study abroad

Fall 2022 Pre-departure Orientation

Dilip Oak's Academy
A glimpse of the Fall 2019 Pre-departure Orientation

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).

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. 

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!

FAQs on F1 Visa appointments for Fall 2022

Dilip Oak's Academy

To help you get a fair idea of the current scenario regarding the F1 visa appointments, below are a few important and frequently asked questions and their responses as per the recent update from the US Embassy.

1) When will appointments for F1 visas begin for fall 2022 applicants?

F1 appointments for fresh applicants will most probably start from 17th May. Initially, they will open appointments till the end of June. This year, they will accommodate all the students intending to apply for an F1 visa for fall 2022. Therefore, students are requested to not panic and apply for the interview date only after they receive the I-20 from the desired university.  Also, we suggest that you take the visa appointment in Mumbai rather than in Delhi or Chennai.

2) If my visa was rejected the first time, when can I apply for the interview next?

They will most probably give a second chance to rejected applicants between 15th August to 1st September.

3) If I have any other US visa (B1/B2/H1/H4/L1/L2) which has expired, can I still get a drop box facility for an F1 visa?

Yes, you can, provided your visa expired not more than 4 years ago.

4) If I apply for the F1 visa through drop box, how long will it take to receive my passport?

You are likely to receive your passport within 7 working days.

5) Can I make changes to the already submitted DS-160?

Yes, you can make all the necessary corrections including the name of the university.

6) Do I need to show the same financial documents for the visa interview which I submitted during the application process?

 No, your documents cannot be the same. For visa interview, you mainly need to carry the latest documents including bank statement, fixed deposit receipts, loan sanction letter etc.

7) What are the vaccination requirements before landing in America?

As per the CDC regulation, you need to be double vaccinated and you are required to take the RT-PCR 24 hours before boarding the flight.

For further guidance related to :

  • filling the DS-160 form
  • payment of visa fees
  • scheduling/changing visa appointments
  • document verification

You can enroll for our visa counseling services and also avail of a mock visa interview appointment with Mr. Dilip Oak. To enroll, call us on 020-67444222 or email us at support@dilipoakacademy.com.

F1 visa interviews to begin mid-May

Dilip Oak's Academy

Most of you have received admits from the universities and are now in the crucial phase of visa application. Here is a quick look at the visa process, chronologically.

According to the recent update from the US Embassy in Delhi, visa interviews for students will begin in mid-May.

However, the embassy has also stated that Indian applicants are unlikely to get a second or third chance if the visa is not approved in the first interview. You are therefore requested to keep checking the website for visa dates and thoroughly prepare for the visa interview.

If thorough guidance related to :

  • filling the DS-160 form
  • payment of visa fees or
  • scheduling/changing visa appointments
  • document verification

you can also enroll for our visa counselling services and along with the above mentioned services, also avail of mock visa interview appointment with Mr. Dilip Oak. To enroll, call us on 020-67444222 or email us at support@dilipoakacademy.com.

Boost your GRE Prep with Dilip Oak’s customized study plans

Dilip Oak's Academy

One of the most important steps in preparing for the GRE is planning your study schedule.  A structured prep plan is very important to systematically cover all the topics, manage time, and stay focused and motivated until your test day. At Dilip Oak’s Academy, along with GRE Coaching, we guide our enrolled students to study in a methodical manner through our exclusive GRE Study Plans.

Depending upon your GRE date (ETS registered/tentative), we provide you with a customized study plan for either 1 month, 1.5 months, 2 months, 2.5 months, 3 months, 3.5 months or 4 months.

Each study plan includes a step-by-step preparatory guide with day-wise and week-wise guidelines for Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing Sections of the GRE.

While each study plan varies according to the duration, it broadly includes:

  • Vocabulary Learning and Practice
  • Verbal Reasoning strategies and practice
  • Quantitative Reasoning strategies and practice
  • AWM essays brainstorming
  • ETS Material Practice

All the study plans comprise rigorous learning and practice modules for each of the above sections. To help you keep a track of your preparation, we also send you daily and weekly goal-setting reminders.

The study plans also include access to our exclusive online learning tools: Focused Practice, Mixed Practice and CBTs that help you study in a more organized manner and allow you to track your progress.

Focused Practice

  1. Reinforcement of the classroom coaching by helping you keep in sync with the concepts, tricks, and tips taught in the class
  2. 400+ questions for Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning
  3. Topic-wise questions for Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning

Mixed Practice 

  1. Personalized Dashboard to track your progress
  2. Customized according to the question types and difficulty level
  3. Convenient timed and untimed modes for practice
  4. Instant Review and question summary
  5. In-depth explanatory answers to gauge where you stand

CBTs

  1. Actual GRE® test experience with full-length timed tests according to the ETS® pattern
  2. AW essay scores and personalized feedback by our experienced evaluators
  3. Detailed Analysis of your performance to help you gauge your strengths and weaknesses
  4. Explanatory Review to help  you understand what went wrong and how to get it right the next time

Who can avail of these study plans?

Only those students who have enrolled for GRE Coaching at Dilip Oak’s Academy can avail of these study plans. To jumpstart your GRE prep and unlock our comprehensive study plans, register for our GRE coaching (hyperlink to GRE pg)

You can then request for the suitable study plan by submitting us the details of your enrolled batch, Roll Number/student ID and GRE Test date on gre@dilipoakacademy.com or fill the study plan request form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdr35RKOlZXbFCsEI0SqzrdvnKKOpq-L_jHzEktzPhuoXRhGw/viewform

The plan will be sent directly to your inbox on your registered email ID.

What are you waiting for? Register for our upcoming GRE batches starting from 25th April and 8th May. Enroll here: https://www.dilipoakacademy.com/gre-online.html and avail your tailor-made study plans 

US Student visa update 

Dilip Oak's Academy

Most of you have received admits from the universities and are now in the crucial phase of visa application. Here is a quick look at the visa process, chronologically.

  1. filling the DS-160 form
  2. paying the visa fees
  3. scheduling appointments for:
    a) submitting biometric data and documents at the Offsite Facilitation Centre and
    b) the Visa Interview

At the moment, many students are not able to get visa appointments and are confused as to how to proceed further. According to the recent update, the US Consulate has declared that students who have been previously issued any kind of US visa (B1/B2/L1/L2/H1-B/H4) can avail of the dropbox facility to expedite the process. 
The student has to login into his/her account on www.ustraveldocs.com, and answer a few questions to be eligible to avail of the dropbox facility. Following this, the student can directly book the OFC appointment. If the appointment goes well, the student will be directly issued the F1 visa within a week. 

If you have any queries related to:

  • filling the DS-160 form
  • payment of visa fees or
  • scheduling/changing visa appointments

these can be made at:

You can also contact us at the academy for any visa-related guidance and attend our LIVE visa workshop (webinar) by Mr.Dilip Oak on 17th April, 9 am to get in-depth assistance on the visa process. Register here: https://rzp.io/l/YoS0BjR3

Things to do before applying for a Ph.D. program in the USA 

Dilip Oak's Academy

Along with bachelor’s and master’s degrees, a lot of international students are now pursuing Ph.Ds. at American universities because the programs are comprehensive and structured, and encourage a lot of independent research.  Apart from world-class facilities, well-equipped research labs, and qualified professors, American universities also offer funding opportunities to deserving candidates which makes it easier for international students to pursue Ph.D. in America. 

To pursue a Ph.D. program in any American university, students must have a minimum of 16 years of education, which means, they must have completed their bachelor’s degree at the least. Students can also apply for a combined program for MS and Ph.D. In order to qualify for a Ph.D. students should have a high score in the GRE (320+) and sometimes, in the subject GRE along with a GPA of 8.5 or above in their undergraduate program. If the master’s has been done from the USA, the GPA has to be 3.5 and above.

However, below are a few things you need to keep in mind and start preparing well in advance if you are planning to pursue a Ph.D. in a top American university: 

  • Choose your research topic well in advance: Narrowing down your research topic in advance will help you a great deal in making an informed decision. Study the topics, and see which topic would be viable for a Ph.D. project. Choose your program accordingly.
  • Research your Ph.D. guide: When it comes to a Ph.D., a good research guide is far more important than a good university. Hence, study the research work performed by professors from various universities, get in touch with them, and see if you can get approval from them for supervising your work. For Ph.D. programs, it is always beneficial to first narrow down the right research guide and then finalize the university.
  • Lookout for funding opportunities: Pursuing a Ph.D. in America can be very expensive and hence it is recommended to first look at universities that offer funding opportunities, scholarships, and research/ teaching assistantships and make your Ph.D. tuition affordable.
  • Finalize the universities: Once you decide your research topic, supervisor, and funding opportunities, shortlist your universities and start the application process.

 SAT to go fully digital from March 2023

Dilip Oak's Academy

The College Board recently announced a major change in the SAT examination system. Till now the SAT was strictly pen-and-paper based but it will now be delivered fully digitally starting March 2023 in all the International test centers and at the U.S. test centers from Spring 2024, thereby discontinuing the pen-and-paper based model. 

The main features of the Test will remain the same. It will still be scored out of 1600, it will continue to be administered in a school or a test center with a proctor and students will continue to connect to scholarships and College Board National Recognition Programs. 

Then what’s changing with the digital SAT? 

  1. Shorter and faster:  The digital SAT will be shorter, of two hours only and will have only two modules (Reading, Writing and Math). The reading passages will also be shorter with one question tied to each. Calculators will be allowed for the entire Math section of the test. A reference sheet will also be provided for the Math section consisting of the most common formulas. 
  2. Scores availability: Instead of weeks, the digital SAT will enable students to receive their scores faster, within a few days. 
  3. Test availability: Instead of 5 times a year, the digital SAT will now be available 7 times a year at all the centers, including India. 
  4. More secure and flexible: Each student will see a unique version of the test and schools will have more flexibility as to when to conduct the test. 
  5. Device flexibility: Students will be able to take the test either on a laptop or a tablet and they can use either their own device or a  school-issued device.
  6.  Relevancy: The digital score reports will also connect students to information on two-year colleges, institutions, career and training programs. 

Students will be able to register for the first digital SAT administrations at international test centers starting in fall 2022. For more information, keep following our blog and our social media handles! 

Question of the Week

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GRE aspirants, it’s time to rack your brain and crack this question of the week! Our expert GRE faculty will drop in interesting questions for you every week to help you think logically and get closer to acing the GRE! Solve and post your answers in the comments section!

We will publish the correct answers and explanations in the comments section every Friday! STAY TUNED!

Struggling with GRE Vocabulary? Here are 5 tips from our expert faculty

Dilip Oak's Academy

If you are a GRE aspirant and you have just begun your prep, the GRE Vocabulary section might seem to be an impossible task, mainly because you are expected to master words which you barely use in your everyday conversations. It is certainly a daunting challenge. But if you start systematically, you can learn over a 1000 GRE words comfortably! How? By keeping in mind the following five tips:

1) Start from Day 1 of your prep
If you are planning to take the GRE after three months, start your prep today! Keeping the vocabulary section for the last few days before the exam is a grave mistake that many students make. It becomes cumbersome to learn and retain so many words in a short span and you end up making silly mistakes. So start learning at least 5 new words right from day one of your prep so that you get ample time to practice and master them. 

2) Don’t learn too many words at once 
Start slow, be steady. Instead of learning 20 words in a day, learn only five words and gradually increase the count once you gain confidence and are able to retain the words. 

3) Learn through discussions and associations 
Instead of just mugging up, try to associate the words with images, references and situations, create stories around words, and discuss them with your peers or friends. Practicing this way makes it easier to remember words without getting stressed or confused.

4) Finish learning all the words at least 15 days before the exam 
Make sure that you do not keep anything till the last minute and you finish learning words at least fifteen days before the exam and only keep practicing words after that. 

5) Revise regularly 
Make sure to revise words regularly. Consistency and practice play a huge role in mastering GRE vocabulary. Every week, revise all the words you learnt and keep practicing diligently! 

To know more interesting tricks and tips on learning vocabulary, attend our free webinar “Vocab Sunday” on 6th March, 09:30 am and interact directly with our faculty! Register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_i-L1JaW8QPSSFKSphog02g

US Student Visa: Basics and application process

Dilip Oak's Academy

The US government issues different types of non-immigrant visas.  For example, tourists and business-men are issued B-1/ B-2 visas and those authorized to work in the US are given an H-1B visa. Students going for vocational courses for shorter duration such as, in flying schools,  English language courses etc. get an M-1 visa.

However, most students going to an accredited university for a full-time academic program, require an F-1 visa stamp.

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 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 2022 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.

How to Apply for an F1 Visa?

  • Get your I-20 from the SEVP institution
  • Apply online by filling the DS-160 form
  • Pay the general visa application fee ($160)
  • Pay the SEVIS  fee ($350)
  • Schedule your OFC appointment and F1 visa interview
  • Attend the F1 visa interview on the scheduled date

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 as well as other liquid assets including education loans. 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

You should also have good communication skills and should be able to give convincing and honest answers to the consulate officer’s questions.

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. 

For detailed guidance, avail of our visa counselling services by attending our visa workshop webinar on 20th February or 27th February at 9:00 am. 

If you are not already an Admission Counselling student at the academy, register here: https://rzp.io/l/YoS0BjR3

Once you pay and enroll, you will receive the zoom registration link shortly.

Now get GRE Ready at your own pace with Oak’s GRE Self-Prep

Dilip Oak's Academy

Now gear up to prepare for the GRE at your own pace, from anywhere, anytime with Oak’s newly launched GRE Self-Prep: a 100% online self-paced learning module designed especially for Indian students.

After the resounding success of our online batches with live lectures, we have developed the GRE Self-Prep with the idea of providing a complete coaching experience to students sitting anywhere across the world at their convenience.

The GRE Self-Prep comprises:

Video Lessons

  • 22+ hours of video lessons for Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing
  • Key concepts
  • Topic-specific drills
  • Exclusive Analytical essay writing drills
  • Basic Math practice drills
  • Math formulae
  • Video modules with interactive transcripts for better understanding
  • Progress Tracking for self-assessment
    • Viewed status
    • Mark as Finished
    • My Notes

Focused Practice

  • Reinforce your understanding by solving the focused practice sets which include:
    • Topic-wise questions for the Quantitative Aptitude Section.
    • Specific question types for the Verbal Reasoning Section.
  • 600+ questions on the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude sections combined.
  • Bookmark questions and take notes to help you focus on your problem areas.

Mixed Practice

  • 1700+ questions with explanatory answers
  • Focus on your target areas with our customized practice by choosing from our practice sessions. Choose from question types and topics, timed/untimed sessions, difficulty levels.
  • Customize your practice sessions by choosing from a variety of options like question types, topics, difficulty level, etc.

Timed and Untimed Practice Modes

  • Untimed mode to give you a good grasp of the techniques.
  • Timed quiz mode to train you to complete the questions in time.

In-depth Explanatory Answers

  • Detailed explanations, covering all crucial points for every question.

Personalized Dashboard

  • Track your Progress, access all features and get an instant analysis of your performance
  • Bookmark questions and take notes to help you focus on your problem areas.

Full-Length Tests

Timed full-length tests according to the ETS pattern.

AWM Essays: Personalized feedback and scoring as per the ETS 6-point scale.

Explanatory Review: Detailed explanations for every single question.

Detailed Analysis: Question-wise analysis to gauge strengths and weaknesses.

Vocabulary Module

In-built vocabulary module in Focused and Mixed Practice that allows you to

  • View the meaning and sample sentence for the difficult words used in each question or passage
  • Mark the words based on the difficulty level and status
  • Track difficult words at any time

So without further ado, check out our GRE Self-Prep packages HERE, and avail of all the learning features at the best price! 

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.

How to secure funding and scholarships from American universities

Dilip Oak's Academy

Every year, thousands of international students apply for a master’s degree in the US, majorly because the US education system offers well-structured programs, research opportunities, exposure, and most importantly, funding opportunities. US universities are very generous and provide a lot of financial assistance in the form of full funding, scholarships, or RA/TA/GA.

In this blog, we will discuss the 7 important criteria that you need to consider in order to avail scholarships and funding. If you are currently in the application process for fall 2022 and you meet most of the criteria, you can still apply for scholarships. If you are aiming for fall 2023, this is the right time to start ticking each of these criteria and make your profile ready for securing funding. 

A high GPA: Students should have a consistently high academic record throughout the bachelor’s program (75% and above/GPA of 9.0 and above).

Paper presentations: Students who have a strong research aptitude and have published papers in nationally and internationally recognized journals and conferences, have high chances of securing full funding. At Dilip Oak’s Academy, one of our students, who presented three papers in international forums including Italy and the USA, received full funding for PhD in Computer Architecture from Georgia Tech, Ohio State, and Yale University.

Location: This is a very important factor that students often miss out on, while applying to universities. The majority of students apply to universities in the states of California, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, Texas, Illinois, etc. Due to a very large application pool, getting financial aid from universities in these states is difficult. But if they were to apply to universities in the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, New Mexico, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Idaho etc. their chances of getting aid would be higher because the number of applicants is relatively low. The quality of education in these universities is equally good.

Professors: Students need to thoroughly research all the professors of the universities they plan to apply to. One can directly find them on university websites or (add name) study their work, their experience and interest, get in touch with them, and see if they are ready to offer any assistantship. Of course, applicants need to have a very strong academic background to receive a positive response from the professors.

GRE score: Along with other factors, the GRE score is also important. A GRE score above 320 (preferably above 330) maximizes your chances of securing funding.

SOPs and LORs: The Statement of Purpose plays a crucial role in securing financial assistance. Students need to ensure that their SOP brings out their intent, their story, their passion and why they deserve to receive funding. Similarly, strong recommendations from professors, project guides, or team lead (for working professionals) makes a strong impact on the application.

Relevant work experience: A relevant work experience of at least two years acts as a testament to one’s skills and commitment to the field and convinces the admissions committee that the applicant is a deserving candidate for a scholarship/funding.

For detailed assistance on the application process, university selection, drafting SOPs and LORs and planning your MS in the US, join our admission counseling today!