Hello Sushil, my son hasn't completed any UG course inspite of getting admission into 3 premier colleges in India. Now he wants to apply for a course in MIT or Stanford. He has scored 117/120 in TOEFL. Expecting his SAT result by this month end. Can you please guide us with the admission process ? Also is there any organization which can assist him with scholarship for the program. He is an extremely intelligent and hardworking student. It is just that the education system here wasn't convincing him to finish what he started.

Ans: Hello,

First and foremost, thank you for contacting us. Yes, your son may be eligible for scholarships if he applies on time and meets the standards put forth by the universities. With a US passport, the English proficiency requirement may be eliminated, nevertheless, various universities may demand it, and thus, he should appear for the IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo as well. The SAT test is required for the program. Not all institutions require it, however it is required if you want to be considered for scholarships. Our team of experts can assist you throughout the entire procedure. I am writing to ask you to visit our nearest branch and share your information with us so that our team can guide you further.

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Ans: Hello Mahoe,

First and foremost, thank you for getting in touch with us. I am glad to hear that your son is currently pursuing the 5th semester of his Bachelor’s of Technology (B.Tech) degree and is clearly interested in pursuing UI/UX, having already obtained a number of online certifications in this field. I would like to let you know that your son can improve his abilities and be presented with new possibilities through pursuing a Master's degree at an esteemed university. As requested by you, here is a suggested roadmap:

First and foremost, I would recommend that your son conducts an extensive study on leading universities well-regarded for the superior UI/UX design programs they offer. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Royal College of Art, Carnegie Mellon University, the Interaction Design Foundation, and Stanford University, are among the prominent ones. Next, your son should look into the entry prerequisites set by these universities. These generally entail a robust educational background, a Statement of Purpose, recommendation letters, a portfolio of his work, as well as results of standardized tests viz., the GMAT or GRE. Make sure your son concentrates on keeping a strong GPA throughout, and begins his preparation for any mandatory standardized tests. Remember, a portfolio is a significant element of the application procedure, and your son’s chances of securing admission can be boosted to a great extent with a strong one. Thus, he should continue building an impressive portfolio encompassing case studies, projects, as well as any freelance work that he has undertaken that is related to the field of UI/UX. Collaborating and building connections is vital to the field of UI/UX design. I would suggest that your son connects with online groups, engages in conferences, and gets in touch with industry experts. This is a great way to acquire useful information as well as boost his chances of getting strong recommendations. Its important to stay abreast with the most recent UI/UX resources and innovations, and thus, pointing out any gaps in your son’s skillset and encouraging him to take up further online courses or seminars to fill them proves beneficial. As the next step, with the application deadlines soon approaching, assist your son in drafting a convincing Statement of Purpose that highlights his experiences, enthusiasm, and professional objectives in the field of UI/UX. Keep all the necessary documents including marksheets and recommendation letters ready beforehand. Furthermore, your son should examine the available scholarships and other forms of monetary assistance provided by these universities in the UI/UX field. Lastly, prepare a schedule with all the requirements and due dates he needs to adhere to in order to submit the application. This will aid in seamlessly managing the process and prevent anxiety at the last moment. Stick to this roadmap to boost your son’s chances of securing admission to a leading program in UI/UX design.

For more information, you can visit our website.

Ans: Hello D,

To begin with, thank you for contacting us. I am happy to hear about your husband’s plans to pursue an MS in the USA. To answer your question first, considering your husband’s background, having acquired 14 years of professional experience, and even at the age of 38 years, it is indeed possible for him to now apply for MS (Master’s of Science) programs in the United States. Candidates who have acquired different experiences are highly sought-after by a number of universities in the USA. Taking into account this factor, your husband’s MBA degree in 2009 from IIM Dubai, will definitely be a plus point, which I believe, in turn, will definitely make him an invaluable asset. I suggest that you take the below mentioned factors into consideration and then make a final decision:

1. Take into account your husband’s age and years of professional experience:
Your husband’s decision to pursue a Master’s degree in the USA is a wise choice. Although his age may not match the ages of the other candidates opting for a Master’s course, I would like to let you know that having acquired 14 years of professional experience will definitely serve as a plus point in this academic pursuit. Candidates with diverse work experiences having been employed at different companies, are often preferred by the Admissions committees. Your husband’s 14 years of professional experience surely brights to light his level of maturity, unwavering dedication, and the different ways in which he can prove to be a perfect fit for the program he intend pursuing.

2. Researching and Shortlisting Programs:
This is a crucial step in the application process, wherein your husband needs to conduct an extensive study and shortlist programs that align with his interests and academic objectives. Considering his background, I believe, he would surely wish to pursue management, and business-oriented programs or maybe programs in an associated field that matches his abilities. Accordingly, he can look into programs viz., Master of Science in Finance (MSF), Master of Science in Management (MSM), or Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT), etc. I suggest that he selects the perfect program, and for that he will need to investigate universities and the programs they have to offer, and finally select the one that best resonates with his professional ambitions.

3. Appearing for the GRE as a program prerequisite: Addressing your query concerning whether or not your husband would need to appear for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), I would like to inform that you will need to inquire with the specific university and program your husband intends applying for. Each university and program has varying prerequisites. In my opinion, the GRE standardized test may be a necessity while applying for certain programs. On the other hand, considering your husband’s past educational accomplishments and professional experience, other programs may not require him to appear for the GRE. I suggest that he meticulously investigates the entry criteria of the universities and courses he wishes to apply to.

4. Applying to universities and programs: As a part of the application procedure, your husband will need to submit important documents. I recommend that he prepares an excellent application. He will need to submit a compelling Statement of Purpose, endorsement letters from professors and employers who can attest to his academic achievements and character, as well as results of mandatory standardized exams. He should strongly focus on his professional experience and explain how it makes him the perfect fit for the program he intends applying to. I recommend that he begins the application process beforehand.

5. Plan your Finances: I know that studying in the USA is a costly affair, and for that reason, your husband should budget his finances correctly, so as to cover his cost of education, including living and tuition costs, as well as other miscellaneous expenditures. Also, a number of grants, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid, in addition to part-time employment possibilities, are offered by majority of the universities. I recommend that your husband looks into the available assistantships, scholarships etc. as these can help alleviate the high costs of studying.

6. Obtaining a Valid Visa and following Immigration Guidelines: Your husband, on securing admission, will be required to obtain a valid student visa in order to study in USA. An F-1 visa is the required one. I recommend that he conducts an extensive study and prepares for the visa application process.

7. Consider Long-Term Prospects: Your husband should take into account his prospects for the future and understand in what way the Master’s program opted for by him resonates with these prospects. I believe that undertaking internships, career guidance, and building connections while still pursuing his Master’s degree will go a long way in enabling your husband bag employment possibilities upon graduating.

Summarizing the above, I would like to tell you that taking both, your husband’s age and professional experience into account, he is eligible to apply for USA Master’s programs. Nevertheless, I recommend that he conducts a comprehensive research and opt for those courses that best match his aspirations. Not just that, he should also make a compelling application as well as possess a sound financial strategy. I also suggest that he finds out whether or not the particular programs require him to appear for the GRE or not, and that he adheres to other prerequisites for admission if required.

For more information, you can visit our website.

Ans: Hello Sanjay,

To begin with, thank you for contacting us. I am happy to hear about your son’s plans on pursuing Master’s of Science in Computer Science. As an answer to your query, I would like to tell you that your son should follow these recommendations in order to enhance his chances of securing admission to Ivy League universities.

As the first step, your son should make sure to draft a compelling application. This entails submitting a strong Statement of Purpose/Personal Statement that outlines his interest for the field of computer science, his accomplishments as well as his future goals. Not just that, he should also obtain robust endorsement letters from professors or employers who can attest to his character and abilities. As mentioned previously, your son has applied to only Ivy League universities. Remember that outstanding programs in Computer Science are offered by a number of high-class universities. I would suggest that he submits applications to not only Ivy League but rather to a broad variety of universities. In doing so, his chances of obtaining admission offers will be boosted.

Remember that extracurricular activities are an integral part of the application procedure, and thus, I would recommend that in order to showcase his passion for the field of computer science, your son should throw light on extracurriculars or outstanding achievements he has earned. Versatile applicants are often favored by admissions committees. As mentioned above, your son has already appeared for and obtained a GRE score of more than 350. I would say that though this score earned by him is respectable, it might not necessarily meet the criteria to secure admission to Ivy League universities. Earning a robust score can greatly enhance your son’s application, and thus, I would recommend that he re-appear for the GRE examination and strive to achieve a greater score.

When applying to certain universities, your son may be required to appear for interviews as part of the application process. I would recommend that he researches common interview questions and prepares his responses to those queries. If asked for, he should be well prepared to throw light on his past experiences, background, as well as his objectives for the future. Remember that one’s performance in the interview can greatly decide whether he/she secures admission. Your son should show his earlier application to academic advisors or counselors if possible as they would be able to point out areas that require improvement, provide meaningful insights, and guide him better. Lastly, with a number of universities have rolling admissions procedures, I would recommend that your son submits his applications ahead of time.

I would like to point out that although Ivy League universities are well-renowned, several other universities offer outstanding computer science programs that your son can consider applying to. His chances of getting admitted to a reputed program in the field of computer science can be enhanced if he applies to a number of universities.

For more information, you can visit our website.

Ans: Hello,

First and foremost, thank you for getting in touch with us. I am happy to hear that your child is currently studying in the 8th grade and you want him to pursue college in the USA. To answer your question first, I would like to tell you that scores of standardized tests viz., the ACT or SAT are required to secure admission to a number of colleges in the USA. These exams aid colleges in evaluating a student's preparedness for studies at the college level. I would like to tell you that although a solid intellectual foundation can be offered by programs like the International Baccalaureate (IB) or Cambridge AICE, a number of colleges in the USA do not accept them as alternatives to the SAT/ACT.

I would recommend that you motivate your child to study for the ACT or SAT, and make sure he very well understands the unique prerequisites of the universities he wishes to apply to. Not just that, your son might also consider taking SAT Subject Tests as advised or mandated by certain universities. Remember, maintaining a high academic standing and participating in extracurricular activities, frequently influence US college admissions, and thus, your son should focus on the same.

For more information, you can visit our website.