that is to get things right from the start.

Worried? Don’t be. We have an excellent solution for you – Our Pre-Departure Orientation Program for students planning to join American universities for the spring 2015 semester. In this program Mr. Oak, with his decades-long experience in the field, will guide you through the complexities of going to America. The program has been organized just to make your journey to your American university smooth and hassle-free.

What are the other benefits of attending?

But that’s not all.
1. In addition to the orientation, you will be given ‘Get Set to Go’, a booklet written by Mr. Dilip Oak, which explains all these matters in detail – so you have a written guide to go back to any time you have a doubt.
2. You will also get an excellent opportunity to connect with other students going to your university – at the end of the program we form groups of students joining the same university so that you can make joint travel plans and staying arrangements at the university.
3. Finally , we will also provide contact details of seniors studying at your university so that you can contact them in advance and:

a. make temporary housing arrangements
b. schedule airport pick-up and
c. help you cope with the initial settling process

Who can attend?

Please note that the Pre-departure Orientation is only for those students (and parents of students) who have received confirmed admission to American universities for the spring 2015 semester. So, in order to get passes for the program, you must show the I-20 form issued by your university (or your stamped F1 visa).

When and where is the Orientation?

Date: Sunday, 23rd November 2014

Time: 10:00 am.

Venue:

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan School Auditorium,
Opp. J.W. Marriott, Off Senapati Bapat Road,
Pune 411016

PLEASE NOTE: SEATS ARE LIMITED.

COLLECT YOUR ENTRY PASS FROM THE ACADEMY SOON.

GRE News: ETS Opens Customer Support Centers in India

October 26, 2013February 27, 2023Dilip Oak's Academy

Here’s an additional bit of good news for GRE test takers in India. The growing number of students taking the GRE® test in this country has pushed the GRE Program to open customer support centers here.

According to the ETS, the new GRE Customer Service Centers will “provide guidance and information for individuals preparing or planning to take the GRE® revised General Test or GRE® Subject Tests. Information about test preparation materials, test centers and dates, score reports and other test-related inquiries can be answered by call center staff.”

The ETS adds that India Indian students, “may call the new GRE Customer Support Center toll-free at 000-800-100-4072, Monday–Friday from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. IST. In addition, inquiries can be sent via email toGRESupport4India@ets.org.”

This should make registering for, scheduling and cancelling the test much easier for students.

Related:

Why You should Join the LinkedIn Student Portal

October 15, 2013February 27, 2023Dilip Oak's Academy

According to LinkedIn about 200,000 college students join every month. As a result, companies are realizing that it makes sense to use the site to recruit interns and entry-level employees. Thus, when you join LinkedIn you become part of a network that Human Resource professionals in various organizations regularly scan for potential employees. The advantage is that companies search for recruits on LinkedIn even when recruits are not searching for them. (This is what is called ‘passively’ searching for a job.)

But keep in mind that people are more likely to check you out as a prospective employee if your profile is complete. (Recommendations are a key part of a complete profile, so make sure that you ask your professors and others whom you have worked with to endorse you.) Having a complete LinkedIn profile may get you a much coveted internship. So, make it your goal to have an updated LinkedIn profile even during your master’s studies. It will help bring you to the notice of potential employers.

But, the great news is that LinkedIn has a student portal which will help you in a number of other ways:

Continue reading →

We Are Now On Facebook & Twitter! (Read: Getting Important News Updates Just Got Easier)

October 5, 2013March 6, 2023Dilip Oak's Academy

OK, let’s get to the point. We are now on Facebook, and Twitter!

We monitor news and trends coming from American Universities, and ETS. So just follow us on Facebook or Twitter and you will get all the important blog updates, new product launch information, latest trends and news directly delivered into your favorite social stream.

Note, we hate spam just as much as you do so we’re not going email you every time we post something new. There is better way to follow all the latest news and trends, and the general consensus is it’s Facebook or Twitter!

So don’t wait. Start following now!

Thanks,

Team Social @ Dilip Oaks Academy

7 Cool Services on DOA Online that will Give You an Edge in Applying for US Universities

April 10, 2013March 6, 2023Dilip Oak's Academy

Announcing the ‘Best Online Tool for Applying for an MS in the US’!

Here’s some terrific news for all of you who are applying for admission to US universities” – Dilip Oak’s Online, a fantastic resource launched by Dilip Oak’s Academy puts vital help at your fingertips.

Here’s a peek at what makes it so cool:

US University Information and Document Checklist Feature – an invaluable list of the departments and courses available in the top 220 universities; included is a checklist to help you keep track of which application documents you have or need – get a check list for every university you apply to. This is a treasure trove of information all conveniently collected in one place! (Read more below)
Question & Answer Forum – a community of advisers that you can turn to and clarify all your doubts relating to the admissions process for American universities (Read more below).
Application Tracker – a handy app that allows you to monitor the status of your applications (going to apply, applied, admitted…) for every university – view the status of all universities on one convenient page (Read more below).
Full-length Online GRE Practice Tests in the Revised Pattern – 4 are already available!
Dilip Oak’s Blog – important news, advice and updates on standardized tests and student meets along with inputs from our past students and professionals in various fields – right on this site!

More exciting features are also coming soon:

Online Admission Center Services – expert personalized guidance for every aspect of the admission process (Read more below)
Visa Tips – help to tackle the last and most important obstacle – the visa interview! (Read more below)