Pick the right varsity, get funded too

Originally Published in The Hindustan Times Education Supplement

It is no big discovery to learn that undergraduate education abroad is expensive. As of August 2014, the annual cost of attending college in the US is approximately $50,000 to $60,000 or Rs. 30 to 36 Lakhs.  That is a whopping quarter million dollars over four years.  While this estimate does college fees, living expenses and insurance, additional costs will include travel to and from India. And, if a student elects to attend a summer term or do an extra year, expenses increase.

A good recommendation letter is the key to success

Originally Published in The Hindustan Times Supplement

Having great recommendations for global business school programs is a crucial piece of the application. However this does not simply mean that you must secure a letter from a manager at work which is full of superlatives about you.

The golden rule, when it comes to recommendations is NEVER write your own recommendation – there are many steps you can take to avoid this common trap where your boss tells you to write the letter and he/she will sign it. This is a bad approach because your recommendation letter will most likely sound exactly like your essays, with all the same grammatical mistakes and presentation style.

Taking the GMAT or SAT? Learn to multi-task

Originally Published in The Hindustan Times Education Supplement

As deadlines approach, some applicants still have not completed important components of their applications. The cause of delay often seems to be timing, scheduling and an inability to multi task. A common strategy for Indian applicants is to ‘take time off’ for GMAT or SAT preparation or to complete the essays. But the concept of time off is a luxury that will only hurt you in the long run. 

Applying abroad? A five-point plan

Originally Published in The Hindustan Times Education Supplement.

5 Things Indian students should know if they’re considering undergraduate study abroad. 

Often I meet applicants who want to study outside India (mainly US and UK), but who seem to be unaware of some of the major components and requirements of the application process. Here is a list of things I wish everyone knew before they think about whether study abroad is the right choice for undergraduate studies. 

1.) Different academic criteria count in different places – If you want to study in the UK, your 10th board marks (or 10th standard school marks if you haven’t taken a board exam) and your predicted 12th standard board score will be taken into account for admission. However those who wish to study in the US should know that every school report card and mark sheet must be sent to the college with the application from 9th standard onward. No report card can be omitted. Board scores are also taken into consideration, but continuous assessments from 9^th -12^th standard are important criteria for US universities. 

Get the most out of online learning

Originally Published in The Hindustan Times Education Supplement

Online degrees, distance learning, MOOC’s (Massive Open Online Courses)– whatever we call it, many students are becoming more and more interested in technology-enabled education. In fact, earlier this month Coursera announced the first MOOC-based MBA degree with the University of Illinois College of Business. It almost seems as if students no longer have to struggle for an admissions seat, travel half way around the world and pay a quarter of a million dollars to get a global education.

SAT vs ACT : Which is right for you?

Originally Published in The Hindustan Times Education Supplement

Should I take the SAT or the ACT? I hear this question regularly. The honest truth: It does not matter. Colleges view both test equally. Most US colleges require either the SAT I or the ACT with writing.