Moment of Triumph for IITs!
Few days back IIT Fraternity were in dilemma when top 500 world rankings have been announced by the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). IISc was the only institute from India which has made its prestigious place in the top 500 world rankings. It was a dark and stormy night and the rain fell in torrents for IITs but now it's a new morning with new hopes.
It's a moment of triumph for IITs as QS World university rankings have been announced and IITs have finally found their way in World's top varsities. Cambridge Univerity has topped the list and it has been declared as world's best varsities, followed by Harvard University and MIT ranked second and third. These QS World university rankings have a domination of US institutions, which took 13 of the top 20 places.
Five British universities in the top 20:
University Name Rank
Oxford University 5th
Imperial College, London 6th
UCL 7th
Edinburg 20th
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology 18th
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology is the only university in the top 20 which is not from the English speaking world
Ranking of other world universities
The highest ranking Asian universities are Hong Kong at 22, Tokyo at 25 and the National University of Singapore at 28. King Saud University, in Saudi Arabia, at 200 was the highest rated institution in the Arab world.
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi was the highest ranked at 218th and followed by IIT Bombay at 225th place. It is the second year for Cambridge University when it has topped the list. IIT rankings in the QS world university rankings has boosted the morals of IITs all over again.
Fissure between Harvard and Cambridge was very minute, but Cambridge has made it place because of its student/faculty ratio. Individual attention is one of the key attractions of the Oxbridge tutorial system, said Ben Sowter, QS head of research.
He also said that, UK higher education is still better and cheaper than compared to many US universities, but other international institutions may offer better value for money. QS said that, Universities in the Netherlands, including Amsterdam University (63rd place) Utrecht (80) and Leiden (88), are all in the top 100 and offer English-language courses for less than £2,000 per year.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
CAT 2011 Workshop on Sept 24: Arun Sharma to talk on Mock tests
MBAUniverse.com will conduct a Special Workshop on CAT 2011 on Saturday, September 24, 2011 in New Delhi. The workshop will be held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Usha & Lakshmi Mittal Institute of Management (BULMIM), New Delhi. The timing is 2 pm to 4 pm. The key speaker at the workshop will be renowned CAT guru Arun Sharma.
If you are a CAT 2011 aspirant, this is a must attend Workshop for you as you will get the opportunity to listen to CAT guru Arun Sharma, who is the biggest name in the domain of CAT preparation.
The workshop will focus on preparation strategy, how to improve mock test score, analysis of new pattern of the exam, and the Do’s and Don’ts.
One of the key highlight of the workshop will be the analysis of the online mock test prepared by Arun Sharma, which you can take at MBAUniverse.com prior to attending the workshop. It is advised that you take the test before coming to the workshop.
You can take the mock test based on the new pattern of CAT at MBAUniverse.com in advance. This is a simulated mock test, developed by Arun Sharma which you can take for free at MBAUniverse.com. You can take the mock test by clicking at the following link:
http://www.mbauniverse.com/mock/mocktest/quizlogin_cat2011.php?section=quantquizarun
At the workshop you can interact with Arun Sharma and get detailed analysis of your test and get your doubts and queries clarified which you faced while taking the online mock test at MBAUniverse.com.
At the Workshop, you can also listen to the test taking experiences and know about life in a top B-School from the past years CAT toppers, who are now students of renowned B-schools like MDI Gurgaon, IMT Ghaziabad, IIFT New Delhi and FMS, University of Delhi etc and interact with them. MBAUniverse.com will also host Quiz Contest at the Workshop.
In order to take the online mock test and participate in the MBAUniverse.com Workshop on CAT 2011, you have to register yourself at MBAUniverse.com. To register, click on the following link:
http://www.mbauniverse.com/mock/mocktest/mockregistercat2011.php
If you are a CAT 2011 aspirant, this is a must attend Workshop for you as you will get the opportunity to listen to CAT guru Arun Sharma, who is the biggest name in the domain of CAT preparation.
The workshop will focus on preparation strategy, how to improve mock test score, analysis of new pattern of the exam, and the Do’s and Don’ts.
One of the key highlight of the workshop will be the analysis of the online mock test prepared by Arun Sharma, which you can take at MBAUniverse.com prior to attending the workshop. It is advised that you take the test before coming to the workshop.
You can take the mock test based on the new pattern of CAT at MBAUniverse.com in advance. This is a simulated mock test, developed by Arun Sharma which you can take for free at MBAUniverse.com. You can take the mock test by clicking at the following link:
http://www.mbauniverse.com/mock/mocktest/quizlogin_cat2011.php?section=quantquizarun
At the workshop you can interact with Arun Sharma and get detailed analysis of your test and get your doubts and queries clarified which you faced while taking the online mock test at MBAUniverse.com.
At the Workshop, you can also listen to the test taking experiences and know about life in a top B-School from the past years CAT toppers, who are now students of renowned B-schools like MDI Gurgaon, IMT Ghaziabad, IIFT New Delhi and FMS, University of Delhi etc and interact with them. MBAUniverse.com will also host Quiz Contest at the Workshop.
In order to take the online mock test and participate in the MBAUniverse.com Workshop on CAT 2011, you have to register yourself at MBAUniverse.com. To register, click on the following link:
http://www.mbauniverse.com/mock/mocktest/mockregistercat2011.php
CAT 2011: Toppers mantras for improving your hold on DI, LR
Following the footsteps of those who have attained success always helps. Similar is the case with the CAT toppers and CAT Exam aspirants. In the previous articles of MBAUniverse.com you have seen how to improve Quantitative Ability & Verbal Ability areas.
In this article, the CAT toppers share their strategy for excelling in the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning areas, which are merged with Quantitative Ability and Verbal Ability respectively in the new pattern of CAT 2011.
The CAT toppers who have shared their views on the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning preparation for CAT 2011 aspirants are Ankit Gupta, 99.34 percentiler taken admission in IIM Indore; Shipra Pandey, 94.89 percentiler, taken admission in MICA and Gaurav Swarnkar, 94.34 percentiler, taken admission in NITIE.
As far as these areas are concerned, they are more related to practice and your logical understanding. “Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning in CAT Exam are more related to IQ but still it can be managed,” Gupta says.
Strategy for CAT 2011 exam preparations
As is common among the CAT toppers, practice is the only strategy for excelling in these areas. According to Gupta, understanding the topics and practicing is the key. Pandey voiced similar advice. “I kept solving a lot of aptitude questions for my CAT Preparations,” she says.
According to Swarnkar, speedy calculation is the key to crack the Data Interpretation area. “For Data Interpretation, you should be very prompt with some results like - tables up to at least 20, squares of up to 30, cubes till 12, reciprocal ratios up to 1/25, and square roots and cube roots. This will solve 80 per cent of your DI problems; rest 20 per cent is application of your brain in understanding the problem,” Swarnkar mentions.
For preparations in Logical Reasoning also, Swarnkar feels that practice is the only key. “Logical Reasoning in CAT Exam is nothing but practice, a simple advice is DO NOT APPLY YOUR PERCEPTIONS while solving them. Just stick to the lines written in the question. Pen down every situation and condition given and stick to it till the end,” he says.
The common point between all the CAT toppers is that, practice is the key to success in this CAT Exam section. Be fluent and thorough with the concepts which you can gain through reading more news papers, especially the data given in various forms.
But the amount of practice will depend on your strength and weakness. For Gupta, his strongest section was Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. So he took the least time to prepare for it. “I gave least time for preparation on Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning but everybody has a different set of strengths and weakness so I would like to advice that identify them and capitalize on your strengths and work on your weaknesses for your CAT Preparation,” Gupta says.
Strategy for CAT 2011 exam
Choosing the right question is the deciding factor for CAT Exam. According to Pandey, you should not waste much time on a question which you can't solve beyond five minutes. Data Interpretation is a matter of good choice as well as practice. Choosing the wrong caselets in the CAT 2011 exam can be dangerous but enough practice tells you which cases to go forward with and which traps to leave. “My suggestion is that even if you are stuck in a caselet for five minutes or so and then you realize that its a waste of time and you are not getting anywhere near solving it, it’s better to leave it rather than making it a prestige issue and solving it but leaving the rest of Data Interpretation and also missing out on other sections,” she says.
In this article, the CAT toppers share their strategy for excelling in the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning areas, which are merged with Quantitative Ability and Verbal Ability respectively in the new pattern of CAT 2011.
The CAT toppers who have shared their views on the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning preparation for CAT 2011 aspirants are Ankit Gupta, 99.34 percentiler taken admission in IIM Indore; Shipra Pandey, 94.89 percentiler, taken admission in MICA and Gaurav Swarnkar, 94.34 percentiler, taken admission in NITIE.
As far as these areas are concerned, they are more related to practice and your logical understanding. “Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning in CAT Exam are more related to IQ but still it can be managed,” Gupta says.
Strategy for CAT 2011 exam preparations
As is common among the CAT toppers, practice is the only strategy for excelling in these areas. According to Gupta, understanding the topics and practicing is the key. Pandey voiced similar advice. “I kept solving a lot of aptitude questions for my CAT Preparations,” she says.
According to Swarnkar, speedy calculation is the key to crack the Data Interpretation area. “For Data Interpretation, you should be very prompt with some results like - tables up to at least 20, squares of up to 30, cubes till 12, reciprocal ratios up to 1/25, and square roots and cube roots. This will solve 80 per cent of your DI problems; rest 20 per cent is application of your brain in understanding the problem,” Swarnkar mentions.
For preparations in Logical Reasoning also, Swarnkar feels that practice is the only key. “Logical Reasoning in CAT Exam is nothing but practice, a simple advice is DO NOT APPLY YOUR PERCEPTIONS while solving them. Just stick to the lines written in the question. Pen down every situation and condition given and stick to it till the end,” he says.
The common point between all the CAT toppers is that, practice is the key to success in this CAT Exam section. Be fluent and thorough with the concepts which you can gain through reading more news papers, especially the data given in various forms.
But the amount of practice will depend on your strength and weakness. For Gupta, his strongest section was Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. So he took the least time to prepare for it. “I gave least time for preparation on Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning but everybody has a different set of strengths and weakness so I would like to advice that identify them and capitalize on your strengths and work on your weaknesses for your CAT Preparation,” Gupta says.
Strategy for CAT 2011 exam
Choosing the right question is the deciding factor for CAT Exam. According to Pandey, you should not waste much time on a question which you can't solve beyond five minutes. Data Interpretation is a matter of good choice as well as practice. Choosing the wrong caselets in the CAT 2011 exam can be dangerous but enough practice tells you which cases to go forward with and which traps to leave. “My suggestion is that even if you are stuck in a caselet for five minutes or so and then you realize that its a waste of time and you are not getting anywhere near solving it, it’s better to leave it rather than making it a prestige issue and solving it but leaving the rest of Data Interpretation and also missing out on other sections,” she says.
Improve your test taking skills to increase scores: CL Academic Head at Live Chat
As the CAT 2011 exam is approaching, the aspirants are getting more and more worked up regarding the preparation pattern. In this last lap of preparation, the main aim is to improve the scores of the mock tests so that they can get a good score in the actual CAT 2011 exam. To guide the students on improving the scores, MBAUniverse.com is continuing with the series of Live Expert Chats on the topic ‘how to improve your mock scores for CAT 2011’. The last AskMBAUniverse.com Live Expert Chat was held on September 16, 2011 with Abhishek Gupta, Senior Manager, Academic Team, Career Launcher.
Read on the excerpts of the Live Expert Chat.
Q: Sid: I am unable to score more than 80 percentile in CAT and loosing all my hopes on CAT. At times I think of concentrating on SNAP, XAT and MAH CET then CAT or take CAT again next year. How to improve in one month?
A: Even SNAP, XAT and MAH-CET aren't going to easy. CAT is your best chance of making it to top B-School. Analyze the tests taken by you thoroughly and find where you missed out. Most of the times, it's not the subject knowledge but the test-taking sills that make a difference.
Q: Aparna: My percentile in mocks keeps varying from 80, 90, 84 and 88. I want to get over 95 percentile. Please help me!
A: Have you analyzed the tests taken by you? Analysis doesn't mean just looking at the explanatory solutions. Try to find if you have done optimally in the mocks. Optimal performance means doing your level best. See if you are missing on some topic repeatedly, or regularly miss sitters etc.
Q: Rohan: How often should I take mock tests? How and what is the parameter to analyze my performance in test?
A: You shouldn't take more than three to four full-length mocks in a week. Analysis of the mocks is more important. Take the next mock only when you have analyzed the previous one very thoroughly and learnt your lessons through it. You should ensure that you don't repeat the same mistakes again.
Q: Samudra Sen: Sir, as only 35+ days are left, which type of mocks would you suggest me to take, sectional or full length mock test?
A: Ideally, full-length tests now. Take sectional tests if you think one of the two sections has got a major problem and needs more attention than the other.
Q: Anand Kumar: Sir which will be the right day to take CAT 2011 exam? Is it preferred to take during the first, middle or end sessions? Also, which time would be better, morning or afternoon slot?
A: Doesn't make any difference. Take it whenever you are most comfortable and have no obligations - social or others - during that one week around the test.
Q: Venu: I have been getting almost 85 to 90 percentile in Career Launcher Mock tests. What are my chances in CAT 2011? Does this score reflect in final day exam? Please give suggestion.
A: You generally tend to score more in CAT than what you get in mocks, provided you don't do anything too different on the D-day. At your percentile, you definitely stand a chance for good B-schools, though not the best ones. There is still some time left, work harder.
Q: Khushbu Sudhir: Sir I'm taking CAT in 54 days & have 45 days for IRMA. I haven't completed Quant syllabus yet. What r my chances? What should be my strategies? Shall I drop this year & take it next year?
A: Start working harder. Quant syllabus won’t take more than 15 days if you are prepared to slog it out. Even if you are planning to take it next year, why not take it this year as well. You don't stand to lose anything apart from a few thousand rupees.
Q: Manisha: I'm doing self preparation for CAT. Please suggest me strategy for this last lap. I'm almost done with Quant, Verbal & DILR. I haven't taken any mocks yet.
A: You answered it yourself. Start taking the Mocks. Take at least 10 to 15 tests before the actual one.
Q: Amaresh Nayak: What should I do to improve my CAT percentile? I haven't joined any coaching. I will join test series. How many mocks shall I take?
A: Join a test series, take at least 10 to 15 tests, analyze each test thoroughly, ensure that you don't repeat your mistakes in the next mock, and improve with every mock to peak at the actual exam.
Q: Manasa Priya: Sir my English knowledge is good but somehow I can't score well in VA. There are many questions which I mark wrong. What should I do to enhance my score?
A: Try and find out what's going wrong with the answers if you think your language skills are okay. Analyze the wrong answers, and don't repeat the same mistakes again. I don't see a reason for you to do poorly every time despite having good language skills.
Q: Suprita Venkatesh: Sir my Quant & DI section is very weak. What shall I do? What should be the strategy to attempt questions?
A: Practice, practice and practice! Develop the art of picking the easier questions from the section. There are enough sitters in the section to give you a decent score despite limited ability.
Q: Preet: Sir my graduation marks is 48 per cent and I belong to OBC category. Am I eligible to take CAT?
A: I am afraid you are not. The cut-off for OBC is same as that for General Category i.e. 50 per cent. Check www.catiim.in for details.
Q: Ganesh: Hello sir. I have completed my 12th in Commerce stream with 84 per cent and I want to do MBA in finance. Can you please suggest me what type of preparation should I start from now so that I can get a good score in CAT?
A: I will suggest just two things at this stage. Do them religiously. 1. Read a lot on diversified subjects. 2. Start loving puzzle-solving. All the best!
Q: Triveni: I completed B. Tech this year with 84 per cent. I want to work for a year and then take CAT. I haven't started any preparation yet. My aim is to join IIMs. Is work ex of one year sufficient?
A: IIMs take freshers as well. So one year that way is not a problem. Start preparing.
Q: Pavan Kumar: Sir I'm doing my B. Tech final year. In my previous semesters I had backlogs and I cleared them. If I get a call from IIMs will there be any problem to my selection due to my backlogs?
A: You may have to answer some very uncomfortable questions about the backlogs. But they can always be prepared in advance. They won't reject you because of your backlogs, but it will need some special answers.
Read on the excerpts of the Live Expert Chat.
Q: Sid: I am unable to score more than 80 percentile in CAT and loosing all my hopes on CAT. At times I think of concentrating on SNAP, XAT and MAH CET then CAT or take CAT again next year. How to improve in one month?
A: Even SNAP, XAT and MAH-CET aren't going to easy. CAT is your best chance of making it to top B-School. Analyze the tests taken by you thoroughly and find where you missed out. Most of the times, it's not the subject knowledge but the test-taking sills that make a difference.
Q: Aparna: My percentile in mocks keeps varying from 80, 90, 84 and 88. I want to get over 95 percentile. Please help me!
A: Have you analyzed the tests taken by you? Analysis doesn't mean just looking at the explanatory solutions. Try to find if you have done optimally in the mocks. Optimal performance means doing your level best. See if you are missing on some topic repeatedly, or regularly miss sitters etc.
Q: Rohan: How often should I take mock tests? How and what is the parameter to analyze my performance in test?
A: You shouldn't take more than three to four full-length mocks in a week. Analysis of the mocks is more important. Take the next mock only when you have analyzed the previous one very thoroughly and learnt your lessons through it. You should ensure that you don't repeat the same mistakes again.
Q: Samudra Sen: Sir, as only 35+ days are left, which type of mocks would you suggest me to take, sectional or full length mock test?
A: Ideally, full-length tests now. Take sectional tests if you think one of the two sections has got a major problem and needs more attention than the other.
Q: Anand Kumar: Sir which will be the right day to take CAT 2011 exam? Is it preferred to take during the first, middle or end sessions? Also, which time would be better, morning or afternoon slot?
A: Doesn't make any difference. Take it whenever you are most comfortable and have no obligations - social or others - during that one week around the test.
Q: Venu: I have been getting almost 85 to 90 percentile in Career Launcher Mock tests. What are my chances in CAT 2011? Does this score reflect in final day exam? Please give suggestion.
A: You generally tend to score more in CAT than what you get in mocks, provided you don't do anything too different on the D-day. At your percentile, you definitely stand a chance for good B-schools, though not the best ones. There is still some time left, work harder.
Q: Khushbu Sudhir: Sir I'm taking CAT in 54 days & have 45 days for IRMA. I haven't completed Quant syllabus yet. What r my chances? What should be my strategies? Shall I drop this year & take it next year?
A: Start working harder. Quant syllabus won’t take more than 15 days if you are prepared to slog it out. Even if you are planning to take it next year, why not take it this year as well. You don't stand to lose anything apart from a few thousand rupees.
Q: Manisha: I'm doing self preparation for CAT. Please suggest me strategy for this last lap. I'm almost done with Quant, Verbal & DILR. I haven't taken any mocks yet.
A: You answered it yourself. Start taking the Mocks. Take at least 10 to 15 tests before the actual one.
Q: Amaresh Nayak: What should I do to improve my CAT percentile? I haven't joined any coaching. I will join test series. How many mocks shall I take?
A: Join a test series, take at least 10 to 15 tests, analyze each test thoroughly, ensure that you don't repeat your mistakes in the next mock, and improve with every mock to peak at the actual exam.
Q: Manasa Priya: Sir my English knowledge is good but somehow I can't score well in VA. There are many questions which I mark wrong. What should I do to enhance my score?
A: Try and find out what's going wrong with the answers if you think your language skills are okay. Analyze the wrong answers, and don't repeat the same mistakes again. I don't see a reason for you to do poorly every time despite having good language skills.
Q: Suprita Venkatesh: Sir my Quant & DI section is very weak. What shall I do? What should be the strategy to attempt questions?
A: Practice, practice and practice! Develop the art of picking the easier questions from the section. There are enough sitters in the section to give you a decent score despite limited ability.
Q: Preet: Sir my graduation marks is 48 per cent and I belong to OBC category. Am I eligible to take CAT?
A: I am afraid you are not. The cut-off for OBC is same as that for General Category i.e. 50 per cent. Check www.catiim.in for details.
Q: Ganesh: Hello sir. I have completed my 12th in Commerce stream with 84 per cent and I want to do MBA in finance. Can you please suggest me what type of preparation should I start from now so that I can get a good score in CAT?
A: I will suggest just two things at this stage. Do them religiously. 1. Read a lot on diversified subjects. 2. Start loving puzzle-solving. All the best!
Q: Triveni: I completed B. Tech this year with 84 per cent. I want to work for a year and then take CAT. I haven't started any preparation yet. My aim is to join IIMs. Is work ex of one year sufficient?
A: IIMs take freshers as well. So one year that way is not a problem. Start preparing.
Q: Pavan Kumar: Sir I'm doing my B. Tech final year. In my previous semesters I had backlogs and I cleared them. If I get a call from IIMs will there be any problem to my selection due to my backlogs?
A: You may have to answer some very uncomfortable questions about the backlogs. But they can always be prepared in advance. They won't reject you because of your backlogs, but it will need some special answers.
MAT December 2011 to be held in Dec 4 - Dec 10 for computer based exam: AIMA
The All India Management Association (AIMA) has announced the dates for the Management Aptitude Test (MAT) of December 2011, the fourth MAT exam of the year. The paper pencil based MAT will take place on Sunday, December 4, 2011. The computer based test will be held from Saturday, December 10, 2011 onwards.
Candidates can choose to take the test in either computer based or paper pencil based format. The 2.5 hour test will take place from 10:00 am to 12.30 pm for the paper pencil based test. The computer based test will take place in different time slots.
The sale of MAT December 2011 application forms will begin from Saturday, October 1, 2011.
Application Process
Candidates who wish to apply should be graduates or in the final year of their graduation. The last date for sale of Application Forms is Saturday, November12, 2011. The last date to submit the filled up application forms is Tuesday, November 15, 2011.
The forms can be obtained from select branches of Bank of Baroda, Axis Bank with application fee of Rs. 1,200 or from Study Centers of AIMA with application fee of Rs. 1,050. Online application can also be done by visiting www.aima-ind.org/matdec11.
The candidates have to obtain their Admit Cards seven days prior to their tests, with effect from Saturday, November 26, 2011. Registered candidates can download their Admit Cards from the AIMA website, http://www.aima-ind.org/mat_centre.aspx.
AIMA will announce the list of Test Centers and the participating B-schools by Saturday, October 1, 2011, the day when the sale of forms will begin.
Candidates can choose to take the test in either computer based or paper pencil based format. The 2.5 hour test will take place from 10:00 am to 12.30 pm for the paper pencil based test. The computer based test will take place in different time slots.
The sale of MAT December 2011 application forms will begin from Saturday, October 1, 2011.
Application Process
Candidates who wish to apply should be graduates or in the final year of their graduation. The last date for sale of Application Forms is Saturday, November12, 2011. The last date to submit the filled up application forms is Tuesday, November 15, 2011.
The forms can be obtained from select branches of Bank of Baroda, Axis Bank with application fee of Rs. 1,200 or from Study Centers of AIMA with application fee of Rs. 1,050. Online application can also be done by visiting www.aima-ind.org/matdec11.
The candidates have to obtain their Admit Cards seven days prior to their tests, with effect from Saturday, November 26, 2011. Registered candidates can download their Admit Cards from the AIMA website, http://www.aima-ind.org/mat_centre.aspx.
AIMA will announce the list of Test Centers and the participating B-schools by Saturday, October 1, 2011, the day when the sale of forms will begin.
Tips for International Students Applying to Schools in the US
Some tips for international students to keep in mind and how are they evaluated compared to U.S. students
1. Three things matter for U.S.-aspiring international students.
Steve Loflin, founder and CEO, National Society of Collegiate Scholars
Extracurricular activities matter more than you think. U.S. colleges look for well-rounded students and grades are not enough. Showcase anything you've done outside of classes, from volunteering to work part time, or playing an instrument.
SAT scores matter. Unless you studied an internationally recognized curriculum, odds are that universities will have a hard time interpreting what your transcripts mean. Whether they admit it or not, schools will use the SATs to evaluate whether you have the academic chops to be at that school.
Finally, do well on the TOEFL or IELTS exams. International students' English-speaking abilities are scrutinized because it affects how well you can participate in class and keep up with the work. Universities want to know that you are an advanced English speaker.
2. It's a tough ball game for international students.
Michele Hernandez, president and founder, HernandezCollegeConsulting.com and ApplicationBootCamp.com
International students need to realize that they can't simply look at overall admissions stats to determine their odds because most schools limit the international student population to 10 percent of the overall class. Even though colleges don't admit to quotas, these numbers don't vary much year to year, so they are what I would call virtual quotas. If you look at a school that has a 20 percent overall admissions rate, the admit rate for international students is likely to be closer to 5 percent-not to mention the fact that international students compete with other international students from 80-plus different countries, plus their own country. Schools might receive 300 applicants from China and then accept two or three!
Therefore, students should focus on lesser-known "name brand" schools that all international students apply to, schools that don't receive as many applications from international students. Rural schools for instance or schools outside the Northeast tend to get fewer applicants from international students. Study the U.S.News & World Report list of top National Liberal Arts Colleges and focus on those more than just the Harvard University/Yale University/Princeton University-level schools that have super low acceptance rates.
3. Global is in: It's a good time for international students.
James Montoya, vice president of higher education, The College Board
The number of students crossing national borders to pursue higher education will likely triple in the next decade. The good news is that many American colleges and universities have recently expanded their international recruitment efforts, especially for "full-pay" students. International students who will require institutionally based financial aid should not waste their time applying to those colleges and universities not offering financial aid to international students.
Since colleges and universities seek international students who will contribute both inside and outside the classroom, applicants should definitely highlight in their admission applications what they will bring to the campus academically, culturally, and socially.
4. Applying to U.S. colleges means global competition
Katherine Cohen, founder and CEO, IvyWise and ApplyWise.com
Here are some tips to help you stand out among a highly competitive global applicant pool:
-Emphasize your diverse background. Colleges like the perspective multinational or
multicultural students bring to the classroom.
-Highlight what makes you different from other students at your school and explain why you
have a desire to study in America.
-Looking for a liberal arts education? Demonstrate an understanding of what that type of
education means in America. It can differ from more vertical, professionally oriented college
curriculum that may be offered at the universities in your home country.
-Don't need financial aid? Tell the college! It's much more difficult for international students
who need financial assistance to get accepted.
-Take a practice ACT and SAT to see which test is right for you. Our international students
have performed better on the ACT in many cases.
Also, don't just apply to a school because of its name. Visit the schools to which you plan to apply, in person or virtually, and make sure you can see yourself spending the next four years there.(Find the right school for you)
5. Know each university's specific requirements
Stacey Kostell, director of admissions, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
Education in the United States is not centralized nationally as it is in many countries, so it's important to note that admission requirements will vary greatly from one university to another. Your academic credentials will be evaluated differently by different universities. Be sure you understand those differences.
In order to maximize your chances for admission, it is a good idea to complete a program of study that qualifies you for admission to selective universities in your home country. As an international student, you may have admission requirements in addition to those for national students, including proof of English proficiency.
1. Three things matter for U.S.-aspiring international students.
Steve Loflin, founder and CEO, National Society of Collegiate Scholars
Extracurricular activities matter more than you think. U.S. colleges look for well-rounded students and grades are not enough. Showcase anything you've done outside of classes, from volunteering to work part time, or playing an instrument.
SAT scores matter. Unless you studied an internationally recognized curriculum, odds are that universities will have a hard time interpreting what your transcripts mean. Whether they admit it or not, schools will use the SATs to evaluate whether you have the academic chops to be at that school.
Finally, do well on the TOEFL or IELTS exams. International students' English-speaking abilities are scrutinized because it affects how well you can participate in class and keep up with the work. Universities want to know that you are an advanced English speaker.
2. It's a tough ball game for international students.
Michele Hernandez, president and founder, HernandezCollegeConsulting.com and ApplicationBootCamp.com
International students need to realize that they can't simply look at overall admissions stats to determine their odds because most schools limit the international student population to 10 percent of the overall class. Even though colleges don't admit to quotas, these numbers don't vary much year to year, so they are what I would call virtual quotas. If you look at a school that has a 20 percent overall admissions rate, the admit rate for international students is likely to be closer to 5 percent-not to mention the fact that international students compete with other international students from 80-plus different countries, plus their own country. Schools might receive 300 applicants from China and then accept two or three!
Therefore, students should focus on lesser-known "name brand" schools that all international students apply to, schools that don't receive as many applications from international students. Rural schools for instance or schools outside the Northeast tend to get fewer applicants from international students. Study the U.S.News & World Report list of top National Liberal Arts Colleges and focus on those more than just the Harvard University/Yale University/Princeton University-level schools that have super low acceptance rates.
3. Global is in: It's a good time for international students.
James Montoya, vice president of higher education, The College Board
The number of students crossing national borders to pursue higher education will likely triple in the next decade. The good news is that many American colleges and universities have recently expanded their international recruitment efforts, especially for "full-pay" students. International students who will require institutionally based financial aid should not waste their time applying to those colleges and universities not offering financial aid to international students.
Since colleges and universities seek international students who will contribute both inside and outside the classroom, applicants should definitely highlight in their admission applications what they will bring to the campus academically, culturally, and socially.
4. Applying to U.S. colleges means global competition
Katherine Cohen, founder and CEO, IvyWise and ApplyWise.com
Here are some tips to help you stand out among a highly competitive global applicant pool:
-Emphasize your diverse background. Colleges like the perspective multinational or
multicultural students bring to the classroom.
-Highlight what makes you different from other students at your school and explain why you
have a desire to study in America.
-Looking for a liberal arts education? Demonstrate an understanding of what that type of
education means in America. It can differ from more vertical, professionally oriented college
curriculum that may be offered at the universities in your home country.
-Don't need financial aid? Tell the college! It's much more difficult for international students
who need financial assistance to get accepted.
-Take a practice ACT and SAT to see which test is right for you. Our international students
have performed better on the ACT in many cases.
Also, don't just apply to a school because of its name. Visit the schools to which you plan to apply, in person or virtually, and make sure you can see yourself spending the next four years there.(Find the right school for you)
5. Know each university's specific requirements
Stacey Kostell, director of admissions, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
Education in the United States is not centralized nationally as it is in many countries, so it's important to note that admission requirements will vary greatly from one university to another. Your academic credentials will be evaluated differently by different universities. Be sure you understand those differences.
In order to maximize your chances for admission, it is a good idea to complete a program of study that qualifies you for admission to selective universities in your home country. As an international student, you may have admission requirements in addition to those for national students, including proof of English proficiency.
IT Giants to recruit 2.5 lakh engineering students this year
IT giants have kick-started their campus recruitment process with a bang and plan to recruit nearly 2.5 lakh engineering graduates from across the country's campuses this year. This means IT students will see ample job offers with handsome salaries from biggest technical companies of the country.
Last year, around 2 lakh engineering students were recruited during campus placements. Campus recruitment, which usually happens in the last semester, has been advanced to the seventh semester this year. Hence, IT companies have sent their HR teams to the campus to recruit the best talent.
Cognizant, a highly reputed IT company, has offered jobs to 807 students of Anna University's Guindy campus, Chennai, 703 to students from PSG College in Coimbatore and 500 students of Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi.. Similarly, TCS has issued offer letters to 702 students of Thiagarajar College of Engineering in Madurai, 515 students of Velammal Group of institutions, 500 of Sairam Group of Colleges and 645 of RMK Group of Institutions, all in Tamil Nadu.
Though the number of job offers to students has increased, pay packages offered by companies will, however, remain at last year level of Rs 3 lakh to Rs 3.25 lakh a year for these engineers.
As far as supply of the engineering students is concerned, states from south India are at forefront. Andhra Pradesh leads the supply side of students with nearly 2 lakh a year, followed by Tamil Nadu with a 1.8 lakh students. Karnataka and Maharashtra supply about 80,000 students a year to the job pool.
However, institutes across India are heaving a sigh of relief as they were expecting that US debt issue might impact placements. Speaking to The Times of India about this, Sivagnana Prabhu, head of training and corporate affairs, RMK Group of Institutions, says, "When we saw the situation created by the US debt deal we thought it would impact placements. But it has not reflected in the placements in our college. It has been better than last year, with 642 students being recruited this year while TCS absorbed 477 of our students in 2010."
The interest the IT companies are showing interest in hiring freshers has impressed NASSCOM. Officials from NASSCOM say that smaller and niche IT companies like Thoughtworks, muSigma, Robert Bosch have also joined the campus placements this year.
Last year, around 2 lakh engineering students were recruited during campus placements. Campus recruitment, which usually happens in the last semester, has been advanced to the seventh semester this year. Hence, IT companies have sent their HR teams to the campus to recruit the best talent.
Cognizant, a highly reputed IT company, has offered jobs to 807 students of Anna University's Guindy campus, Chennai, 703 to students from PSG College in Coimbatore and 500 students of Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi.. Similarly, TCS has issued offer letters to 702 students of Thiagarajar College of Engineering in Madurai, 515 students of Velammal Group of institutions, 500 of Sairam Group of Colleges and 645 of RMK Group of Institutions, all in Tamil Nadu.
Though the number of job offers to students has increased, pay packages offered by companies will, however, remain at last year level of Rs 3 lakh to Rs 3.25 lakh a year for these engineers.
As far as supply of the engineering students is concerned, states from south India are at forefront. Andhra Pradesh leads the supply side of students with nearly 2 lakh a year, followed by Tamil Nadu with a 1.8 lakh students. Karnataka and Maharashtra supply about 80,000 students a year to the job pool.
However, institutes across India are heaving a sigh of relief as they were expecting that US debt issue might impact placements. Speaking to The Times of India about this, Sivagnana Prabhu, head of training and corporate affairs, RMK Group of Institutions, says, "When we saw the situation created by the US debt deal we thought it would impact placements. But it has not reflected in the placements in our college. It has been better than last year, with 642 students being recruited this year while TCS absorbed 477 of our students in 2010."
The interest the IT companies are showing interest in hiring freshers has impressed NASSCOM. Officials from NASSCOM say that smaller and niche IT companies like Thoughtworks, muSigma, Robert Bosch have also joined the campus placements this year.
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