Over the last couple of decades, various countries have begun to stand out as ā€œpopular destinationsā€ for post graduate studies aspirants. Among the countries that offer various post-graduate and doctoral programs for students across the globe, two countries have established their eminence. One of them is known for snow-capped mountains, its love for ice hockey and everybodyā€™s favorite Prime Minister. The other is renowned for its booming job market, high standards of living, and its thriving multicultural atmosphere. We are, of course, talking aboutĢż Canada and the USA. Two vastly different countries with several striking similarities; one of which is the primarily unsurpassable quality of secondary education.

Since the Internet boom in the late 1980s, the US has been the ultimate study abroad destination for aspiring students. A combination of factors like cutting-edge infrastructures, R&D opportunities, and better employability has firmly cemented the USā€™s position as the first choice for a vast number of students wishing for quality education. However, in recent times, Canada, USā€™s friendly neighbor, has emerged as a competition to the US as an excellent alternative, with high-quality education that doesnā€™t pinch your pockets. Also itā€™s important to note, Canada has not just improved its stature in terms of its MS, or more generally the post graduate studies, but also work related opportunities across the globe.

One must keep in mind, that course selection, is the first and foremost step in moving forward for studying in the US or Canada. Following that, preparing for your 91Čȱ¬/TOEFL is the most important step to take the first step towards a successful admit in these 2 countries.

So, here is the big question- should you apply to both the US and Canada for your postgraduate studies? Or should you simply stick to one? 

This is a question that leaves many students scratching their heads, so let us try and get some clarity on it.

Why Canada or USA?

Now, hereā€™s another question, what makes Canada or the USA stand out, out of all the study abroad destinations. Let us now understand it better, to make better choice of study destination. USA has long been the ideal, or rather, the ultimate study destination for predominantly MS and other masterā€™s programs. Over the decades, it has established its own reputation as the global research hub. From the earliest stages of Silicon Valley, back in the 1970’s, through the ā€œdot-com boomā€ in the 1990s and early 2000s, up to the Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning trend in 2019, there has been innumerable technological advancements that have occurred in the USA.Ģż Lately, due to improvement in various facets, Canada has become a hot favorite among students, as their preferred destination for pursuing MS.

Let us get some more insights as to why are students preferring to study in Canada. The following reasons stand out

• Lower average tuition fees in comparison to US universities for international students. As on 2019-20 based on reports from Statistics Canada, the average tuition fees for international post grad students who wish to study in Canada, was approximately $17,714 CAD($13,437 USD). Whereas, based on the reports from College Board, USA, average tuition fees for 2019 was reported to be around $26,290 USD ($34,860 CAD).Ģż

ā€œFor Example: Tuition fees for Masters at the University of British Columbia,globally ranked 51 was noted to be approximately $8,777 CAD ā€.

• Wide availability of discipline specific scholarships and co-op programs, or co-operative education which essentially allows the students to integrate their studies, by alternating one semester of studying abroad with one semester of work in a field related to their studies. University of Toronto, University of Waterloo are some of the universities to offer co-op programs.
• Comparatively easier to pursue part-time jobs in Canada, due to the flexibility of study permit.
• Ease of immigration to obtain Canadian citizenship. StudentsĢż are also eligible to stay up to 180 days, after their Post-Graduation, to apply for a Canadian Work Permit.
• Excellent healthcare policy.

Despite these pros associated with studying in Canada prompting aspirants to study in Canada as opposed to the USA, there are a few key aspects that still make USA the number one preferred destination for pursuing studies abroad.

• Broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate study programs, with the following top trending specializations
  • MS in Computer Science, with upcoming fields like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Deep Learning and so on.
  • MS in Electrical and Electronics, with trending fields like Mechatronics, Embedded Systems and Robotics, which are also interdisciplinary master’s programs themselves.
  • MS in Mechanical Engineering including upcoming fields like Nano Engineering, Marine Engineering, Acoustics, Bio-mechanical Engineering
  • MS in Biology with specializations such as Biomedical computation, stem cellĢż and regenerative biology and various other specializations
  • Business Studies

There are various interdisciplinary programs such as Human Computer InteractionĢż Program(Stanford University), Mathematical and Computational Science(Data Science Program by Stanford University) to name a few. Universities across the USA, have stood the test of time, and stand as a self-testament of their technological prowess and research capabilities. Based on a recent report by The Global Innovation Index, it is natural to claim that the US has underscored its research depths. The following facts substantiate the same

• ĢżThe US has rankedĢż
  • Number 1 Public and Private R & D Expenditures, with over $510B being spent on research and development
  • Number 3 in Global Innovative Index rating (2019)
  • Approximately 18 billion in Global App Downloads produced by local companies (2018)
• Every year, universities across the USA are funded heavily for the purpose of research and development.Ģż

ā€œFun Fact: As on 2018,Johns Hopkins University spent a record $2.56 Billion and led the research spends amongst all US universities for the 39th  consecutive year – National Science Funding Reports ā€.

• Vast numbers of mid-level universities, providing aspirants with more opportunities to pursue their studies in USA.
• Huge career opportunities for fresh graduates, ranging from successful Silicon Valley startups to Fortune 500 companies
• A broad set of choices of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics(STEM) degrees, with a vast set of sub-disciplines, ranging from Aerospace Engineering, Statistics, Psychology and many more are available for students who wish to study in the US, with most STEM options eligible for 17 to 24 months of OPT(Optional Practical Training)
• A report from Startup Outlook Survey, USA (Silicon Valley Bank), with over 1,300 respondents states that more and more research innovations are cropping up in the fields of AI, Big Data, Cyber Security and so on, and claim that, fundraising for startups has become easier in the last two years

Below is a small graph representing the number of universities in various rank slabs in case of both the US and Canada. This graph was based on parameters such as quality of education (awards won by alumni and faculty), quality of staff (the research prowess of the staff, across 20+ broad categories) with reference from Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) reports.

These graphs indicate the vast degree of presence of US universities in the top ranks,would definitely help identifying the ocean of opportunities for the students who aspire to study in the US or Canada

See how to write the perfect SOP that wins you Top MS Admits!

What parameters should I consider?

Besides top-notch education and excellent faculty, there are several other parameters you should take into account while considering your postgraduate options. Remember: this is the place where you will spend two years of your life, so it is equally important to consider other factors such as the cost of living, public safety, employment opportunities, weather, student-friendliness etc.

Quality of Education

First and foremost, of course, is the quality of education offered by American and Canadian universities. This factor is paramount to your decision-making process- after all, it is a decision that will affect your life and career. 

While it is true that the US has a monopoly in the education market, Canada is not lagging behind. With several top universities like the University of Toronto University of Toronto, McGill University and the University of British Columbia, Canada is slowly but surely catching up with the US. In terms of course structures, both the countries are very similar. Universities in both the US and Canada offer research-oriented (thesis-based) and course-oriented (non-thesis based) Masters programmes. Depending on your academic aspirations, you can choose either ā€“ normally, students wishing to embark on a Ph. D. opt for the research-oriented Masters. In both countries, students pursuing their MS are required to complete 36 credit hours in order to graduate.  

In terms of the quality of education offered, there is little difference between the two. When we consider the PISA(Program for International Student Assessment) scores run by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), Canada is found to be ranked 10th, whereas the presence of the US is in the 40s. In the case of the USA, research has stood the test of time, students who prefer research and duly want to commit themselves to producing genuine scientific breakthroughs, prefer studying in the USA over Canada. With most US universities having a strong foundation in research, with alumni being laureates of prestigious awards like the Nobel, Fields Medal and so on, US can be claimed duly, as a haven for research aspirants, in terms of their education.

ā€œFun Fact: As on 2018-19 Massachusetts Institute of Technology is associated with 94 Nobel Laureatesā€

ā€œFun Fact #2: As on 2018-19 Canada has the highest proportion of Working Age Adults among OECD Countries, at a staggering 55%ā€

Education in Canada is much cheaper than in the US, thanks to several laws and policies put in place to make education affordable and accessible to all. Private universities in both the US and Canada are generally more expensive since they are not regulated by the government. However, state universities in both countries are much more affordable ā€“ exact fees differ from school to school.

ā€œFun Fact #3: Canada is the highest educated country across the globeā€

As on 2018-19, based on reports from Bureau of Labour Services, USA and Statistics Canada (Stats Can), the national statistical agency of Canada, let us take a look at the trending courses in the USA and Canada, with their average salaries

Table 1: Courses and Average Salaries-  Source: BLS, Atlantic Canada Engineering Salary Survey and Stats Can Reports

Students also have a potential option to switch from the masters(graduate program) that they have chosen, while studying abroad in the USA or Canada. Generally, the students would be required to have been actively studying in the designated university.Ģż

The process is relatively simpler in Canada. While Canada does not require a change in study permit, for switching courses; the student needs to update the course details in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). 

On the other hand, switching masters programs in the USA is a bit more complex. One has to submit a new application, letters of reference reinforcing the ability of the student to perform well in the concerned program and then wait for the decision to be accepted by the program.

In any case, the student definitely needs to understand, that the whole process of switching or changing courses is not to be done quickly or abruptly. It is advised that the student keeps in mind the following questions and answers them by means of thorough research and guidance from admissions counselors. 

• As a student, why do you want to pursue that course?
• Have you duly done adequate research to understand all the nuances of the course?
• Have you compared and considered all opportunities in your present course and the other course?
• Is the choice of your course based on your interest? Have you developed the interest on the basis of doing projects and research work in the concerned field of interest?

Tuition and scholarships

Owing to a burgeoning number of international applicants, several universities in the US and Canada offer generous scholarships and grants to considerably reduce the financial burden on the students: these scholarships range from partial fee-waiver to full rider. In some universities where the focus is on a particular discipline, students who are applying to study that discipline are given scholarships.Ģż

For instance, in the University of Ottawa, researchers are working to create the worldā€™s largest centre for the study of photonics and optics, for which the University receives a huge amount of funding from alumni and philanthropists. Therefore, students who wish to study photonics are given full fee-waivers and living allowances in order to make scientific advancements in the field. Such discipline-specific scholarships are more widely available in Canada than in the US. 

Similarly, in the University of California, Berkely, which has a well established history of research, and associated with 8 Nobel Laureates, we see the Berkeley Energy and Climate Institute, which receives over $730 million for its research expenses from the Government and various philanthropists. This center was recently noted for its project ā€œTomKat UC Carbon Neutrality Project – involving Decarbonisationā€. In this center, students are provided with various awards and fellowships; notable being the BECI Philomantha Fellowship, which includes a 2 year appointment, and also a $25,000 Research Fund, to pursue their research in disciplines related to energy and climate. They also confer the prestigious Art Rosenfeld Award for Energy Efficiency Application Materials.

As much as there has been an increase in the tuition fees, owing to the increase in prioritizing internationalization, there has been an increase in the number of scholarships offered to students who aspire to study in the US or Canada. Some of these scholarships are funded by the government, whereas the others are privately funded. The scholarships are categorized broadly under three categories

• Government Funded
• Non-Governmental Scholarships
• University-Specific Scholarships

Let us now get an overview of a selection of scholarships offered for international students in the USA and Canada.

Table 2: Scholarships – Source:

Top 10  Universities in the USA and Canada ā€“ World Ranking

Based on annual reportsĢż published by Quacquarelli Symonds, the following universities make it into the Top 10 Universities in the USA and Canada, respectively. The QS rankings guides a student who aspires to study in the US , Canada or any overseas country, towards universities which are highly accredited by employers, academics and helps identify the right platform for a great career. The table below considers the following parameters, with weightage considered for each parameter, while ranking the Universities for 2020

• Academic Reputation ā€“ 40%
• Employer Reputation ā€“ 10%
• Citations per Faculty ā€“ 20%
• Student ā€“ Faculty Ratio ā€“ 20%
• Presence of International Faculties ā€“ 5%
• Presence of International Students ā€“ 5%

Table 3: University Ranking – Source:

Student Profiles

Keeping in mind the above university rankings and other parameters that were discussed, letā€™s look at a few students who got admitted into top-universities.

Social Welfare

The taxes you pay in Canada are considerably higher compared to the US, but your tax money is judiciously spent by the government to ensure your social welfare. 

For instance, one of Canadaā€™s biggest assets is its universal healthcare schemes, which makes high quality healthcare extremely affordable to all its citizens. 

Additionally, when you file your tax returns on time, a portion of your taxes is refunded to you. Social welfare in the US peaked under the Obama administration, with the advent of Obamacare. 

Visa Process

Let us try to get a better insight on the Visa Process for applying to study in the USA and Canada.

A student can study for a maximum period of 6 months without any study permit or visa, in Canada. For study duration beyond 6 months, a Canadian Study Permit is required. The required documents for the Canadian Study Permit are:

• Letter of Acceptance from the University that the student has applied
• Certificate of Acceptance from the Government, if the student is applying for QuĆ©bec
• ĢżCanadian Student Visa Application Package from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website/Local Office or Canadian Embassy in the respective home country.

For studying in the USA, a US Student Visa, is a prerequisite. For this , a student must follow the following procedure

• Get accepted by a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) approved US University, before 6 to 12 months of commencing your studies, and pay the SEVP fees.
• Complete the US Student Visa Application, with recent photographs and pay the application fees
• Schedule and attend the visa interview in the designated centers

The ultimate guide on How to Evaluate your Profile for Masters – Download Now

Lifestyle and Expenses

The biggest deterrent to students wishing to apply to Canada is the weather. Temperatures can dip as low as -25Ā°C in winters with heavy snowfall and storms forcing you to stay indoors for days on end. By comparison, the US offers more variety- states like California and Florida are perennially warm and dry, with the occasional spell of rain.

The US also boasts of a large Indian diaspora, which is often an important factor for many Indian students who start to feel homesick in a few months. The Indian community in Canada is comparatively smaller, but not non-existent.

When it comes to living expenses like rent and utilities, Canada is leaps and bounds ahead, with lower rents and transportation costs. Cities like Toronto and Montreal are extremely student-friendly, with student discounts available almost everywhere- from restaurants to clothing stores and movie theatres. Additionally, Canada is much safer, and has lower crime rates and stringent gun laws.

Did you know that according to the figures from the University of Alberta, the average living costs for an international student is $16,800 (Canadian Dollars) for an entire year?

Post Study Work Permit

One key reason for aspirants to study abroad, is job opportunities. Letā€™s look at the work permit options available in the USA. 

The immigration process of the USA is pretty rigid, and thus it is imperative for a student to look at the options available. Some of the common post study visa options are shared next

• F1 Visa ā€“ Allows a student to stay up to 12 months post completion of his/her studies in the USA for the purpose of practical training.
• M1 Visa ā€“ Valid for a year, the student can work in the US up to 6 months after his/her studies is completed, for the purpose of practical training. This visa is extendable up to 3 years.
• J1 Visa ā€“ International students who are participating in educational or cultural exchange programs, under which they are eligible to teach, study, conduct research and also work as trainees, or carry out their internships. For a student to get the J1 Visa, he/she must have sponsorship from a J1 Host and J1 Sponsor

To work in Canada, a student must apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit within 180 days of the University issuing his/her final marks. This allows the student to work in Canada up to a period of 3 years.

Jobs and Career Opportunities

Of course, the US has a massive job market, but in recent years, recession and unemployment rates have soared, making it difficult to secure a job. Canada too has faced these problems, but on a relatively smaller scale. 

The biggest difference between Canada and the US in terms of employment is that it is much easier to pursue part-time jobs in Canada. In the US, if you wish to work while studying, you will have to obtain an OPT (Optional Practical Training), but the job you undertake must be related to your field. In Canada, however, you are allowed to undertake almost any job, since your study permit doubles up as a work permit too. Also, it is important to note, that

After graduating, the average salary for an MS student in the US is about USD 69,000 (Rs 49 lakhs approx.) per annum, while in Canada it is lower at CAD 70,000 (Rs 35 lakhs approx.) per annum. Vast scope for research, huge opportunities to study in interdisciplinary fields, excellent work opportunities combined with building a strong network, with connections ranging from fellow students, to employees of upcoming startups and well-recognized professors and academicians makes the US a lucrative country for postgraduate studies.

Despite the lack of proper job security at fresher level in the US, the graduate employability scores provided by Quacquarelli Symonds, as a part of their annual reports, gives the USA the edge in better job opportunities, and graduate employability as opposed to Canada. The following parameters are considered in terms of graduate employability

• Graduate Employment Rate
• Association and Partnership with Employers
• Connection between employers and students
• Reputation of the employer
• Alumni Outcomes

Let us look at the top 10 universities of both, the US and Canada in terms of Graduate employability rankings predicted for 2020.

Table 4: Graduate Employability Rankings – Source: QS Reports

Considering these rankings, and the parameters used to ascertain the rankings, it is safe to say, the US is at a much better position in terms of graduate employability. Thus, aspirants who wish to study in Canada, or study in the US, could get a better view on career opportunities in both graduate schools and post graduate programs.

In sum, we highly recommend that you apply to a combination of both American and Canadian universities in order to maximize your chances of admissions. Barring a few minor differences, both countries are almost the same in the educational sphere. The US and Canada are leaders in providing high-quality education and job opportunities and thus make for an excellent study abroad destination.

Like the old adage that says, ā€œDonā€™t put all your eggs in one basketā€

Similarly, it is smart as well as practical to not bank your MS dreams on one university or one destination alone. Increase your chances of an admit by exploring cost-effective options worldwide.

Hope this blog has made an attempt to cover most of  the queries that the audience had!

Please drop your comments below.

The post Studying in Canada vs USA – Which is better? appeared first on 91Čȱ¬ Blog.

Hi, you are targeting the Fall intake, but are confused as to when should you start your 91Čȱ¬ Preparation. Your seniors would tell you that it takes roughly 3-6 months to prepare for the 91Čȱ¬, whereas your friends or colleagues will tell you that it can be tackled in just a month’s time. So the question is whom should you listen to? Well, rest assured, you are in the right place. The Internet has been like this for a few years now. You start with your browser in search of answers but end up with more questions than before. It does not have to be like that.

Let us put your swirling doubts and thoughts to rest.

91Čȱ¬ Exam in itself is like a journey. A journey that takes you to the specific University of your dreams. It is a difficult journey since it has no direct buses or trains to take you from the starting point to the ending point. 

There are but connecting buses where you get down from one and ride another to reach your destination.

1. But will you be able to reach your destination if you don’t know the bus timings?
2. If you don’t know how much time each bus journey takes, will you be able to plan the successive journey?
3. If due to traffic your bus takes more time than it should, will it not risk your chances of catching the next bus?

Without meticulous planning, it might get very difficult to catch all the buses, at the right time.

YOUR, DESTINATION?

Why get on a bus if you don’t know where you want to get down. 

Is your target fall intake? Then let’s start by understanding what Fall is about?

For major courses and universities abroad, admission intakes happen twice a year. This happens to regulate the number of students that join a specific university at a given period of time.  Your targeted Fall semester is the start of the academic year in the US.

Targeting Fall Semester starts from late August (or early September) and the deadlines span till March & mid April.

But why is it that if you target fall intake, the chances are better?

• What universities to target in Fall?

Top universities like MIT, Stanford & Harvard only have fall intakes. Starting your 91Čȱ¬ Prep is the first step towards securing top admits. The topmost colleges in the US for that matter don’t have any other intake other than fall intake. Hence, if you are aiming at these universities then you must target fall.

• How many admissions if you target Fall?

Universities have a specific quota for accepting students who target fall intake. It is much higher in the Fall semester. The more the number of intakes the better the chances to secure an admit. MIT accepted 3,516 graduates for MS courses in Fall 2018. Therefore, for a better acceptance rate, you can target fall.

• Which courses are offered?

There are more courses offered in the fall semester. Also, most of the courses are the prerequisites to the courses offered in the other semesters. For example, if you want to join the advanced mechanics class next semester you will need to join the basic mechanics class in the fall semester. So if you are looking for a varied range of courses, you can target fall.

• Teaching/Research Assistantships (TAs, RAs)

All universities give MS students the opportunity to support themselves financially by providing in-campus jobs like assistantships. The chances of securing assistantships are significantly higher in the fall semester. Because the assistantships that were offered to senior students pass out and the vacancies reopen, ripe for the taking. Chances of earning these assistantships are higher if you target fall.

• What are the Internship/Job offers?

Internships and job opportunities are also higher for students who apply in the fall semester. This is because they have completed more semesters before placements which come up at the end of the second year. Therefore, there are more opportunities if you target fall.

Now that we know about the Fall semester, we can start planning about your journey. 

YOUR JOURNEY STARTS

This journey will have the following steps:

1. Taking your 91Čȱ¬ at the right time.
2. Collecting documents required for applications.
3. Submission before the deadline.

Deadline is the final bus you need to catch. What is the timing for this bus? 

Let us find out.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Bus 3: Leaves by Decemberā€¦

Applications start coming out late August to Mid September. The exact date changes year to year. Also, there are regular admissions and priority deadlines. 

Priority deadlines have a higher chance of acquiring both admissions and scholarships. Many state and public universities use priority deadlines to encourage early applications. But submitting priority application requires you to finish your application early. For example, The University of Maryland has a November 1 Priority Deadline.

The Application deadlines for the major Universities are as follows for the month of December. You can download an updated list of universities using this link. 

(Note these data are subjected to change every year):

The data makes it clear that you have to finish up with the applications latest by December. But if at all you have missed the December deadlines, there deadlines available in Jan-Feb.

But what are the things you need for successfully completing your application?

DOCUMENTATION FOR APPLICATIONS

Bus 2: Leaves by Novemberā€¦

There are a few documents that you need before you fill in your application.

1. SOP (Statement of Purpose)

Statement of Purpose is an essay written as part of your application package to universities abroad. A well-written SOP must be a description of who you are as a person as well as your academic and extra-curricular profile, providing a detailed glimpse into your past achievements, skills, aspirations, and goals for the future. A good SOP should leave a mark and make it unique from the ten thousand SOPs that the college receives.

Without a perfect draft for your SOP securing admissions can be an impossible job. Devoting the maximum possible time on your SOP is advised.

2. LORs (Letter of recommendation)

Letter of Recommendation is an independent appraisal of your character and competency by teachers or managers who have known you personally. To put it succinctly, a LOR is essentially a review of your potential, academic talent and dedication to your discipline, and as such, is key to making your study abroad dreams a reality. 

3. Academic transcripts

Academic transcripts are basically your consolidated mark sheets and all educational qualification proof that you will be attaching with your application.

Along with these three documents, there are additional documents like CV, essays, attested copies and proofs that a specific university can ask for.

You also need to be prepared with your IELTS/TOEFL scores. These are mandatory tests for applicants who hail from a non-English speaking country to test their English proficiency. Some universities like Caltech can also test the applicantā€™s English speaking proficiency personally once they join the college.

Apart from that, you would obviously need your 91Čȱ¬ scores.

BIG TRAFFIC CONGESTION!

Maximum time is taken in the documentation.

Now thousand, rather more than a thousand of SOPs are sent everyday to most of the colleges during the application process. What makes your SOP stand out? How much time does it take to draft that perfect SOP that leaves a mark? Similarly for LORs. How much time till you get that perfect LOR from your busy professors or managers? Surely they will have a lot more things to do apart from your LOR.

It is advised to allocate 1-2 months for collecting and consolidating all these documents. These documents have a heavy influence on your future and prospective admits. Also since LORs are not up to you, it can take a lot of time to acquire them from busy individuals like your professors and managers. Transcripts can also take a lot of time to come out. Hence it’s prudent to leave the maximum possible time to this process and take your 91Čȱ¬ exam accordingly. 

TAKING 91Čȱ¬ EXAM

You need to catch the first bus i.e. take your 91Čȱ¬ so that you do not miss the Fall deadlines,.

By looking at the other bus timings we can conclude that taking the 91Čȱ¬ at around September to October is preferable. 

But what if by some chance you miss the Bus 1?

Also if you target fall priority deadlines then obviously you need to scale up your preparations and try to be as fast as possible in all cases. Priority deadlines get over by October-November. Keeping two months for documentation you would require to take your 91Čȱ¬ by July-August.

Preparing for the journey

91Čȱ¬ preparation and University shortlisting.

Like any journey, lack of proper preparation can land you into a lot of trouble.

A lot of emphasis should be given on the planning stage.

Along with the preparation, you must also complete your university shortlisting. ETS (the organization that conducts the 91Čȱ¬ exam) allows you to send your scores to four universities for free. Once you send your score to four universities an additional fee of $27 has to be paid to send the scores to other universities. 

Select these four universities by deciding:

• What courses you want to target.

Not all universities have all the courses. Similarly, some universities are the best in providing maximum learning opportunities and research facilities for a certain course.

E.g. MIT is the best university for Chemical Engineering courses but Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is best for Computer Science courses. University of California–Berkeley provides the best Civil Engineering courses. (Data according to the recent survey by USNews.com)

• What are the expectations of your preferred university?

As mentioned in the earlier segment of the blog, the 91Čȱ¬ score expectations are non-homogenous and they differ for different universities. The expectations of your preferred university should be clear before you plan your 91Čȱ¬ preparation regimen. 

• Your predicted 91Čȱ¬ score.

Once you know what is your predicted 91Čȱ¬ score, you can estimate which universities provide more scope for successful admissions and your university shortlisting can become more realistic.

How many months does it take to prepare for a 330 score?

The best metric to answer that question is your own present capability. 

• Take the free 91Čȱ¬ Score predictor test. 
• Find out your own deficiencies and strengths.
• Plan ahead on how many months you might need to reach your target score.

If the score predictor test reveals that your present 91Čȱ¬ capability is quite high and is of about 320 level then obviously 330 can be reached within just a month or two.

If the test reveals that the current competency level is lower than 300 then 330 can take 4-5 months of time. 

There is no right time to prepare for the 91Čȱ¬ exam. But the earlier you start the more options stay open to you. Not to mention that you save yourself a lot of hectic days before the deadline. 

It is said that a work that has begun is already half done. The time to embark on the journey of your dreams has come.

Learn the art of writing winning SOPs for Top Admits!

Download the eBook now!

The post When to start 91Čȱ¬ Prep if targeting Fall? appeared first on 91Čȱ¬ Blog.

Originally established as an intercollegiate athletics conference between eight universities in the Northeast USA, the Ivy League system has now come to be synonymous with pride, prestige and academic acumen.

Naturally, of course, these universities often make it to every aspirantā€™s college wish list and attract thousands of quality applicants from some of the most outstanding students in the world. So who are the eight members of the Ivy League? In no particular order, these are:

1. Harvard University
2. Yale University
3. Dartmouth College
4. Brown University
5. University of Pennsylvania
6. Cornell University
7. Princeton University
8. Columbia University

Whatā€™s the big deal about the Ivy League schools?

As we can see, this list doesnā€™t include some of the best universities in the US, such as Stanford, MIT, Caltech or Berkeley. While the Ivy League schools are now seen as the figureheads of excellence and prestige, theyā€™re not the only place at which to get a top-tier education. So, whatā€™s the fuss about the Ivy Leagues? While originally famed for their onus on athletics, the Ivy League colleges are now known for their generous endowments, excellence in R&D, state-of-the-art libraries and infrastructural facilities and a certain prestige that has now come to be associated with the colleges. While certainly, you can find these at many of the non-Ivies, what truly sets apart the Ivy League schools is, as a professor at Harvard pointed out, is the fact that the average student at, say, Harvard or Yale, will be usually more dedicated, ambitious and bright than the average student elsewhere. This kind of an atmosphere then automatically pushes you to work and perform better, and consequently, add to the academic caliber of the institution. Another aspect of the Ivy League is the focus on fostering diversity in the student body. By offering generous scholarships and endowments, the Ivy League colleges are dedicated to making high-quality secondary education accessible to people from historically disadvantaged strata of the society. A move that has been imitated by many other top-tier schools, this has helped the Ivy League colleges encourage and educate some of the best minds in the country (and the world).

What does it take to get into the Ivy League schools?

Taking into account the rich histories and legacies of these colleges, coupled with their repute for cutting-edge excellence in research and academics, itā€™s not difficult to see why so many higher studies aspirants would want to apply to these schools. A high number of applications, typically from outstanding students, means that the acceptance rates of these schools are usually quite low. Though the acceptance rates are invariably anywhere between 5-10%, it can be still lower for highly sought-after programs such as computer science. So, what can you, as an Ivy League aspirant, do to maximize your chances at an offer letter from Columbia or Penn? In other words, what are the admission requirements of these schools? Letā€™s take a look, shall we?

1. GPA: While these colleges arenā€™t looking for a perfect 10 GPA, it goes without saying that a high GPA is paramount to your Ivy League dreams. Additionally, your relative performance matters too: generally, you are required to be in the top 10-15% of your class.
2. 91Čȱ¬ and TOEFL scores: Again, though Ivy League schools donā€™t necessarily have a 91Čȱ¬ or TOEFL score cutoff, having a high score in these competitive exams can seriously help in improving your chances at an offer letter since it speaks of your technical and linguistic acumen.
3. Extracurricular activities: Remember, these schools are looking for all-rounders, and this isnā€™t restricted to just the classroom. Sports, music, fine art or dance, a strong extracurricular profile sets you apart as a force to be reckoned with. It especially helps if your extracurricular activity exhibits a synergy of your academic and non-academic passions: for instance, if youā€™re applying for an MS in CS, it helps if you were, say, the captain of the programming team in college.
4. Community service: After all, what good is a leader if he doesnā€™t give back to his community? Ivy League colleges are known for their thrust on community service and volunteering work, so any experiences working with the local pet shelter or teaching at the underprivileged girlsā€™ school on weekends are likely to help bolster the quality of your application.
5. Strong, reflective essays: your SOP is crucial to your admissions, but even more so in the case of the Ivy Leagues, which use your essays as a tool to gauge your commitment to your discipline, your preparedness for graduate school, and your achievements within and beyond the classroom.
6. Prior research experience: Most fresh undergraduates have little to no research experience by the time they get out of college, so any and all such experience you may have hadā€”be it a research internship or working as a research assistant with a faculty memberā€”will set you apart from your similarly qualified peers.
7. Co-curricular activities: Sure, a high GPA is great, but thatā€™s not the only thing it takes. Paper publications, participation in academic conferences and workshops, and internships will add invaluable weight to your application and portray you as a serious, committed candidate: something that is crucial to your Ivy League dreams.

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ĢżWhat are the Ivy League schools like?

Lush, sprawling campuses, rosters of reputed alumni, huge libraries and celebrated athletic teams are just a few things that separate the Ivy League schools from the rest. But what is special about each of the individual colleges? Moreover, what are the ranking, tuition fee and application deadline for these colleges? Letā€™s have a look.

1. Harvard University:

Harvard University – Ivy League Colleges

Established in 1636, Harvard is the USā€™s oldest institute of higher education and hardly requires any introduction. With an acceptance rate of 6%, the University has so far produced eight US Presidents, more than thirty foreign heads of state, 62 livingĢż, 359Ģż, and 242Ģż. Today, the University is synonymous with academic excellence, prestige, and honor.

Harvard University – Admissions details

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2. Yale University:

Yale University – Ivy League Colleges

Yale University – Admission Details

The third-oldest university in the US, Yale counts notable personalities such as George W. Bush, Meryl Streep, James Franco and Bill Clinton among its impressive list of alumni. Other than the well-documented rivalry with Harvard, Yale is also known for its football team, the Yale Bulldogs, and the Yale Whiffenpoofs, an a cappella group.

Download our eBOOK on “Masters Admission Checklist for Top University Admits”

3. Dartmouth College:

Dartmouth College – Ivy League Colleges

Dartmouth College Known for being the smallest Ivy League with a student enrolment of about 6,400, Dartmouth is renowned for its excellence in liberal arts, medicine and international relations. With an acceptance rate of 11%, Dartmouth is relatively an easier school to get into, although the university is reputed for its undergraduate courses, and not so much for its graduate programmes.

Dartmouth College – Admission Details

Ģż4. Brown University:

Brown University – Ivy League Colleges

Brown University – Admission Details

Located in Providence, Rhode Island, Brown University is coveted for its track record in R&D excellence, its onus on cultural values, and an active campus life. Boasting of stalwart alumni such as John D. Rockefeller, John F. Kennedy and Emma Watson, the university has thus far produced 54 members of theĢż, 56Ģż, 52Ģż,Ģż49Ģż,Ģż14ĢżĢżFellows andĢż21ĢżĢżwinners.

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Ģż5. University of Pennsylvania:

University of Pennsylvania – Ivy League Colleges

University of Pennsylvania – Admissions Details

Founded by Benjamin Franklin, UPenn is the USā€™s sixth-oldest university, and is home to the reputed Wharton School of Business. Penn alumni include current US president Donald J. Trump, singer-songwriter John Legend, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk and legendary sociolinguist Noam Chomsky. With an acceptance rate of 10%, it is one of the less selective Ivy League schools.

6. Cornell University:

Cornell University – Ivy League College

Cornell University – Admissions Details

Established in 1865, Cornell is the youngest Ivy League school, but that hasnā€™t stopped the university from contributing 58 Nobel laureates, 4 Turing Award winners, 55 Olympic medallists and 30 Rhodes scholars to the world, among others. The school is known for Cornelliana, its distinctive campus culture and tradition, its focus on cutting-edge research, and its rich history of working at the nexus of engineering and management.

7. Princeton University:

Princeton University – Ivy League College

Princeton University – Admissions Details

The fourth-oldest university in the US, Princeton boasts of a top-notch school of Engineering, an exciting campus life, and notable alumni including former First Lady, Michelle Obama, and US Supreme Court Justice Susan Sotomayor. Other claims to fame include the universityā€™s dedication to community service and its generous endowments.

8. Columbia University:

Columbia University – Ivy League Colleges

Columbia University – Admissions Details

Last but not the least, Columbia University in the city of New York is the dream destination for scientists and researchers alike and has helped pioneer groundbreaking discoveries in the fields of genetics, earth sciences, nuclear engineering, and machine learning. Its first president was none other than the literary stalwart Samuel Johnson, and the university is also responsible for administering the prestigious Pulitzer Prize which recognizes excellence in music, literature and journalism.

(Note: All rankings are taken from the latest QS university rankings. Fees mentioned include tuition, room and board before aid, and may differ from programme to programme.)

While the Ivy League schools may certainly seem daunting and out of your league (pun intended!), it is actually possible for just about anyone to make it to their dream Ivy League college, provided they are armed with a good academic profile and a high 91Čȱ¬ score. Like the best things in life, an offer letter to an Ivy League just takes a little more effort and preparation.

Dreaming of an Ivy League education? Why not take the first steps today to make your dreams a reality? If youā€™re eager to start applying but arenā€™t sure of how you could go about it, you can drop a comment below and an expert from 91Čȱ¬ will reach out to you in no time. We wish you warmly on your grad school journey ahead!

The post List of Ivy League Colleges – Review appeared first on 91Čȱ¬ Blog.

A Masterā€™s in Business Analytics is extremely beneficial for Undergraduate students who aim to work in data-driven giants such as Google, Facebook, and LinkedIn as well as experienced personnel who want to further their career prospects to stay competitive in the face of rapidly morphing business strategies. Before getting admitted to the Masterā€™s program in Business Analytics, you might be asked to undergo an video Interview process, apart from meeting general requirements like the 91Čȱ¬ and TOEFL/IELTS scores, and documents like LORs, your resume, and Statement of Purpose. Industries such as Finance, Technology, Marketing, and Retail have the highest scope for Business analysts.

Initially, interviews were a part of the admissions process for MBA programs, but are now extended to Masterā€™s programs also. Interviews give you an opportunity to supplement your written applications by giving the admissions committee further information and reasons that demonstrate your suitability to the course by answering a series of questions asked by them. Interviews are your final opportunity to convince the admissions committee about ā€˜Why youā€™re the best suit for their Masterā€™s programā€™ by giving them a glimpse into your experience, projects, previous courses completed, and future aspirations.

Download our eBOOK on “MS in Business Analytics – Everything you need to know“

How are these interviews conducted?

Different universities have different procedures but most of them conduct online video interviews. Letā€™s understand this through the interview procedure followed at the Imperial College of London.

• First of all, the Imperial College London invites candidates for Interviews only after shortlisting, which means, if someone is invited for the Interview then their application has reached the final stage of the selection procedure.
• For courses like an MSc in Business Analytics (Online, Part-time as well as Full-time), Management, Finance, and Financial technology, qualifying Interviews are certain for admission at most institutes.
• According to the admissions committee, the Interviews lasts for about 20 minutes, in which the candidate might be required to deliver an elevator pitch for the questions asked.
• The platform used by the Imperial College, London is called the ā€˜Kira Talent Online Interview Platformā€™. Do make sure that any email from Kira Talent doesnā€™t reach your Spam folder.
• On the Online platform, there are a series of questions, which you need to answer as well as record a short video, both of which, you will have to submit them to the portal.

Word of Advice – The Kira Talent Online Interview Platform is a third party service provider, and hence you can familiarize yourself with the platform before reaching the testing hall.

• The Video Interview questions will basically be regarding:

1. The candidateā€™s goal statement (where an effective elevator pitch is recommended)
2. How the coursework would help the candidate in achieving the goals he/she has.
3. Why that particular business school is best suited for the candidate.

• Some students get to give their Interviews using Skype as the video interview platform. In such cases, the candidate will be contacted by the admissions committee for giving them their Skype ID and to agree on a suitable time, and date for the video interview questions.
• It is witnessed that students who gave Interviews for an MS in Business Analytics were asked personal questions similar to ones asked in MBA admissions. Questions such as ā€˜Past failures and Personal experience in analyticsā€™ are often featured on the list.

Video Interview Questions

The Video Interview questions would be testing a candidateā€™s Technical knowledge, Skills, behavior, and instincts. Given below, are some of the actual questions asked during interviews of the MIT Sloan School of Business and the Imperial College of London;

1. Compute the natural log of 00.00

Answer – Natural log means a logarithm of a number with the base as e (2.718…). And the natural logarithm is defined only for positive non zero numbers and hence natural logarithm of 0 is not defined.

2. Where is Big Data used in a firm?

Answer – Firms like Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Twitter has huge data pilestocks, which they have analyze time and then for a better customer experience. The treasure for these companies lies in the analysis of these data. They use Big Data and Business analytics to find different trends, requirements, and other opportunities for the company. The Business analysts use Big Data for storage and then use various analytics tools to get useful information from them.

3. Tell me an experience you had when you were the team member and nobody sided you for your decision.

Answer – In general any team or group, while structuring their plan or vision faces conflict among the team members. This kind of healthy conflicts, which are helpful for the company or team in the long run and this is how the inefficient solutions are rejected, creative ideas are formed. You can share any of your experience while your projects or Internships.

4. What you think will be the most challenging part of this masterā€™s program?

Answer – If you are from a non computer Science background, then subjects based on R programming could be a bit difficult. Also, subjects based on Cloud platforms like the Amazon Web services could be difficult to understand.

5. If you are up for a salary hike or a promotion, explain to your senior authority as to why you think you are eligible for that.

Answer – To answer this question, you should be able to point out the highlights of your previous projects and what enhancements youā€™ve done and how it affected the company. You can also point out some problems, which werenā€™t previously solved and how you solved them with your leadership skills.

6. What is the shape of a logarithmic curve – concave or concave?

Answer – The shape of a Logarithmic function is convex, as the opening mouth of the function always face downwards. It is close to the negative ordinate and as you go forward in the positive x-axis, it moves away from the positive ordinate but facing downwards, and hence convex.

7. How is this MSc best suited to your dreams?

Answer – Business Analytics is like meshing your technical and management skills into one, which is further strengthened by developing leadership qualities. If you want to become an analyst in big data driven companies and reach higher leadership positions where your decisions could impact the society, then this might be the best course in achieving your dreams.

8. Tell me a situation where youā€™ve demonstrated your leadership skills.

Answer – Any leadership quality like, Decision making capabilities, Communication, creativity, or bringing a vision and passing it on to the lowest level of the firm effectively, which youā€™ve exhibited during your projects, internships, or at work would answer this question.

9. Why should we offer you a place in our university?

Answer – The University you would be applying for should provide you the subjects and electives which inclines with your interests. Your profile matches the requirements of the universities and fee structure along the with the living expenses of the country is matching with your capabilities.

10. If youā€™re in a soccer team, what would your position be?

Answer – You could answer any position you want to be like defender, or the mid field player. But your answer should strengthen your abilities.

How to prepare for Video Interview Questions

1. For technical video interview questions, you have to prepare your subjects over time. This is not something for which you could develop or prepare in a week or so. If youā€™re really good in your subjects, then this round would be a cakewalk for you. If youā€™re not able to answer the question, it is better to be honest about it and answer what you can think of.

2. For Video essays based on a candidateā€™s behavioral traits or goals, a goal statement could be the most beneficial tool. The goal statement should always guide the candidateā€™s action. Goal statements should be prepared in the ā€˜SMARTā€™ manner, should be accurately defined, and attainable. A Good Goal statement has the following features;

• S ā€“ Specific
• M ā€“ Measurable
• A ā€“ Acceptable
• R ā€“ Realistic
• T ā€“ Time-bound

3. The goal statement should be particular, specific and should convey what the student would like to achieve or attain, while also being quantifiable or measurable, like the number of months devoted to developing a particular skill, or to attain oneā€™s target score for a particular exam. It should be acceptable and realistic.

4. Once the goal statement for future years or goals are set, answering these personal questions becomes easier.

5. An elevator pitch is a necessity! ĢżAn elevator pitch should have the following stages;

• The first part of the elevator pitch is ā€˜Who are you?ā€™
• The second part of the elevator pitch is ā€˜What do you do?ā€™
• The third part of the elevator pitch is ā€˜What makes you unique?ā€™
• The fourth and final part of the elevator pitch is ā€˜How do you do it?ā€™

Remember that universities are looking for confident, motivated and dynamic young individuals who can take on the rigors of an MS program in business analytics! With a compelling interview or video essay, coupled with a strong elevator pitch, you have the opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the admissions committee and convince them that youā€™re just the kind of student theyā€™ve been looking out for!

Let us list the top universities and Business school offering Masterā€™s programs in Business Analytics.

Top Business Schools for an MS in BUSINESS ANALYTICS

1. The MIT Sloan School of Management

The MIT Sloan School of Management

The MIT Sloan School of Management – Application Details

For the Class of 2019:

The MIT Sloan School of Management – Class of 2019

Considering all the important factors such as the employability rate, alumni outcome, academic and research impact, and the number of professors who hold Ph.D. degrees, the Sloan School of Management stands at the top. The graduates are motivated to use data science as a tool to solve business challenges and problems and interpret and analyze the results and take data-driven decisions.

For further information regarding the Interviews at the MIT Sloan School of Management

*As a part of the curriculum, students has to complete a real-time Capstone Projects with leading industries to show their skills in analytics. This could be an opportunity to flaunt your ā€˜analyst skillsā€™ before getting employed.

2. Imperial College Business School

Imperial College Business School

Imperial College Business School – Application Details

Imperial College Business School

Imperial College Business School – Application Details

1. Knowledge requirement includes knowledge of Advanced Calculus, Statistics, Linear Algebra etc.
2. GMAT is not required as such, but a score of >650 will add heft to oneā€™s profile
3. Experience in programming languages such as Python, SQL, R will be an added advantage.
4. Experience i`n advanced quantitative courses.

For further information regarding the interviews at the Imperial College London,

*Around 95% of graduates get employed in three months after degree completion with an average salary of $60,000.

3. The University of Texas at Austinā€™s McCombs School of Business

The University of Texas at Austinā€™s McCombs School of Business

The University of Texas at Austinā€™s McCombs School of Business – Application Details

The University of Texas at Austinā€™s McCombs School of Business

The University of Texas at Austinā€™s McCombs School of Business – Application Details

The Class of 2017 has the following average scores:

The University of Texas at Austinā€™s McCombs School of Business – Average of Class 2017

For further information regarding the interviews at the University of Texas at Austinā€™s McCombs School of Business,

4. ESSEC Business School and Centrale Superlec:

ESSEC Business School and Centrale Superlec

ESSEC Business School and Centrale Superlec – Application Details

Application Deadlines:ā€“

ESSEC Business School and Centrale Superlec – Application Deadlines

to download the brochureĢż

5. ESADE Ramon Liull University

ESADE Ramon Liull University

ESADE Ramon Liull University – Application Details

ESADE Ramon Liull University

ESADE Ramon Liull University – Application DetailsFor further information regarding the interviews at the ESADE Ramon Liull University,

*Some of the Worldā€™s leading companies like Amazon, Microsoft and Santander Bank are the leading employers at this school where graduates are hired as Data Scientists.

6. USC Marshall School of Business

USC Marshall School of Business

USC Marshall School of Business – Application Details

USC Marshall School of Business

USC Marshall School of Business – Application Details

Application deadlines ā€“

USC Marshall School of Business – Application Deadline

for the details about the one-minute self-description videoĢż

7. Alliance Manchester Business School

Alliance Manchester Business School – Application Details

Alliance Manchester Business School

Alliance Manchester Business School – Application Details: The Alliance Manchester Business School doesnā€™t have a video interview round, but you can download the brochure by

8. Warwick Business School

Warwick Business School

Warwick Business School – Application Details

Warwick Business School – Application Details: Further details about the program

9. University of Edinburgh Business School

University of Edinburgh Business School

University of Edinburgh Business School – Application Details: ForĢżfurther details about the program

10. University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management

University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management – Application Details

University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management

University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management – Application Details: For Further details about the program

We hope you know a little more about the interview process now than you did 10 minutes ago! Have more doubts? Got a specific university in mind? Let us know in the comments below and weā€™ll try our best to help you out with what youā€™re looking for!

Best of Luck!

The post Video Interview Questions, Goal Statements, Elevator Pitch – MS Applications appeared first on 91Čȱ¬ Blog.

The importance of LOR

A Letter of Recommendation (LOR) is a vital part of the application process, which can make or break a studentā€™s chances of getting into an institute or securing a scholarship. Shriram Krishnamurthi a Professor at the Computer Science Department in Brown University has written about a student who got into an admirable graduate program in spite of having a score of 2.67 GPA. This remarkable student had written about the reasons that made his score special ā€“ he aced in classes that were hard and got bored in classes that werenā€™t. He explained this with several anecdotes and ensured that his letter stood out.

The LOR can play a critical role in helping to differentiate you among more than a lakh of applicants and have a favorable impact on your chances of getting admitted. The admission team of any institute looks for prospective students who have accomplished academic qualifications, impressive social skills, sound character, and have the promise to succeed. It helps the admission team to have a holistic idea about your personal and professional journeys.

Challenges faced in creating an LOR

Prospective students from India who are planning to pursue a Masterā€™s Degree from the US often struggle with getting the right flavors in their letter of recommendation. This is because their professors or employers may either be used to creating a particular LOR format or may have no idea at all.

Here are some dos and donā€™ts for an effective LOR.

DOs of LOR

1) Credibility matters

Heard about Blake Gottesman? Without a college degree he managed to get into Harvard Business School largely thanks to a stellar letter of recommendation written by the 43rd President of USA ā€“ George W. Bush, whom he served as a full-time personal aide. After graduating from Harvard in 2008, he joined Berkshire Partners, a Private Equity firm based out of Boston, as a senior associate.

Of course, not every applicant may have worked with or been taught by a genial ex-President or Prime Minister willing to write an LOR. But if you have work experience and have interacted with one of the heads of a department ā€“ for instance a CTO who is known across the industry, it would be great to secure a letter of recommendation from him.

As a student, if you are able to get the head of department or the Dean of your institute to sign your LOR, it would matter much more than getting your immediate friendly boss or your jovial 11th standard science teacher to do it.

2) LOR shouldnā€™t conflict with the rest of your application

Jhanvi Khanna is applying for a MS program after working for 45 months in a high growth startup. She has claimed so in her application forms and has been savvy enough to get a glowing LOR from the founder of the company ā€“ a charismatic gentleman whose success stories have been splashed in newspapers across the globe.

Recommendation Letter Sample:

Recommendation Letter Sample

Can you spot what went wrong?

Jhanvi has claimed that her work experience has been for 45 months. But her CEO has written that she worked for 4 years. One may perceive this as being superfluous, but it is absolutely critical that the information given in your transcripts match accurately with what is written in the LOR.

For sample LORs, check out our eBOOK on “Sample LOR for Top Admits Here”

3) Use impactful language

Visualize that you are going for an interview for a dream job. Are you likely to dress in a jaded pair of clothes along with a pair of old loafers or would you want to adorn yourself with a crisp white shirt and a classical suit with smart, polished shoes?

Rather than using insipid words or clichƩs, using descriptive vocabulary and engaging phrases in your LOR would ensure that it stands out.

Here are some LOR format samples

For instance rather than writing:

LOR sample writing

One can write:

Improved LOR sample writing

Yet, one must be careful about a few aspects. One shouldnā€™t be using phrases that could be misinterpreted. For instance, “He is a perfectionist.” Certain admission officers may interpret this as a sign of narcissism or even having negative social traits.

4) Your letter should be peppered with meaningful anecdotes

Structured LOR letter

Isn’t this a fascinating story? This anecdote  not only brings to light Rajivā€™s caliber as a fantastic batsman, but also establishes that he is a young man with robust morality. Just like a picture is worth a thousand words, a story like this illustrates the characteristics of the applicant like nothing else can.

Don’ts of LOR

1) Donā€™t repeat your resume

Writing a LOR that only repeats what is given in your Resume would certainly inhibit your chances of getting admitted in  MS program. The purpose of the LOR is to sketch your complete personality in the mind of the admission officer without you having to speak a word.

Repeating facts and figures given in your resume would make the admission officer feel that the official who has written the LOR is distant and does not share a healthy relationship with the applicant.

Recommendation letter example:

Example of Recommendation letter

2) Spelling mistakes

Spelling mistakes are a big no-no. It may raise doubts about the credibility of the individual who is recommending you.  

3) Politically incorrect language

Today, one has to be extremely mindful about hurting sensibilities. One may inadvertently end up hurting others by using certain phrases or words.

Example:

Example LOR

Imagine that the Admission Officer reading this is suffering from Asperger Syndrome. The applicant might have his sympathies but this letter could displace the admission officerā€™s temperament for a while and impact Aslamā€™s chances of getting admitted.

The individual writing a recommendation may not be well-versed with the nuances of English Language. But the applicant will have to take special care in ensuring that such sentences are not a part of the LOR, especially if the person offering the LOR is known to have limited command over the English language.

4) The letter is too short

An appropriate letter of recommendation should be around a page long ā€“ which means around 500 to 600 words when written on an A4 page. Sometimes, universities may specify the number of words, which makes it easier. A study that assessed several letters of recommendations indicated that the more details there are in the letter, the better is it for the applicant ā€“ which meant that as long as the details in the letter are relevant, a longer letter could turn out favorable for the prospective student.

However, a recommendation that is hardly half a page would seem as if it has been forcibly written. A golden rule to keep in mind is that a letter of recommendation should be crisp enough to be captivating for the reader, yet long enough to cover the important parts.

Let us consider another example:

Ideal LOR sample

Undoubtedly the candidate ā€“ Rajiv Joshi has immense potential. Unfortunately, the letter written by his professor seems like a buffet which only served lip smacking soup and delectable starters, but kept the patrons hungry for more.

Check out our YouTube video on Letter of Recommendation for more information.

Conclusion ā€“ Preparation, Visualization, and Revision are important

It is important to prepare at least a couple of years prior to creating an effective LOR format. This is because one may still be falling behind on certain parameters, such as academics, professional achievements, personal growth or extracurricular activities. One could start visualizing how oneā€™s LOR format should look like after a couple of years and work on achieving the same. So if your grades are not up to the mark, you could not only work harder to improve your average, but also follow your passion of building robots which you had been procrastinating for long. It is imperative that one doesnā€™t pursue activities just for the heck of including them in the LOR, as these pursuits wouldnā€™t last long. One should also recognize the prospective writer of oneā€™s LOR and invest in building a healthy relationship with that person.  Finally, it is important to revise and proof read the LOR multiple times before submission.

The post How an LOR for Master’s looks like appeared first on 91Čȱ¬ Blog.

Business Analytics is a ā€˜high in demandā€™ professional course in the highly globalized and competitive market today, where each country plays a front foot game. Leading countries in the market are the ones with diverse business sizes that aim at projecting their growth in precise directions. Japan, Germany, China, the UAE, and US are the top growing countries that have carved out the need for business analysts like never before, owing to the continuous development and competition in the market for better products, services, and a consumer-driven economy. In fact, the US projected a 40% growth in global DATA annually by the end of 2018. This is why most US universities offering this program today rank at the top ā€“ globally.Ģż

For a detailed understanding of the Business analytics course, check out this e-book on “MS in Business Analytics”

Let us examine and understand the courseā€™s scope and information by studying the top universities in the US providing the Business Analytics course, based on their global ranks in the same.

Top 10 universities providing MSBA in the US

1) MIT ā€“ Sloan School of Management

MIT – Sloan School of Management

MIT is hands down one of the most well-known universities in the US ā€“ and it is not just for its courses in Management. It is the number 1 ranked university globally for Masterā€™s in Business Analytics and one of the most competitive schools for the course. The MSBA is a year-long STEM-designated course that focuses on data science with a small but highly diverse class comprising 57% international students hailing from more than 12 countries, 8 streams, and 15 different universities as of class 2018. The school partners with various industrial giants to collaborate, work, teach, and employ its students likewise ā€“ BCG, McKinsey, IBM, BMW are a few employers to name. It is an intensive course with five required fundamental subjects, one required Analytics Capstone project, one required project class, six three-hour modules, one pro-seminar, and a minimum of three focused electives with projects that give students opportunities to work in an organization within the US and abroad.

Tuition Fees and Application Requirements

2) The University of Texas at Austin ā€“ McCombs School of Business

The University of Texas at Austin ā€“ McCombs School of Business

The MSBA is a yearlong STEM-designated course that focuses on applied statistics, computer science, and risk management. UT Austin is the number 3 ranked university globally, for Master’s in Business Analytics. It is a significant program for applicants from math, computer science, and engineering backgrounds with a specialized career development team to assist students. Tie-ups with companies like Walmart and Deloitte not only recruit but also coach the students. The school has a very good gender ratio in students with more than 40% international students hailing from more than 6 different streams in the past ā€“ this school provides a very diverse class including students with vast experience and those who are fresh graduates.

Application requirements and yuition fees in University of Texas at Austin ā€“ McCombs School of Business

3) University of Southern California ā€“ Marshall School of Business

University of Southern California ā€“ Marshall School of Business

It is the number 6 ranked university globally for Masterā€™s in Business Analytics and is one of the most competitive schools for the course. It focuses on the inner working strategies of the global market space. It provides opportunities for international travel and study projects across all discipline courses in business and management studies. It has a full time as well as a part-time track, as per the speed in which the candidate wishes to work; the full-time course is 18-months long and elective courses, such as fraud analytics and foundations of information security are offered. Batch of 2017 hails from 14 different countries as opposed to the batch of 2016 that had students from 6 countries, which shows the growth rate and popularity of the course.

Tuition Fees and Application Requirements in University of Southern California ā€“ Marshall School of Business

4) University of Minnesota ā€“ Carlson School of Management

University of Minnesota ā€“ Carlson School of Management

It is the number 4 ranked university globally for Master’s in Business Analytics. With high employment rates, students of the batch of 2015 & 2016 received their employment from across the country within three months of completing the course. It has a full time as well as a part-time track as per the speed that the candidate wishes to work in, 1 year long for a full-time course, and 2 year long for a part-time course. The class of 2018 has 84% international students hailing from more than 8 different undergraduate streams.

Tuition Fee and Application Requirements in University of Minnesota ā€“ Carlson School of Management

5) Michigan State University ā€“ The Eli Broad Graduate School of ManagementĢż

Michigan State University ā€“ The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management

It is the number 18 ranked university globally for Masterā€™s in Business Analytics with coaching and assistance to custom fit degree programs as per the need and goals of a student. The course is based on social network analytics, web analytics, and the Capstone business analytics corporate project with a 100% employment rate by the time the students graduate. Employment companies include BCBS, Capital One, Citibank, Citrix, Cognizant Technologies, Consumers Energy, Deloitte, Ducker, EY, Ford, GM, Gongos, Haggerty, MGM Resorts, MSU, PWC, Styker, Torrid, UnderArmour, and Urban Sciences. A lot of students are from China and India in recent batches.

Tuition Fee and Application Requirements in Michigan State University ā€“ The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management

6) Purdue University ā€“ Krannert School of Management

Purdue University ā€“ Krannert School of Management

It is the number 12 ranked university globally for Masterā€™s in Business Analytics with a STEM designated ā€“ 11 month long full-time course. Experiential learning and group project way to teaching are adopted to help understand prototyping and analysis.

Tuition Fee and Application Requirements in Purdue University ā€“ Krannert School of Management

7) Arizona State University ā€“ W. P. Carey School of Business

Arizona State University ā€“ W. P. Carey School of Business

It is the number 19 ranked university globally for Masterā€™s in Business Analytics. It provides both on campus and an online business analytics course. Students can complete the STEM course in 9 months and appear for the CFA exams. The online course, however, is 18-months long and focuses in course work approach of teaching. With about 84% international students in the last batch from about 20 different undergraduate schools, this school has one of the most diverse batches.

Tuition Fee and Application Requirements in Arizona State University ā€“ W. P. Carey School of Business

8) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ā€“ The Lally School of Management and Technology

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ā€“ The Lally School of Management and Technology

It is the number 27 ranked university globally for Masterā€™s in Business Analytics. This 9-month long course focuses on a research-based approach and emphasizes on data integration on powerful computation and visualization source and coursework methodology. In the previous batches, more than 40% of students were from technical backgrounds. There are part-time and full-time programs, where the part-time program is for 2 years and is designed to assist working professionals.

Tuition Fee and Application Requirements in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ā€“ The Lally School of Management and Technology

9) Southern Methodist University ā€“ SMU ā€“ Cox School of Business

Southern Methodist University- SMU – Cox School of Business

It is the number 25 ranked university globally for Masterā€™s in Business Analytics, which is a STEM and OPT certified course. Full-time and part-time course options are available, where part-time course can be taken up in the evening as well. It focuses not just on data analysis but also business intelligence work agencies through a 10-month long full-time program that is taught in two semesters and gives specialization within the course ā€“ two tracks that students can choose from as per their interest.

Application Requirements and Tuition Fee in Southern Methodist University ā€“ SMU ā€“ Cox School of Business

10) University of Notre Dame ā€“ Mendoza College of Business

University of Notre Dame ā€“ Mendoza College of Business

It is the number 21 ranked university globally for Masterā€™s in Business Analytics, which is a STEM designated program for freshers and professionals with less than two years of work experience. This is 10-month long program that promotes business clubs and honor societies as a way of learning and enjoying the campus. Top employers are Amazon, Bank of America, Deloitte, Emerson, ExxonMobil, EY, Ford Motor, GE, IBM, Intel, JP Morgan, P&G, PwC, United Airlines, Wells Fargo, and Whirlpool.

Application Requirements and Tuition Fee in University of Notre Dame ā€“ Mendoza College of Business

For more information on Top 10 universities in Business AnalyticsĢż“Download our eBOOK Here”

So far, we have considered the few best universities in the US offering MS in Business Analytics course. There are, however, other countries who are sporting this course with a renewed zest in the field of business management and statistical advancement data studies. It is imperative to perceive what and how they are offering the same course to conclude a healthy analysis and establish a comparison. Check out the listings that follow.

Globally-ranked universities providing MSBA (other than US)

1) The University of Melbourne ā€“ Melbourne Business School ā€“ AustraliaĢż

The University of Melbourne ā€“ Melbourne Business School ā€“ Australia

It is the number 16 ranked university globally for Master’s in Bbusiness Analytics. This is a 1-year long full-time course, with much emphasis on the orientation of business modelling and data analysis through a varied range of software that the students will be taught by experts in the field.

Application Requirements and Tuition Fee in The University of Melbourne ā€“ Melbourne Business School ā€“ Australia

2) The University of Manchester ā€“ Alliance Manchester Business School ā€“ England (UK)Ģż

The University of Manchester ā€“ Alliance Manchester Business School ā€“ England (UK)

It is the number 7 ranked university globally for Master’s in Business Analytics. The institute offers one-year long full-time course, which focuses on quantitative problem solving with both new age technology and the old methods that evolved it. The coursework has a unique way to process learning with style-case consultation. In the batch of 2017, less than 10% of applicants were selected.

Application Requirements and Tuition Fees in The University of Manchester ā€“ Alliance Manchester Business School ā€“ England (UK)

3) Politecnico di Milano ā€“ MIP Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Business ā€“ Milan, ItalyĢżĢż

Politecnico di Milano ā€“ MIP Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Business ā€“ Milan, Italy

It is the number 35 ranked university globally for Master’s in Business Analytics. This is a full-time 1-year long program specializing in big data analytics. The coursework is divided in 6 modules that conclude with an internship or a thesis. It is an EFMD EQUIS accredited course.

Application Requirements and Tuition Fee in Politecnico di Milano ā€“ MIP Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Business ā€“ Milan, Italy

4) Athens University of Economics and Business ā€“ Athens, GreeceĢżĢż

Athens University of Economics and Business ā€“ Athens, Greece

It is the number 27 ranked university globally for Master’s in Business Analytics. The institute offers variants in the program, such as a 1-year long full-time course or a 2-year long art time course. Applicants may also choose from an Intensity and part-time variant, which are flexible.

Application Requirements and tuition fee in Athens University of Economics and Business ā€“ Athens, Greece

5) University of Strathclyde ā€“ Strathclyde Business School ā€“ Glasgow, ScotlandĢżĢż

University of Strathclyde- Strathclyde Business School ā€“ Glasgow, Scotland

It is the number 45 ranked university globally for Masterā€™s in Business Analytics, which offers a full-time 2-year-long course. Distance learning program can also be chosen as per the flexibility of the candidate. The course involves a 3-week long work program with one of its host tie-up companies for most students and an in-house dissertation as part of the mandatory modules.

Tuition fee and Application Requirements in University of Strathclyde ā€“ Strathclyde Business School ā€“ Glasgow, Scotland

Now that we have looked at the universities and have an idea as to how our decisions must be driven, it is also important to understand what kind of profile one must build to pursue an MS in Business Analytics. For most people, the major drive is the monetary output that is showcased by universities, agencies, and companies ā€“ conveniently not stating a direct hit at the time, focus, dedication, and skills that must be exhausted to produce desired outputs for any form of business.

Tips to take into consideration while making a profile for MS in Business Analytics

• Strong quantitative skills that should be protrayed
• Good soft skills ā€“ it is important to have a personality that can not only find a solution but also present it in an efficient way ā€“ that sells
• Knowledge of business context and tools
• Basic problem-solving skills and logical reasoning should hold a strong position in your profile
• Critical thinking skills are of utmost importance ā€“ the key is to be able to find that key from the bunch which no one would probably even try
• Interpersonal and communication skills ā€“ it is important for a Business Analyst to work on the agency side as well; many companies tend to outsource and hence one may have to strive to gain business
• Computer skills ā€“ with the increase in data flow every second in this fiscal world, the applicant must be proficient with the skill set that will help in examining large amounts of data and configure it to suit the purpose
• An intermediate knowledge of calculus that some universities may also specifically ask for ā€“ although this is highly university- and subject-specific

Check out our blog to know all about the nuancesĢżof pursuing your MS in Business AnalyticsĢż“Here”

Most skills for this course are not ones that can be gained overnight ā€“ it is a long cumbersome process that is mostly driven by basic interest and personality traits. A self-analyzed approach to the profile as well as the course is imperative.

For more information, check out our YouTube Video on Career & Job Opportunities in Business Analytics.

In this globally challenging epoch, weigh your chances, affordability, skills, and opportunities in much detail, and then if you decide to be a Business Analyst, we believe it was intended to be. We wish you good luck and much success in your endeavors.

The post Master’s in Business Analytics: Top Universities to Pursue MS in BA appeared first on 91Čȱ¬ Blog.

What Is a Student Visa?

A student visa is the official green signal for a student to enter the country. In most cases, the student is required to have received an admit into a full-time course in a University of the country to start the visa application process.

After your course is completed, different countries have a set time period for which you can stay on in the country, following which your visa expires. This extended period can be 60 days or 4 months depending on the country.

The Australian Student visa process is completely online. For USA and Germany, the interviews will be held at the US Embassy and the German Consulate respectively. With regard to Canada, students receive their Student Permit only after arriving in Canada. But to do that, they have to first apply for a Temporary Resident Visa. This is provided by the Canadian High Commission and facilitated by the Visa Application Centers.

Types of student visas:

United States:

Most students apply for the F visa. The F visa is for students enrolled in full-time programs. The M visa is issued to students who choose to pursue a non-academic or technical course. Students of community colleges are also issued the M visa. The J Visa is applicable for students visiting the US on Exchange Programs and Research Fellowships.

Germany:

Three types of student visas are issued. The most commonly issued one is the German Student Visa for students who have received an admit to full-time programs in German universities. The German Student Application Visa applies to students whose presence is required in Germany during the application process selection interviews, for instance. Please note that the student will have to apply for a fresh visa after he/she receives admit. The German Language Course Visa is issued to students who have enrolled in a non-academic course to learn the German language and is usually valid for 3ā€“ 12 months.

Canada:

There is only one kind of student visa, known as Student Permit, for which, like in other countries, an admit to an academic institute is a must.

Australia:

There is only one kind of visa for full-time graduate programs ā€“ the Student Visa (Subclass 500). This change was made in 2016, before which there were more specific categories depending on the nature and duration of your course.

When is the best time to apply for a visa?

Irrespective of which country you are applying for, a Student Visa can be sought only after you have received at least one Letter of Admission from a university. ĢżIdeally, try to start filing for the visa application three months before the commencement of your course. The processing time for international students are longer, so the earlier you start the process, the higher your chances of acceptance.

How long does it take to get a student visa?

The visa filing process for F1 visa of the United States takes about two weeks. Most students will know the status of their visa application as soon as the visa interview is over. However, in some cases, the officer in-charge may keep the status as pending to look into some unmet requirements in the visa application.

It takes about 3ā€“4 weeks to get a student visa in Germany and Canada. However, it is advised to start the visa process about three months before the commencement of the course. ĢżThere is a visa interview as well for Germany, in contrast to Canada, where the process is mostly online.

The Australian Visa process is known to be slightly more stringent with the required documents when compared to other countries. However, if all the documents required have been submitted and found acceptable, the visa is issued in 2ā€“3 days. Sometimes it stretches to two or three weeks.

What are the documents required to start the visa application process?

1. Admit Letter from a University
2. Valid Passport ā€“ should ideally be issued at least 1 year prior to visa application
3. Form I- 20 document in case of USA
4. Education Qualification Certificates
5. Scorecards of 91Čȱ¬, TOEFL, IELTS, GMAT
6. Financial documents which prove that your tuition fee and living expenses for the whole duration of the course (preferably) are covered. This can be in the form of a loan sanction letter or proof of financial savings.
7. Medical check-up results in case of Australia and Canada
8. Health Insurance Certificate (for Germany and Australia)
9. Certificate of German Language Proficiency (important for German visa)
10. Visa Application fee receipt

Visa application process for various countries

United States:

Once you have received an admit from a university, you will be required to pay SEVIS I-901 fee, following which you will receive your Form I-20. The I-20 is issued by the university and it exhaustively covers every detail of your estimated expenditure. The tuition fee and living expenses for one year are mentioned in detail. The Form I-20 is also an official confirmation of your seat in the university. Once you receive your I-20, you can complete filing your visa application form online and submit it to the consulate after paying a non-refundable visa application fee.

The next step in the process would be to visit your preferred Visa Application Center (VAC) to have your fingerprints and photo taken. You will then be required to choose the slot for the visa interview and your preferred location.

Germany:

For a full-time course which is longer than three months, students will have to apply for a Residence Permit. After the paperwork and online filing process is completed, schedule an interview at the German Consulate. The sooner you do this, the better. Start the visa application process ideally three months before your course commences. An important thing to keep in mind is, for Germany, students will have to create a separate ā€œblocked account,ā€ wherein the living expenses for one year is transferred to that account. This is a mandatory requirement. While this blocked account can be created in any bank, the Consulate refers to Kotak Mahindra Bankā€™s standard procedures that meets every criteria of the visa requirement.

Canada:

For the Canadian Visa Application process, three documents are mandatory. First, proof of sound health through a valid medical checkup. Second, proof that the fee for your course has been paid. Third, the Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) which requires the student to deposit a sum of ten thousand Canadian Dollars to a bank account in Canada. This amount is meant to cover your living expenses and is proof to the authorities that you will be able to support yourself financially as a student. This is basically to ensure that you have enough funds to finance your living expenditure. If you have these three documents, you can apply for a Canadian visa through the Student Direct Stream (SDS), which is a new mode of visa filing, especially for students from India, China, Vietnam, and Philippines. Once you have submitted your application, you will be required to also submit your fingerprint and photo. If your application has been accepted, you will receive a Letter of Introduction and your Temporary Resident Visa from the Canadian High Commission. You will need to produce these documents when you arrive in Canada, then you will receive your Study Permit. The process takes about four to five weeks.

Australia:

For an Australian Student Visa, all visa applications must be submitted online through the Immi Account, according to the latest regulations. The visa application process will not be successfully submitted until you submit your financial documents to show that the first semester fee has been paid and you have funds, roughly amounting to Rs. 10 Lacs to prove that your living expenses for the first year are taken care of. This could be through a loan letter from a bank, or liquid funds in a bank account. A medical report from a designated center is also a must. When you submit your application form, it is ideal to submit all the supporting documents as well. If some of the supporting documents are in the native language, please attach a certified translation as well. The visa authorities then review your documents and either get back to you with further queries or accept the application, if everything is clear. You will be able to track the status of your visa application online.

How much does the Visa Application Process cost?

Student Visa Cost

We hope this article gave you a good idea of the visa filing application process for the leading countries in international education! We wish you a sound head start in your study abroad journey! If you have any further queries, please drop them in the comments below and we will be happy to help! In conclusion, while many often expect a decline in the F1 visa applicants, data shows that the USA is still the preferred destination for international students, with an average of six hundred thousand students being accepted each year. Canadaā€™s population of international students has also steadily increased in recent years because of the relatively easy way to become a Permanent Resident. Australia recorded an entry of half a million students last year, while Germany accepted four hundred thousand students. Nevertheless, in spite of all the confusion and controversy, USA is the hot favorite!

Ģż

The post Student Visa Requirements, Fee, Eligibility, Application Process appeared first on 91Čȱ¬ Blog.

• The Canada Student Visa Fees
• The Application process
• TheĢżRules of Canadian Student VisaĢż
• Getting a study permit in Canada
• The validity of the student permit

It is of utmost importance to understand the application process and be well-acquainted with the documents youā€™ll be required to present for obtaining a Canada student visa.

10 Things you MUST know about Canada Student Visa:

1)ĢżImportant documents to have in hand before starting the Canada Student Visa / Study Permit application process:

Canada student visa requirements include the following:-

• Valid Passport: A Valid Passport is essential to apply for a Study Permit. According to the Canadian High Commission, it is important that you have a passport whose validity covers the intended period of stay in Canada. For example, if you are planning for a session in Canada during October 2019 for a three-year course, your passport should be valid until at least October 2022.
• Letter of Acceptance from a designated institution: An acceptance letter from the intuition or university you are planning to study at, is required. The letter must be from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Colleges under DLI host international students under the authorization of the Canadian government.
• Proof of funds: For obtaining a Canadian study permit, you must present a validation of the funds you possess. It is essential to prove that you would have enough funds to pay for the tuition fees as well as take care of living expenses. The Canadian Immigration deems a student would require at least Canadian $10,000 per year of stay. Other than this, the student must also have enough funds in his/her account for return airfare to his/her country of origin.

2)Ģż Canadian Study permit VS. Canada Student Visa:

If you intend to study in Canada, you would need a Canadian Study Permit. The study permit is an official document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that allows a foreign national to study in Canada for a limited time.

A Canada student visa, on the other hand, is a temporary resident visa which enables you to reside in the country for a period exceeding 6 months and study. If the course you are entitled to is within a span of 6 months, a student visa is enough; you may not require a study permit, which is in fact a longer procedure. Getting Canada student visas are relatively easy.

To acquire the study permit the important documents and proof of funds mentioned above is of utmost importance. Moreover, the student must possess a clean record; no criminal charges from any country must be issued against him/her. The student must also have a proper health record with no serious diseases that could prove to be fatal. Post all the documents being presented, the student needs to apply for the study permit either by online application or in paperĢżformat. The time taken for issuing a study permit may vary, taking longer especially in the summer months.

In order to renew the study permit, if the student decides to change the course from mathematics to physics or from one institution to the other, they do not have to apply for a new student permit. Instead, students are required to update the IRCC upon changing institutions or courses. It must be noted that aĢżstudy permit expires 90 days after graduation. Thus it is extremely important that international graduates update the IRCC of their current status within 90 days of graduation.

3) What is the best way to answer the common Canada Student Visa questions in the interview:

After the Canada student visa fee is paid, the applicants can schedule an interview with the Canadian Embassy. The visa interview is the final stage of the application process which determines the approval of the Canada Student Visa. During the visa interview, the consulate officers verify the documents that have been provided by the students as well as enquire as to their purpose of choosing to study in Canada, their plans upon completing their program and so on. The questions asked in the interview are usually pretty elementary ones, and must be answered to the point with a certain degree of confidence. Some of the questions asked by the consulate are:

(i) Ques: Have you been to Canada before?

Ģż Ģż Ģż Ans: Reply politely with a yes or a no.

(ii) Ques: What would be the primary purpose of your visit?

Ģż Ģż Ģż Ans: Whether you have had visited Canada as a tourist or to inquire about the different colleges or any relative resides in the country, just be true to the answer.

(iii) Ques: Are you nervous?

Ģż Ģż Ģż ĢżAns: Keeping the answer brief and formal might be the best option

(iv) Ques: Why are you choosing Canada for your higher education?

Ģż Ģż Ģż ĢżAns: Highlighting the countryā€™s teaching standards and its development efficiency could be a good answer. Moreover, you can also explain how the teaching methods are different from your country

Remaining honest and confident while answering the various questions asked and not beating around the bush will help students make a good impression on the visa officer. You must also be sure of the name of your institution, the exact degree you will be receiving, the date of commencement and course duration.

4) Approximate application fees in Canadian Universities:

Canada visa fees according to the are grouped under the following subheads:-

The application fees ranges from Canadian $45 (1 CAD = Rs. 52 approx.) in Medicine Hat College to about $300 in Red River College. Most of the universities like Northern College, Selkirk College, Northern Lights College, Georgian College, North Island College , Niagara College, Camosun College have application fees of $100.

5) Canada Student Visa success rate:

In the first quarter of 2017, 60% of all study visa applications were approved. There were 38,000 applications in the first three months from 175 countries.

Approval rates vary depending on the source country.

āœ“ Applications from Japan had the highest approval percentage of 97%

āœ“ Cameroon was very low at 9.5%

āœ“ India had 6928 applications, and 59% were approved ā€” the same as the overall average approval rate.

āœ“ There were only 218 applications from the USA, 88% approved.

Some tips to improve chances in getting the Canada student visa are:

āœ“ ĢżCandidates who are applying for Technical or PG programs should have at least 60% in their core subjects.

āœ“ For programs related to Business or Accounting ā€“ the studentā€™s marks in English, Math, Statistics & Accounting should be more than 60%.

āœ“ TheĢżIELTS band requirement for PG courses and programs related to direct public dealing is 6.5 overall with not less than 6.0 on each individual band

āœ“ Do not attempt to hide any semesterā€™s mark sheets from the CIC as they will assume that you are hiding information and it may be sufficient grounds for visa refusal.

āœ“ Gaps after studies should not be more than 2 years for undergraduate students and not more than 5 years for Graduates.

āœ“ ĢżA maximum of 8 backlogs is acceptable ā€“ However, failing in core subjects, requiring more than 2 attempts in the same subject and more than 5 backlogs are viewed negatively.

āœ“ Applications with more than 10 backlogs will be considered as NON ā€“ SPP application, with the same being applicable in instances where there are more than 5 gap years.

āœ“ Applicants who took more than the stipulated time to complete their undergraduate program (i.e., Took 5 years to complete a 4-year program) are most likely to be refused.

āœ“ Applicants who studied in the UK, Australia or New Zealand earlier may apply for programs in Canada with good IELTS scores (i.e; 6.5 overall or above) and they should have successfully completed their previous programs.

6) The importance of your IELTS score:

The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is an examination that is required to be taken by students who are non-native speakers of English, even if they are from countries which speak English as one of their official languages.Ģż There is absolutely no limit of the number of times you can appear for the test, but it is advisable to go well prepared as the exam fees arenā€™t really cheap (approx. Rs. 12.650). Different universities have different IELTS score band requirements, however, the minimum accepted score generally hovers around the 6.5 band mark. Given below, are 3 of the most sought after Canadian universities and the IELTS scores they require.

For more information Checkout our eBOOK onĢż“A Definitive Guide for IELTS“

Below there are three top-ranked universities with their IELTS Score:

• The University of Toronto: An overall band score of 6.5, with a minimum score of 6 on each section of the exam.
• The University of British Columbia: An overall band score of 6.5, with a minimum score of 6 in each section of the exam.
• McGill University: An overall score of 6.5, with no minimum score by section.

A few universities, though, have a minimum band score of 5.5. Some of these universities include:

• Royal Roads University: 5.5 band overall with a minimum 5.0 in each band.
• Canadore College of Applied Arts and Technology: 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.
• St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology: 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5 in each band.

7) Student visa processing time for International Applicants:

If you are applying for a bachelorā€™s or masterā€™s degree program the canadian student visa processing time is usually three weeks. If one is applying for an SPP programme the time taken is up to one week. However it is advisable to apply to Canadian High Commission about three months in advance in order to get a favourable consideration for oneā€™s student visa.

8) Opportunities to extend your study visa or convert it to a job-seeker/work visa post completion of your program:

If you intend to extend the study visa, you must do so at least 30 days prior to the expiry of your study permit. It is not feasible to extend the study permit post the expiry of your passport. If, by, chance your study permit gets expired, thereā€™s no option but to leave Canada. Prior to applying for an extension in the study permit you must make sure your school is on the . If you extend your study permit, you need to enrol at a DLI. You can apply either online (and thus save time), or on paper.

It is advisable that you explain with clarification as to how your status has been lost, though there is no assurance that study visa extension would indeed be granted.

However, if you desire to work full time, you must be able to show a job offer from the respective employer and also obtain an approved LMIA (Approval to hire a foreign worker). The LMIA process approximately requires a number of months to get over and costs nearly $1,000. During the process, the employer must prove that they had advertised for the job but couldnā€™t find a desirable Canadian employee. It must be kept in mind that most employers are not willing to undergo this tedious procedure of LMIA. To work in Canada after your graduation, you will need a work permit. The work experience you gain will further enrich your qualifications for a better job and permanent residency.

9) Stay back opportunities in Canada after your completion of your graduate studies:

Your study permit will become invalid 90 days after you complete your education period therefore, if you wish to live and continue working in Canada, you need to apply for a work permit following the instructions above or remain in the country as a visitor. After completing your studies if you wish to stay in Canada as a visitor, you must apply for a visitor record. ĢżFor an initial work or study permit or for a new visitor visa you may have to leave Canada to submit your bio-metrics to the nearest Visa Application Centre (VAC).

10) Top mistakes to avoid that can potentially lead to visa rejection:

Some common reasons for rejection, often overlooked, include:

(i) Inadequate Family relations in Home Country

Insufficient ties to the home country may adversely affect the chances of Canada student visa approval as this may raise doubts on the applicantā€™s intent to return home after completing his or her program. Normally, having a family established in the home country with ownership of property and other assets may be enough to prove family ties.

(ii)ĢżFinancial Insufficiency

The Program Delivery Instructions clearly states that the applicant is required to provide proof of adequate finances for the first year of the course. Your application for a Canadian student visa might be rejected if you are suspected of financial insufficiency. This might lead to taking up jobs in Canada and eventually settle there; hence this is a very significant factor for the student permit to be rejected.

(iii) No Job Prospects in the Home Country

If the current employer is assured that there will be a job for the student in the home country after he or she completes the education programme, there will possibly be no difficulties in acquiring the student visa. According to the Canada student visa rules, candidates without a proper job may submit a proof that after the due course in Canada, they intend to be employed in their home country and that there are sufficient job prospects in regard to the course back in the home country. Otherwise, the immigration office may conclude that the study permit is intended to help the applicant settle permanently in Canada.

(iv) Inadequate Travel History

If the applicants do not have their passports stamped by other countries or havenā€™t travelled by air previously, there are chances your visa might get rejected. This is true mostly for candidates who have just completed high school and have travelled only within their home countries.

Conclusion:

However, students who pursue their education in Canada are usually most likely to stay back in Canada and settle in this blissful land. There has been a constant rise in the number of students staying back in Canada after studying, with a 50% rise in the number of Indians being granted Canadian citizenship in 2018 compared to the previous year. Also as a student, you are bound to explore new horizons of knowledge, thanks to the advanced educational facilities and faculties present here in the country. Considering the success rate of visa, it is considerable you might get a chance into the country. Having proper documents and possessing a clean record will ensure the peaceful stay in Canada and also the visa application process will continue smoothly. Hereā€™s wishing you all the best for your dreams to study in this nation and achieving great success. If you have any doubts or queries, feel free to write to us in the comments below.

The post Canada Student Visa: Eligibility, Requirements, Application Process, Fees appeared first on 91Čȱ¬ Blog.

Think of it this way:ā€“

• Your GPA shows the university your academic potential;
• Work experience and research papers illustrate your professional skills;
• Exam scores display your mathematical prowess, command over the English language, IQ and logical reasoning abilities;
• The SOP illustrates your journey in your own words;

However, none of these are accurate representations of what it is like to actually work with you, as a person! Your LOR fills in this gap by presenting your personality and traits better, in the eyes of those who have had past experience of mentoring or working with you, along with a validation of the above. The admissions committee looks for letters of recommendation to know more about your USPs, without you having to speak about it yourself.

Now that you understand what an LOR is, letā€™s understand whoĢżyou must approach to provide you with a letter of recommendation.

Whom should you approach for your LOR?

The question of whom it must be undersigned by is different for each applicant, stream and applicant.

Itā€™s important, however, to understand that you must share a close equation with the individual, as only then will he/she be able to say the right things about you. While validating the already stated facts with your other documents, they must be able to furnish an insight that is not conveyed in your application by any other means.

For students who have just completed their undergraduate program (no work experience):ĢżIt must be someone who can relate and vouch for you, in terms of your academic background, and journey so far. You can approach a professor, the head of the department, the dean or the director of the institute where you have pursued your education. The credibility of their words would be much more than that of a school teacher that once taught you or a professional from the outside world whom you cannot trace a direct link to.

For working Professional: Itā€™s always good to obtain the letter from a superior who you have closely associated with at work. He must hold a certain reputation and position in the company that adds to his authority as a recommender. He must not only iterate on your relationship and skills observed as a professional but, also on the character front.

What must it say, after all?

• The letter is and must sound like a report of a personal association of the referrer with the student.
• It can talk about certain anecdotes, incidents or even narratives that need not directly harp on the student’s skills, but rather demonstrate it with the help of an event.Ģż
• The letter must choose a style of writing that is very simple and effective
• It must not sound narcissistic to the admissions committee in any way
• It should mention the qualities that canā€™t otherwise be judged by other parts of the application, making it an opportunity to say more rather than to repeat the already stated. For example ā€“ the admissions committee already knows your GPA, work experience, rankings, and other major achievements; however, the factors that set you apart from the competition are seldom found elsewhere and must be focused on in your LORs.

Tips and Common Mistakes:

• • The language should be clear, crisp and making no attempts to be ornate, overtly-impressive, misleading or offensive.ĢżĢż
  • The content shouldnā€™t conflict with the identity, purpose or intent of the letter.
  • It should not have any grammatical mistakes.
  • Must not be repetitive about the content, facts, figures or achievements
  • Should focus on the course you are aiming for and must be drafted in accordance with the same
  • It must bear in mind that no sentiments ā€“ emotionally, personally or politically are hurt or targeted, even unintentionally
  • Word limits, if specified by the university, must be strictly adhered to.Ģż
  • The length of the letter must be at least a page long in print (A4 page)
  • The credibility of the recommender must not be compromised in the letter
  • It must be revised, read and reconsidered again and again
  • The recommender may or may not have a letter of recommendation template, in which case, you must – as an applicant – request your referrer to use one that suits your application and objective
  • The LOR format must be decided prior to writing it to ensure that the flow is right.

For more important Tips on LOR Download our eBOOK on “LOR Tips & Tricks Here”

Letā€™s consider a well-drafted sample letter of recommendation:

For more sample LORs Download our eBOOK on “Sample LOR for Top Admits Here”

Analyzing the above letter:

It is carefully divided into paragraphs:

• The first paragraph introduces the student and his academic records that validate the other documents submitted and sets a premise for the relationship between the recommender and the applicant
• The second paragraph is the major content holder that narrates an incident and tries to build an image of his character while subtly pointing out his interests, achievements and major achievements outside of academics
• The last paragraph concludes with a very impactful end to the story, that allows the admissions committee to get a decent idea about the applicant.

How to format an impressive Letter of Recommendation?

The first impression is the best impression. The last thing you want is for the admissions committee to struggle with reading your letter owing to illegible printing or poor and confusing sentence construction. It should be formatted in a formal, yet appealing way. You should leave no room for the admissions committee to judge or form a negative opinion of you based on an improper format of the letter.

Here are few basic pointers that you can be cautious about when drafting the letter:

• The font used must be formal with no fancy formatting being used anywhere on the document.
• Use a font size of around 11 that is clearly readable on an A4-sized paper
• Printing your text in black is the safest choice. However, you may use a 2nd color, dark blue, for instance, to highlight anything that you wish to. However, using bold and italicized text is the best way to highlight points.
• Ensure to use office-style margins of around 1″ on all four sides of the document.
• Paragraph-spacing and alignment must be such, that at no point should the reader have to break the flow of his reading to understand the direction or lead of the content, i.e., it must allow for smooth and effortless reading.
• Available templates for letters can be used to enhance readability.

You must remember that it’s not just ā€˜whatā€™ is being said that matters – ā€˜howā€™ it’s said is just as important.

We hope that these pointers will help you with drafting a well-formatted letter of recommendation for your application and wish you all the best with the admissions process!Ģż

Have any questions? Leave them as a comment below, and we’ll get back to you with answers at the very soonest!

The post Best Letter of Recommendation(LOR) Format for MS: How Should It Be? appeared first on 91Čȱ¬ Blog.

Tips for asking for a Letter of Recommendation

1) Testimonials: Before you write to your professor or manager asking for a letter of recommendation, you may want to keep in handy all the testimonials supporting your educational background, extra-curricular achievements, workplace achievements and appraisals as your referrer might want to peruse these documents before writing your LOR.

2) Plan in Advance: Universities in the US/UK/EU notify candidates in advance regarding the date by which the letters of recommendation have to be submitted. While most universities ask for LORs to be submitted along with the formal application, anytime before the application deadline, some universities prioritize its submission, asking for it to be sent separately, either via email or as a physical copy. Itā€™s always a good idea to plan well ahead, to give your referrer the maximum possible time to gather a good idea about you and the course that youā€™re applying to, so that they are able to write you a strong, compelling and authentic letter of recommendation instead of putting it off until the very last moment. Remember, haste makes waste!

3) Determining your referrer: This is perhaps the most challenging step in the entire process of getting a letter of recommendation. You may not be really sure who you want to ask. While deciding on whom to choose as your referee, remember, the more recent your interaction with them, the better, as the universities want to know more about the current you and not who you were years ago! If it has been several years since you graduated from college, it might be a good idea to provide LORs from people who have worked closely with you more recently – generally your immediate superiors at work.

If, during your college days, you shared an excellent rapport with your professors, or stood out owing to your outstanding academic performance/extracurricular achievements, things ought to be relatively easy. However, if you were one of the backbenchers, who never let an opportunity to bunk classes slip by, or one of the silent ones who never really got noticed that closely by the professors, choosing someone who can write you a glowing letter of recommendation can be a tough call indeed!

Even then, you donā€™t really have to worry. Asking for a letter of recommendation wonā€™t cost you an arm and a leg. All you have to do is follow these simple techniques.

Approach them in person in your college, have a word or two, share some of the challenges and responsibilities youā€™ve shouldered at work, and perhaps appreciate him in front of any current student of your college. This ensures the rekindling of a good personal relationship which you may or may not have had during your college days. Thereā€™s no harm in trying, right? Ensure that your professor gathers a good idea about you. Remind him of some of the instances from his classes that you can recollect, and some fond memories from your tenure as a student of that institute. In the process, slowly veer the discussion towards your intent of pursuing graduate studies abroad, once you sense that your professor would be comfortable in writing you a letter of recommendation.

On the professional front, you have considerably more leeway, as it is not always mandatory for your past employer or manager to be the one sending your LOR. Apart from them, you can also approach any business acquaintances, customers, colleagues and advisors whom you have worked closely with. Politely inquire about their availability and ask them what documents they might require in support of your application for a letter of recommendation. Keep in mind that you do not push either your professor or your manager to write you an LOR as in that case, they may not draw a good idea about you and might not be comfortable in writing you a letter of recommendation. At the end of the day, keep in mind the quantum of the personal relationship between you and your referrer.    

4) Frame your request letter: It is imperative that you frame a convincing request letter to your professor or manager. Therefore, donā€™t rush with this step. Evaluate the tone of your request carefully. Always ensure that you respect the formal or professional boundaries that exist between you and your referrers, and consider their time availability before proceeding with your request. Humbly make a request to write you a reference letter and intimate them about the original date of submitting the letter of recommendation to the universities and attach copies of all your supporting testimonials along with your request letter. 

For more important Tips on LOR Download our eBOOK on “LOR Tips & Tricks Here” 

Now, if youā€™re wondering what the format of your request letter ought to be, hereā€™s one you can write over an email to your professor requesting him for a strong letter of recommendation.

Now, in the letter above, can you see how adeptly the request has been framed? 

• If you notice, the letter has been opened with a touch of nostalgia that usually triggers an emotion within the minds of the reader. The writer i.e. the candidate offers humble greetings and maintains due respect, and in keeping with the general format of formal letters, the intent of writing the letter has been clearly mentioned in the first paragraph itself.
• You should also remind your referrer about your achievements and let them know how grateful you are to them for their efforts, as an average college professor, deals with 500 students on a day-to-day basis. So, obviously, he may find it difficult to recall your achievements in particular, especially if a considerable amount of time has passed since you last interacted.
• Do not forget to attach/enclose your academic transcripts and every other proof of your educational or co-curricular achievements and other documents as you would want them to testify for your eligibility without missing out on any relevant details.
• Always maintain a tone of politeness in your request letter and leave it at the discretion of your referrer to provide you with a letter of recommendation. Refrain from coaxing him/her repeatedly or expressing immediacy. Allow your referrer the time to write keeping in mind that they have a hectic schedule and might need to go through the information that you have provided before beginning to write the letter of recommendation.

Now, in the case of working professionals, you will need a letter of recommendation from your manager, or your managerā€™s manager or maybe a departmental head. Just like requesting a professor for a letter of recommendation, requesting the same in your workplace too involves a certain protocol.

Take a look at a sample format of a request letter to your superior at work below, and then I’ll run you through the things you need to keep in mind for the same.

When requesting a letter of recommendation from your manager, the following are the things that you need to keep in mind.

• It is imperative that you respect your managerā€™s time and understand that your request will need him to invest additional time and thought in the work. Do not rush him, but instead, allow sufficient time and discretion. Do not push your manager or any higher authority to write you a reference letter.
• The request letter for an LOR from your employer/manager falls under the category of a business letter. Therefore, it should be very precise and crisp. The letter must invoke in the mind of your manager the urgency but at the same time, express your feeling of gratitude towards him.
• Since you interact with your manager almost on a daily basis, the need to remind him of glorious or memorable incidents is not required. That might give an impression of flattery which may be unfavorable.
• If you are provided with a letter of recommendation by your professor/employer, do not forget to send him a separate letter/email to thank him adequately for his time and efforts. You must realize for yourself that the process of acquiring a letter of recommendation had, at one point in your life, been a nightmare.

Now, it must have occurred to you that there might arise certain challenges in the entire process of requesting the letter of recommendation from your professor/manager. What could these challenges be?

1. A limited number of LORs to be provided by your professor: It might be the scenario that your professor is willing to share only a handful of LORs and thereā€™s a rat race going on between you and your fellow batchmates. In that case, try to be one of the first applicants. An early application is always a safer proposition than putting it off till days before the deadline. Keep your transcripts and other documents ready beforehand and be among the first ones to request a letter of recommendation. You just might have the chance to make the cut.  

2.Not willing to share personal details: Often, your referrer may not be comfortable with sharing details like contact numbers or address of correspondence with the institutions that you are applying to and the underlying reasons for this could be personal. It will not be a good idea to approach him for the reasons and instead, you might want to provide him with alternatives. Respect his decision and ask if he is comfortable with sharing his professional email id, workplace telephone number or other relevant credentials. Discuss with him how you may benefit with these details as admission officers from universities abroad tend to contact referrers at times to verify the authenticity of the LOR. 

3.Reference Letter to Referrer Ratio: It is important that you understand, that the more number of reference letters you produce, it substantiates more of the information you provide in your admission application. If you require two letters of recommendation to be submitted, make a request to at least five professors/managers or higher authorities. You will then be able to produce the best reference letter according to you, to support your application. For this, it is recommended that you maintain a sound inter-personal relationship with your professors and managers and get known through your skills and contributions. Even if you are a student in your final year and are looking forward to starting your masterā€™s program in the ensuing year, itā€™s not too late. You still have a lot of time for building professional relationships. 

4.Documents: It is a good idea to provide your professor with a brief summary of your undergraduate career in writing. A compilation of your projects, workshops, seminars and co-curricular achievements helps your referrer with drafting a convincing letter of recommendation. In your workplace, provide your manager with past appraisal reports, project information and CSR (Corporate Social Activity) activity reports as he may be reluctant to go through the office computer and search for the same. It does not create a good impression if your referrer has to revert time and again, asking for information that could be incorporated in the letter of recommendation. Therefore, it is always safe to keep all your documents ready and provide them the same for reference. Allow your referrer to filter the documents and determine what he chooses to mention in the letter.

5.Confidentiality: If your referrer wants to keep any information confidential, always respect that. Do not coax them into sharing what he/she might have written. Many universities demand sealed envelopes containing the application and letter of recommendation from the candidates. In that case, your referrer may seal the envelope containing your reference letter beforehand. Do not try to open and peek into the envelope as the slightest mark of breach of confidentiality may be treated as a tampered document and may result in your candidature being disqualified.

I believe you now have a detailed insight into the process of acquiring a letter of recommendation, whom you should approach to get one, and what the steps are, in requesting for the same. Always keep in mind that itā€™s a simple request that you are making. The fulfillment of the request depends completely on your professional etiquette, behavior, interpersonal relationships and most importantly, your own achievements. A strong letter of recommendation is one which testifies the true capabilities of a candidate from both the educational as well as co-curricular standpoints and acquiring a letter of recommendation falls under your interest as it would state facts about you. So take a deep breath and imagine yourself holding a letter of recommendation for yourself. How would you like to read it? What would you like to be mentioned in it? The decision is always yours to make. I wish you all the success with your university applications process as well as with getting the best LORs for your profile!

The post How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation (LOR): Examples appeared first on 91Čȱ¬ Blog.