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How to Apply to Universities Abroad

Universities look at more than scores while admitting students into their courses. An eye-catching statement of purpose, and work experience can give zing to your application.Every part of your application matters, not just your scores. This was something that Admission Consultant of Princeton Review in Hyderabad, Amitesh Gir, never tired of telling students who aspired to pursue a degree abroad, at the conference held in Country Club.

The conference organised by Princeton Review, `Winning strategies for study abroad’ led the students by the hand through every part of the procedure in applying abroad. From telling students the prospects that awaited them, the need for carefully selecting the university they wanted to attend, countries where scholarships are easily available, tips for taking examinations, to how to write statements of purpose, the conference covered it all.

Prepare a year ahead

Regarding the application procedure, he said it is very important that students start preparing a year in advance. Engineering and management students would do well to take their examination well in advance when they have the time to study. Taking the examination in the final year when college workload builds up will do no good. GRE, GMAT and other exams are not intended to test intelligence but how good one is at taking tests. While scores do matter in these tests, a weak statement of purpose backing it will not get you admission, he said.

A statement of purpose should also say how the applicant intends to contribute to the college’s community. Avoid templates in writing SOPs. Instead think of something different yet relevant to your field. Project yourself strongly in your SOP, he added. Importantly your application should be trustworthy, so every part of your application should reflect accuracy.

GPA of 3.0

Letters of recommendation should come from the professors who know you best, who are best qualified to recommend you in your field. A 3.0 Grade Point Average or GPA is a must for applying abroad, he said.

While many universities require work experience for admission in business administration courses, students must remember that their experience is evaluated both in quantity and quality. While two years is optimum work experience, universities are also interested in knowing the stature of the company you have worked with, if you have learnt the best professional practices there and if you have brought about any change in your workplace.

The cost of education in the US is Rs. 9 to 25 lakhs on an average, Rs. 10 to 30 lakhs in UK, Rs. 6.5 lakhs to 30 lakhs in Canada, and Rs. 5 to 27 lakhs in Australia. Though Canada and Australia may be less costly in terms of education, both the US and the UK were more generous when it came to scholarships, he said. Indian scholarships too are aplenty with JN Tata Endowment, ITC Scholarship, Nehru Cambridge Trust and others offering scholarships every year.

Student loans

While most banks, Indian and international are forthcoming with student loans, international banks like CitiBank and Bank of America don’t require a co-signer. These banks allow you to repay your loans after you have finished your education and give you 25 years to finish repaying the loan.

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