Keys to Success: Planning and
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By PAROMITA PAIN
Courtesy Adithiya Sreenivasan
With the right planning and research, the journey to a U.S. degree can be a rewarding experience.
pplying to a U.S. university, securing funding, navigating the visa process and settling into a new life far from home is a daunting process for many. But with the right planning and research it can be an exciting journey. In addition, strong alumni networks and community support can help students get the most out of the U.S. university experience. “The first factor which I looked for in shortlisting my destination was to look at the universities which offered the specialization I was looking for,” says Adithiya Sreenivasan, who has a master’s degree in electrical engineering with specialization in power and energy systems from Arizona State University Tempe campus. “I looked at the research areas the professors were currently working on and the courses that were being offered for the power and energy domain.” He shortlisted public universities over private ones due to the cost factor. “I also looked at how alums from the university fared post their graduation,” he adds. Adithiya Sreenivasan currently works with Accenture in Chennai. Adithya Raam Sankar, who earned a master’s degree in artificial intelligence from University of Georgia, Athens, based his initial search on courses offered and research facilities. “After that, I graded all of them in multiple categories like career opportunities, tuition and fees, cost of living, weather, along with qualitative measures like personal liking and living conditions,” he says. “Considering all factors, I was able to understand what would be a better choice overall.” Sankar currently works Adithiya Sreenivasan has a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Arizona State University Tempe campus.
20 EDITION 2 2022
with Oracle in Virginia.
Financial aid and student visas Once all the applications are submitted, a prospective student’s primary task is to secure funding. Both Sankar and Adithiya Sreenivasan strongly recommend that applicants start consolidating their funding options, like loans, well in advance. “Arranging for educational loans is an important piece of work for a student who wants financial assistance,” says Adithiya Sreenivasan. “I approached various banks to compare the interest rates and kept my paperwork ready. The loan approval process may be lengthy, and hence, it is important to factor this in the timeline,” he says. Sankar started researching loans and scholarship options even before the acceptance letters came in. “Since my primary source was an educational loan, I started shopping around for best offers,” he says. “Alongside, I was also looking at scholarship options within the universities I applied to, as well as outside sources. While this process was going on, the results started coming in.” When Sankar’s acceptance letters came in, it was time to also start thinking about applying for a visa. The visa process and paperwork might look lengthy and difficult, “but if we break them down into smaller chunks of modules, we can slowly but steadily complete the process,” says Adithiya Sreenivasan. He scheduled his appointment well in advance to ensure there were no last-minute hassles. Along with funding and the student visa process, Adithiya Sreenivasan started brushing up on the fundamentals in his field of study after submitting his
