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Even when students have got admission notice from a foreign university, their chances can be marred on account of denial of visa. This is perhaps the toughest stage to clear. The authorities are very strict in issuing visas and try to judge your attention of going abroad, do you have enough finances and are you proficient enough in English to understand the language as it is spoken in that country. Of these three criteria, the toughest part will be trying to convince the authorities that you intend to come back upon the completion of the course.

 

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Scholarships are very difficult at the undergraduate level. Most scholarships are given at postgraduate level and these demand excellent academic standards. Britain gives arguably the largest number of scholarships at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. These can either cover all costs (tuition, accommodation, airfares and books) or can be partial scholarships. Some scholarships like Rajiv Gandhi Cambridge Bursaries, Chevening Shared Scholarships are for Indian students, while for some international scholarships, Indian students must compete with other international students to get them. The complete list of British scholarships is available with the British Council.

The USA also gives full or partial awards, based on need, merit and potential of the student. Thus, for example, Indiana University of Pennsylvania gives University Tuition Scholarship for undergraduate degree, which is only a partial tuition waiver for the course. The complete list of scholarships is available with the USEFI.

In Australia, it is very difficult to get a scholarship at the undergraduate level. However, a large number of scholarships are available at the postgraduate level, based on merit. The scholarships cover tuition fees. However, a few scholarships do exist for undergraduate students, like Beaufort College Scholarships for Class XII and Curtin University scholarships for undergraduate studies.

 

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How else do they judge your personality sitting thousands of miles away? From the mission statement, they can gauge your character strengths, your career goals, and where you want to be in life. This will help them decide whether you would be the right candidate for their university or not. The mission statement can be a small, one-page matter. But it should be impressive. Don’t write it with a carefree attitude. Write everything about yourself. Tell your background, the reasons for choosing the subject and the university and state your career goals.

 

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Students keen on joining foreign universities should prove proficiency in English. American universities require a score of 550 in the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL), which tests the ability to understand American English through a multiple-choice format examination. The test is conducted in March, June, September and December.

British institutions require proof of English proficiency, which can be obtained by taking the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS), administered by the British Council, or the TOEFL. Australian Universities ask for an IELTS score of 6 ton 7 or TOEFL score of 550. In Germany, not only is a TOEFL score required, but a German proficiency test, Test DAF, is also required.

Those of you who are keen on joining a graduate programme in engineering, physics, chemistry or maths will have to show Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. The test can be taken three times in a year: April, November and December.

 

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Foreign universities look for outstanding academic record. Students applying for an undergraduate degree programme should have good 10+2 scores. Students keen to join a postgraduate degree or diploma course should have performed very well in their graduation. Besides academic record, certificates in sports, debates and other extracurricular activities are always an added advantage because foreign universities look forward to students with all-round personality, who can contribute to the college.

You will need to get reference letters from your teachers, who can write an impressive personality statement for you. You might be asked to produce a certificate of financial status, signed by a chartered accountant.

 

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Most of the foreign universities admit international students at both the undergraduate level and for postgraduate degree courses. The US universities, however, admit students to their postgraduate programmes if they have completed four years of graduation. French state universities take international students both for graduate studies and for postgraduate studies. The German universities and institutes of higher learning (Fachhochschulen) also welcome international students for their undergraduate degree programmes.

In Australia , Indian students can apply for a bachelor’s degree with Honours (four to seven years), Bachelors (three to six years), advance diploma (three years), diploma (one to two years) or certificates I-IV if they have done their 10+2. They can apply for Master’s degree, graduate diploma (one to two years) or graduate certificate after they have done their graduation.

 

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Ideally, you should start inquiring about the right university for your subject choice at least 10 to 12 months before the commencement of the session. Since you are planning to go to a distant land, you should not hurry zeroing in on a particular university. Ascertaining the credentials of a university from expatriate contacts, representatives of different countries and other sources will be the first step, which will take some time. During this period, you should also strengthen your case by appearing for different tests required by foreign universities, like TOEFL, SAT, GRE, etc. Your next step will be to procure application forms from that university, fill it properly (and get all the documents mentioned on the form), send it to the university and wait for the response. Once the international students’ office of that university is satisfied about your credentials, it will send you the admission notice. Once you get it, apply for a student’s visa to the concerned embassy, again a time-consuming process.

 

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I am a IIIrd year student of Pune University. I want to pursue management. But I get confused between MBA, PGDM and PGDBM. 

There’s not much of a difference. MBA is a two-year masters programme in management. PGDBM is postgraduate diploma in business management. PGDM is postgraduate diploma in management. Like MBA, these are two-year programmes. All the three are at par and the nomenclature is cosmetic. What makes the difference is the institute from where you are pursuing management  studies. You should join only a reputed institute, as these courses are quite expensive, and your job prospects will depend to some extent on the institute tag. We suggest that you join a reputed management programme, like those offered by IIM, XLRI, FMS, TISS, etc.

 

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I have just completed class XI. I want that after XII I should join a course in hospitality. I get very attracted by the glamour of the hotels, but my parents tell me I am not suited for that profession. They say an introvert like me cannot make a success in this field. Please tell me, what are the necessary qualities. Are these qualities tested for admission to training institutes too?

 

Qualities that make one successful in this profession are pleasant personality, outgoing temperament and adaptability. Being an introvert does not mean you cannot be successful in this field. There are certain departments like the front office, which require good interpersonal skills. But you can join any function, such as food and beverage, personnel, etc. One quality that is very essential is grooming. Leading hotels have a manual stipulating dress code and hairstyle – down to the types of ear-rings and bangles that are permitted. One thing you should bear in mind is that behind glamour is hard work and rigorous discipline. You should also be prepared to work at any hour of the day.

It’s good you want to get an early training, right after XII. There is a joint entrance test for the 19 chapters of National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology, New Delhi. The test is designed to measure your general mental ability, analytical ability, numerical aptitude and English language ability. The interview will test how social and pleasant you are.

 

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I am doing my graduation from Punjab University. I want to do MCA after graduation. What is the eligibility for this course and what are the job prospects?

Master in Computer Applications is a postgraduate programme in computers. Some universities / colleges call it postgraduate diploma in computer application or postgraduate diploma in information technology. To enter this programme, you should be a graduate in any discipline and should have studied maths, at least, till senior secondary.

Some of the top universities offering this course are Delhi University, JNU, Pune University, Roorkee University and BHU, Apart from these, there are 165 government-recognised institutes throughout the country offering this course. The entrance exams are usually held between February and June. The focus in these exams is on higher maths, logical reasoning and statistics. A whole gamut of opportunities exist for you after MC, from being a systems manager and web designer to becoming a software architect for big companies like Infosys and Microsoft.

 

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What do I do in this dog-eat-dog world where there is no future sans a high-profile education?

You are right when you say that you need an education. You can complete your education as you work through a distance education programme. The Indira Gandhi Open University (IGNOU) offers many courses in different disciplines at the graduate and post-graduate levels. Many universities across the country, including Delhi University, offer correspondence courses in variety of subjects.

All you need to do is get a form, fill it up and work towards your graduation and post-graduation in the subject of your choice and at your own pace. There is no need to feel low. You have the essential ingredient of motivation and desire to acquire a higher education. With your capacity to work hard and diligently, you will achieve your goals.

The past, however bad it may have been, cannot be set right. So treat it as a bad dream that is best forgotten. Concentrate on what you want to do. Set clear goals clear and start working towards them now. I am sure no one can stop you from 

 

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Hailing from a middle class family or not having been exposed to certain experiences has never come in a way of anyone’s thinking or behaviour. If you are confident that you have an opinion on a certain matter, go ahead and express your opinion. By not expressing yourself you may tend to become more withdrawn. If you feel that you have read about a topic as much as your friends have, do not restrain yourself from speaking about it.

You need to think well of yourself if you want others to think well of you too. Similarly, if you want others to appreciate your views, do ensure that they are worthy and the result of sound reading.

To be able to do this, make it a habit to understand the subject matter, think about it and then arrive at your point of view. Express your opinion without fear, as you will be able to defend it even if someone contradicts you. Practise this art in the privacy of your home. Adopt this strategy and you will soon be on your way to speaking your mind with others.

 

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I have lost all faith in myself and I don’t know what to do. Can you help?

It must of course be disappointing to you that you could not get through the CAT exam. But this is not the end of the world. There are many more avenues for which you can train yourself. All that needs to be done is to ascertain first where possibly you could have gone wrong in attempting the CAT. Is it knowledge, speed or content that has prevented you from getting admission? Think back objectively and see if you would like to take one more chance after getting over the shortcomings that you have.

Get some good coaching from a well established centre. Keep your options open. If CAT is going to be difficult, then think of other courses that you can possibly take.

 

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When they playfully tease me for being dark, I get hurt. Please find some solution for me.

A girl so talented like you should not really be worried about your complexion. After all, you do know whether brown or black or white or whitish, every person is a human and there is no need for a person with a darker complexion to feel inferior to the fairer ones. If you accept your complexion as part of yourself and keep it glowing and fine, you will find that being dark is not bad at all. You are in college to study and to enjoy and you can do both if only you do not think that dark complexion is inferior. Remember, only when you allow yourself to be teased will you be teased. The person who teases you would stop doing so if she finds that it has no effect on you. You also know that there are dark complexioned people who have made a name for themselves (Williams sisters, the tennis wizards) and show how proud they are of their achievements. Dark complexion does not really bother them. Try to be confident about yourself, carry yourself with dignity, with your head high on your shoulders.

 

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Your problem is what we call identity problem, especially related to the gender factor. For some reason you are unable to accept the fact that you are a girl. You do not seem to feel nice about being a girl and thus you have been dressing up like a boy. Normally, upto a certain age boys and girls are almost indistinguishable in terms of their clothing and attires, but after the bodily changes that occur during puberty and adolescence, girls generally start wearing feminine clothes. This is also the time when boys and girls are attracted towards each other physically and the boys are interested in you as a girl than as one of them.

Both boys and girls have their own wonderful qualities and none is less than the other. Whether it is studies or occupation or any other area of life, both do equally well and none is inferior to the other. However, there are certain things in life that the masculinity of the boys may be able to accomplish better, while there are certain other things in life which the femininity of girls will be able to successfully manage. Many a time, you do not like being a girl because you feel you are not valued by parents, teachers or society which all show preference to the boys. That happens because of certain cultural norms and traditions. Trying to be something that one is not, will only create more and more conflict, anxiety and unhappiness. It is important to feel happy and proud of what one is, not because one is a male or female, but because of what one has been able to accomplish in the best possible manner. Think of yourself as a student, daughter and friend and how well you have been able to play effectively all these roles and how proud you have made your parents.

You need not rush into changing your style of clothing, etc., but what you need to do is to occasionally, that is, once a fortnight or a month, or on some festival days, dress up like a girl and see as well as experience how nice it feels. As you start wearing feminine clothes, you will get used to it in course of time and also you may not only start accepting these dresses but also enjoy being a girl.

 

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