Admission Sync

Readers are  invited to present their point of views on the application process.The writings are subject to editorial editing.

Guest author Shyam Ji Agrawal

If you are just out of school or college and planning for higher education, then think global now. United States is
exploding with perhaps the most promising of opportunities and advantages in terms of ROI on time and money,
intellectual growth, relationships building and wholesome self development. The sheer numbers spell out the US
dominance in Global Education: 1,700 Two year Community Colleges; nearly 2,100 four year institutions; over
900 subjects/specializations ranging from Arts and Animation to Biomedical Engineering to Nanotechnology.
Flexibility is what makes the US system extremely interesting for enterprising students and advanced learners.
More than 1100 institutions offer you the latitude to begin with an undecided major and then custom-design your
own later. Then there’s this freedom to pace up or down your education in over 1000 Schools. Most of these can
really allow you to complete a 4-year program in two-and-a-half years flat. Or, just join a five-year Co-Operative
program and learn while you earn full-time! It’s hard to beat really.
Indeed, US is not only about Harvard, Columbia, Yale, Stanford and MIT. There are thousands of other institutions
that offer high quality education regulated through several sets of stringent state and federal regulations and
quality standards.

Getting admission in places like MIT is tricky & tough, however once you’re in
MIT will make sure that money for education is available. Most  other schools also have financial
help programs for International students. It may range anywhere from 20% to 100% tuition waiver.

Let me try and break a few myths here. A big one is about tests and scores. An Indian undergrad aspirant would
jump with joy if he/she knew that at least 40 top ranking US institutions (including MIT!) do not require SAT -1 and
they gladly accept TOEFL. Ditto for some 50 top-of-the-line Liberal Arts and Science Colleges. Of course, if you
have done fabulously well in your last examination, you can jolly well offset your poor test scores. Actually, your
Test Scores are just one of the several other parameters deciding your admissions. Your essays,
recommendation letters, extra-curriculars and other achievements, all play important roles in getting you
admissions and scholarships.

Let me share a few more things about the US.

ONE, at Universities and Colleges following need-blind admissions policy, admission is always on merit and admission decisions are never biased because you asked for assistance.Harvard, Princeton, Brown and Yale are the only four of eight Ivy-League Universities that follow absolutely need blind
admission policy. The admission office even does not know whether you are looking for funds and have
applied for it. So your paying capacity (or lack of it) has absolutely nothing to do with the admissions outcome. If
you are admitted, you will receive as much money as you need for all the four years.

TWO, many institutions award need-based aid – assistance proportionate to applicants’ needs; whereas others merit-based assistance.
However, some institutions take a middle-of-the-path approach and make a mix of both need and merit while
awarding financial assistance.
So Go ahead and begin thinking of a US Degree. It is quite possible.

The author is CEO,Mentors Educational Services (P) Ltd.

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