GRE-INTERNATIONAL DETAILS-PAGE-2

GRE DETAILS:-

What is an I-20?
I-20 is a document issued by the university to the students who have been granted admission. A Form I-20 is a government form that tells the U.S. government that you are eligible for F-1 Student Status.

It certifies that
(1) you are or expect to be a "bona fide" student;
(2) you meet our admissions requirements;
(3) you will pursue a full course of study;
(4) you proved to us that you have enough money to study and live in the U.S. without working illegally or suffering from poverty.

It is a strictly confidential document and in most cases it is issued only to the student directly i.e., it will not be handed over to any relative or friend of yours in the US. Only after receiving this I-20 you are eligible to appear for VISA in students category (F-1 Visa). You need a Form I-20 to obtain an F-1 student visa or status, or to keep lawful F-l status when transferring or changing schools within the U.S.

Does Everyone Need An I-20?
NO, some international students do not need I-20's. J-l students need a Form DS-2019 and should ask us for that application. F-2 dependents that want to study full time, must obtain an 1-20 and apply for a change of status to F-l student. If you are maintaining another nonimmigrant status in the U.S., you do not have to have an 1-20 and may attend school full- or part-time. Dependent children in E, H, I, J, L, M, N, 0, P, R, or S status need to change status after their 21st birthday or if they marry. If you have no legal status, you may attend school but you are not eligible to change status and do not need an 1-20.

Note : Students who visit US on exchange programs (usually for a very short period) to study shall get an IAP-66 instead of an I-20 and can appear for VISA under J-1 category.

[GRE] Types of financial Aid and Scholarships *A must read*
Sources from USA


University Funding/Scholarships
Tuition Waiver
Some Universities Tuition waiver after first semester (if performance in 1st sem. is good). This means that the student does not have to pay the tuition fees at the university. However, general fees (for the use of university facilities like the library, computers, and sports and health services) usually have to be borne by the student. It is also possible that some other department may offer scholarship.

Scholarship / Fellowship
This is usually an outright grant based on the student’s academic ability and performance. Hence, Only a truly outstanding student may be considered for this type of award, before enrolling at the university. A full scholarship would pay for a student’s entire living expenses at that university, whereas a partial scholarship would require additional funds from the student.

Assistantship
> Graduate assistantship (GA): You will work in the departmental laboratory, usually on software development, maintenance, and
support.
> Teaching assistantship (TA): You may conduct a recitation section of an undergraduate or graduate course and/or may otherwise assist a faculty member in teaching or grading. You may occasionally teach an undergraduate course yourself. You may also be required to take TSE (Test of Spoken English) to qualify for a
teaching assistantship.
> Research assistantship (RA): Typically, you will work with a faculty member or group on a (usually externally funded) research project.

Note:
>> Most students start out as TAs or GAs (unless approached prior to arrival by a faculty member who wants you as an RA). Later, when you choose a
major professor, that faculty member might have funding to support you as an RA. All assistantships require an average of 16-20 hours of work per week .
>> If you have never taught before, or if you are a foreign student not familiar with American undergraduate education, or even if you are an experienced teacher, you should find the following book useful.
Case, Bettye Anne (1989), Keys to Improved Instruction by Teaching Assistants and Part-Time Instructors: Responses to the Challenge, MAA Notes No. 11 (Washington, DC: Mathematical Association of America).

Loans from U.S. Banks
If you are an international student enrolled at the US college you can obtain US study abroad loan for Undergraduate Courses or International Study Abroad Loan for Graduate Courses, to finance your studies. All a student needs is to apply, fill a form, and arrange a cosigner . A cosigner or a guarantor is a must for student loan from abroad .Financing is available to cover tuition domestically but also tuition travel and expenses while studying in the US .

The scheme for the Graduate Loans in US does not require FAFSA, Financial aid qualification and the loan limit. It requires the co signer ,who can be the parent, Guardian ,Relative of the person who knows the person who wants the loan.

Aid from Other Sources
Financial Aid for International Students (http://www.finaid.org)
NAFSA Association of International Educators (http://www.nafsa.org)

On Campus job
The hourly pay for on Campus jobs Pay from $5.15 to $15 per hour. Foreign Students can work for 20 hrs per week and 40 hrs per week during summer. Students may be allowed to work out of campus (Internship) after nine months of their arrival at USA. Most of (nearly) all expenses can be met while working on campus Jobs.


Sources from your own country

Bank Loans
Bank Of Baroda, State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank provide study loan for education in India and abroad.

GRE info for Noobs

System of Education in the USA
The first level of higher education in the United States is called "UNDERGRADUATE", and it leads to a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree.

Most undergraduate programs require four years of study, and usually a completed secondary school education is sufficient to enroll as an undergraduate student. First-, second-and third-year students of foreign institutions of higher education can transfer into U.S. undergraduate degree programs.

GRADUATE degrees include the Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS) or Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD). Students who have already received their first higher education diploma, either a BA or BS in the United States or the equivalent, are eligible to apply to graduate programs. The MA and MS degrees are usually awarded after two years of study. The Ph.D. is the highest academic degree in the U.S. This degree follows an MA or MS and typically requires at least three years of study and a lengthy dissertation.

Courses - Admissions

The Master of Sciences and Master of Engineering programs in U.S universities are second to none in the range of specialties, quality and popularity.

Master of Science (MS) degrees are normally divided into research-oriented and non-research oriented programmes. If a student wishes to pursue full fledged research at the Ph.D level, he may choose the research-oriented option. Otherwise, if the student likes to stop his studies after Masters and look for employment or other avenues, he may take up the non-research oriented degrees. Almost all good universities offer both these orientations.

Master of Engineering (ME) degrees are for those who are professionally employed in respective fields. This degree will enable them to obtain additional qualifications at the Masters level in order to improve his/her knowledge or for employment/business growth. ME degrees are not as popular as the MS degrees, but are mostly terminal degrees. The completion of ME programme will not enable the candidate to register for further programmes.

Admissions into MS or ME programs are based on academic background, test scores, recommendations, financial capacity and the Statement of Purpose (SOP). Though good academic background at the Bachelor's is not a must, it is important to have consistent performance all through one's academics, right from 10thclass on. Additionally, good scores in TOEFL and GRE are required for admission into decent programs.

Documents to be submitted to the university/college you wish to apply to:-
• Completed Profile
• Your transcripts from 10th class onwards (duly attested by the respective Head of the Institution) 10th and Inter (12th) transcripts need not be in sealed envelopes. Whereas, your degree marks and provisional must be in sealed envelope, with seal and signature on the flap of the envelope too
• Statement of Purpose (SOP) - Ideally must be a one-page statement of your purpose in personal and academic life. SOP must contain information on your education objectives, career goals, reasons for study in the US and reasons for choosing a particular program in a particular institute
• Recommendation Letters - At least two-three recommendation letters from three lecturers/professors, who taught you at the degree level preferably from those who taught you the main subjects. These recommendations must be done on personal or college letterheads and must be signed and sealed (including the envelope)
• Bank Statement - Financial Statement or Bank Statement indicates the availability of funds with you, (or your sponsor) in a bank, in a Savings Bank account only. These funds must be available for the purpose of your further education. A statement given by the Bank manager, on the Bank's letterhead, clearly indicating the amount of funds available both in your native currency and also the currency of the country where you would like to study has to be given, with the seal of the bank and signature of the Manager. To each and every university you apply to, you need to enclose an original Bank Statement showing adequate funds to cover at least a year's tuition and living expenses. Instead of getting multiple originals, which may not be practically possible, you may get the first statement photocopied (before signatures are made by the banker) and then signed and sealed by the bank manager individually
• Some universities need the Financial Statement filled, in the application itself. If it is indicated as mandatory, you need to get that form appropriately filled by the Bank. Ideally, one should indicate availability of funds for the entire duration of the course. For example, for a two-year Masters program, funds must be adequate to cover for both the years. If you cannot show funds for two years, then you must indicate availability for at least one year, covering tuition, living expenses and other fees. Hence, before taking a statement, calculate what would be the maximum expenditure from among the universities you wish to apply to. Take the higher amount and arrange for Bank Statement, accordingly. This will eliminate the need to take fresh statement every time you apply to universities with higher fee structure
• Affidavit of Support on Rs.20 Non Judicial Stamp Paper
• An Original AOS (notarized) has to be sent to each university. Letter of Undertaking or Affidavit of Support (AOS) is an undertaking to be given by your sponsor who finances your education. This has to be given on Rs.20/- (if in India) Non-Judicial Stamp Paper, in a prescribed format
• Sometimes, the universities request the undertaking to be given on their applications itself, in which case you have to do so. This AOS has to be signed by the sponsor, properly witnessed and attested by Notary public. To each and every university you apply to, you need to enclose an original AOS. Instead of getting multiple stamp papers and doing the AOS, you may get the first statement photocopied (before signatures are made by the sponsor) and then signed by the sponsor and notarized individually
• Application fee in US $ (or that country's currency) as required by university
• Score Card - If you have already taken TOEFL and GRE/GMAT, IELTS you may just enclose the score card
• Covering letter - A covering letter, indicating your plans about TOEFL and GRE/GMAT and informing them that you would arrange score reporting by ETS- If not taken and reported already
Formats cannot be generalized for all the students and need to be personalized as per individual requirements.

Also, if there are any issues concerning your application, like backlogs, failures or gaps between various levels of your education etc., use the covering letter to provide an explanation about such issues? This will offset any problem that you may encounter when you do not explain.

Once all the documents are ready, you may courier them to the universities well before the suggested deadlines, since processing of applications is done on a rolling basis - i.e., first-come-first-serve. Applying early would certainly improve your admission chances than applying nearer the deadlines.

Selecting Right Universities
If you are planning to apply for a few universities, how should you approach the enormously difficult process of applying to only a few universities that are right and suitable for you? U.S.A has the largest number of universities in the world. There are more than 3900 universities and colleges that offer post-secondary education, right from Bachelors to the Post-doctoral level. How to pick the right one for you?

There are several factors which need to be considered carefully before choosing right universities to apply. Answers to the following questions may give you a certain idea about selecting the university that is right for you.
Is the university suitable for me or am I trying a mismatch?
Is the cost of study cheaper or costlier?
Is there provision for financial aid or not?
Does the university have the fields of specialization that I am interested in?
Does the university have suitable and reputed faculty?
Does the university have the right infrastructure?
Are there prospects of On-campus/Off-campus Part-time Jobs?


When a student faces with this tedious task, more often than most, a lot of mistakes are likely to happen - in choices, in selection and in the whole process!

Though each of the university's websites and posted catalogues look quite luring and present the true picture of the institution, it is very important to be CAREFUL. There are universities that have multiple campuses in hundreds of acres and there are universities as small as a two-room flat! The information on both may be presented equally 'glorifying', which may attract an enthusiastic but non-calculative student into the trap of joining and not being able to come out later!

Required Tests
As we all know, students have to write TOEFL/GRE in order to get admission into universities. Though there are no stipulated rules with regard to the minimum or maximum scores; for good admits, the average scores are 90-110 in TOEFL iBT and 1150-1250 in GRE. And much higher scores will get admission in better and higher-ranked universities. Some universities admit candidates with IELTS 6.5 band also. However, students with average academic background may happily note that some universities give admissions without any eligibility tests.
TOEFL GRE SAT IELTS GMAT


Cost of Education
Depending upon the program, university, location and the quality of education, costs vary. You can find universities offering programs at 6,000-8,000 $ per year and at the same time, some universities have a fee of around 30,000 $. Cost of education is quite reasonable.

Good news for US aspirants is that financial aid is comparatively easier to obtain. Aid could be in several forms - partial or full tuition waiver, in-state tuition, scholarship, assistantships etc. are awarded to international students based on merit - and not on need. Since most applicants cannot demonstrate comparable and measurable merit while applying, universities prefer to consider aid from the second semester or second year onwards, based on funding availability.

Almost 75% of Master's level international students get aid in some form or the other, mainly in tuition waivers, scholarships and tuition & research assistantships.

Language -English, Spanish

Climate - Mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii & Florida, arctic in Alaska, Semi-arid in the great planes west of the Mississippi river and arid in the Great Basin of the South West.

The United States also offers limitless opportunities for sports, recreation, and entertainment. Cities large and small offer numerous indoor and outdoor opportunities. Almost every city or town in the United States with college and university students will likely offer those students ways to kick back, run around, and have a good time.

Visa - USA

Perhaps, the most crucial aspect of your study in US is the process of obtaining a Visa. As you might know, getting the admission is just a beginning. The real test to US aspirants comes in the form of Visa. You need to present your case confidently and effectively for getting the most sought after Visa of the World. It is important to know thoroughly about the financial statement, latest updates on VISA requirements, mock interviews, etc. Below is a must do list.

» SEVIS Registration
» Visa Documentation Checklist
» Visa mock interviews
» Presentation Techniques

If you can convince why you would love to study at USA, Most Coveted Visa of the World is yours.

TYPES OF VISAS

Student and Exchange Visitor Visas
Hundreds of thousands of people from around the world come to the United States each year to study and improve their skills. Diverse programs hosted by a wide variety of institutions provide learning opportunities as multifaceted as America itself.

There are three different types of student visa for different types of study:

Academic studies (F visa): This visa is for individuals who wish to study or conduct research at an accredited U.S. college or university. In order to apply for an F-1 visa, an applicant must have received a Form I-20 from a U.S. institution.

Exchange Visitor (J visa): Some academic activities may fall under the J visa Exchange Visitor category. Examples include exchange scholars, post-doctoral researchers, recipients of short-term academic research fellowships, and medical residents. In order to apply for a J-1 visa, an applicant must have received a Form DS-2019 from the sponsoring organization or institution.

Non-Academic or Vocational Studies (M Visa): The M visa is for students wishing to pursue non-academic or vocational studies. Typically, these programs are of short duration and do not lead to the award of a degree, but result in some form of professional or vocational certification. Applicants for this visa must have received a Form I-20 from the host institution to apply for an M-1 visa.

All non-immigrant Visa applicants are required to present required documentation to demonstrate their economic and social ties in their country of origin. It is the responsibility of the candidate to prove that they can pay for the stay and that they have social and economic ties to India that are strong enough to bring them back promptly. Candidates should obtain Student F-1 Visa. Useful details available at https://www.vfs-usa.co.in are listed below.


The requirements
1. Valid passport. You are recommended to have passport valid for at least six months beyond your interview date.
2. One photograph as per specification.?
3. Original signed form DS-156

4. Original FormDS-157 only if you are 15 to 55 years of age.?

5. Original form DS-158 only if you are applying for F,M or J visa.?

6. Valid Bank Visa fee receipt
7. Original documents regarding your job, business, school or college (I-20 letter)
Note: If the applicant is under 14 years of age, the forms DS-156 / DS-158 must be signed by one of the parents.
Visa Fees

There are two separate fees [detailed below], which must be paid by separate bank drafts. Cash, credit cards or personal cheques are not accepted.
1. Visa Application Fee (MRV Fee): $131 in Indian Rupee equivalent at consular rate of exchange. Rupee amount at current rate of exchange. This fee is payable in cash or by DD/HDFC Bank cheque favoring "US Embassy - Visa Fees". DDs issued by cooperative banks are not accepted.
2. This fee is payable in cash or by DD/HDFC Bank cheque favoring "HDFC Bank a/c VFS". DDs issued by cooperative banks are not accepted.

Financial resources:
An F-1 applicant must have evidence of sufficient and readily available funds to meet all expenses for the first year of study, and that barring unforeseen circumstances adequate funds will be available for each subsequent year of study.

Scholastic Preparation:
You must have completed a course of study required for enrollment at the level of study contemplated, and present transcripts of at least two years of academic work completed. External examinations like TOEFL, GRE, SAT and GMAT help to establish your seriousness as a student. In addition, you must demonstrate during the Visa interview that you have sufficient English language capability for your intended course of study in the USA.

Appointments:
Web Appointment is necessary. Visa applications are accepted from 8.00 AM to 11.30 AM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Decision about one's case can be known after an interview (if required) In almost all cases the Visa is ready on the same day between 4.00 PM and 4.55 PM at the main gate. The Consulate is closed on American and Indian holidays. One should apply for the Visa at least two weeks before one plans to travel.

Issuance and Travel Regulations for Recipients of Student Visas

Persons applying for initial-entry F-1, F-2, M-1, or M-2 visas may be issued these visas up to 120 days before the program start date as listed on their I-20s. However, students may not enter the United States more than 30 days in advance of the program start date indicated on the Form I-20. Applicants continuing on a student visa are not subject to this restriction.

These changes apply only to initial-entry students. Continuing students may apply for new F or M visas at any time, as long as they have maintained legal student status previously and their SEVIS records are current. Continuing students may also enter the United States at any time before their classes start.

J-1 and J-2 visas to exchange visitors may be processed at any time before the beginning of their programs. However, the visitor may not enter the United States earlier than 30 days prior to the program start date indicated on the Form DS-2019. Applicants continuing on an exchange visitors program are not subject to this restriction.

Money Matters

'Expenditure' is an area which most students would like to have detailed information first, before they plan their education abroad. In fact, awareness about the costs involved is 'very crucial' before one ventures into this expenditure-involved process.

Here are the details of Specific costs involved in Study Abroad Process

1. Application costs
»Your study abroad plans start with the application process. If you want to apply for 4-6 universities/colleges, you have to consider Application Fees, Courier Charges, Cost of Documentation and Miscellaneous Expenditure like Stationary etc.

» USA : The average application fee is between $25-95 per US University. Very few colleges facilitate applications without fee, but most have an application processing fee, which is mandatory for international students.

» Like US, most Canadian universities do charge an application fee, which is around the same costs as US universities.

» For UK, France and Switzerland, there is no application fee for post-graduate applicants.

» Some Australian and New Zealand universities charge an application fee, however there are some universities/colleges offering free application.

Altogether, the average cost of applying to 4-5 universities may come to Rs 25,000 for USA and Canada and around Rs 10,000 for UK, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland and France.

2. English Tests
Students have to write TOEFL/GRE/GMAT/SAT/IELTS as a prerequisite for admissions. Each student has to pay Coaching Fees and Examination Fees as prescribed by the respective Testing Agencies. The total expenditure for tests will be in the range of 8,000-15,000.

3. Scores reporting costs
Scores of TOEFL and GRE / GMAT / SAT are to be directly reported for the application process. Following are the present charges for score reporting (in addition to what ETS / College Board allows FREE, at the time of registration)

TOEFL - $17 GRE - $15
GMAT - $28 GMAT - $28 SAT - $ 9
IELTS - Local center will determine the cost of additional score reporting

Students can save $40-$90, if they can report the scores to the respective universities at the time of Exam itself.

4. Tuition and fees
Interestingly, Bachelor's degree is costlier than Master's degree because of the more number of credits involved at Grad level. Please note that all the costs indicated are approximate and vary upon the universities and programs. These costs will hike from one year to another. However, the average increase is around 5-10% per annum.

5. Cost of living expenditure
Cost of food alone will come approximately to $ 300 per month in US/Canada and other countries. If you include other incidental expenditure like rent, entertainment and other expenses, the average could be around $ 800-1000 per month, for a single student.

6. Insurance
Insurance is mandatory for all international students, who plan to study abroad. Depending upon the company and policy taken, the cost of insurance for a student could be around Rs 15,000 - 20,000 per year, in any of the countries being discussed.

7. Books and supplies
This could be anywhere between US $ 400-1200 per year, depending upon field of study and the courses chosen.

8. Other costs
Visa application fee, air fare and settlement expenses like deposit on room/flat, basic necessities etc. are also to be factored in, while calculating the expenditure involved for studying abroad.

Presently, the Visa application fee is around Rs 4,400 for USA, Rs 5,100 for UK

Air fare could be between Rs 15,000 to 45,000 depending upon the country, season and airline.


Here is a Chart of Educational Costs: (All amounts indicated are in US $)
USA (PUBLIC)
TUITION FEES LIVING EXPENSE
Under Graduation 8000-15000 US $ 7200-12000/Year
Post Graduation 1000-20000 US $ 7200-12000/Year

USA (PRIVATE)
TUITION FEES LIVING EXPENSE
Under Graduation 10000-20000 US $ 7200-12000/Year
Post Graduation 15000-25000 US $ 7200-12000/Year

To sum up, a minimum expenditure of Rs.1.00 Lakh for USA is ideal towards preliminary expenditure - including coaching costs for TOEFL, GRE etc. and an additional Rs 3-4 lakhs towards tuition and fees for one semester and living expenses for two-three initial months.

In case if bank loan or any other educational loans is available, you may not need to carry much money physically, since most payments would be taken care by the loan-granting institution. Some private education loans even pay for your living expenditure when you study abroad!