Applying to US Universities

Student Visa (F-1 or J-1) is required for citizens of other countries to pursue a degree program at a US University. A personal interview is required for the student visa and an appointment is needed.

Like other US visa requirements, applicants for student visa need to complete DS Forms, Affix photographs as per specifications, and carry their passport and required fee. In addition, following are the documents one must carry for a student visa interview.

I-20: This is the single most important document and an absolute must to get a student visa. If you have multiple I-20s carry the one for your final University. If the I-20 has any errors get it sorted out with the University before you go for the visa.
Degrees: Carry all your degrees in original. The qualifying degree for your US admission is most relevant. If you have recently completed your study carry provisional degree or marksheet stating a degree has not yet been awarded.
Mark sheets: Carry all your marksheets / transcripts in original
Standardized Test score reports: Your GRE / SAT / GMAT / TOEFL score report whatever was required to obtain admission to the US University.
Financial Documents: Original passbooks and bank statements of self and sponsors
Income Tax Returns: Tax returns of the most recent two years of self and sponsors, as applicable.


One must carry all academic and financial documents possible in original. However in most cases the interviewer asks for one or two documents, from the above mentioned list. Good Luck with your visa interview.

The concept of health insurance in USA is more complicated than GRE or GMAT and takes a lot of time energy and disappointment before you really understand how things work. In most countries of the developed, developing and third world, people are used to the idea of free healthcare and free medicine for routine healthcare needs. It is nothing less than a cultural shock to realize that the treatment cost for any accident or significant even minor health issue can run into thousands of dollars in USA.

It cannot be stressed enough that as students you should be covered for the entire duration of your stay with health insurance that confirms to your University guidelines. Contact the University health center or international students’ program office to find out what is the recommended coverage. In most cases a teaching or research assistantship comes with added benefits which may include health insurance coverage. If you lose your assistantship, you lose the coverage too. So It is your own responsibility to buy health insurance which takes care of your needs in the event of loss of coverage.

Some links related to student health insurance:
www.insurancepandit.com/
International Student Organizaion

If you have high mathematical aptitude, an undergraduate degree in Mathematics or Engineering, and interest in Finance, it is an option worth exploring. Both GRE and GMAT are accepted, check with individual programs. TOEFL is required for international applicants.

Some of the top programs in Financial Engineering include:

• UC Berkeley Haas
• Columbia
• UCLA Anderson
• Cornell
• Polytechnic University
• Temple University

You can Chat Online with officials of the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business for a Q & A about MFE Program, on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 from 10:30AM-12:00PM PT .