Applying to US Universities

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What is common between Hailey Road New Delhi and Prince Edward Road Singapore? These roads are better known for famous education landmark USEFI / USEIC.

The USEFI in India has offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. These centers offer quality advice on US Education, University selection, even Visa preparation help.

If you live in one of these cities or any other city in the world which has a US Education facility, try to visit there and check out. Check the website of the US Embassy in your country to find out if they offer any special educational help or information session.

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” . . . what might be called the real estate industrial complex, the economic engine that has become one of the few reliable sources of growth in recent years. Encompassing everything from land surveyors to general contractors to loan officers, the sprawling sector has added 700,000 jobs to the nation’s payrolls over the last four years.” -New York Times

Real Estate is the leading driver of the US economy in the last few years. A Masters degree in Real Estate prepares individuals to buy, sell, develop and manage property. The program covers policy, law, real estate marketing procedures, brokerage, property inspection and appraisal. Some of the reputable real estate programs are:

• Cornell University
• Texas A&M University
• New York University
• UT Arlington
• University of Cincinnati

MS and PhD programs are among the most flexible programs at US Universities. The students get to select what courses they will study, what will be the topic of research, who will be the advisor and when will they graduate. The duration of the program depends on how many courses the student takes every semester and on the research productivity. Most MS and PhD programs have no official time frame, but there me be an upper time limit. In many cases it takes 2 years to complete a MS degree and 5 years for a PhD degree. For PhD programs, it matters if you joined the program after completing a Masters program or directly after a bachelor’s degree. Most PhD programs admit students directly after a Bachelors degree but the students may need to complete the coursework equivalent to a Masters degree and then concentrate on the doctoral research. In such cases it is likely that the PhD will take six years.  The fastest way to complete a MS degree is to take as many courses as possible per semester, take courses in summer and opt for a non-thesis option if available. You should plan for a minimum of two years for MS and five years for a PhD degree.

Nursing is one of the fastest growing professions in US. With an aging population and rise in the number of people who need assisted living, the demands for qualified nurses is steadily rising.

Students who graduate with a degree in nursing work in hospitals, research institutions, old-age facilities and in specialized care facilities.

 

Nursing is a type of job that cannot be easily outsourced, so it is a very safe profession to be in. Nurses earn a respectable salary. There are more women in this field, but it is not uncommon for men to take up nursing.

 

After completing a nursing education, Registered Nurse (RN) is a qualification which enables a nurse to be recognized as a professional nurse. An exam called NCLEX needs to be passed. Click here for details of the NCLEX.

Ph.D. programs can very different in US Universities as compared to those in your country. If handled properly, it can be the most rewarding experience of life. In some cases it can be a lot of stress and disappointment.  It may take five or even six years to complete a PhD so you should carefully consider whether it is really for you. You should be aware that PhD program is very rigorous, and takes a lot of emotional maturity to handle the stress and expectations.  A genuine interest in research or teaching is a good reason to consider a PhD program.  Availability of funding (especially more funding than MS programs) is a bad reason to apply for PhD. It is common to apply for a PhD program with an intention to “convert” it into an MS later, or leave after getting an MS. It is a potentially harmful practice and may lead to a lot of complications. In such cases a MS degree may or may not be awarded, depending on the rules of the department. The PhD program has essentially two parts, coursework and dissertation. A certain number of courses need to be completed before a student is admitted to candidacy. There could be a comprehensive exam based on the coursework. After the successful exam the student is admitted to candidacy and works on research. At the end of research a PhD thesis is submitted which is needs to be defended. Publication may be a stated or implied requirement for graduating. Even if you successfully complete the coursework and are finished with your thesis your department or your advisor may expect you to publish one or two research papers in q quality journal before he or she will approve your doctoral thesis. This is a key cause of delay in completion of PhD degrees.

If you have decided on what to study and considering where to study, please checkout www.app2us.com and other resources on internet. If you have decided to study in a top US University, but have not decided what to study, you are not the only one with the similar dilemma. For a quality

US education experience, often the academic and economic aspects need to be balanced.  To elaborate on this point, there are students who aspire an MBA degree, but the prohibitive cost leads them to consider MS. There are students who are actually interested in MS degree but end up applying for a PhD program because they have heard that probability of funding is more for PhD. The more confused ones start an MS program with an aim of applying for MBA later. The MBA programs are becoming a riskier venture for international students. The currency rate of most countries makes it very difficult for students to pay their fee. Funding opportunities are partial and limited. The job potential is uncertain. As it happened on April 1, 2007, the visa quota may get filled up and students may need to return to their countries if they could not get an H-1B visa. Working outside US may make it difficult to pay back huge MBA student loans. The funding for MS programs is shrinking but still a good number of Universities offer full funding. The flexible format of MS programs makes it possible to work part time as student workers to help pay the costs. It is possible to make good money during full-time summer internship. PhD programs are the safest bet for funding. However if you are offered admission to a PhD program without funding, it is a signal that the department does not really want you, but they will be happy if you want to contribute to their research output at your own cost. Five or six years is a long timeframe to commit without getting a commitment of assured funding. So to join a PhD admission without funding is a very risky proposition. We suggest you apply for MBA / MS / PhD whatever actually interests you and helps you achieve your goals in life. However it is good to be aware of the relative financial implications.

Most of the world’s top ranked Universities are in the USA. At a US University you may attend a class taught by a Nobel Laureate , a leading researcher or author in a field. The research facilities and funding at US Universities are world class.If you got your first degree fromaanother country, studying abroad is one of the best investments you can make for your career. US remains the top destination for international students. Large US Universities have dedicated International Student offices which cater to the unique needs of international students. On the campus of US University, you may find a student from almost any country of the world.

There are many opportunities of funding at US Universities and many of these opportunities are open to international students. Universities award Scholarships, Fellowships and Assistantships to deserving applicants. In many cases the scholarships or assistantships are combined with full or partial tuition waiver.

If you are planning to permanently migrate to the USA, a University degree may be a first solid step towards that goal. With a degree from a US University, you are likely to do well in the job market. If you plan to work in any country in the world, the degrees awarded by US Universities are very well recognized.

In addition to all very good reasons mentioned above, the education experience at a US University can be a lot of fun. You can participate in many on campus activities and programs for students. There is more flexibility than you can think of. The students get to decide what courses they will take and which Professors class they would like to join, in some cases, even when they want to graduate!

US Universities attract students from all parts of the world. With the vibrant academic environment, excellence in research and teaching and diversity of students, the education can be a life changing experience. A degree from a US University is universally recognized as a benchmark of excellence and more often than not many doors of opportunities, in US or in any other part of the world. The selection for top Universities is very competitive and the admission process can be somewhat intimidating and complicated.

The app2us website and blog were founded by a group of graduate students who have gone through the process and have enjoyed every bit of it. We want to share our thoughts and insights with the aim of benefiting students who are planning to apply for admissions to BS, MS, PhD or MBA programs at the US Universities.

We hope you find the blog and website www.app2us.com  interesting and useful. If you have any suggestions or want to know more about some aspect of the application process, please write to feedback AT app2us DOT com.