July/August 2016

JULY/AUGUST 2016 Rs. 20

What’s Your

College

Type?

What’s Your College Type?

T Courtesy High Point University

By STEVE FOX

he number of Indian students enrolled in U.S. higher education institutions is growing at the fastest pace in decades, according to the Institute of International Education, an independent not-for-profit which is among the world’s largest and most experienced international education and training organizations. This reflects the strong appeal of U.S. colleges and universities and the immense range of choices available to Indian students.

“Indian students have an almost unbelievable array of opportunities, almost dauntingly so, from among the thousands of colleges and universities in the United States,” says Eddie West, director of International Initiatives for the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

“There are excellent options for Indian students at both private and public colleges and universities throughout the U.S.,” says West, while adding a note of caution. “In making their decisions, families should not overemphasize the published rankings of schools. They should also be aware that there are a lot of private, forprofit agencies that are contracted by schools to recruit students and may not be steering those students toward the schools that are best for them.”

The diversity of choices—8,887 schools are certified by the U.S. Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll international students—arises from the fact U.S. colleges and universities are not centrally organized or administered. Instead, they are accredited on a national or regional level by independent accrediting bodies and funded in various ways. For example, public universities are founded and subsidized by individual states with the objective of providing lowercost education to its residents. By contrast, private colleges and universities are funded by a combination of endowments, alumni contributions, research grants and tuition fees. Private colleges and universities are generally smaller and more expensive than public institutions. Both types of institutions accept

The United States offers a great diversity of choices not just in terms of the courses, but also in the types of colleges.

Above: The 2016 Commencement ceremony at High Point University in North Carolina.

July/August 2016

V O LU M E LV I I N U M B E R 4

http://span.state.gov

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Public Colleges and Universities

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Private Colleges and Universities

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Liberal Arts Colleges

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Community Colleges

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Women’s Colleges

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Applying for U.S. Student Visas

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At Home Abroad

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Supporting Education in USA

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Connect With EducationUSA

Editor in Chief Traci L. Mell Printed and published by Craig L. Dicker on behalf of the Government of the United States of America and printed at Thomson Press India Ltd., 18/35 Delhi Mathura Road, Faridabad, Haryana 121007 and published at the Public Affairs Section, American Embassy, American Center, 24 K.G. Marg, New Delhi 110001. Opinions expressed in this 44-page magazine do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Government.  Articles with a star may be reprinted with permission.

Those without a star are copyrighted and may not be reprinted.

Contact SPAN at 011-23472135 or editorspan@state.gov

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EducationUSA

Pack ’em Up Perfecting a Statement of Purpose

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Deciphering the System

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Making Waves

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The Quality Factor

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Funding Your U.S. Education

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Insuring Health

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Choose Right

42 College Search

Student Associations

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40 42 Courtesy Hindu Students Organization

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U.S. Consulate Chennai/Courtesy Flickr

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JASON KOSKI/Courtesy Cornell University Photography

Types of Colleges

Courtesy Brown University

CONTENTS

Reviewing Editor Branden L. Young

Editor Deepanjali Kakati Associate Editor Suparna Mukherji Hindi Editor Giriraj Agarwal Urdu Editor Syed Sulaiman Akhtar Copy Editors Bhawya Joshi, Shah Md. Tahsin Usmani Editorial Assistant Yugesh Mathur

Art Director Hemant Bhatnagar Deputy Art Directors Qasim Raza, Shah Faisal Khan Production/Circulation Manager Alok Kaushik Printing Assistant Manish Gandhi

Front cover: MainStreet, the hub of campus life at University of Cincinnati, encompasses McMicken Commons, UC Bookstores, Tangeman University Center and the Joseph A. Steger Student Life Center.

Photograph courtesy University of Cincinnati

Research Services : Bureau of International Information Programs, The American Library

SEVP-certified schools

https://studyinthestates. dhs.gov/school-search

University and College Accountability Network

www.ucan-network.org

international students and may offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

Admission requirements for U.S. colleges and universities vary widely. At the undergraduate level, most institutions rely on certified copies of a student’s educational record, courses and grades (transcripts), any required national exams and standardized tests (SATs or ACTs), a demonstration of English proficiency, recommendation letters and a personal statement or a statement of purpose, an essay describing the student’s longterm goals, interests and personal strengths.

Schools generally ask for completed applications between November and January for students who wish to enroll the following September. Once accepted, students must also qualify for a student

visa, and prove they have the financial resources to pay for their education and support themselves while in the United States. Therefore, students are advised to begin the process 12 to 18 months before they wish to enroll.

The U.S. Department of State’s EducationUSA network of advising centers offers comprehensive and updated information about higher education opportunities in the United States. These centers are located in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi.

But before selecting a college or university, students must understand the types of institutions they can choose from. Here are summary descriptions of some key categories of colleges and universities in the United States.

Courtesy Purdue University

Go Online

Public colleges

and universities

IWAN BAAN (www.iwan.com)/Courtesy Emerson College

Purdue University, Indiana

Private colleges

and universities

Emerson College, California

4 JULY/AUGUST 2016

Courtesy High Point University

Liberal arts colleges

PETE VIDAL/Montgomery College

High Point University, North Carolina

Community colleges

STEVE BABULJAK/Courtesy Mills College

Montgomery College, Maryland

Women’s colleges

Mills College, California

To share articles go to http://span.state.gov JULY/AUGUST 2016 5

What’s What’s Your Your

College

Type?

Public Colleges and

“

T

There are great public institutions in all 50 states— two-year community colleges and four-year universities alike. So it’s easy for international students to find schools that fit them well.

he United States’ commitment to quality higher education and to making that education accessible to its citizens is evidenced by the widespread development of public colleges and universities that are subsidized by the individual states.

This commitment, which in some cases began not long after the United States became a sovereign nation, has produced world-class institutions that attract students from all around the world.

“Studying at one of America’s public colleges or universities provides students a high-quality education through instruction by top-notch faculty and exposure to a socioeconomically diverse student body,” says Eddie West, director of International Initiatives for the National Association for

Courtesy Purdue University

”

GLENN ASAKAWA\University of Colorado

Above: Purdue University is a major research university located in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Right: Students work in a laboratory at University of Colorado at Boulder.

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College Admission Counseling. “There are great public institutions in all 50 states— two-year community colleges and fouryear universities alike. So it’s easy for international students to find schools that fit them well.”

Public schools are often a bargain relative to private institutions. According to the College Board, published costs for tuition, fees, room and board for out-ofstate students at four-year public institutions for the 2015-16 school year averaged $34,031 (Rs. 22,86,000 approximately), compared to $43,921 (Rs. 29,50,000 approximately) for fouryear private schools—a difference of almost $10,000 (Rs. 6,72,000 approximately) a year.

Courtesy University of California, Los Angeles Courtesy Purdue University

ROB FELT/Georgia Institute of Technology

Universities

Above: Virginia Bradbury (from left), Marc Whitley and Katie Quigley, students of Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, work on the Dream Boat installation, which was selected for the Art on the Atlanta BeltLine exhibition in 2014.

Above right: Students of Purdue University, Indiana, at a Seminar in Global Policy Issues.

Right: Pennsylvania State University students take precise measurements as they excavate an area near the foundation of a 19th century farmstead during a hands-on field session at the Department of Anthropology’s Archaeological Field School.

PATRICK MANSELL/Pennsylvania State University

Go Online

Top: The Health System team at the University of California, Los Angeles, conducted its 500th deep brain stimulation procedure in May 2013. Actormusician Brad Carter played the guitar during the procedure to aid surgeons.

American Association of State Colleges and Universities www.aascu.org/Default.aspx

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institutions offer programs in a wide range of academic disciplines, and students have the option of staying within one school for their bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

However, big schools can also be impersonal, so students need to think carefully about what’s best for them, advises West. “Are you the kind of person who can thrive in an environment where you are one of 30,000 students, or are you likely to do better in a smaller setting?”

Admission requirements for public colleges are set by the individual schools. Strong test scores and good grades are always assets, but West notes that more schools—of all types— are now adopting what’s called “holistic admissions” processes that place less emphasis on academic metrics and more on the individual as a whole.

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Courtesy Purdue University

Above: Pennsylvania State University students look into the hollowed engine cavity of a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, to place a hybrid electric engine they designed to compete in the EcoCAR3 summer workshop.

Right: “Dumpsters to Diamonds,” the Oregon State University Recycled Fashion Show. The outfit was designed

by Deb Christel and modeled

by Sam Leeds.

Far right: Purdue University, Indiana, offers its students delicious and healthy meal options.

Oregon State University/Courtesy Flickr

MICHELLE BIXBY/Pennsylvania State University

Students who attend community colleges, where tuition and fees are usually significantly lower, for their first two years and then transfer to a four-year school can save even more. (Read more on Page 16.)

“Affordability of a quality education can be a primary consideration for students who choose to attend a college outside their home country,” says Arlene Jackson, associate vice president of Global Initiatives at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. “Knowing that students obtained a quality education at a reasonable price in a safe environment is vital to any parent.”

Public universities and colleges vary widely in size. Some are small, with just one campus and about 1,000 students, and some are huge—the 64 campuses of the State University of New York had 459,550 enrollees in 2014. The larger

Right: Counselors give Team USA 2012 members training tips in dissection at a laboratory in Purdue University, Indiana, in preparation for the International Biology Olympiad.

Below: Missouri University of Science and Technology Solar House Design Team members install solar panels on its 2009 Solar House.

Courtesy Purdue University ANN TAYLOR-SCHMIDT/Pennsylvania State University

Courtesy Missouri University of Science and Technology

Courtesy Missouri University of Science and Technology

ROB FELT/Georgia Institute of Technology

Above center: Jason Barnes, a drummer and student of Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, with a robotic drumming prosthesis created by Professor Gil Weinberg.

Above: A student applies mehndi (henna) during the Celebration of Nations 2011 event at Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Above right: Members of Pennsylvania State University community, Penn State LGBTQA Student Resource Center and Centre LGBTQA Support Network during LGBTQA Pride March 2016.

JULY/AUGUST 2016

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“

Private Colleges JOHN LOO/Courtesy Flickr

These schools take great pride in being

close-kknit

IWAN BAAN (www.iwan.com)/ Courtesy Emerson College

STEVE WOIT/Courtesy Lewis University

Go Online

�

Courtesy Princeton University, Office of Communications

communities where students live together, work together and make lifelong friends.

National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities www.naicu.edu

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Top: Stanford University in California employs means like roundabouts at intersections to ensure student safety on campus.

Above center left: An outdoor class for Hindi language students of Princeton University, New Jersey.

Above left: A sport and exercise science class with Assistant Professor Zachary Binkley at Lewis University in Illinois.

Above: The iconic building of Emerson College Los Angeles. It is a sustainable LEED-certified facility in the heart of Hollywood, encompassing over 100,000 square feet of space.

What’s What’s Your Your

and Universities

Type?

STEVE WOIT/Courtesy Lewis University

with very rigorous curriculums and course work where learning is emphasized,” says Paul F. Hassen, director of Communications and Marketing for the 965-member National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

“Private colleges generally enroll students between 18 and 20 years old; many coming right from high school and then living on campus for a very traditional college experience,” he says. “These schools take great pride in being close-knit communities where students live together, work together and make lifelong friends. With student-to-faculty Left: An aviation class with Assistant Professor R. Eric Jones at Lewis University in Illinois.

Below left: Professor Jerry Smith of Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee, with his 2013 Find Your Place group on the old Mountain Goat railroad bed.

Find Your Place is a residential program wherein professors help incoming students explore their new home.

Below: Students of Occidental College examine sea life along the California coast as part of a class on marine biology.

MARC CAMPOS/Courtesy Occidental College

Sewanee:The University of the South/Courtesy Flickr

T

here are about 1,600 private, nonprofit colleges in the United States, with student enrollments averaging about 1,900, according to the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. Many of these schools were established decades ago by religious groups or wealthy individuals interested in supporting higher education, though only a few still have religious requirements for attending. Private colleges tend to have smaller class sizes than public colleges and, advocates say, provide more individualized attention to students.

“Private colleges focus on academic excellence,

College

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12 JULY/AUGUST 2016

OZINOH/Courtesy Flickr

Courtesy Princeton University, Office of Communications Courtesy Baker University

Sewanee:The University of the South/Courtesy Flickr

Above: A view of Columbia University in New York City, during the spring season.

Right: Department of Music students at Princeton University, New Jersey, practise the violin.

Below right: A performance by Perpetual Motion, the student dance organization at Sewanee: The University of the South, in Tennessee.

Bottom right: Students of the Department of Mass Media and Visual Arts at Baker University, Kansas, work on their self-portraits.

Far right: Duke University Chapel, located at the center of the campus in Durham, North Carolina.

Below far right: Chemistry students at Lewis University in Illinois.

STEVE WOIT/Courtesy Lewis University

Drew Geraets/Courtesy Flickr

Private colleges have more flexibility when it comes to admitting foreign students.

grants and other forms of financial aid,” says Hassen.

“The bottom line is that what families see as a published price, in many cases, is not what an individual student will actually pay.”

Private colleges also have more flexibility when it comes to admitting foreign students, according to Eddie West, director of International Initiatives for the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

“Some states have a quota or numerical percentage for foreign students in their educational systems,” he says. “But since private schools don’t have to adhere to that, it’s up to the individual institutions as to how many foreign students they’re going to admit.”

Hassen recommends that prospective students access the website of the University and College Accountability Network (www.ucan-network.org), which provides standardized informational snapshots of hundreds of private colleges.

FRANK STARMER/Courtesy Flickr

ratios of 25 to one, students really have the opportunity to interact with faculty members, who get to know them by name and are willing to help students overcome problems that may arise.”

Private colleges are generally more expensive than public schools, often significantly so. However, prospective students and their families should be aware that published tuition numbers, sometimes called the “sticker price,” are often more than what many students actually pay—the so-called “net tuition.” For example, according to the 2013 Trends in College Pricing report by College Board, the average net tuition and fees at private nonprofit fouryear colleges was $12,460 (Rs. 8,37,000 approximately) for the 2013-14 school year, less than half of the average published tuition and fees of $30,090 (Rs. 20,21,000 approximately) for undergraduates.

“Many institutions have a pool of funds they make available to students in the form of scholarships,

SCOTT SPITZER/Courtesy University of Pennsylvania

Courtesy Robert Morris University

Right: PerkinsBostock Arch in the West Campus of Duke University in North Carolina.

Below: Students work at the RMU-TV studio at Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania.

Below right: The Love Statue, an aluminum sculpture installed as part of Robert Indiana’s “Love” series, at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

JULY/AUGUST 2016

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College

Type?

“

Since well-paying jobs in an innovation-driven, fast-changing economy require students who can think critically, solve complex problems and

communicate

clearly, a liberal arts education can be an excellent preparation for the jobs of the future.

Courtesy Austin College

”

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Liberal Arts Colleges T

hese four-year schools, which are usually small and private and often located in residential areas, seek to provide students with what the Association of American Colleges and Universities calls a “broad knowledge of the wider world…[that can] empower individuals and prepare them to deal with complexity, diversity and change.” Although undergraduates major in a specific field, the liberal arts curriculum is intended to offer wide exposure to multiple disciplines that can help students develop their intellectual, civic and practical capabilities. Students are expected to take a variety of courses in subjects like literature, history, languages, mathematics and life sciences.

While Indian students, especially at the graduate level, tend to gravitate toward science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, advocates of liberal arts colleges say a broad educational foundation is vital in today’s global marketplace.

“Since well-paying jobs in an innovationdriven, fast-changing economy require students who can think critically, solve complex problems and communicate clearly, a liberal arts education can be an excellent preparation for the jobs of the future,” says Debra Humphreys, senior vice president for Academic Planning and Public Engagement at the Association of American Colleges and

Universities.

“Whatever field students pursue as undergraduates, what matters most is for students to gain both technical skills in that specific field and the broad education and crosscutting skills that will enable them to flourish both as workers in a changing global economy and as citizens of the world,” she says. “In addition, it is entirely possible to pursue a STEM-related occupation after starting out at a liberal arts college. Many leaders in STEM fields began their studies at a liberal arts college.”

Admission requirements for liberal arts colleges are set by individual schools, but strong test scores, good grades and participation in extracurricular activities are recommended. Although cost break-up is not available for these schools, the majority are private, nonprofit four-year institutions.

According to Trends in College Pricing 2015, a report published annually by the College Board, average charges for tuition, fees and room and board at these colleges in 2015-16 was $41,028 (Rs. 27,56,000 approximately) at the undergraduate level and $39,552 (Rs. 26,57,000 approximately) for students pursuing a master’s degree.

These figures do not reflect any grants, scholarships or other forms of financial aid offered to students, which can be substantial.

Courtesy High Point University

What’s What’s Your Your

Go Online

Association of American Colleges and Universities

Far left: The physics lab at Austin College in Texas, where students are taught in a hands-on format.

Left: High Point University in North Carolina is home to 16 Division I athletic teams, including women’s lacrosse.

Top: High Point University’s Human Biomechanics and Physiology Lab. Above: The Cooking Club at Middlebury College’s Arabic School in Vermont. At the club, students get exposure to many styles of

Middle Eastern food.

Above right: Physician Assistant Studies is one of the newest graduate programs in health education at High Point University.

Right: The graphic design lab at High Point University.

Photographs courtesy High Point University

Courtesy Middlebury Language Schools at Mills

www.aacu.org

JULY/AUGUST 2016

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Go Online

ROB VANYA/San Jacinto College

Photographs by PETE VIDAL/Montgomery College

Community colleges operate under an “open enrollment” model, meaning they “admit all those who can benefit from a higher education.”

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American Association of Community Colleges www.aacc.nche.edu

What’s Your

Community Colleges T

College

Type?

Community Colleges.

“Most community colleges have a noncompetitive admission process and do not require SATs or similar tests,” says Parham. “However, that’s not to say that there isn’t a rigorous curriculum upon admission. Our students tend to do better on transfer to a four-year college than those who start there as freshmen.”

“The overwhelming majority of Indian students attending community colleges do so with the intent to transfer to a four-year institution and earn, at least, a bachelor’s degree,” says Wayne Wheeler, director of International Programs and Services at the American Association of Community Colleges.

“There’s a lot of flexibility with community colleges—some have year-round enrollment, some offer excellent programs for foreign students to improve their English language proficiency and a few offer merit-based scholarships after the first year.”

Community colleges, Parham says, “give Indian students the chance to live in an area of their own choosing, perhaps with family or friends or a local Indian community nearby, and have a couple of years to become accustomed to living and studying in a foreign country before going on to a four-year school. It’s an excellent option for many students.”

Top left: Professor Nevart Tahmazian (center) with chemistry students at Montgomery College’s Rockville Campus in Maryland.

Above center left: Montgomery College’s Financial Aid Office.

Far left: A hospitality management class at Montgomery College.

Above far left: A San Jacinto College cosmetology student cuts hair donated for the Wigs for Kids organization.

Above left: The 2015 World of Montgomery Festival, which celebrated the rich diversity of the Washington, D.C., area through international music, food, dance, culturally-authentic arts demos, hands-on activities and more.

Courtesy San Jacinto College

PETE VIDAL/Montgomery College

hese local institutions, popularly known as technical or junior colleges, award associate degrees upon completion of a two-year program of study. They also serve as gateway schools for students who graduate and transfer to four-year colleges to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

There are almost 1,300 community colleges in the United States, according to the American Association of Community Colleges, with more than 91,000 international students enrolled as of the 2014-15 school year.

Community colleges are significantly less expensive than four-year schools, with average costs for tuition, fees and room and board running $11,438 (Rs. 7,68,000 approximately) for the 2015-16 school year, according to the College Board. However, Indian students can expect to pay the full, or “sticker,” price for tuition and fees, because community colleges rarely award financial aid. They also do not offer housing. But, students can keep the overall costs down by choosing a state where the living expenses are low.

Community colleges operate under an “open enrollment” model, meaning they “admit all those who can benefit from a higher education,” explains Martha M. Parham, senior vice president of Public Relations, at the American Association of

Above: The San Jacinto College Maritime Technology and Training Center serves as the site for certificate and associate degree training through U.S. Coast Guard-required and approved course work.

JULY/AUGUST 2016

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PHILIP CHANNING/Courtesy Mills College Courtesy Converse College

What’s What’s Your Your

College

Type?

“

When I talk to parents about why they should consider women’s colleges, I first talk about leadership, about encouraging women to take risks they might not otherwise take.

18 JULY/AUGUST 2016

Women’s Colleges T

here are less than 50 women’s colleges in the United States and their combined enrollment accounts for only about one percent of the estimated 11.5 million women who attended U.S. colleges and universities full- and part-time last year, according to a 2014 Women’s College Coalition report.

Despite these numbers, advocates of women’s colleges say the schools are wellequipped to instill ambition and selfconfidence in their graduates.

“When I talk to parents about why they should consider women’s colleges, I first talk about leadership, about encouraging women to take risks they might not otherwise take,” says Carmen Twillie Ambar, president of Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and a member of the board of directors of the Women’s College Coalition.

“Women’s colleges are places where young women don’t have to apologize for showing their ambitions or for their academic prowess,” she says. “There’s a deep commitment to women’s education, to helping women achieve at the highest levels in the fields they choose and to encouraging young women to see themselves at the highest levels. Students are not dealing with some of the negative issues that can exist at coed institutions and they can really focus on learning. For many

young women, they are a perfect fit.”

Women’s colleges tend to be small, often offering liberal arts education and with an emphasis on faculty engagement with students. They may also admit male students—Ambar’s definition of a women’s college is one that is “predominately female”—and U.S. laws generally prohibit educational institutions from denying admission to anyone based on their gender.

Admission requirements are roughly the same as at other small private colleges, but the overall costs can vary widely. The average tuition and fees (excluding room, board, materials and other expenses) at women’s colleges was about $15,000 (Rs. 10,07,000 approximately) as of 2011, according to a Women’s College Coalition study. Ambar describes Cedar Crest College’s costs of about $42,000 (Rs. 28,21,000 approximately) for tuition, room and board as “about the middle of the range” for women’s colleges. Women’s colleges tend to be racially diverse, according to the Women’s College Coalition, and Ambar estimates that about 130 of Cedar Crest College’s 1,600 students are from overseas.

Steve Fox is a freelance writer, former newspaper publisher and reporter based in Ventura, California.

Photographs courtesy The Sage Colleges

www.womenscolleges.org

Courtesy Converse College

Go Online

Photographs courtesy Wellesley College

Women’s College Coalition

Top far left: Mills College in California is an undergraduate women’s college, with graduate programs for both women and men.

Top center left: Art and design program students of Converse College in South Carolina.

Top left: A student performs at the Shruti Laya culture show 2012 at Wellesley College in Massachusetts.

Top: Russell Sage College in Troy, New York, celebrated National Poetry Month in April 2016 with a number of events,

including “Black Out,” a poetry workshop where participants used black markers to redact words from pages of books until poems were formed (top right).

Above left: Wellesley College students learn to operate historic and modern telescopes and observe the sky as part of club A.S.T.R.O. Above: Sustainability is one of the key focus areas at Wellesley College.

Left: Students of Converse College with Nashieli Marcano (left), assistant professor of Hispanic Studies.

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Applying for U.S.

D

id you know the number of Indian students studying in the United States has grown from 30,000 ten years ago to more than 132,000 last year—the highest number ever? In fact, according to the 2015 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, the United States remains the most preferred choice for Indian students studying abroad, and Indians are the second largest group of foreign students in the country, with 64 percent pursuing their graduate studies. In 2015, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India issued 86,000 student and exchange visas (F, M and J visas)—a nearly 25 percent increase over 2014.

We, at the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India, are proud of these facts and do our best to facilitate the process for qualified students to obtain visas to study in the United States.

Visa services

http://newdelhi. usembassy.gov/visas.html

Ambassador Richard R. Verma’s message for Student Visa Day

Application process Before the visa process begins, a student has to first seek admission to a U.S. university.

The United States has not only some of the best educational institutions in the world, but also some of the most expensive ones. In addition to researching and applying to universities or colleges, students must have a realistic financial plan. We encourage students to work with our official partner EducationUSA to find the right school and navigate the application process.

http://goo.gl/QUqXPa

U.S. Embassy India on Facebook www.facebook.com/ India.usembassy

U.S. Embassy India on Twitter

Visa process Once a student is accepted, the university or college sends an I-20 or DS-2019 form, which allows the student to apply for a visa.

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Courtesy University of Cincinnati

ZHUZHU/iStock/Thinkstock

https://twitter.com/ USAndIndia

The U.S. visa application process is as easy as 1-2-3: 1) Fill out the application.

2) Pay the fees.

3) Schedule the interview and biometrics appointments.

At the time of the student visa interview, the only documents required are the appointment letter, passport, Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) barcode page (DS-160), Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) receipt and I-20 for F1s and M1s or DS-2019 for J1s.

It is important to note that the visa interview is brief and not based on any additional documentation. Applicants must be able to convince the interviewing officer their primary intent is to study; they can pay for their studies; they will use the visa properly; and, they intend to return to India after completing their studies in the United States. Consular officers are trained to handle each visa application as an individual case and to issue visas to qualified applicants.

Students should not apply for visas more than 120 days before the report date listed on their I-20. Even with a valid U.S. visa, students will not be admitted into the country more than 30 days before the stated report date.

Our website (www.ustraveldocs.com/in) provides guidelines on how to apply for a U.S. visa.

Students can fill out the visa

Jupiterimages/Stockbyte © Getty Images

Go Online

By JOSEPH M. POMPER

application themselves, without paying an agent or consultant. In fact, applicants should be wary of agents or touts, who illegally promise U.S. visas for a fee, and should better avail themselves of the free services offered by EducationUSA. Applicants alone are responsible for the accuracy of the information in their application, and any false information on their application, or fake documents, can result in permanent ineligibility for a U.S. visa.

Providing support As we look to strengthen and expand the educational and cultural ties between India and the United States, we know that our Consular staff must keep pace. To help accommodate the growing demand for student visas, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India organize annual Student Visa Day. This year, it was held on June 9, during which we only adjudicated student visas.

Of course, prospective students can apply for visas on any other day we are open to the public. We always prioritize students to ensure nobody misses their school start date. We continue to support educational study and exchange programs for bona fide students, as these programs have been a hallmark of the U.S.-India bilateral relationship for decades.

For more information on U.S. visas, check out our Consular Quiz of the Week, Visa Myth Busters and Visa Fridays online chats with a visa officer on the U.S. Embassy’s Facebook page and on Twitter @USAndIndia.

Applicants should be wary of agents or touts, who illegally promise U.S. visas for a fee, and should better avail themselves of the free services

JIRKAEJC/istock/Thinkstock

Student Visas

offered by EducationUSA.

VISA

Joseph M. Pomper is the Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs, U.S. Embassy, New Delhi.

To share articles go to http://span.state.gov JULY/AUGUST 2016 21

Indian student organizations at U.S. universities provide support to students and help them stay in touch with their roots.

Go Online

Students of India Association at the University of South Florida www.facebook.com/SIAUSF

Indian Students Organization at Michigan State University https://msu.edu/~msuic

Hindu Students Organization at Columbia University Photographs courtesy Students of India Association

www.columbia.edu/cu/hso

22 JULY/AUGUST 2016

Members of the Students of India Association at the University of South Florida celebrate Holi (above) and Diwali (below and below left).

holidays to celebrate, Diwali and Holi are staple events. Additionally, some organizations offer a final event of the year. The association at The University of Texas at Austin organizes Taal, a talent show featuring South Asian talent, while Indian Students Organization at Michigan State University showcases an annual play, Sargam.

Both Taal and Sargam have become major events in their respective communities.

“SIA aims to make a strong community among fellow Indians—one that represents our country’s values, culture and traditions with pride,” says Kaura. “We celebrate every major festival, be it Holi, Diwali, Eid, Independence Day or Republic Day. These events are attended by both Indian and non-Indian students. 2015-16 has been an extremely fruitful year for SIA. Diwali 2015 was our most successful event. We had over 900 attendees—a number we’ve never achieved before.”

Hindu Students Organization at Columbia University also has rich offerings. “HSO typically organizes five major events throughout the school year, including Mahatma Gandhi Day (a day of community service around New York City), Navratri, Diwali, Classical Night (a showcase of students skilled in Indian classical arts) and Holi,” says Subramanian. “We have recorded attendance of over 500 individuals at some of these events. We also hold a weekly prayer service, which has been a staple of the club since its inception, giving us another chance to practice our faith on campus.”

Indian student organizations at U.S. universities plan to continue to strive to reach out to more students, to incorporate more events into their calendar and to develop stronger ties with other student organizations and groups on campus.

“For the next year, we plan to continue to execute these events as per tradition, and to cooperate more across Columbia’s religious communities in an effort to organize more interfaith events, with the Muslim, Christian, Sikh and Jewish communities on campus, among others,” says Subramanian.

Given the rich Indian cultural life at U.S. universities, prospective students can rest assured they will get to stay in touch with their roots and meet more Indian students with whom they can socialize.

Natasa Milas is a freelance writer based in New York City.

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SARTHAK BEHERA

I

ndian students planning to attend college in the United States are in luck. Organizations and associations like Indian Students Organization (ISO), Indian Students Association (ISA), Students of India Association (SIA) and Hindu Students Organization (HSO) have a vibrant presence across the United States, ranging from the University of South Florida (USF) and The University of Texas at Austin in the south; to Michigan State University in the north; the University of California, Berkeley, in the west; and Columbia University in the east. In fact, if you randomly pick a university you wish to study at, chances are, it will have an Indian students organization.

Each of these organizations strives to serve the Indian population at a given university by providing them a welcoming environment in terms of religious, cultural and social life. And in some cases, in practical matters like picking students up from the airport and providing them temporary lodging.

Mohit Kaura, president of Students of India Association at the University of South Florida explains, “SIA at USF is a thriving organization aimed to showcase India’s culture, history, traditions and its emerging role in the world to the USF community. We have been around for 31 years now, founded in 1985 by A. Vijay Rao, an amazing leader and figure in the Indian community in Tampa. We currently have 1,300 members, out of which 1,000 are current students and the rest are active alumni.”

Most Indian student associations in the United States have been in existence for at least three decades. The Indian Students Association at The University of Texas at Austin is one of the oldest, founded in 1954. Columbia’s Hindu Students Organization is one of the younger ones, founded in 1992.

Mukund Subramanian, co-president of the organization at Columbia University, says, “HSO serves as an outlet for students to reconnect with their faith and culture, while also providing a social atmosphere through which students can interact with fellow Hindus as part of the larger family on campus.”

Indian student organizations hold a variety of events that give students a platform to connect, socialize and partake in cultural activities.

Although each organization chooses which

STUDENT ASSOCIATIONS

At Home Abroad

By NATASA MILAS

Supporting Supporting

Education in USA Courtesy Ishrat Jahan

By DEEPANJALI KAKATI

EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State network of over 400 international student advising centers in more than 170 countries.

It promotes U.S. higher education to students by offering accurate, comprehensive and current information about opportunities to study in the United States.

Excerpts from an interview with Ishrat Jahan, regional educational advising coordinator for EducationUSA in India and Central Asia.

24 JULY/AUGUST 2016

Please tell us briefly about yourself and how you became involved in the field of education.

I was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, grew up in Kuwait and immigrated to New Jersey with my family when I was 10 years old. After my father completed his master’s degree, my mother went back to school to complete her education. I completed my bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey around the same time my mother completed her master’s. Education was an important element in our family, combined with community service. From an early age, I was teaching and mentoring younger children both in school and through cultural programs.

As an adult, my career began in investment banking, but I traveled, studied in India and explored different interests before settling into a career in media and communications. While working in New York, I was also teaching dance and working with youth in the community. Around 2010, I moved to Bangladesh to learn about my family and culture. While helping family members with their interest in studying in the U.S. and teaching at a local school, I discovered EducationUSA. Soon after, I was working as an EducationUSA outreach coordinator with the U.S. Embassy in Bangladesh. The program was a great fit, combining both my interests in sharing knowledge and helping youth, and my teaching skills. After a few years of service in Bangladesh, I accepted my current position as the regional educational advising coordinator for EducationUSA in India and Central Asia.

Can you give a brief overview of your role as the regional educational advising coordinator for India?

The regional educational advising coordinator (REAC) represents the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural

Affairs’ (ECA) EducationUSA office in different regions around the world. The network has over 400 international student advising centers in more than 170 countries promoting U.S. higher education by offering accurate, comprehensive and current information about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States.

There are 14 REACs globally; I oversee EducationUSA in India and Central Asia.

As a REAC, I provide professional leadership, training and expertise in educational advising issues to the EducationUSA network of advising centers and the U.S. Embassies in my region of seven countries. I also provide data and analysis of international student mobility trends to help U.S. higher education institutions develop effective recruitment strategies.

How does EducationUSA help Indian students who are interested in pursuing higher education in the United States? What kind of guidance and services does it offer?

EducationUSA is your official source on U.S. higher education. The EducationUSA centers in India are hosted with three different implementing partners with seven centers across the country—in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. Thirty trained staff and advisers help Indian students receive accurate, comprehensive and current information for bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degrees. They also offer a wide range of in-person and virtual services to students and their families based on “Your 5 Steps to U.S. Study,” a guide to navigating the U.S. higher education application process.

Advisers provide information on a host of topics, including: • The admissions process and standardized testing requirements; • How to finance a U.S. education; • The student visa process;

Courtesy EducationUSA

An EducationUSA session on higher studies in the United States in a school in Bhutan.

EducationUSA represents accreditated U.S. higher education institutions and is committed to promoting the diversity of U.S. higher education to help international students find their ‘best fit.’

EducationUSA

https://educationusa.state.gov

EducationUSA India https://goo.gl/CV4lV4

Study in the States https://goo.gl/hihgYx

• Researching, collating and creating resources for students; • Reviewing and staying updated on the newest policies or changes related to the admissions process and identifying ways to bring that information to students; • Communicating with accredited U.S. institutions to gather information, to arrange sessions on different topics that connect the institutions to students, and to help U.S. institutions with questions they may have concerning Indian students and Indian academic credentials; • Planning outreach to meet students in different cities and arranging special free sessions for the public; • Answering emails and phone calls from students. EducationUSA has a toll-free line that students from around India can call in for information.

The toll-free helpdesk number 1-800-103-1231 is open from Monday to Friday between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Call in to speak to a trained EducationUSA adviser.

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EDUCATIONUSA

“

with parents and students at their local community center to discuss the admissions process. The center in Delhi met students in Kashmir virtually, to provide free information about U.S. higher studies. Advisers from the Chennai center traveled to institutions in Ooty and Coimbatore to provide free information.

Most of the services EducationUSA offers are free of cost. The centers also provide paid membership services for those interested in more in-depth support.

Do you organize special sessions for parents to address their questions and concerns about sending their children to study in a foreign country?

EducationUSA centers host a special session, “Parents Meet Parents,” where parents of future students interact with parents of students in the U.S. Contact an EducationUSA center near you to find out about the schedule of events.

What does a typical day in the life of an EducationUSA adviser look like?

An EducationUSA adviser’s day varies from day to day depending on the time of the year, the city where they are located and the U.S. admissions cycle. The ultimate goal is to provide guidance and support to Indian students about the correct path to U.S. institutions. For this reason, answering students’ inquiries is always a priority. Some activities that the advisers engage in include:

Go Online

• Preparing for departure to the United States.

EducationUSA represents accreditated U.S. higher education institutions and is committed to promoting the diversity of U.S. higher education to help international students find their “best fit.”

EducationUSA centers in India offer guidance through free information sessions on how to apply to U.S. institutions the correct way. EducationUSA offers free webinars every Friday at 4:00 p.m. at http://bit.ly/1u5QUDX. Visit the “EducationUSA India” YouTube page to get a glimpse of the information the advisers offer.

Are these advising services available only at the EducationUSA centers or do you travel to other locations too?

Are the services subscription-based or available free of cost?

EducationUSA is committed to providing guidance and information to all Indian students. And that means reaching them where they are. The advisers travel to schools, colleges, universities, community centers, education fairs and any number of places to speak to parents and interested Indian students. This is provided as a free service. EducationUSA advisers often accept invitations from parents, students and local institutions to conduct free information sessions on a range of topics.

Recently, the Hyderabad center met

A roadshow organized by EducationUSA in New Delhi in November 2015 to interact with students and distribute information on U.S. higher education.

Why do you think more Indian students should pursue higher studies in the United States? What benefits does the United States offer Indian students that they might not find in other countries?

Over 900,000 international students studied in U.S. campuses in the last academic year. This provided them a profound learning experience beyond classrooms; it opened doors to global networking opportunities. Of all the study abroad destinations, the United States remains, by far, the most popular among Indian students. Over 130,000 Indian students are currently studying in the U.S., making Indians the second largest group of international students here.

The incredible range of U.S. institutions offering a multitude of study options and majors in a variety of settings makes it challenging for prospective students to find the right fit. Poor choices are made if based solely on a ranked list or hearsay. EducationUSA is committed to helping international students find the best fit—“Don’t try to match yourself to a university; rather, try to pick a university that matches you.” Best fit implies that students are seeking options that fit their academic goals, financial situation and future career plans. The U.S. may not always be the best fit and EducationUSA advisers often encourage students to explore all options, both locally and abroad, though they can only provide guidance on the U.S. admissions process.

What are the most common mistakes students make while applying to U.S. universities and how can they avoid them?

A few of the common mistakes students make are: 26 JULY/AUGUST 2016

Can you give us a brief overview of the “5 Steps to U.S. Study?”

STEP 1: Research your options

12 to 18 months prior to intended date of enrollment The best college or university for you is the one that meets your requirements—academic, financial and personal.

Begin by defining your priorities by answering questions such as: What type of institution is best, based on your academic record? How will you manage financing? Why do you want to study in the U.S.? And what are your interests and long-term goals? Then, begin your research.

STEP 2: Finance your studies

Tuition can range from $20,000 (Rs. 13,39,000 approximately) to $70,000 (Rs. 46,88,000 approximately) depending on the program, location and type of institution, i.e. public versus private. It is important to start financial planning as early as possible. Each year, international students receive significant amounts of financial assistance toward their studies, but these are limited and intensely competitive. Financial assistance is typically provided through scholarships, grants, fellowships, assistantships, internships and oncampus employment. Applications for financial aid accompany the applications for admission.

STEP 3: Complete your application

6 to 12 months prior to intended date of enrollment Application packages require time, preparation and planning. Students will benefit greatly by starting the process early. The majority of U.S. schools evaluate applications holistically, which means decisions are based on several criteria and the strength of the complete application package.

Key elements include academic records, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities and application essays and/or work experience.

STEP 4: Apply for a visa

3 to 5 months prior to intended date of enrollment Students will first need to receive an admission letter and an I-20 from a U.S. institution before they can begin the visa application process. All students are required to appear for an interview in person at the Consular Office that serves their region. Consular websites provide detailed information on the process and requirements.

EducationUSA advisers work in cooperation with Consular officers to inform and educate prospective students as well. Students are encouraged to take advantage of information sessions that are frequently offered.

STEP 5: Prepare for departure

2 to 4 months prior to intended date of enrollment Pre-departure orientations are offered by EducationUSA advising centers. Advisers and alumni provide information and resources that help prepare students for new experiences. Topics discussed include cultural differences, classroom expectations, housing, coping in a new cultural setting and what to pack for their trip.

“

The toll-free helpdesk number

1-8 800-1 103-1 1231

is open from Monday to Friday between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Call in to speak to a trained EducationUSA adviser.

”

Dependence on rankings: Rankings are very subjective. While it may be a place to start, it shouldn’t be the only reference point. Students need to conduct extensive, in-depth research to find the “best fit” institution. EducationUSA advisers guide students on the criteria to consider when researching and how to look beyond the rankings.

Brand name institutions: There are over 3,000 accredited institutions in the U.S. Parents and students should consider if the students’ academic profile, financial standing and long-term goals match the institutions being selected. Students should apply to six to eight institutions in a range of dream schools, matching schools and safety schools. Dream schools should be one or two—institutions that the student dreams of attending and are a good fit. Matching schools should be three to four—institutions that match the students’ finances and where their academic record may qualify for scholarships. Safety schools should be about two to three—institutions where the student and family are confident of acceptance and can manage financially.

Being undiscerning: EducationUSA

often sees students who have depended on advice from one source or a family member or a friend. EducationUSA is the official source for U.S. higher studies.

Parents and students should verify, attend or connect with an EducationUSA adviser before investing in the U.S. application process. There are no guaranteed admissions at accredited U.S. institutions and no one can guarantee a student visa.

The best path is to be involved in the application process, know the institutions you are applying to, understand why you selected those institutions and always be honest throughout the application process.

Is it more advisable for Indian students to focus on graduate studies in the United States as opposed to undergraduate studies? Does one offer significant benefits in terms of financial aid that the other doesn’t?

For the 2014-15 academic year, there was a 30 percent increase in the number of Indian students pursuing an undergraduate degree. The large portion of Indian students, 64 percent, continues to be those pursuing graduate degrees. The decision to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree rests on the long-term

plans of students and families.

While scholarships are competitive for undergraduate studies, Indian families are able to afford the range of tuition at U.S. institutions. Indian high school students who prepare strong application packages and apply to the best-fit institutions can be competitive applicants for financial aid and acceptance.

Graduate degrees are popular because of the multiple sources of funding available beyond scholarships. STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, which often have funded research prospects at U.S. institutions, can offer more varied funding opportunities.

Graduate students can also avail of teaching opportunities, which can supplement scholarships and other financial aid.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

On March 2016, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its final rule to strengthen and enhance the optional practical training (OPT) program for F-1 international students in STEM fields. The STEM OPT 24-month extension is effective beginning May 10, 2016.

JULY/AUGUST 2016

27

Photographs courtesy EducationUSA

Left and below far left: EducationUSA advisers offer a wide range of in-person and virtual services to students and their families.

Below: EducationUSA hosts a “Parents Meet Parents” session in New Delhi, where parents of future students interact with parents of students in the United States.

Connect With EducationUSA

I

By RIDDHI JAIN

28 JULY/AUGUST 2016

Courtesy EducationUSA

EducationUSA programs help students orient themselves for studying in the United States.

am from New Delhi, and I contacted EducationUSA after receiving acceptances from the universities I had applied to. My counselor, Zafeena Suresh, helped me and my parents make an informed decision. Having visited the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania herself, she could answer all our questions from personal experience. This made my mother feel more comfortable about sending me to live alone in a different country.

Before going to the United States, I attended a student orientation program organized by EducationUSA. Students who were studying in the United States or had completed their education from a U.S. university shared their experiences with us.

As the challenges faced by international students, especially from the same country, are more or less similar, their experiences helped cushion the cultural shock, considerably. They talked about everything— from academics and how to be involved outside the classroom to food and cultural norms.

The students also talked about who should be our point of contact in case of an emergency. This is something really important but tends to get neglected. They were very encouraging and answered all our questions.

Another really helpful program organized

by EducationUSA was the visa orientation, where a U.S. Embassy representative who conducts visa interviews, guided us on applying for a U.S. student visa. He also busted myths surrounding the student visa application process. For instance, he told us we do not need to carry a huge stack of papers with us for the visa interview. Generally, the interviewer does not ask for any document aside from the ones listed on the application.

If he or she does, the interviewee gets a day to drop them off at the Embassy.

These events gave me an opportunity to meet other people planning to study abroad.

In fact, at one of these orientations, I met a girl who was also traveling to Pittsburgh.

Having completed one year at the University of Pittsburgh and having dealt with culture shock myself, I can see how much these orientations benefited me. I would recommend all students going to the United States for further studies to take advantage of the resources offered by EducationUSA—the amazing counselors and the informative programs.

Riddhi Jain is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance, along with a minor in economics, at the University of Pittsburgh. She is also pursuing a certificate in Asian Studies.

Courtesy Riddhi Jain

Riddhi Jain says that EducationUSA programs provide a lot of important information.

EducationUSA United https://education States-India usa.state.gov Educational Foundation

www.usief.org.in

ORIENTATION

Go Online University of Pittsburgh www.pitt.edu

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Pack

A

s I left to start my college years in the United States in January 2014, I took with me a battery of things I quickly realized were of no use to me, and missed a few essential items that could have made my longest time away from home slightly easier. While this list is in no way exhaustive, I hope to provide future students a better sense of what to bring, particularly given the current luggage restrictions.

Parvathy Bhushan went to the United States in 2014 to pursue higher studies.

Courtesy Parvathy Bhushan

for students leaving for the United States.

30 JULY/AUGUST 2016

Photographs Š Thinkstock

Packing tips

By PARVATHY BHUSHAN

https://educationusa.state.gov

Important documents

Food or snacks

There are some very important documents that you must carry with you during your travel. These include your official acceptance letter to the university, your passport, I-20 that is to be placed on your U.S. visa page, your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) payment confirmation and your financial aid offer letter, if you are receiving aid from your university. It is very likely that the immigration officer would like to see all these documents during your first entry as an F-1 student. Keep them organized in a binder for easy access.

Your university may boast of expansive dining halls and intercontinental cuisine.

However, you may find yourself homesick and wanting to enjoy some familiar flavors.

You can pack some dry food or snacks, clearly labelled, in your checked baggage. Be sure to declare them when asked by your immigration officer. Do not take any seeds/plant-based food, as these are not allowed.

Research the climate of your new home closely. Depending upon how hot or cold the seasons can be, pack appropriately. Be sure to pack clothes that are easily laundered in a washing machine and whose colors do not run. Avoid bringing heavy winter layers because these are best purchased locally and will take up precious luggage space.

Medicines Even though the United States has a good healthcare system, you must take along any essential medicines prescribed by your doctor. Be sure to take along the appropriate prescription for these medicines. The United States also has a number of over-the-counter medicines, which can be purchased from local pharmacies, but check with your health center or doctor before consumption.

Form I-20

https://goo.gl/wr3I5E

Memorabilia In order to decorate your room, you may want to bring along a few special things of significance. These could be photographs, wall hangings, posters, etc. Try to take items that aren’t too heavy or fragile. This will be helpful not only during your trip to the campus but also when you need to store your things for the summer months.

Furnishing While your room may initially have bare essentials, you can utilize stores like Bed, Bath & Beyond to furnish it with bedding, linens and cutlery, if necessary. These stores provide the facility to shop online, pick up the items at the store closest to you and transport them to your campus.

I hope these tips are useful to those preparing to leave for the United States in the fall. Make sure to embrace your new surroundings and ask for help when you feel lost. Everyone in their first semester is looking to make friends and this in itself makes for a great atmosphere of sharing and happiness. Bon voyage!

Student and Exchange Visitor Information System www.ice.gov/sevis

Parvathy Bhushan from New Delhi is an undergraduate student of biology and business at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts.

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PACKING

Clothes

EducationUSA

Go Online

’em Up

Perfecting a

Statement of Purpose

T

By SUVRAT BHOOSHAN

he statement of purpose is a part of your application whose importance is widely speculated upon in the masters’ admission process to U.S. universities. This is, however, not true for Ph.D. applications, where its importance cannot be overstated. The truth is

by December, students would have already sent their GRE scores and letters of recommendation, and their grades would have been set.

The statement of purpose is the only part of the application that would still be in their hands.

Some universities might ask for a personal statement along with the statement of purpose.

The two are quite different. While a personal statement allows you to write about your interests and life experiences, which describe VAEENMA/iStock/Thinkstock

Tips on drafting a convincing statement of purpose while applying to U.S. universities.

you as a person, a statement of purpose should highlight your academic and professional achievements, and the reasons behind choosing a particular program.

The statement of purpose is not a recap or a summary of your achievements. You have your résumé to establish your work experience and your transcript to highlight your stellar academic record. Reiterating these details in your statement of purpose is not going to add any value for the admissions committee.

Most colleges have specific guidelines for writing statements of purpose and personal statements. For example, Stanford University wants students’ statements of purpose to describe “your reasons for applying to the proposed program at Stanford and your preparation for this field of study, your research and study interests, future career plans and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study.”

Why are you applying to the program?

Start off your statement of purpose by describing your reasons for applying to the program. Talk about how the program aligns with your future goals. This will vary from program to program and applicant to applicant, but every applicant does have a reason for applying to a particular college or program.

You may want to gain some research experience and figure out your areas of interest before you apply for Ph.D. programs. Or, you may be working for some time and want to learn or hone a certain skillset in graduate school. The reason is personal to you. Share

32 JULY/AUGUST 2016

Stanford University www.stanford.edu

Courtesy Survat Bhooshan

Mistercontributer/Courtesy Wikipedia

MIKE REYES/Courtesy Flickr

www.gatech.edu

Go Online

Georgia Institute of Technology

Above: Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

Right: Suvrat Bhooshan will start his master’s study at Stanford University, California (above right), this fall.

that with the admissions committee through your statement of purpose.

Why are you a good fit for the program?

Now, delve into your preparation for this field of study. Here, the admissions committee essentially wants to know why you will be a successful participant in the program. Convince them that they are not wasting a spot on you.

This is the meat of your statement of purpose, and there are many things you can mention here. You can talk about your research experience if you are applying right out of college, or you can highlight certain graduate-level courses you may have taken and done well in as an undergraduate. Again, these reasons will be related to your background. Make sure the admissions committee knows that you are a qualified applicant who can handle the rigors of the graduate program.

APPLICATION

Why is the program a good fit for your goals?

Lastly, there could be certain things unique to a particular program that fit your personal goals really well. This is the perfect place to mention them.

The statement of purpose is the only part of your application which allows you to give your personal perspective and explain your reasons for joining the university you’re applying to. Do it well!

Suvrat Bhooshan is studying computer science at Georgia Institute of Technology. He will start his master’s study at Stanford University this fall.

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Courtesy Sanniv Ganguly

Deciphering the

System

A

Exploring the differences between the Indian and U.S. education systems.

Go Online Purdue University

Graphic by QASIM RAZA, photographs © Thinkstock

www.purdue.edu

Studying in the United States

www.usa.gov/ education

lot of Indian students apply to U.S. universities every year. But, before deciding to apply, most students would have thought about the differences between the education systems in India and the United States.

It is said the Indian system lays emphasis on critical thinking. It is partially true. The emphasis on memorization or critical thinking depends a lot on the subject. For example, if the subject’s lectures comprise stated facts and findings (say, the morphology of a cellular system), then the exam questions would focus on memorization power.

But for a subject like research methods, where lectures comprise discussions about experimental methods, the exam questions would be about different ways to design an experiment to validate a particular finding. This would require a lot of critical thinking.

Now, coming to the actual differences between the two systems of education, in India, students can ask questions in class and it’s completely voluntary. In some U.S. universities, class participation is technically voluntary, but students are given points for it and these points contribute to grades. Also, the points earned for class participation in some U.S. universities depend a lot on the type of questions asked. Basic questions are always welcome, but will earn lesser points than questions which involve quick thinking and critical analysis.

In India, students usually go to a

34 JULY/AUGUST 2016

Go Online LIGO

www.ligo.caltech.edu

By SANNIV GANGULY

particular venue to take exams.

However, in some U.S. universities, professors, at times, follow a “take home” format of examination, where students might be given a recent research article and the questions would involve analyses and critical thinking about the experiments performed. For example, students could be asked if they think the published experiments are sufficient to validate a particular finding, or whether there are flaws in the experiments which the authors of the paper might have overlooked. Students could also be asked to design further experiments to carry on the research.

In a “take home” format of examination, students are not allowed to discuss their answers with anyone, but they can consult their notes and the Internet. However, one should not indulge in plagiarism, as he or she could face a serious penalty.

Finally, I would say that in the U.S. system of education, you have to be self-motivated in order to excel. You could read extra material and discuss your ideas with your professors and peers. It would be good to discuss your ideas with people from different disciplines, as this would help analyze a situation from a unique perspective.

All of these would be easy, provided you have a passion for the subject you are studying.

Sanniv Ganguly (above left) is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University in Indiana.

Since his childhood, Karan Jani was curious about the universe. His educational journey led him to the United States, where he became a star astrophysics researcher at both Pennsylvania State University and Georgia Institute of Technology. Earlier this year, his groundbreaking work with other scientists at the Laser

Interferometer Gravitational-W Wave Observatory (LIGO)

led to the detection of a gravitational wave, opening a window into the way we understand the cosmos and proving Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.

Excerpts from an interview.

Photographs courtesy Karan Jani

Making Waves Growing up in Gujarat, what was the role of science during your youth, and how did it become your passion?

The first actual scientific concept I remember learning was at the age of 16, when my teacher explained the term “infinity.” I distinctly remember him saying that one cannot understand our universe if one cannot appreciate the concept of infinity. That night, I looked at the stars for hours and kept forming my naïve model of an “infinite universe.” After graduating from high school, I ended up choosing physics because it seemed like the only logical way to understand the universe.

When you arrived in the United States for higher education, what were the most distinct differences you observed—academically and culturally?

Academically, the most significant change was the comforting environment where free discussion can take place. While at Penn State, I was addressing the deans and chairs by their first names. It seems like a minor nonacademic thing, but it removed the barrier for me to learn.

American culture was a huge shock for me. But over time, my interaction with classmates, other international students and even Indian students from outside Gujarat completely transformed my opinions about American culture and society. This exposure to different cultures and perspectives has been the most rewarding part of my U.S. education.

What first inspired your interest in Albert Einstein’s theories on relativity, gravitational waves and black holes?

In my freshman year at Penn State, I started working on gravitational waves. By sophomore year, I was invited to spend a summer at the Albert Einstein Institute in Germany. In my junior year, I spent a few months working on black holes at Canada’s Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, where the great Stephen Hawking serves as research chair. Every year, you learn so much more that the inspiration is constant.

Can you briefly help our readers understand the scientific significance of your LIGO team’s black hole/gravitational wave discovery? How does it alter the Above: Karan Jani is a doctoral researcher at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

Left: Karan Jani (second from left) and some other LIGO scientists met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington, D.C., in March 2016.

scientific research landscape and what is next for your research now that this discovery has been made?

About 100 years ago, Einstein wrote the most significant paper of his life, “General Theory of Relativity.” Shortly after, this theory predicted the existence of black holes and gravitational waves. A few decades later, the U.S. National Science Foundation funded its most ambitious international science project: Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). After decades of effort by hundreds of scientists globally, LIGO detected a confirmed gravitational wave on September 14, 2015. It came from a collision of two black holes, and the signal exactly matched the supercomputer simulations that I do at Georgia Tech. Now that we know black holes exist in the universe, my main research interest is to find more of them using LIGO. Black holes help us answer some of the fundamental questions regarding the formation and evolution of our universe.

Your meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi must have been a great experience. What main takeaways did you have from this?

Meeting the Prime Minister was as unbelievable as being part of the black hole discovery. Nothing brings more satisfaction to my personal journey than seeing that science and technology are at the forefront of development in India.

The most important point he raised was to create human resources and forums where we can engage more students to be part of such fundamental science. One suggestion for us was to give lectures at Indian universities about our gravitational waves discovery and the proposed LIGO-India project—something I look forward to doing this summer.

Finally, do you have any advice for other young aspiring scientists? What are the most valuable lessons you have learned along your educational journey thus far?

It may be a cliché, but education is a never-ending process. I have the same struggles learning new concepts today as I did in my freshman year at Penn State.

The journey started with the curiosity of understanding the universe, and there is still so much we don’t know about it. I may not even know about it in my lifetime, but I have to keep the ball rolling so the next generation can find answers and be part of further breakthrough discoveries. That is our proud scientific tradition.

Jason Chiang is a freelance writer based in Silver Lake, Los Angeles.

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SCIENCE

By JASON CHIANG

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Accreditation is a stamp of acceptability and a gateway to financial aid at U.S. universities.

Accreditation in the United States

www2.ed.gov/ admins/finaid/ accred/index.html

Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools www.acics.org/ students.aspx

36 JULY/AUGUST 2016

By CARRIE LOEWENTHAL MASSEY

ant to study in the United States? There are lots of things to think about: Which school? Which program? Which location? How long will you stay? How do you know if a school or program is strong in your field? Is financial aid available?

While some of your decisions will be based on personal preferences, knowing whether a program is accredited can help assure you of its quality and lay the groundwork for the financial aid application process. In the United States, only students attending accredited schools or programs are eligible for financial aid from the federal government. Accreditation means that either a nongovernmental organization or a federal or state government agency has determined that the institution or the program meets “acceptable levels of quality,” according to the U.S. Department of Education.

But what’s acceptable? Although the answer depends upon the area of study, some of the common criteria that accreditors consider include retention and completion rates (how many students stay with programs and complete them), employment rates (how many students have jobs lined up after graduation), examination pass rates and student satisfaction (based on surveys and other qualitative data collection).

Gathering this data—both statistical and anecdotal—is part of a larger process accreditors undertake in collaboration with educational institutions and programs. Together, the accreditors and educators set quality standards. Then, the school or program seeking accreditation does a self-evaluation to measure its performance against the agreed-upon standards. Next, the accreditors select a team of peers to conduct an on-site review to determine, firsthand, if an institution or program meets those standards. Some accreditors like the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools also check if the schools have organizational plans in place to ensure their longterm effectiveness and financial stability from year to year. Such accreditors may conduct periodic unannounced visits to schools or programs as well.

After confirming an acceptable baseline level of quality, accreditors like the Accrediting Council

Graphics by QASIM RAZA, logo courtesy U.S. Department of Education

W

The Quality Factor

for Independent Colleges and Schools issue their accreditations on one of two levels: institutional or specialized/programmatic. An institutional accreditation applies to an entire institution and signifies each of its entities contributes to the achievement of its objectives. A specialized or programmatic accreditation certifies the quality of specific programs, departments or schools within an institution. The unit accredited may be as large as a college or school within a university or as small as a curriculum within a discipline, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Periods of accreditation last three to eight years with the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, but they may vary with other accreditors. During this period, accreditors monitor institutions and programs to ascertain that they remain in compliance with the set standards. At the end of the accreditation period, the institutions and programs are reevaluated and accreditors decide whether to continue their accreditation or condition it on certain changes and developments.

Accreditation has long been a part of the U.S. education system. The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools was founded in 1912.

Accreditation came about because of the decentralized nature of U.S. higher education— universities and colleges have a great deal of autonomy and independence and, as a result, can differ widely in their quality and their approach to learning. By establishing accreditation as a system of peer review, the United States could set a minimum standard of quality in post-secondary education without inhibiting the freedom of institutions and programs to teach as they see fit.

The search for the right program in the United States can be exciting, yet overwhelming. As it’s not possible for all to travel overseas to check out a program in person, accreditation is a guarantee that someone else has taken a look. And, it can be a good starting point as you narrow down your choices.

Carrie Loewenthal Massey is a New York City-based freelance writer.

Funding Your U.S. Education

T

By CANDICE YACONO

he prospect of attending a university in the United States can be daunting for many Indian students. Being accepted to a U.S. university is only the first step. After that, it can be difficult to put together the funds needed to attend a school abroad. The cost of undergraduate education in the United States can range from $15,000 (approximately Rs. 10,07,000) to more than $40,000 (approximately Rs. 26,87,000) per year. International students are not usually eligible to receive most types of governmental financial aid available to American students.

However, through creative use of the Internet, Indian students can find a myriad of

options for scholarships, assistantships, fellowships, need- or merit-based awards and other grants available to qualified international students. The competition for these forms of financial aid can be fierce. Loans are another option, but should be considered only after the “free” options have been exhausted.

There are broadly two types of financial aid: internal institutional aid, which is made available by a particular college or university, and external financial aid, which is offered by nonprofit organizations, foundations, corporations or even individuals, and can be used at a range of institutions.

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FINANCIAL AID

Fellowships, assistantships and grants— international students have a range of options to choose from.

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Above: Alumnus Ratan Tata (left) and then-Cornell University President David J. Skorton signed an agreement in 2008 to provide an endowment of $50 million to the university for agriculture and nutrition programs in India, and for the education of students from India at the university.

Above right: The recipients of Cornell University’s Tata Scholarship Fund 2014.

38 JULY/AUGUST 2016

Courtesy Cornell University

Courtesy Cornell University Photography file photo

Assistantships are coveted positions at any college or university because they offer the double benefits of financial support and career-related work experience.

Internal financial aid With respect to institutional aid, some U.S. universities offer special scholarships and fellowships specifically to students from India.

Every year, Cornell University’s Tata Scholarship Fund helps up to 20 Indian undergraduate students, regardless of their financial status, attend the prestigious university.

The University of California, Berkeley, also offers fellowships for Indian students. The Guru Gobind Singh Fellowship, for instance, is intended for students from a specific area of India currently pursuing a graduate degree at the university.

In addition to scholarships and grants, international students have another option which enables them to exchange their time and expertise for reduced or free tuition—assistantships. But, the availability of this option at any given institution or department within the institution can vary greatly, depending on enrollment, department funding and other factors.

Assistantships are coveted positions at any college or university because they offer the

double benefits of financial support and career-related work experience. These temporary jobs also save students the trouble of looking for a job outside their campuses.

Assistantships are a preferred option among international students because they cover their tuition fees and provide a stipend for everyday living expenses like housing and food.

There are three common types of assistantships—teaching, research and graduate.

Teaching assistants help professors in the classroom environment with instructional responsibilities like grading, proctoring tests and assisting with lectures, laboratory sessions or discussions. Graduate assistants may have roles similar to teaching assistants, or they may help with other university departments.

They, too, receive stipends. Similarly, research assistants are temporary university employees who assist in the academic research efforts of supervisors or principal investigators.

Generally, there are more assistantship opportunities at public universities than at private ones. To earn one of these competitive

www.funding usstudy.org

Cornell University’s Tata Scholarship Fund

https://goo.gl/iBqco8

East-West Fellowships for Center Graduate Indian Citizens http://goo.gl/kVylZD Degree Fellowship www.eastwest center.org/gdf

Courtesy East-West Center

http://goo.gl/tJGQVe

Guru Gobind Singh Fellowship Application

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Funding for U.S. study

spots, international students should work hard on their application and proofread it to avoid errors.

Excellent GRE (Graduate Record Examination) and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores can also increase a student’s odds of being offered an assistantship. Try to get a high score on the TSE (Test of Spoken English) exam as well, to prove your English is strong.

External financial aid External financial aid is yet another option for international students. For example, the East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship offers funding for master’s and doctoral students from Asia, the Pacific and the United States to participate in different development programs at the East-West Center, while pursuing graduate study at the University of Hawai’i.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs administers the Fulbright Program, with the assistance of binational commissions and foundations, and U.S. embassies. The Fulbright Program offers

international education exchange opportunities, including fellowships and grants. More than 360,000 people from over 160 countries have participated in the program since its inception in 1946. The Fulbright Foreign Student Program gives opportunities to about 4,000 graduate students, artists and young professionals from more than 155 countries, annually, to study and research in the United States.

The Fulbright Program in India is administered by the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF). Qualified Indian graduate students may apply to conduct post-doctoral research at U.S. institutions. Other opportunities include Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program, the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program, the FulbrightKalam Climate Fellowship, the Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowship and Fulbright-Nehru CII Fellowship for Leadership in Management.

Above: Graduate degree fellows are welcomed to the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, at the start of the 2015-16 academic year.

Candice Yacono is a magazine and newspaper writer based in southern California.

JULY/AUGUST 2016

39

Go Online International Student Insurance http://goo.gl/Pwt3Iz

Eastern Michigan University’s insurance guide for international students http://goo.gl/hUpVPH

The University of Texas at Austin’s health insurance plan https://goo.gl/caJKKO

University of Southern California’s health insurance plan https://goo.gl/0G4hRK

I

t’s as important as researching a university or area of study, but few students pay real attention to it. Health insurance, often way down on a student’s list of priorities, is one of the most important aspects of planning studies in the United States.

“I had heard horror stories about medical expenses in the U.S., so I did check to ensure that I had some kind of insurance. But I did not check the specific terms of the insurance plan,” says Meghana Marathe, a first-year Ph.D. student at the University of Michigan School of Information in Ann Arbor.

Aditya Vashistha, a Ph.D. student at the University of Washington in Seattle, says, “As a research assistant, I knew I had some kind of coverage; I left it at that.”

Key points A Student Health Insurance Guide for International Students by the Eastern Michigan University states that since F-1 international students and their dependents are not eligible for federal aid, it is strongly recommended that they buy health insurance.

Schools in the United States require international students to have health insurance at the time of enrollment, and they usually have mandatory school

plans. Some offer voluntary school plans, which students can opt for or buy their own. Few schools have no plans, which would require students to buy their own health insurance.

Insurance-related issues could be confusing. But, as Ross Mason, vice president of International Student Insurance in Florida, says, keeping a few important points in mind can make the process easier. “The most important thing that students must consider is making sure the plan works for them,” he says. To do this, students should carefully look at: Costs: Does the plan fit their budget?

Do they want to pay monthly to spread out the cost?

Out-of-pocket expenses: What are the deductibles and coinsurance amounts they will need to pay if they seek medical care? Also, look for hidden benefit caps, as some plans will cap internal plan benefits, which could end up making you pay more.

Benefits and exclusions: Learn what the plan covers and excludes.

School insurance plans School health insurance plans are certainly a good option for students, but there are a few concerns too. “The problem with most school plans is that,

Insuring

Health

By PAROMITA PAIN

40 JULY/AUGUST 2016

International students must have health insurance to protect themselves from high medical expenses.

Some schools offer medical services at the campus student health centers. For example, at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, the medical service center is open to all students enrolled in the university student healthcare plan. “Often, the services performed here are free or at a very discounted cost,”

had student travel insurance when I left India and knew it would cover some portion of my treatment, but I wasn’t sure exactly how much that would be,” she says. Fadnis’ scholarship covered the entire cost of the treatment. She advises students to look carefully at what the university and scholarship packages offer. “Talk to the international office and ask questions,” she says.

Another important aspect to remember is while most plans for students can be renewed for up to four years, some plans can be renewed for a longer period.

Studying in the United States without adequate health coverage can prove to be expensive. Marathe says she has heard about students paying “$1200 (approximately Rs. 80,000) for a minor fix in an emergency room, $2000 (approximately Rs. 133,300) for a root canal operation and so on.” She advises students to get a thorough health and dental checkup, and complete any treatments a month before leaving for the United States.

Fadnis says that finding out what the university offers is as important as looking into travel insurance for students.

Paromita Pain is a journalist based in Austin, Texas.

INSURANCE

On-campus healthcare

says Mason. “With health insurance, most plans will give you the flexibility to [also] seek medical care off campus.

However, you may need to keep within your insurance plan provider’s network.”

At The University of Texas at Austin, seeing a doctor when enrolled on the school’s plan costs only $5 (approximately Rs. 330). However, visiting a doctor outside the campus, but within the provider’s network, can cost about $30 (approximately Rs. 2000).

Not all services are covered at these health centers though. Deepa Fadnis was a graduate student at the University of West Virginia when she needed emergency care because of malaria. “I

Graphic by QASIM RAZA, photograph

by TANDA_V/iStock/Thinkstock

sometimes, they can be very expensive,” says Mason. “Oftentimes, they are not made for international students, but for the whole school and are really geared for domestic students.” Most student insurance plans don’t cover preventive care or offer wellness options. It is, therefore, important to find out if regular checkups are covered. Taking advice from field experts can help.

Also, a lot depends on the size and standing of the school. For example, The University of Texas at Austin, part of the largest university system in the state of Texas, offers great insurance options for students who have a scholarship from the school or are employed in some capacity.

Its student health insurance plans cover regular checkups and offer wellness programs.

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W CHOOSE

hen you begin your search for the right higher education institution or program in the United States, it is crucial that you take the time you need to do an effective job. The biggest mistake most students commit is they don’t research their options well before applying. Here’s a guide to choosing the right higher education institution or program.

Spend enough time on your research

Right

By DON MARTIN and WESLEY TETER

Research the universities and programs that interest you, and make a comparison among them before you pick your best fit.

42 JULY/AUGUST 2016

Selecting a college or graduate school is not something to be taken lightly. It involves major investments—intellectual, social, emotional and financial. Be sure to allow yourself enough time to do your “due diligence” and get all the information you would need.

Create a college/graduate school spreadsheet Do an initial web search for institutions and programs on established websites like College Board’s Big Future and those listed on the EducationUSA website. At this point, do not have any sort of rank order in mind. Remember that perception is reality—it is where you should end up after the research process, not from where you start out. It would be good to have at least 15 to 20 options at the start of your research.

Once you shortlist suitable institutions and programs, create a research

https://educationusa.state.gov

College Board’s Big Future https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org

• Usefulness of printed materials like brochures.

• Friendliness of admissions staff.

• Interaction with current students, faculty and alumni.

• Campus visit or admissions events you attended.

• Number of students enrolled in the institution.

• Number of international students enrolled in the program you are considering.

• Student-faculty ratio.

• Average class size.

• Grading system.

• Facilities.

• Housing options.

• Extracurricular opportunities.

• Career services and employment percentages.

• Total cost of education for one year.

• Financial aid—scholarships, loans, assistantships, fellowships and work study.

• Application requirements, including the required standardized tests.

• Can you do an interview?

• Other points relevant to you and your family.

Complete the spreadsheet, filling in every column for each option. As you go along, you will eliminate a few of them.

That is okay. You are simply comparing and choosing the best option for you.

After reviewing your entire

spreadsheet, rank your remaining options. Or, group your options: top group, second group, third group, etc.

Take a look at the completed ranking.

Do you believe the ranking is based on what you really feel? Did you get enough information to complete your ranking?

Remember, you can and should feel free to change your spreadsheet evaluation at any time. Perhaps, further information or contact with one or more of your options will make them go up or down your overall list. That is another reason for taking plenty of time to do your research.

The longer you research about an institution, the more you tend to learn about it. First impressions, though important, may change later based on repeated observation and communication.

By spending enough time on researching institutions or programs, and creating and completing a spreadsheet, you will be in a better position to choose the best fit for your educational needs.

Good luck with your research and planning process!

Don Martin is a former admissions dean at Columbia, University of Chicago and Northwestern, and author of “Road Map for Graduate Study.”

Wesley Teter is a former regional coordinator of EducationUSA in India and Central Asia, supported by the U.S. Department of State.

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COLLEGE SEARCH

spreadsheet for each of these options. On the left hand column, make an alphabetical list of institutions. At this point, do not consider what you presently know or have heard about them. Be very careful about accepting word of mouth.

We are all different individuals with different needs, expectations and experiences. This would be your educational experience; not someone else’s.

Do not eliminate any of the options from your list at this point.

Gather as much information on each institution as possible so you can select the most appealing ones. Assess the content of the material available on their websites, as well as the way in which it is presented. Is information easy to find?

Is the tone friendly and inviting? Are there easy and quick ways to request more information?

Once you finish exploring your options, contact each of the institutions to ask a question not addressed on their websites. This will help you find out how responsive their admissions offices are to students’ queries. Grade each institution on the basis of the quality of their websites and on the level of their responsiveness to your queries.

Across the top row of your spreadsheet, place the items you want to compare for each option. For instance, include the grades you just assigned. You can also use the following criteria.

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EducationUSA

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