October 2013

r Mock tests fo T, I E LT S GRE, GMA L and TOEF

EDUCATE + ENTERTAIN

OCTOBER 2013 || ` 75

www.youthincmag.com

S? HIP S R OLA NS? H C S LOAAS? VIS

Degree affordable s at destinatio ns

s ediction r p fi i c S life come to

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO

STUDYING ABROAD

IN AN UNSTABLE ECONOMY

Oct_ 2013 Cover.indd 1

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contents OCTOBER 2013

ON THE COVER

PAGE

18

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO STUDYING ABROAD IN AN UNSTABLE ECONOMY We tell you how to manage pursuing an education abroad when the rupee has a poor exchange value

24

DEGREES AT CHEAPER DESTINATIONS A list of some less expensive countries that are worth studying in

38

MOCK TESTS FOR GRE, GMAT, SAT, TOEFL, IELTS We give you tips to ace the mandatory tests for studying abroad with mock papers

62

THE FUTURE IS HERE; THE FUTURE IS NOW

An assessment of the sci-fi predictions which have come true and the ones which have been bogus

www.youthincmag.com O N L I N E E XC L U S I V E S MUSIC THAT IS A 1000 MILES APART We interview an experimental post rock band A1000milesapart who were recently signed by an overseas label.

WORDSMITH OF THE MONTH: MUNA HUSSEN This professional media planner and passionate writer shares her poetic musing.

QUICK FIRE INTERVIEW WITH VEDASHREE KHAMBETE The copywriter-truned-fiction writer talks to us about her debut novel There May Be an Asterisk Involved.

4

(Educate) PRODIGY 30 DHRITI OZA AND THE FULL

SCHOLARSHIP TO THE UK A student tells us how to achieve a 100% scholarship from her own experience

SPECIAL FEATURE 48 FAQs – STUDENT LOANS WHEN

STUDYING ABROAD We answer the questions you may have regarding student loans for studying abroad

SPECIAL FEATURE 50 ALL ABOUT VISAS

Tips to making sure you have no problems attaining your student visa

MY STORY 52 DESI STUDENT WOES

Four students share their experiences of adjusting to foreign cultures

Youth Incorporated OCTOBER 2013

4 Contents.indd 4

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Different jobs to help you make some extra cash while studying abroad

HOW TO GUIDE 56 HOW TO CUT COSTS ON CAMPUS

Specific ways of saving money before and while studying on foreign soil

POINT OF VIEW 58 THE WEALTH OF STUDYING ABROAD Nisha JamVwal shares her personal account of studying abroad

(Entertain) COUNTDOWN 66 10 MASTERS, 10 MASTERPIECES

STAPLEdiet EDITOR’S NOTE…8 EDITORIAL CONNECT…10 AROUND THE WORLD…14 EVENT DIARY…16 WORD ZONE…60 THE G SPOT…74 IMHO…82 KISS AND TELL…85 RISING STAR…87 HANGOUT…88 GRAFFITI…90

PAGE

72

ERICH FERDINAND, FLICKR

10 great artworks and their artists you should definitely recognise and know about

SAHARA FORCE INDIA FORMULA ONE TEAM

AWARENESS 54 MAKE SOME MONEY, HONEY

PAGE

69

TRAVEL 69 FOODSPOTTING ON INDIAN STREETS

The best eateries across the country to find specific street foods

SPORTS 72 INDIA AND THE F1

Tracing the history of F1 and its success in reference to the Indian Grand Prix

FASHION 78 ‘SUPER’SIZE YOUR WARDROBE Taking the styles of superheroes out of the comic books to fit in our closets

79 FASHION FOR THE FESTIVE

PAGE

66

SEASON Designer Arpita Mehta provides a trend update in ethnic fashion

80 SELFIES WITH STYLE

Listing the best and the worst of celebrity selfies

81 THE DOS AND DON’TS OF BODY

PIERCINGS Vikas Malani provides tips on how to take care of body piercings PAGE

28

PAGE

6

Youth Incorporated OCTOBER 2013

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19/9/2013 15:55:41 4:45:46 PM 23-09-2013

Editor's

note

The rupee is bleeding… It’s definitely hurting students who are planning to go abroad… Dig a big hole in your pocket…

News items like these make for a depressing read every morning, not just because they are a reflection of the slowing economy of India, but also because they are disheartening for students who wish to study abroad. Studying outside the country was never cheap, but now its cost has escalated to dizzying heights owing to the unstable rupee. What, then, do students do? Postpone their dreams or worse, put an end to them?

An education in another land is a privilege and a wonderful experience. It is an opportunity I would not recommend one to forego. Living on your own and fending for yourself is a defining step for the worm in us to become the beautiful butterfly. This is why our issue this month is one that focuses on helping students go abroad. Our research shows that it is possible to attain an international degree without emptying the pockets. For someone who is single-mindedly focused on studying abroad, the path is clear and the expenses are manageable.

Expanding on these topics, we cover the entire application process for a place in a university, winning scholarships, securing studentfriendly loans, preparing for mandatory tests, applying for a visa and even coping with culture shock. We hope our guides forecast a brighter future for all you aspiring international students.

Speaking of forecasts, we dove into science fiction this month to see just how much of it has come true. Surprisingly, a lot of sci-fi writers from over 70 years ago had a shrewd idea of today’s world. But there were also some who were woefully wrong and some others who imagined a time not yet arrived – we are eagerly waiting for the latter owing to their purported cool technologies!

October is the start of the festive season in India, but it is also the season of motorsport here. The F1, the newest sporting presence in the country, is scheduled to zoom off at the end of the month. We tell you all there is to know about the sport – including the Indian team you can cheer for.

Festivals in India equate automatically to food, and the foodie in me declares that food in India is undoubtedly one of the best! Street food in particular is a favourite, so we have combined our love for travel with our love for food to give you a food trail of the country. Sample the best foods at different locations in India.

Happy reading and feasting!

Nitish Shah

8 editors.indd 8

Volume 3 Issue 4 October 2013

Editor-in-Chief NITISH SHAH

Editorial Team

VATSALA CHHIBBER APARNA SUNDARESAN SEAN SEQUEIRA

Contributors

NIRVA VIRA DARSHANA KRISHNAMONY

Art & Design

MOULVI ABBAS HASAN GAURAV DODIYA

Ad Sales

TANUSH KAGNE sales@youthincmag.com HEENA SOPARIWALA sales.mg@youthincmag.com POOJA JAISWAL sales.hd@youthincmag.com NITIN AHIRE sales.sr@youthincmag.com RAHIL SHAIKH sales.ma@youthincmag.com

Marketing

NEHA PRABHU DEEPA SONEJI marketing@youthincmag.com

Circulation

SHANTARAM AMBERKAR NISHANT SHINDE

Administration GEETA NAIK

For advertising, subscriptions and circulation mail@youthincmag.com +91-22-2351-6622 / 6609 Printed and published by Nitish Shah on behalf of Splash Publication Pvt Ltd Published at: 9 Forjett Hill, British Express Bldg, 2nd floor, Mumbai 400036.

Editor: Nitish Shah

Admin office: F9&10, Commerce Centre, 6th Floor, 78 Tardeo Road, Mumbai 400034.

Printed at: Repro India Ltd Plot No 50/2, TTC MIDC Industrial Area, Mahape, Navi Mumbai 400 710. District Thane

All content in print and online is owned by Splash Publication Pvt Ltd under international copyright laws. No part of the content can be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the publishers. Publishers will not be held responsible for the content of the magazine including accuracy and effects. All disputes will be subject to the jurisdiction of competant courts in Mumbai only.

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editorial connect

EDUCATE + ENTERTAI

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SEPTEMBER 2013 ||

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EXCITING SCIENCE CAREERS MASTER THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING TIPS TO STAY SAFE ONLINE WANT TO GET OUT OF THE FRIEND ZONE?

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READER OF THE MONTH: YAEL I'm Yael, a Second Year BMM student at Thakur College, Mumbai. And I'm writing to this mail address because I couldn't find a feedback place in your website, and I just had to let the team behind Youth Inc know how brilliant their work is!

So, I've heard a lot about your magazine through various college fests. At first, I thought it would be another magazine trying to fit into the young target audience. My thoughts have pretty much changed for the good now.

I've read only one of your issues till date but I must say it was enough to create an impression on my mind. The topics that your team writes on and the broadening of ideas that occurs on reading them is worth a compliment. The article on typical stereotypes deserves an applaud from the world.

I really appreciate your team efforts. I'm definitely going to look forward to more of your successful issues. Keep up the awesome work!

LUCKY DRAW WINNERS AT KALEIDOSCOPE

BLOGGER OF THE MONTH

Suezelle D’Costa http://thetalkingdesk.wordpress.com You can count on a blogger with myraid interests to produce an enriching blog, as is evident with Suzelle D’Costa’s blog The Talking Desk. Photography, restaurant reviews, travelogues, interviews with achievers, etc feature prominently among other miscellaneous columns.

SOCIALLY YOURS YouthIncMag

PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH

 @DOCTORATLARGE

Politicians, actors, Twitter users, Americans, aliens, girls, God: ‘The Bad Doctor’ has an opinion on everyone and everything. An opinion backed with a biting sense of humour, that is.

@YouthIncMag

Relationship advice: If you need relationship advice, your relationship is not worth it The way Americans reacted to their new Miss America, Rahul Gandhi should migrate to USA – Americans seem stupid enough to elect him president From His tendency to do nothing and take credit for everything, I do believe that God is an MBA

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yi

educate A COMPLETE GUIDE TO STUDYING ABROAD

8 PAGE 1

Start putting application together & register for tests

Start taking tests

Finish tests & applications

Send applications

JUNE-SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER- JANUARY

Depart as per start of term

Prepare for departure

Apply for visa Book air ticket

Finalise university

Wait for university decisions

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER

JULY-AUGUST

MAY-JUNE

APRIL

FEBRUARY-MARCH

K PI NESEI D E яГо

Pg Pg24 Pg28 Pg30 Pg52 DEGREES AT CHEAPER DESTINATIONS

BAG THAT SCHOLARSHIP

STUDYING ABROAD NEED NOT BLEED YOU DRY; THERE ARE PLACES WHERE YOU CAN STUDY FOR LESS

A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE ON PUTTING TOGETHER A WINNING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

13 EDUSEC.indd 13

DHRITI OZA AND THE FULL SCHOLARSHIP TO THE UK MEET THE GIRL WHO SCORED 8 As AND A FULL SCHOLARSHIP TO STUDY IN THE UK

DESI STUDENT WOES STUDENTS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES OF COPING WITH CULTURE SHOCK

9/25/2013 12:55:13 PM

EDU NEWS

FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES OFFERING SHORTER COURSES  Fearing a drastic reduction in the number of Indian students owing to the sharp decrease in the value of the rupee, some foreign universities are cutting short the duration of their programmes.  Some universities in New Zealand have reduced the duration of their master’s degree from two years to 12-18 months.  Australian universities are giving students the option of using their Christmas break and other holidays to complete their course faster.  However, in the UK, there has been no announcement as yet of such condensed courses.

BANKS TO EXTEND EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PERIOD

 In light of the falling rupee rate against the US dollar and pound, banks are considering extending the loan repayment time for students with education loans to study in foreign countries.  State Bank of Hyderabad might extend their repayment period from seven to 10 years.  HDFC Credila may extend it to 15 years for select cases.  Both students who have returned to India and those who have finished their degree abroad and taken a job there would need to pay lower monthly EMIs under this scheme.

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR YOUNG INDIA FELLOWSHIP  Young India Fellowship is looking for talented, spirited individuals for its 2015 batch. The objective of the fellowship is to groom and mould the future leaders of tomorrow through a one-year residential postgraduate programme (in Ashoka University, Sonapet). Applications opened on 5 September 2013 and will close on 15 December 2013 (round one). Round 2 will take place between 16 December 2013 and 28 February 2014.  The main eligibility criteria for the fellowship are: (1) you should be less than 28 years of age (as on 31 May, 2014), (2) you must have a recognised undergraduate/postgraduate degree, (3) you must not have more than 3 years of work experience.  To apply you can log onto www. youngindiafellowship.com. The application fee is `1000.

14 Youth Incorporated OCTOBER 2013

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CHEVENING-HSBC SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MASTER’S DEGREE

 The scholarship is for students pursuing a master’s degree in a UK university in the academic year beginning 2014.  The scholarship will be awarded for one academic year to candidates studying in a wide variety of fields but preference will be given to courses in the fields of future leadership, science and innovation, cyber security, journalism and energy politics.  The scholarship will fund a monthly stipend, travel to and from home country, an arrival and excess baggage allowance, a thesis or dissertation grant, the cost of an entry clearance visa and tuition fees.  The deadline for the application is 1 November.  Applications can be sent online at www.chevening.org/india

IIM-L INTRODUCES COURSE IN SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT  This year, IIM Lucknow will be introducing a first of its kind course in sustainability management to provide students with knowledge on the changing business dynamics.  The postgraduate diploma will be a twoyear programme that will train students in both environment and socio-economic sustainability.  The fee structure will be based on the lines of existing courses and will be released in detail later this month.  The course will have 45 seats and students will be selected based on CAT scores, personal interviews and group discussions.  The programme will be taught at IIM-L’s Noida campus.

PG MEDICAL SEATS ARE NOW AUCTIONED

STOCKMONKEYS.COM

 In a bizarre turn of events, medical colleges are auctioning places to their master’s programmes in Chennai and Bangalore.  The auction is conducted similar to the auctioning of goods and properties. Parents and students both attend the auctions to place bids.  For an MD in radiology in Chennai colleges, starting prices are `1 crore and go up to `4 crore. The same course in Bangalore costs between `3 and 3.5 crores.  College managements say because there are few places in the PG courses, the cost of conducting those courses escalates and that can be covered only by money made from the auction.

OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 15

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EVENT DIARY Kaleidoscope 2013

Shahid Kapoor shakes a leg with the organising team

Sophia College for Women

Baichung Bhutia inaugurates the Nike Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Marathon

Tsunami 2013

Renaissance 2K13 KJ Somaiya Institute of Engineering and Information Technology

Singer Manisha Savla performs for the college students on garba night

Lala Lajpat Rai College

Imam Siddique was present to judge an event Nikhil Chinapa performing at the festival

Students learn how to dance the zumba with Zumba Fitness

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COVER STORY

A complete guide to studying abroad in an

unstable economy Usage Examples

Usage Examples

In a time when the rupeeGet. is going See. Snap. through a rough time, Youth Inc helps you minimise costs when studying abroad with a See. Snap. Get. detailed guide encompassing all aspects of planning a foreign education 18 Youth Incorporated OCTOBER 2013

18 cover story.indd 18

T

he better part of the monsoon saw a flood in India’s economy for the worse and the value of the rupee was washed away in the aftermath.

The efforts to revive the ailing Indian currency has been more or less fruitless with minor adjustments over the last few weeks only managing to arrest the drop and help us save some face against the value of other international currencies, most notably the US dollar and the UK pound.

While other countries have also had their fair share of economic turmoil over the last few months (and in some cases, years), India’s condition has been a rapid drop causing a panic because of the falling rupee. In such a time, planning to study in a foreign country can be especially dreadful for the Indian wallet, and by extension bank account, but the need for a well-rounded education is a criterion that warrants the extra mile even in tough times.

SEE. SNAP. GET.

See. Snap.

It wouldn’t be wise to make a plan to study in a foreign country for a year or more without Get.

taking into account all the factors starting from the university application all the way to how exactly you will be funding your education. To help the Indian student with their plans, Youth Inc has dedicated its cover story for October to be a detailed step-by-step guide on how to plan an education in a foreign country while See. minimising costs at every possible angle.

Snap.

Our guide will take you through plans on Get. your likely expenses in a foreign country plus how to budget and how making the right choice in terms of country, college and course can help cut down expenses when coupled with a scholarship. Dhirti Oza, a student studying See. on a full scholarship in the UK for two years, Snap. Get. also provides some helpful pointers on what can help attain that scholarship. Following this we dive into the admission process and cover every base including mock exam papers that are needed to be taken in order to study abroad.

SEE. Snap. Get. There’s more in the form of student loans that can help you, the visa application processes and how to make and save money on campus.

SEE. SNAP. GET.

SEE. SNAP. GET.

SEE. SNAP. GET.

23-09-2013 16:16:20

OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated

18 cover story.indd 19

19

23-09-2013 16:16:48

PONTUSE, STOCK.XCHNG

COVER STORY

facts The

For those who have made up their minds to study abroad, we give you the facts and figures that you will have to consider when you make your plans to apply for a foreign education 20 Youth Incorporated OCTOBER 2013

20 cover story - Copy.indd 20

23-09-2013 16:17:52

INDIA is the second highest source of international students. China ranks first

abroad in the year 2012

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The most popular education destination for Indian students

The number of students that were studying abroad in the year 2000

70,000

2.64LAKH Indian students were studying

Each Indian student spends `10.22 LAKH per year according to the Ministry of Human Resource and Development

`27,000CRORE

total amount of money spent 1,03,968 The

by Indian students every year in securing an education abroad

The number of Indian students studying in the United States of America in 2012

The most expensive country to study abroad is AUSTRALIA which has an average tuition fee of US$ 25,375 per year and an average cost of living of US$ 13,140 per year

GERMANY US$ 635 US$ 5,650

The cheapest, top-rated country to study in

Average tuition fees for international students in Germany for a year

Average cost of living expenses in Germany for a year

LIBERALISED REMITTANCE SCHEME (LRS)

The policy implemented by the Reserve Bank of India to arrest the drop in the value of the rupee

US$ 75,000 US$ 1 LAKH The maximum amount of money that an Indian national can carry out of the country in a year

The additional maximum amount that can be remitted by an individual for overseas education over the LRS limit

US$ 124 MILLION The amount of money spent on overseas education for the financial year 2012-13 according to the RBI

AUSTRALIA AND THE INDIAN STUDENT

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN THE UK

In early 2009, Australia was the most popular country for Indian students choosing to study abroad with over 1,20,000 enrolling for programmes across Australia. However, after reported racist attacks against Indians later in the year, the number of students visiting Australia has dropped with every passing year. Just over 20,000 Indian students attended courses in Australia last year.

The United Kingdom is known to have a studentfriendly culture and a good standard when it comes to quality of education. However, the changes in policies for international students have resulted in a drop in the number of international applicants. The UK has witnessed a 46% drop in student visas in 2013. The number of international students in UK dropped from around 2,42,000 in 2011 to 1,53,000 in 2012.

OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 21

20 cover story - Copy.indd 21

23-09-2013 16:18:30

COVER STORY

Forecast your

finances Before you dive straight into applying for a course abroad, take some time and budget the costs involved in going to a foreign country and studying there. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a short guide to help you get started

S

tudying abroad has neither been a cheap affair nor has it been as straightforward as paying your fees and showing up in class. If you want to study outside India, start preparing for it at least a year in advance.

You will need to begin with an evaluation of how much it will cost and how you will manage the expenditure. To help you with this, here is a rough estimation of the money you will spend in the process. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list.

22 Youth Incorporated OCTOBER 2013

22 cover story.indd 22

23-09-2013 16:26:23

BEFORE YOU LEAVE UNIVERSITY APPLICATION

US

UK

AUSTRALIA

US$20-US$150 (`1,328-`19,960)

Undergraduate: UCAS fee £12 (`1,239) for one course, £23 (`2,375) for multiple courses Postgraduate: usually none; some like Cambridge and Warwick charge upto £60 (`6,195)

Usually AUD$100 (`5,957)

IELTS: `9,300

IELTS: `9,300 TOEFL: US$165 (`10,955)

TESTS

SAT: US$91 (`6,042) TOEFL: US$165 (`10,955) GRE: US$185 (`19,100) GMAT: US$250 (`25,811)

HEALTH INSURANCE

Mandatory; cost varies; offered by individual universities; pay premium each semester

None. Covered

by NHS (National Health Service)

Around AUD$500 (`29,784) for 12 months*

TUITIONX

`16,74,950

`12,80,880

`16,84,850

VISA

US$160 (`10,400)

`31,300 under Tier 4+

`31,600

* Mandatory. Charged by length of visa; offered by individual universities in partnership with private insurance companies. x Averages per annum as per HSBC Studying Abroad Research, 2013 + Winners of the Chevening, British Marshall, Fulbright and Commonwealth scholarships have no visa charges Additionally, you will incur costs while preparing the documents you need for applying to universities. Your college or school will provide your academic transcript at a cost (around `500 per copy). If you send paper applications, add another `1000 for courier charges. If you do it online, there is no charge.

After you arrive in the country of your choosing, you will have a few expenses in the first few weeks of your stay. Some of them would extend to the entire length of your stay, like food, rent, travel, etc. However, these vary according to lifestyle, personal budget, spending habits and location.

AFTER YOU ARRIVE

US

UK

AUSTRALIA

ACCOMMODATION

About US$800 (`53,118) per month

About £500 (`51,621) per month

About AUD$1100 (`65,524) per month

FOOD

About US$170 (`11,287) per month

About £200 (`20,648) per month

About AUD$100 (`5,957) per month

COURSE MATERIALS

US$500-US$1,000 (`33,199-`66,397) per annum

About AUD$750 (`44,675) per annum

WARM CLOTHES AND SHOES

Upto US$500 (`33,797) per annum

About £300 (`30,972) per annum £150-£300 (`15,771-`31,542) per annum

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

US$300-US$700 (`20,279-`47,317) per annum

Upto £600 (`63,084) per annum

Upto AUD$600 (`36,606) per annum

ENTERTAINMENT

US$15-US$30 (`1,014-`2,028) per week

Upto £20 (`2,103) a week*

Upto AUD$50 (`3,051) a week

Upto AUD$400 (`24,404) per annum

*If you own a TV and want to watch programmes as they are broadcast, you will need to pay an annual fee of £145.50 for a TV license. Also applicable if you use the Internet for live TV transmissions.

Additionally, you might spend on Internet, gas/electricity and other utilities, especially if you live off-campus in a rented accommodation. If you live on-campus, it is likely that these charges are included in your rent.

You will also incur a small charge per week, or month depending on your usage, for mobile phone services.

OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 23

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23-09-2013 16:20:47

COVER STORY

Degrees at cheaper

destinations

CARLOS RUIZ, WIKIME

Peking University, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, An MEA report suggests there oning Medical University ts are around 9,200 Indian studen Lia studying in China this year, Average costs implying a 15% increase from Tuition fees: Ranges between 2012. With China steadily ge `1,27,800 and `2,55,700 overcoming the English langua depending on the course and barrier, there has been a greater versity. al influx of Indian and internation uni Accommodation: Between students in the countr y. . `16,000 and `20,000 a month Monthly expenses: Ranges Popular courses r from `12 ,000 to `30,000 China has emerged as a popula ending on the city you are destination for medical students dep ng in. ts in recent years as the tuition cos livi : The Huawei Maitree se Tip tho n tha er low ly are considerab olarship offers grants to charged by Indian universities for Sch Indian students enrolled in an an MBBS degree. Engineering ergraduate, postgraduate or and business students are courses und . research programmes in China opted for by Indian students.

Overview

CKR

Top universities

CHINA. MKLAPPER, FLI

CHINA

DIA COMMONS

With the drastic dip in the value of the rupee, studying in countries with less expensive tuition and living costs could burn a smaller hole in your pocket

24 Youth Incorporated OCTOBER 2013

24 cover story.indd 24

23-09-2013 16:27:40

GERM AN Y

Overview

BREDGUR, FLICKR(INSET), BAYCREST, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Lingnan University

HONG KONG Overview

Hong Kong, which dominates Asia as a study destination, is now attracting students from all over the world. Quality education, high standard of living and emerging work opportunities are some of the benefits that lure international students.

Popular courses

HSBC Studying Abroad Research carried out in October 2012 listed Germany as the least expensive coun try for foreign students. With low tuition fees and an 18-m onth permit to look for a job after graduation, pursuing a degr ee in Germany is a wise option for Indian students.

Popular courses

Research based courses and PhDs. Medicine is taught only in German, so it is imperative for students inter ested in this stream to be comfortable with the lang uage.

You can find other courses where the lang uage of instructio n is English, however a basic knowledge of German is reco mmended.

Top universities

Technical University Munich, University of Heidelberg, University of Munich, University of Freiburg

Average costs

Tuition fees: Public universities in Germany generally waiv

e any tuition fees for undergraduate courses (they may charge around `4,400 as semester contribution). For other courses and universities, the tuition fees ranges betw een `43,800 and `1,05,200.

Accommodation: Between `19,300 and `29,800 per month Monthly expenses: `43,800 per month Tip: The International Student Identity Card will help you benefit from student discounts (costs `1050).

The German Academic Exchange Service (DA AD) offers a variety of scholarships for Indian students.

REINHARD WOLF, WIKI COMMON

Hong Kong recently adopted the four-year programme for undergraduate degrees instead of the three-year programme.

Management studies, social sciences and humanities are popular course choices. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technolog y as well as the University of Hong Kong featured among the top business schools in the world in the Youth Incorporated, DNA and Rediff.com Global Business School Rakings 2012 at rank 15 and rank 31 respectively.

Top universities

depending on the course and university.

Accommodation: `90,000 to `1,30,000 per academic year Monthly expenses: `37,000 per month Tip: As a student, you can take up part-time work (up to 20 hours). There is no limit on the number of hours for summer jobs. The Hinrich Foundation scholarship is available for Indian students.

All figures are approximate and subject to change.

24 cover story.indd 25

University Medical Center, Freiburg

JOERGENS.MI, FLICKR

Average costs Tuition fees: Ranges between `6,20,100 and `9,84,000

S

The University of Hong Kong, Lingnan University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technolog y,

OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 25

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Overview

There was a 60% rise in the number of Indians studying in Russia in 2012. This is still not a large number (4,286 in 2012) but is expected to rise swiftly in the coming years. Low tuition costs are encouraging students to overlook the harsh climate and language barrier and enrol for courses in Russian institutes. A number of courses are taught in English; however a basic course in Russian is required for ease in interacting with locals and for internships.

KLINE706, FLICKR

COVER STORY

RUSSI A

Popular courses

Science and research programs (particularly medical and engineering courses) are of repute in Russia. Majority of Indian students choose Russian institutes primarily for courses in medicine and dentistry. Most management and humanities courses are not offered in the English language.

Top universities

Moscow Medical Academy, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN), Moscow Energ y Institute (MEI)and the St. Petersburg State Medical University

SPAIN

Overview

With only 155 Indians studying in Spain in 2012 , Spain does not rank high as a study destination for Indi an students. The country might not have too many universities of repute to boast of but low tuition and living costs make stud ying here more affordable than other European countries.

Popular courses

Spain does have some quality business schools such as IE Business School. Therefore management and business studies are preferred course choices. Apart from that , students also choose Spain to study architecture and humaniti es.

Average costs

Tuition fees: Ranges between `2,50,000 and `5,00,000

depending on the course and university (fees for medical and engineering degrees fall closer to the upper limit) Accommodation: `2,500 to `6,000 per month Monthly expenses: `8,500 to `15,700 per month Tip: The Government of Russian offers around 3,000 scholarships for overseas students every year. You will find details on the official website www.en.russia.edu.ru.

Top universities

AHMADZAMRI, FLICKR

IE Business School, Universitat de Barcelona, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid and Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Average costs

Tuition fees: `81,000 and `150,000 for a master’s

programme. Tuition fees are considerably high er at private universities (around €6,000) Accommodation: `16,800 to `30,000 a month for shared accommodation.

Monthly expenses: `58,000 to `75,000 a month (Madrid and Barcelona are the more expensive cities) Tip: The cost of living is lower in cities such as Salam anca, Santiago de Compostela and Granada. The Eras mus Mundus programme offers scholarships to various Euro pean universities.

A and UK, but CE ad are not just the US s usually plan to ro ab dy stu COUNSELLOR ADVI to ing ek for Indians se d France. Indian “Popular destinations , Singapore, New Zealand, Germany an ia or the curriculum abroad is da Ind na in isn’t available also Australia, Ca rrencies of programme of choice ntage against the cu study abroad when the rupee puts Indian students at a disadva ver, be viewed in perspective. we better. At this point, the th Indians. The increased cost must, ho of your education abroad? Just wi ct pa lar im pu d po an es e tri nc un rie iversity all co ational expe uc ed the up ould be in a country/un ther e sh it giv , to ity ior pr the be t fur Are you willing n for employment or here abroad should no opting for study anyw ross the world so that you have recognitio students could defer applying , ac which is well-known Instead of looking for cheaper alternatives ld so that there is potential for fie . ch the ar in se e re nc d rie an pe s ex rk st.” studie dits and/or related wo can help buffer the co counsellor till they have more cre r or related part-time employment that on ati uc ed e, os ive -Jayanti Gh partial funding/fee wa 26 Youth Incorporated OCTOBER 2013

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FOCUS FEATURE

PICKING A COUNTRY

CHRISTOPHERHU, FLICKR

Probably the first decision, and one of the most important ones, you will make with regard to studying abroad is picking which country to pursue your education.

There are many factors to consider when making this decision but considering the drop in the Indian economy, it would be advisable to pick a country where you can find a balance between a good quality of life and a better exchange rate for the rupee. Also remember to factor in what course you will be attending and the quality of education provided in that country for that industry. For example, students interested in pursuing a career in medicine should consider attending a course in Russia which is reputed for its medical programmes and has a lower cost of living as compared to Australia, the USA and the UK.

PICKING A UNIVERSITY

Saving money on

country, course and college

Making the right choices about where and what to study is vital.

Your decision will affect the amount of money you will need to invest in your education in the short run and how successful you will be in your career in the long run

When you are making a decision about which university you would like to attend, make sure you find out the tuition fees for the respective course you wish to attend in the university.

In general, universities can be broadly divided into private and public institutes; the public universities will be funded by a federal or state government and will have lower tuition fees as compared to the privately funded universities. There are many advantages to attending a private university including flexibility, more extracurricular activities, a large number of on-campus organisations to be a part of and occasionally a better quality of education (although that may not always be true). Lodging is also an important factor that should come into account when picking a university; it is best to secure on-campus lodging for overall convenience but if that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t possible always pick a university where you can get lodging with minimal travel costs to and fro.

PICKING A COURSE

Another factor to consider in picking where to study is to consider the amount of time you will spend in the foreign country. It is obvious that the more time spent on attaining your degree, the more money you are likely to spend on course fees and living expenses. For example, the course duration for a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree programme in the United Kingdom is three years whereas the same programme would take four years to complete in the United States of America. However, since the American system of credits allows for flexibility, it is possible to complete the course quicker by taking up summer school programmes or attending extra classes during the semesters. Similarly, a masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s programme in the UK is a 12-month programme as compared to the regular 24-month programme in the US. OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 27

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COVER STORY

The most obvious route to cutting study expenses is by seeking refuge in scholarships and financial grants. Nirva Vira chalks out a sequential line of action to help you get the funding you need

Bag that

scholarship Wondering how life would be just so perfect if a leading university like Harvard or Cambridge came knocking on your door with a fantastic scholarship? You might not get a literal knock on your door, but you may get to walk down their hallowed halls at little cost. Here’s how you land a coveted scholarship:

1. PICK YOUR COUNTRY AND SUBJECT

Decide the country or countries you want to study in as well as the subjects (P.S: even though most students prefer the United Kingdom, US universities are known to provide

more scholarships). Run a generic search of universities that provide scholarships to Indian students.

Search for government-aided and privately awarded scholarships available for Indian students to study abroad. Short-list those scholarships and universities that suit your requirements. Look up the tuition fees and living expenses of the universities so you have a rough idea of how much funding to ask for.

2. APPLY, APPLY, APPLY

Don’t restrict yourself to one scholarship; the chances of winning it are low. Apply to multiple scholarshipawarding bodies. Application forms

are usually available in the websites of the universities (look under the ‘funding’ tab). Similarly, forms for privately funded scholarships are available in their respective websites.

Read all the clauses of government and private scholarships. They may contain terms you may not find agreeable, for example, one may state that the student has to return to work in their own country or in a particular sector.

3. WRITE A WINNING APPLICATION There are more applicants than scholarships; your application therefore needs to stand out. Besides academic excellence, bring out your

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The selection of students is based on consistent high academic performance, interest in the field of study, extracurricular activities, how they add value to the programme, and the genuineness of receiving the scholarship. Focus on these to ensure chances of getting the scholarship.

- Swati Salunkhe, education counsellor hobbies, passions and work experiences.

Use your strengths to your advantage.

For example, if you are good at debating, mention how this reflects your command over English, your speaking skills, your confidence, etc. Give a rounded impression of yourself, your aspirations and what the scholarship can do for you. A good application essay will increase your chances of winning the scholarship.

4. SUBMIT BEFORE DEADLINE

After you have finished constructing your application, submit before the deadline. In fact, submit your application way before so that you are on top of the pile and get preference above others. Missing the deadline will ruin your chances completely.

5. BE PATIENT

Scholarships don’t come easy, and one of the most important things they require is patience. So be patient. If you are good enough and deserve the scholarship, you will be awarded.

THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO SCHOLARSHIPS To help you get started, here are some well-known scholarships for Indian students wishing to study abroad. They are a mix of government-aided and privately funded scholarships.

ERASMUS MUNDUS SCHOLARSHIP

Erasmus Mundus provides scholarships to 126 Indian students to study in Europe.

Benefits: Covers subsistence allowances, travel costs, tuition fees and all university fees. Also pays for individual insurance on health, travel and accidents.

Eligibility: Requires an Indian citizenship. You must not have resided or carried out any activity like studies or work for more than 12 months in any eligible European country five years before applying.

Deadline: The application usually opens in December and closes by mid-February.

RHODES SCHOLARSHIP

Only 83 postgraduate students from all over the world are selected for this scholarship at Oxford University, UK, out of which only five scholars are from India.

Benefits: Covers university and college fees and living expenses for term and vacation time. Air travel expenses borne as well.

Eligibility: Besides an outstanding academic performance, commitment and capacity for leadership is also considered. You must be between 19 and 25 years old (as of 1 October of the year of application). You should also possess a first class degree in either humanities, engineering, agriculture, sciences, law or medicine from an Indian university.

Deadline: The application form is available online by 1 June. Complete

applications must be submitted by 31 July of the same year.

FULBRIGHT NEHRU MASTER’S FELLOWSHIP

This scholarship allows students to pursue a master’s degree at select US institutions.

Benifits: Covers tuition and university fees, living expenses, J-1 visa support and round trip travel expenses.

Eligibility: Applicants should have an equivalent of a US bachelor’s degree (a 4-year bachelor or completed master degree) from a recognised Indian institution with a minimum 55% score; 3-year work experience in the proposed field of study; community service experience; no prior degree from a US university.

Deadline: 8 July (a year before the degree starts)

J.N. TATA ENDOWMENT SCHOLARSHIP

Around 120 scholarships are available for all subjects and are open to mid-career professionals, graduates and students in final year.

Benefits: Loan scholarships ranging between `60,000 and `4,00,000. Some scholars may also qualify for a gift scholarship and a travel grant of no more than `3,80,000.

Eligibility: Applicants should have graduated from a recognised Indian university with a good academic award. Mid-career professionals up to the age of 45 may apply if they want to go abroad for research studies.

Deadline: Application forms are available from the first week of December at their administrative office. The deadlines vary every year but are announced through advertisements.

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PRODIGY

Dhriti Oza and the full scholarship to the UK A 16-year-old student from Podar International School, Mumbai, Dhriti Oza was awarded a full scholarship for two years to study at Ardingly College in Sussex, England. Sean Sequeira finds out what it takes to attain that 100%

Q. WHAT METHODS DID YOU ADOPT TO ACHIEVE EIGHT STRAIGHT A’s IN YOUR IGCSE EXAMS?

The most impactful factor was that my mom never sat down with me and made me study. I think that freedom helped me learn from my mistakes and I didn’t want to let her down after she’d put so much faith in me. In terms of exams, solving past papers gave me an idea of the structure of questions, format of the paper and the answers expected.

I referred to my school notes often, and I found those quite helpful. My

teachers at Podar International were a major factor in my achievements. They answered our queries and encouraged us to solve papers at home and even corrected them for us to refer to later.

The very first rule I set for IGCSE was that I’d never spend more than four hours studying daily, six hours during the last two months. I think it’s important not to procrastinate. Don’t leave anything for the last minute; it’ll only stress you out.

Q. HOW CAN EXTRACURRICULAR

ACTIVITIES HELP HONE A STUDENT'S SKILLS?

Sports and music instil values and improve skills in a way academics just can’t. Teamwork, dexterity, rhythm, observation, alertness, harmonising, stamina-building, toning – there’s several advantages of having a wide range of extracurricular activities. I played golf which helped me build confidence, understanding, stamina, and I learnt how to adapt to different circles.

Other fields that are beneficial are languages, music, tournaments and competitions, dance, art, and

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examinations such as IPM and Spelling Bee. Everything can help you judge where you stand and where your strengths lie.

I think every activity you participate in changes a part of you for the better.

Q. HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO ATTAIN YOUR FULL SCHOLARSHIP TO ARDINGLY COLLEGE, SUSSEX?

Well, I attended a presentation two staff members from Ardingly were making at my school. I found what I heard of the school absolutely delightful, and quite like Hogwarts (I’m a big Harry Potter fan), so I introduced myself to them after the session. They were rather impressed with me, my grades and my past achievements.

A short interview and a maths and English entrance exam ensued in the next few weeks. Initially I was informed that they didn’t offer scholarships above 50%, although the final decision was solely the headmaster’s. My principal, Dr Mrs Vandana Lulla, strongly recommended me to the Headmaster and in due time I was awarded a 100% scholarship. I am so, so very grateful to Vandana ma’am who was there from the beginning to the end of the process and helped pave my path to England.

Q. AFTER COMPLETING THESE TWO YEARS, DO YOU PLAN ON CARRYING ON STUDYING IN THE UK?

Currently, two of my options are law and journalism. I’m also interested in business and economics. The only thing I’m certain of is that I don’t see myself in science. I plan on studying abroad, maybe UK, maybe the United States, it could be anywhere. I’m on the lookout for universities offering scholarships all over the globe, with courses that I think are right for me. Hopefully I’ll have a clearer idea at the end of the year!

Q. WHAT DO PLAN TO STUDY FOR YOUR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE?

Perhaps business or economics, maybe law. I’m still unsure.

Q. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION WHEN YOU INITIALLY WENT TO THE UK TO STUDY?

I landed in UK a week before term began. It is picturesque, especially in the countryside. The people are kind, helpful and polite. The education system isn’t too different, considering I’ve done IGCSE, but walking from one corner of this enormous campus to the other carrying giant folders is quite a change!

The cafeteria is amazing. They make sure there is at least one vegetarian item in every meal. The salad bar is always open, and has delicious food. The teachers are ever so helpful, and there are people of so many different cultures and nationalities that there is no dull moment. I now have friends from Canada, Africa, France, Germany and UK; and that’s only the girls of my age!

Q. DID YOU HAVE ANY APPREHENSIONS ABOUT LEAVING HOME FOR TWO YEARS?

Surprisingly, no. I couldn’t wait. Of course, I miss my friends, and my family even more, but I’m not even homesick yet. I know I should be bawling my eyes out, but I just love it here! But yes, I do miss my family and friends.

Q. WHAT CONVINCED THE REPRESENTATIVES OF ARDINGLY TO OFFER YOU A SCHOLARSHIP?

Well, sports are very important abroad.

I had certificates from golf and sports days. I also had several certificates from international competitions such as the Spelling Bee, ASMA, IPM, Macmillan, Olympiad, and so on. I have also participated in a folk dancing course.

Taking short term courses (like baking or foreign languages) was also a great plus. I’d also participated in a course by TiE called Bizworld. When I was ten, I had been part of a three-week student exchange programme to the USA that showed I would easily adapt to the new culture. Such small little things made big differences and the entrance exam and interview sealed the deal! yi

SHORT STOP YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR

J.K. Rowling completely changed my life, but I’m going through a John Green phase as well A FAMOUS PERSON YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET

Sherlock Holmes

YOUR FAVOURITE MUSICIANS

The Beatles, The Doors, Queen, Mumford and Sons, Mayday Parade, etc YOUR IDEAL PROFESSION

Something to do with owning an island and my own company OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 31

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COVER STORY

The many routes to a foreign education You have your mind set on a foreign country or university where you want your degree from, but do you know how to get there? Consider the choices that lie ahead of you: education consultants, counsellors or you!

EDUCATION CONSULTANTS OR AGENTS PROS Agents also act as education

consultants and guide you through the process of choosing the right university. Also, the admission process can be overwhelming; from getting your documents in place to keeping up with university deadlines. Agents make this process easier by organising and submitting your documents, helping you get your student visa and even booking your tickets.

 As education consultants are well acquainted with the procedure for overseas admissions, they can guide you through all your queries and anticipate problems you might face during your admissions or once you leave for your degree.  A number of agents provide additional services such as helping you prepare for tests such as GRE, GMAT, IELTS, etc.

CONS  Agents will help you select the right university if you are unsure

about where to study. However, ensure you carry out your own research as they might promote certain universities due to vested interests.  Several education consultants charge hefty fees for their services. If you are looking to save money, you should consider applying on your own.  They act as the point of contact between you and the university, but sometimes delay sending out applications till they receive a bulk of them.

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EDUCATION COUNSELLORS PROS  If you are confused about where

to study or which course to choose, a counsellor can help you narrow down your decision.  Counsellors use tools like aptitude tests to help you choose a course or stream. They even have joint sessions with parents and provide more individual attention to each student.  You can use the counsellor’s guidance to choose a university and understand the admission process. After that, you can send your application on your own to save additional costs.

CONS  Not all education counsellors execute

EARLY DECISION VS EARLY ACTION

Early decision and early action are two forms of early applications sent to US universities (usually

by October/November). Early decision is binding; this means if you apply to a certain university under ED (early decision), you are obliged to attend the course.

On the other hand, if you apply and are accepted under EA (early action), you have the option of turning down the offer letter.

Here are some things you should consider while applying for EA or ED:  Since early decision is binding, you can apply to only one university. Therefore, you should be sure of your choice before applying. You are also entitled to financial aid under ED.  Under early action you can apply to multiple universities.  Some institutes such as Yale, Stanford, Harvard, etc believe binding students to an early decision is unethical and have opted for single choice early action (SCEA) instead. This means you cannot apply to any other universities during the early action period (till mid-December).

the admission process for you. Some of them inform you about the process and timelines but the application has to be carried out by you.  Counsellors give you options based on your interests and aptitude.

Sometimes, these options can lead to more confusion and you still have to find a definite answer on your own.  Like with agents, if a counsellor has ties with specific universities, they might steer you towards that institute.

DIY APPLICATION PROS  It is a cheaper option as you do not

have to pay counsellors or consultants for their services.  Most foreign university websites are user friendly and provide sufficient information to guide you through the admission process. Universities also list details of admissions officers to answer your queries.  Applying to universities directly helps you get acquainted with the campus, facilities and alumni experiences as you will be more stringent with your screening when the responsibility of your decision lies with you.

CONS  The admission process can be

quite daunting for a student. It takes considerable organisation and focus to ensure you have your documents, visas,

tests, scholarship applications, etc ready in time.  If you have any doubts during the process, you do not have an immediate advisor at your disposal.  Agents usually have the latest information on changing rules, education reforms, new scholarships, etc. While applying on your own, you will have to keep an eye out for latest developments.

COUNSELLOR ADVICE “Plans for study abroad should begin with research at least 18 months, if not 2 years in advance.

Advanced countries have country websites giving a comprehensive overview of the educational system, admission norms, schedule of applications, and links to different universities, and the standardised tests required. In addition, each university website provides prospectuses and application forms with specifics for international students. It is, therefore, possible for a reasonably intelligent student to identify and shortlist suitable universities on his/her own.

However, many countries/ universities have authorised agents/representatives in India to facilitate students looking for higher education there. Seeking advice and guidance of agents is practical to sort out confusion about the technicalities, and practicalities, but the agent should not be deciding what the student should study and where, and to write in their application essay, because then the student is not in the driving seat at all.

The final decision should be an informed one aligned with personal career and life goals.”

- Jayanti Ghose, education counsellor OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 33

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SAACBOWEN, FLICKR

COVER STORY

The

drama of

documents Preparing and gathering the necessary paperwork for applying to a foreign university is a tiresome task. Every document is important to your application and missing out on even one can affect your chances of being admitted. Here’s a handy guide to ensure that does not happen

I

t’s never too early to begin putting your application paperwork together, as some documents will take time to be ready (like letters of recommendation), while some others you can’t help but wait for (like high school or bachelor’s degree certificates).

Here’s a checklist to help you keep track of the paperwork. Please note that this is a general list of documents and is not exhaustive. Please check with the universities you are applying to for a final list.

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APPLICATION FORM Online application: You can fill up the form in stages and save it before finishing and sending it. You may pay the application fee by credit card.

Offline application: Fill out the application form entirely. Send the application fee in the form of a cheque or demand draft.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE (SOP)/APPLICATION ESSAY/COVER LETTER An essay outlining your achievements (academic and otherwise) so far, why you would like to study at the university and how you qualify.

Online application: You will be given space to copy and paste the essay in the online form.

Offline application: Print out your essay and include it in your application pack.

ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPTS Ask your school/college to prepare this. This will be a comprehensive list of all the marks you obtained in each subject in your latest qualification.

Online application: The university might allow attachment of scanned copies, but may ask for the original to be sent by post.

Offline application: Send the original transcript, not a copy.

HIGH SCHOOL (CLASSES 10 AND 12) CERTIFICATES/MARK SHEETS Online application: The university might allow attachment of scanned copies, but may ask for attested copies to be sent by post.

Offline application: Attested copies will usually do.

BACHELOR’S/MASTER’S DEGREE CERTIFICATE/MARK SHEET (IF APPLICABLE) Online application: The university might allow attachment of scanned copies, but may ask for attested copies to be sent by post.

Offline application: Attested copies will usually do.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION (USUALLY TWO) An assessment of you from two professors and/or a professor and an employer.

Online application: The university might ask for your referrers’ official email and get in touch with them directly.

Offline application: Printed and signed letters from your referrers on their official letterheads.

EVIDENCE OF FLUENCY IN LANGUAGE If English, then IELTS, TOEFL, etc score sheet; if another language, then applicable test score sheet.

Online application: The university might allow attachment of a scanned copy, but might ask for the original score sheet to be sent by post.

Offline application: Original, copy, or attested copy of the score sheet. Check with the university.

OTHER APPLICABLE TEST SCORE SHEETS SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc Online application: The university might allow attachment of a scanned copy, but might ask for the original score sheet to be sent by post.

Offline application: Original, copy, or attested copy of score sheet.

MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS These may include:  Portfolio of creative work – writing samples, drawings, etc  CV  Financial verification document (bank letter/statement showing sufficient funds)  Copy of valid passport

steps to a

CLUTTERBREAKING SOP Writing a good statement of purpose isn’t as hard as solving a differential calculus problem (unless you’re an expert at calculus).

It should be an honest and genuine account of why you want to study the course of your choice, not a hammed up, sycophantic rant (which admissions officers are well-versed with identifying and rejecting). Arranging your thoughts in a cohesive essay can be intimidating, which is why many people look for shortcuts in writing their SOP. Alas, there is no ‘shortcut’, however, there is a framework and outline you could follow.

STEP ONE OPEN WITH A PERSONAL ACCOUNT

Don’t begin like a robot parroting lines: My name is so-and-so and I am applying for the so-and-so course. Admissions officers already know this. What they don’t know is the personal experience that encouraged you to study this course. This experience will make you unique. “As a child, I accompanied my father to his car factory everyday and watched large assembly lines produce car after car.

Over time, these machines imbued in me a love for industrial processes…” doesn’t this make you want to read more?

STEP TWO PROVIDE YOUR BACKGROUND IN THE FIELD

Now the admissions officer knows what you’re passionate about and why, so this is a good time to tell him/her how you have worked or been exposed to this field in the past. This usually pertains to academic study, internships and part-time work.

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COVER STORY

STEP THREE STEP SIX NAME DROP A LITTLE EXPLAIN YOUR Did you study any exciting modules SITUATION or do interesting courses prior to applying? Were you taught be anyone reputed or well-regarded in your field?

Name drop! Show the officer that you’re serious about your passion and have always been.

STEP FOUR SHOW OFF

If you have any achievements in your field, mention them. Perhaps you have already published a paper or two in a couple of journals, or you made important presentations, or you’ve topped your class consistently. State them categorically with a hint of pride; don’t boast.

STEP FIVE IMPRESS WITH EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

You can now step out of the confines of textbooks and talk about your extracurricular activities. Don’t ramble; be precise and focus on those that reveal a personal trait or quality you would like to impress upon the officer.

This applies to you only if there has been a serious irregularity in your academic track. Maybe you failed a year, or had to take a drop – if it has bearing on your university study, fess up. Explain honestly why there is a blip in your record (family upheavals, personal issues, etc) and how you have endeavoured to move past that.

COUNSELLOR ADVICE “There has to be a right balance between academics, projects and extracurricular activities.

The achievement and learning acquired in each plays a vital role.

This would vary with each student, as some may have participated in extracurriculars or some may not have undertaken any projects or won any awards /achievements.

The trick in making the SOP standout lies in ensuring the true portrayal of one’s strengths through activities and purpose of pursuing the course.

The potential needs to be highlighted with an objective appraisal of self.

The SOP should be able to speak about the student – not just academics, but overall as a prospective candidature.”

- Swati Salunkhe, education counsellor

STEP SEVEN GET PERSONAL… AGAIN

Everything you have written so far can be sent as is to multiple universities, and admissions officers know applicants send the same essay to as many as 10 universities. So why are you applying to this particular university? This is the part of the essay you must customise for each university application. Mention an aspect of the course you like the sound of, or a few professors in the faculty whom you have heard of and are eager to study under – anything about the university, course, department, or faculty that has convinced you to apply.

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G

Global is the New Local The term global citizenship isn’t new to us. AIESEC promotes global citizenship. But global citizenship is such an all encompassing term; do we really know what it involves?

AIESEC is responsible for spreading global awareness through experiences at a global level. They believe in the simple credo: there is no way to go but up

lobal citizenship is a multifaceted idea that we need to comprehend. The crux of global citizenship is that the whole is greater than the part; the whole in this context is humankind in general, irrespective of national identity. This is not to say that national identity is not important, but the needs of humankind transcend those of one particular country. To quote Spock, in a true geeky fashion, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.”

When you say 'the needs of the many', we talk about the issues faced by humankind in general irrespective of territorial loyalties. As members of humankind, each of us has a moral and social responsible to other humans. This does not necessarily mean that everyone becomes proactive in the attempt to end world hunger (although that would be wonderful), but at least be aware of the on-goings of issues at a global level.

One could argue that charity – or in this case awareness and responsibility – begins at home, so we should focus on the countries we live in, the country whose name is on our passport. But then isn’t a whole the sum of its parts?

Global citizenship emphasises world mindedness which is working for nations with the needs of the planet in mind instead of just individual countries.

There are many obvious advantages to world mindedness. If every human acts as a global citizen then the obvious issue of war can be addressed and eradicated.

All war will stop and as a further step, efforts can be made to eradicate war-related adversities. Civil strife and ethnic riots would also stop.

Global citizenship inches closer and closer to more people every day, especially the youth. As the architects of tomorrow, the youth are the ones that need global citizenship more than anyone. The almighty Internet is the harbinger of this new and growing global mind, and it facilitates other ventures that attempt to make the youth more global, such as Model United Nations, or any school or college debate that deals with global issues. yi OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 37

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EXAM FEVER

Graduate Record ] E [GR Examinations What is GRE? GRE scores are required for admission to a number of master’s degree programs (business and other streams) in the United States and other English speaking countries. The exam has three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing Time: 3 hours 45 minutes Cost: US$185 Frequency: The exam is conducted throughout the year at various test centres across the country

FORMAT Experimental section: Quantitative or verbal (does not contribute to your score) Analytical writing: 2 essays (45 minutes, 30 minutes) Math: 28 questions (45 minutes) Quantitative: 37 questions (75 minutes)

MockGRE GRE test Mock test Section 1: Verbal ability

READING COMPREHENSION One of the unfortunate things that have come out of the apparent success achieved by Satyamev Jayate is that people have further lost their faith in a government whose national policy making capabilities were always doubted in the first place. Aamir’s tears and the theoretically simple solutions, despite being of a benevolent nature, have inspired multiple rounds of government bashing banter over tea breaks. To be completely fair, it is almost foolish of us to expect the government to function like Aamir does on SMJ. The government of India cannot simply take up an issue one fine Sunday and forget about it before the weekend.

National policies are delicately crafted guidelines that are perfected over years, and sometimes decades, to ensure that the egos of billions of Indians hailing from multiple backgrounds are soothed. It was gallant and extremely caring of Aamir to plead for the sale of generic drugs or for the usage of organic vegetables. These pleas were hailed by the populace but such simple and flawed statements cannot be a government’s official stance. Even if eventually becomes a government policy, it cannot take place overnight, as expected by a vast majority, due to the simple reason that the government has to debate, discuss and deliberate upon sub-issues, which are never considered by us. For example, “If generic drugs are sold, is there any way to ensure top notch quality and non-adulteration of these drugs?” The issue is not with Mr Khan’s ideas but the way society has perceived them. Aamir’s suggestions are basically suggestions. But the moment we start demanding them as a national policy, we border on the lines of absurdity, exposing how people with democratic powers are nothing but glorified fools.

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Q1. What is the main idea expressed in the passage?

(Select all answers that apply) A. Aamir Khan’s solutions offers impractical solutions for national issues on Satyamev Jayate B. The writer disapproves of the audience reaction to Satyamev Jayate as it oversimplifies complicated social issues C. The issues addressed on Satyamev Jayate are trivial and not worthy of national importance D. The writer questions Aamir Khan’s motives behind creating the show Satyamev Jayate E. To discourage viewers from watching Satyamev Jayate

TEXT COMPLETION Q2. Vain and prone to violence, Miley could not handle success: the more her (1)__________ as an artist increased, the more (2)__________ her life became.

Answer choices Blank (1) temperance notoriety eminence

Q3. Select the two answer choices that, when used to complete the sentence, fit the meaning of the sentence as a whole and produce completed sentences that are alike in meaning.

Susan believed that the country’s problems had been _______ by foreign technocrats, so that to ask for such assistance again would be counterproductive. ameliorated ascertained diagnosed exacerbated overlooked worsened

Section 2: Quantitative Reasoning

QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON P

Q

R

S

Q5. In a sports club with 30 members, 17 play baseball and 19 play basketball and 2 do not play either.

How many members play both baseball and basketball?

A. 7 B. 8 C. 9 D. 10 E. 11

NUMERIC ENTRY Q6. A palindrome is a number which reads the same backwards as forwards (for example 101).

What is the next greatest palindrome after 6776 ?

Section 3: Analytical writing

ANALYSE AN ISSUE

Q7. Scandals are useful because they focus our attention on problems in ways that no speaker or reformer ever could. (from the official GRE bank)

Blank (2) tumultuous providential dispassionate

SENTENCE EQUIVALENCE

A. B. C. D. E. F.

PROBLEM SOLVING

T

Q4. R is the midpoint of segment PT and PQ < ST Then, QR and RS A. The quantity on the left is greater B. The quantity on the right is greater C. Both are equal D. Cannot be determined without further information

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim. In developing and supporting your position, be sure to address the most compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challenge your position.

ANALYSE AN ARGUMENT Q8. In a study of the reading habits of Waymarsh citizens conducted by the University of Waymarsh, most respondents said that they preferred literary classics as reading material. However, a second study conducted by the same researchers found that the type of book most frequently checked out of each of the public libraries in Waymarsh was the mystery novel. Therefore, it can be concluded that the respondents in the first study had misrepresented their reading habits.

Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument.

ANSWERS: Q 1. A and B Q2. (1) temperance (2) tumultuous Q3. D and F Q4. A Q 5. B Q 6. 6886 OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 39

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EXAM FEVER

Graduate ] T A [GM Management Admission Test

What is GMAT? This exam is taken by students who wish to pursue management courses abroad. Most management institutes use GMAT scores to screen candidates for admissions.

Sections: Analytical writing, quantitative and verbal assessment Time: 3.5 hours Cost: US$250 Frequency: The exam is conducted throughout the year at various test centres located across the country

Mock Mock GMAT GMAT test test

Section 1: Analytical writing assessment Q1. The following appeared as part of a campaign to sell advertising time on a local radio station to local businesses: “The Yellow Bean Café began advertising on our local radio station this year and was delighted to see its business increase by 12 percent over last year’s totals. Their success shows you how you can use radio advertising to make your business more profitable.”

Discuss how well reasoned this is.

FORMAT Analytical writing assessment: 1 topic (30 minutes) Integrated reasoning: 12 questions (30 minutes) Quantitative: 37 questions (75 minutes) Verbal: 41 questions (75 minutes)

Section 2: Integrated reasoning

GRAPHICS INTERPRETATION = 10 students

30 years of age or older

no high school diploma

Refer to the pictograph of a survey of students at City College. Each symbol represents 10 students in a sample of 300.

Q2. Complete the statement according to the information presented in the diagram.

If one student is selected at random from the 300 surveyed, the chance that the student will be under 30 or a high school graduate or both is: 1 out of 6 1 out of 3 2 out of 3 5 out of 6

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TABLE ANALYSIS

Q3. A taxi service charges a base fare of $5, and a rate of $M per mile for the first 10 miles. Thereafter the rate is $0.5M per mile. There is also a charge of $3 per suitcase.

Students travelling from and to the local college get a 20% discount on the mileage rates. Adam is a professor traveling a distance of 8 miles with one suitcase. Eve is a student traveling 30 miles with two suitcases from the college to the station.

Select the expression for the amount paid by Adam and the difference between the amounts paid by Adam and Eve (in dollars).

Difference

Amount paid by Adam 8(1 + M) 3 + 8M 3 + 16M 11 + 16M 3(1 + 8M)

Section 3: Quantitative Reasoning

PROBLEM SOLVING Q4. If y > t, r > q, s > t, and t > r, which of the following must be true?

I. y > s II. s > q III. y > r (A) I only (B) II only (C) III only (D) I and II (E) II and III

DATA SUFFICIENCY Q 5. If a car salesman received a commission of 6% of the selling price of a certain car, what was the selling price of the car?

(1) The selling price minus the car salesman’s commission was $84,600.

(2) The selling price was 250% of the original purchase price of $36,000.

(A) Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.

(B) Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.

(C) BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.

(D) EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.

(E) Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

Section 4: Verbal

SENTENCE CORRECTION Q6. Stress-induced amnesia is a rare phenomenon; it strikes the patient apparently without warning and the memory loss can be as complete as that induced by physical trauma.

A. as complete as that induced by physical trauma B. as complete as is induced by physical trauma’s C. as least as complete as physical trauma induces D. at least as complete as physical trauma E. just as complete as those induced by physical trauma Q 7. Though tattoos and piercings are manifesting themselves in our daily lives, they still are regarded as a taboo in the workplace. It is not something that most people associate with professional and office positions. Employers perceive such candidates as too cool for a suit and tie environment.

A survey by Careerbuilder finds that 42% of managers said their opinion of someone would be lowered by that person’s visible body art, 81% think piercings in places other than the ears are unprofessional and 76% believe visible tattoos are unprofessional.

Which of the following is an assumption underlying the conclusion of the passage above?

(A) Employers are keen on hiring people with body art.

(B) Responsible professionals are not tattooed.

(C) There are too many tattooed people applying for jobs.

(D) Body art in a work environment is considered unprofessional by employers.

(E) People with body art do not find emplyment.

ANSWERS: Q1. Your essay should analyse the logic of the statement. Support your argument by highlighting generalisations, problems with statistics, false analogies and hidden assumptions that appear in the statement.

Q2. 4 Q3. Difference 3+8M, Amount Adam has to pay 8 (1+M) Q 4. E Q5. D Q 6. A Q7. D

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EXAM FEVER

] Scholastic T A [S Aptitude Test What is SAT? Almost all universities in the United Sates consider SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) scores for admission to their undergraduate programs. The SAT exam is divided into three sections: critical reading, maths and writing. There are two types of SAT tests: SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject Test (SAT II).

The latter tests your knowledge in a particular subject such as Biology, Chemistry, History, Maths, etc.

Time: 3 hours and 45 minutes Cost: US$91, SAT Subject Tests costs $24.50 (basic fee) plus additional costs depending on your subjects Frequency: The exam is conducted six times a year at different centres throughout the country

FORMAT Writing: 3 sections (60 minutes total) Mathematics: 3 sections (70 minutes total) Critical reading: 3 sections (70 minutes total)

MockSAT SAT exam Mock ock exam Section 1: Writing

ESSAY Q 1. “The price of greatness is responsibility” Do you agree with this statement? Do people have unrealistic expectations from their leaders and other public figures?

Plan your response and write an essay.

SENTENCE CORRECTION Q 2. Identify the sentence errors Tracy argued vehemently with (A) her aunt over (B) her (C) refusal to attend (D) the school concert. No error (E).

A. B. C. D. E.

Q 3. Correct the following sentence Jack, coming alongside Rose’s ship, climbed aboard without seeing or being seen by her.

A. climbed aboard without seeing or being seen by her.

B. climbed aboard without seeing Rose or being seen by her.

C. climbs aboard without Rose seeing him.

D. boarded without being seen by her.

E. boarded without seeing Rose.

EDITING IN CONTEXT (1)“Indian youth do not discriminate. We are more openminded than our parents.”

“Young India does not believe in the artificial barriers of religion, caste and colour. That’s old-fashioned.”

(2) Every generation ridicules the conventions of the previous generation while unquestioningly following its own – this applies, more than ever, today. (3) While

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the youth of India strives hard to carve out its own identity, boot out the old and ring in the new, it is worth introspecting and finding out if we really are quite as unbiased as we would like to believe.

(4) Stereotypes are rife among today’s generation also; despite being taught about equality since elementary school, old prejudices seem to linger. (5) What is worse is that new prejudices have also begun asserting themselves – whether it is dressing styles or lifestyle choices, undue judgement is alive and kicking.

(6) Why is it that young India, despite all its talk of social liberty, stereotypes away merrily? We found that with these stereotypes, people do not realise the amount of harm they may be causing. (7)After all, if this behaviour grows, there’s nothing stopping it from not staying simply at the individual level and eventually pitting social groups against each other on a national level.

(8) What is important to acknowledge is that while it is young India that perpetrates these stereotypes, it is also young India that is at the receiving end. (9) In fact, very often victims of stereotypes have their own stereotypes against the other group – and once this cycle of retribution starts, it is very difficult to stop it.

(10) We take a look at some of the more prevalent stereotypes among youngsters today and how they affect victims. (11) Our hope is that the brand-sporting, smartphone-wielding, rights-demanding youngster identifies the stereotypes they unknowingly promote, and questions themselves every time they act out of prejudice.

Q4. The sentence (or a sentences) which most clearly expresses the author's primary purpose is A. (1) B. (4) C. (7) D. (9) E. (1) and (5)

Section 3: Critical Reading

SENTENCE COMPLETION Q7. An entrepreneur must widen his horizons; a ____ attitude will get you nowhere in this age of global communications.

A. moderate B. petrified C. parochial D. diversified E. comprehensive

READING COMPREHENSION: I have previously defined a sanctuary as a place where man is passive and the rest of Nature active. But this general definition is too absolute for any special case. The mere fact that man has to protect a sanctuary does away with his purely passive attitude. Then, he can be beneficially active by destroying pests and parasites, like bot-flies or mosquitoes, and by finding antidotes for diseases like the epidemic which periodically kills off the rabbits and thus starves many of the carnivora to death. But, except in cases where experiment has proved his intervention to be beneficial, the less he upsets the balance of Nature the better, even when he tries to be an earthly Providence.

Adapted from: Animal Sanctuaries in Labrador, W Wood (1911) Q8. The author implies that his first definition of a sanctuary is A. totally wrong B. somewhat idealistic C. unhelpful D. indefensible E. immutable

Section 2: Math

PROBLEM SOLVING Q5. A machine puts c labels on bottles in m minutes. How many hours will it take to put labels on b bottles?

A. 60bm/c B. bm/60c C. bc/60m D. 60b/cm E. b/60cm

GRID INS Q6. What is the least positive integer d for which 15d is the cube of a number?

ANSWERS: Q 1. You can self evaluate your essay on the basis of vocabulary, structure, length, relevant content and grammar Q2. C Q 3. B Q 4. B Q 5. B Q 6. 225 Q7. C Q 8. B OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 43

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EXAM FEVER

Test of English ] L as a F E [TO Foreign Language Usage Examples What is TOEFL? Accepted by more than 6000 universities in 100 countries, TOEFL is an English language proficiency examination taken by non-native English speakers. There are two formats of the exam: TOEFL iBT (Internet based test) and TOEFL PBT (Paper based test). However, the latter is being phased out; TOEFL iBT is offered in India.

Time: 3.5 to 4 hours Cost: US$165 Frequency: The exam is conducted more than 50 times in Usage Examples a year at various test centres located throughout the country

Mock Mock TOEFL test TOEFL

See.

See. Snap. Get.

test Section 1: Reading

I know some friends who went through exams debonair and cavalier, much to the unease of the competition (and won the gold medals too) but most of us lesser mortals still harbour nightmarish memories of the dreaded exams before, during and even after. The French say “The more See. things Snap.

Get. change, the more they remain the same!” Although systems, curricula, the scope of subjects change, as far as exams go, it’s only skimming the surface. Terror times they still are. The crowd heads towards the hallowed portals of institutes and there are impossible cut-off marks for engineering, the IITs, medical colleges, etc. There are whispered immensities of ‘capitation’ fees involved.

The uncertainties a future outside – these make it seem to be a do or die thing. But is this what education was meant to be?

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FORMAT Reading: 36-70 questions (60-100 minutes) Listening: 34-51 questions (60-90 minutes) Speaking: 6 tasks (20 minutes) Writing: 2 tasks (50 minutes)

Indeed life is competitive and we grow up with paranoia Snap. and ‘performance stress’ but I’m sure if we looked at the Get. bigger picture we’d be less consumed by fear. The fallout of that would be we’d actually perform better and more creatively in our exams. The bright side is that generation next is confident and adventurous. Even those with professional backgrounds think ‘entrepreneur’, big or small, and often out of the box. Options are not limited to ‘doctor-engineer-government services’ alone. Today the world is our oyster – starting a chain of hamburger See. kiosks and making a successful management case study Snap. of it. However education is still the best equipment for Get. life, so it’s better to give it your best shot; this is an age of opportunities.

Little tips like study time-tables, study groups, etc make it more interesting and interactive. Field trips and actual situations where your knowledge is applied, meditation to See. Snap. Get. help concentration, physical exercise at regular intervals to ensure better memory and less fatigue, mock tests to be better prepared and so on – these are some tricks and tips I offer to you to score and conquer the world! An education can certainly provide you with a living, but earning a living need not be the driving force for education.SEE. One Snap. Get. could study to be well educated, informed, equipped with knowledge and then make a career foray into photography, special effects, film making, dancing… the options in our age are myriad and kaleidoscopic.

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Q1. The word ‘crowd’ in the first paragraph refers to: A. Professors B. Students C. Businessmen D. Administrators

Section 2: Listening Read the transcript of an audio clip and answer the following question ( for complete listening assignments, use the Ocutag Snap app on your phone) (Transcript) M: You mentioned at the start of last class that you are a fan of live music. I guess I don’t have to tell you about the concert at the campus pub on Saturday. It’s supposed to be the best show of the year.

W: I know. I wish I could be there but I already promised professor Mathers that I’d have all of the quizzes graded

by Monday. I’m afraid I’m going to be stuck in my dorm all weekend because I look after three tutorial classes including yours.

M: Why did you offer to do that? Did you forget about the concert, or do you really need the money?

W: Actually, I really need to concentrate on academics this year. If I want to get into the education program I have to prove that I am serious about being a tutorial leader. It’s not about the money. We don’t get paid much considering all of the hours we put in.

M: Have you applied at other schools besides this one? I’ve heard it’s really hard to get into the Education programme here, but my cousin got accepted at one in a different state, and her grades aren’t that good.

Q2. What are the speakers mainly discussing?

A) Their plans for next semester B) Why the woman can’t go to the concert C) Their favorite band D) Finding a tutor

that some MPs called the new rules “poorly planned and ill thought-out”. However, Migration Watch, an independent, non-political body that monitors migration flow to and from Britain, sums up (ironically) the prevalent political mood – their website says that international students are of value to the UK “provided that they intend to return at the end of their studies… If students stay on in the UK they add to our population growth and the pressure on our public services”.

Audio Clip (Transcript) I want to make clear the attitude of the government.

There is no limit on the number of legitimate students from overseas studying at British universities. They have to have the language skills and the academic training to benefit from Higher Education here. It is in everyone’s interest to maintain our high standards. The vast majority of international students are here legitimately, study hard, contribute to our economy and take nothing from us except a world class education. Where things are working at their best, they also make us more cosmopolitan, sustain links between our communities with heritage in other parts of the world and those places, and make the higher education offer more diverse than it otherwise would be. It is crucial that we sustain and develop these advantages.

Q 3. Summarise the points made in the audio clip and highlight how they contradict the claims made in the passage

INDEPENDENT WRITING Q4. According to you, what are the qualities of a good boss?

Use specific details and examples to explain why these qualities are important. (300-350 words)

Section 3: Writing

Section 4: Speaking

Read the following passage. You will then listen to an audio clip on the same subject. Use these are guides to answer the question below.

The post-study work visa (PSW), available to international students with a British degree to work in the UK for two years, has been abolished. In May this year, the British government reported that there was a 62 per cent drop in the number of student visa applications for the 201213 academic year. But the new visa rules have not met with approval in all quarters. Universities UK, the representative organisation for the UK’s universities, said that the UK seemed to be “putting up barriers to entry… and telling the world that it doesn’t welcome international students”. British newspaper The Guardian reported

ANSWERS: Q1. B Q2. B Q3. The main focus of your writing should be to summarise the audio clip using facts and information from the reading material to support your points.

Q4. Your essay should be organised and coherent with accurate word usage. Use examples and explanations to illustrate your argument.

Q5. Your response should be well-structured and grammatically correct. If you are unsure of the meaning or pronunciation of a word, avoid using it.

INTEGRATED WRITING

Q5. If given a choice, would you rather study in a classroom or take an online course? Use reasons and details to support your response.

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EXAM FEVER

International English Language ] S T L Testing System [IE

Usage Examples What is IELTS? IELTS is an English language proficiency test used by more than 8,000 organisations globally to determine your language skills.

There are two different IELTS test modules, Academic module (for those who wish to study in an English speaking country) and General Training module (for those who wish to work/immigrate to an English speaking country). The exam is divided into three sections: listening, reading, writing and speaking.

Time: 2 hours and 45 minutes Cost: `8900 Usage Examples Frequency: The exam takes place on 48 fixed dates throughout the year at various test centres in the city

Mock Mock IELTS test IELTS

See. Snap.

Get.

See. Snap. Get.

test Section 1: Listening

For complete listening tests, use the Ocutag app n your phone.

(Transcript) A discussion among three students who are organising an international film festival at their college.

Amy: Thanks for coming to this meeting on such See. short Snap.

Get. notice, Anna and Veronika. It looks like we have just become the organising committee for this year’s international film festival. We’ve all just met so perhaps we should start by an introduction with a bit of background from each of us.

Nancy: OK, I’m Nancy. I finished three years of a Language degree in Sweden, where I come from. This year I decided to study overseas to get to know a different part of the world. I’m also a big fan of European cinema, especially French and Italian. Those are the languages I majored in, 46 Youth Incorporated OCTOBER 2013

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Format: Listening: 30 minutes Reading: 60 minutes Writing: 60 minutes Speaking: 11 to 14 minutes

along with English.

To me, film is a great way to learn about the rest of the world. [Q. 1]I was in the film club at my university so when I saw a notice asking for volunteers, I thought it would be a good way to meet people and get involved in something I really enjoy.

Q1. Nancy A. has done film reviews See. B. currently in third year Snap.

C. is gaining course credit for film festival project Get. D. has made films E. enrolled in media studies F. works as a journalist G. has film club experience

See. Snap. Get. Section 2: Reading Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS) MOOCs have fundamentally altered the education that Snap.

SEE. was being imparted, and engineered a global shift in the scope, blurring the limitations which so distinctly existed only yesterday. Geographical boundaries have been bulldozed, and attending a class in Political Science offered

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by MIT is eminently possible. There is a critical difference which delineates this bunch of resources from your regular animated curriculum material – the experience is engrossing and augmented by social interaction, thus enabling features such as peer-reviewed papers.

Aniket Parikh, a second year student of Mining Engineering at IIT Kanpur, opines, “I believe that even though e-learning definitely has long-term potential in India, the right way to go about it is systematically via establishment of prerequisite infrastructure and distribution conduits.” Indians are the second largest group registering on e-learning websites, which is testimony to the growing influence of online education and sustained shift towards a more refined approach to intellectual stimulation. Anant Agarwal, president of edX, a not-forprofit Harvard-MIT joint venture, was the benefactor of $60 million in funding to host a huge basket of lectures from the colleges online, believes that MOOCs are “the single biggest change in education since the printing press.”

The influence of these resources is further amplified by the inability of a substantial number of major universities in offering simultaneous dual degrees. In the 21st century where one is expected to possess a working knowledge of every element and field one interacts with during the course of his professional work, such monolithic systems are strenuous and counterproductive.

There should be a clear move towards encouraging enrolling for dual undergraduate courses simultaneously.

An upcoming field is patent lawsuits, for which one needs to be familiar with the finer nuances of law and technology.

Unfortunately, this is a field dominated by lawyers with absolutely no knowledge of the technical intricacies.

Rather, an engineer or lawyer resorts to online MOOCs to gain familiarity with the opposite field as the university still seems reluctant to enforce these reforms. Mumbai University’s decision to allow technical degrees to be pursued in conjunction with legal qualifications must be applauded in this light.

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?

TRUE – if the statement agrees with the information FALSE – if the statement contradicts the information NOT GIVEN – if there is no information on this Q2. Indians are not keen on using e-learning websites.

Q3. edX was given $60 million to hold lectures in Indian classrooms.

Section 3: Writing

ACADEMIC WRITING The chart below shows male and female fitness membership

between 1970 and 2000.

Q4. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

GENERAL WRITING Q5. The increase in social media dependency in recent years has transformed the way we live, communicate and do business. Do you think social media has more advantages that disadvantages?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Section 4: Speaking Q6. Describe something some healthy habits you have incorporated in your lifestyle.

You will have around 2 minutes to speak on the subject. The examiner will not interrupt you for questioning.

ANSWERS: Q1. G Q2. False Q3. False Q4. Divide your response into: introduction, body text and conclusion. Analyse the figures in the chart to highlight your points. For example, there has been a drastic decrease in the number of male gym members between 1995 and 2000 (from 5000 members to 2000 members) Q5. Your writing should be clear, concise and grammatically correct. Avoid repetition of ideas and do not bullet your responses; write your essay in paragraph form.

Q6. Your response should be well-structured and grammatically correct. If you are unsure of the meaning or pronunciation of a word, avoid using it.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

FAQs

Student Loans when studying abroad WHAT EXPENSES CAN I COVER IF I GET A LOAN?

With the valuation of the rupee constantly changing, financing one’s education abroad has become tougher.

Youth Inc gives you answers to the important questions you may have before taking up a student loan

The following is the list of eligible expenses that can be covered using a student loan:  Tuition fee for approved courses, including examination and library fee  Cost of living expenses including lodging in a hostel  Expenses involving travel to a country for overseas education  Study material including

books, computers and other relevant equipment  Additional course related expenses for project work or study tours

WHAT IS THE REQUIRED ELIGIBILITY?

Any student who is an Indian resident between 16 and 35 years of age and has secured admission to a course in a university deemed to be in the list of recognised institutes by the financial institution providing the loan can apply for an education loan. The student will be required to produce an admission letter in order to be granted the loan and must provide the financial organisation at least two weeks to process the request for the loan.

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WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED WHEN APPLYING FOR A STUDENT LOAN?

When applying for a student loan, you will need to submit a completed loan application form along with proof of identity, proof of residence, bank account statements and copies of income tax return. You will also need to provide the financial institution with marksheets of SSC, HSC and degree courses you have completed as well as proof of admission for the course you need the loan for and its fee schedule.

DO I NEED A GUARANTOR WHEN APPLYING FOR MY LOAN?

Yes, a third party guarantor who is an Indian national and an employed adult will be required when applying for a loan. This guarantor must sign off on the loan application form and provide their bank statements for verification. This person must be an immediate relative in the form of a parent, legal guardian, spouse or sibling. In certain cases, guarantors can also be distant relatives such as uncles, aunts or cousins.

WHAT IS THE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM AMOUNT FOR STUDENT LOANS?

The minimum amount of a student loan can be as low as `1,00,000. The maximum amount ranges depending on the policy of the financial institution providing the loan and the rules prescribed by the Reserve Bank of India and other regulatory bodies. Generally, non-bank institutions provide a higher loan amount as compared to banks. The maximum student loan amount in a bank is `20 lakhs while a non-bank has `50 lakhs as the upper limit and can even extend up to `1 crore.

WHAT IS A MARGIN AMOUNT FOR STUDENT LOANS?

Margin amounts are a monetary requirement from your end to be applicable for a student loan from a bank. For example, a bank will provide you with `80,000 if you require a loan of `1,00,000 while you will have to arrange for `20,000 from your own sources which is the margin amount.

Non-bank institutions do not ask for margin amounts since they function on a policy of providing 100% funding for the studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cost of education.

SHOULD I APPLY FOR A LOAN FROM A BANK WHAT COLLATERAL OR A NON BANK DO I HAVE TO PROVIDE INSTITUTION? The choice between a bank and a IN ORDER TO GET A non-bank depends on the need of LOAN? the loan. With an upper limit of `20 lakh, a bank will not be ideal if your financial requirement is for a much higher amount. In such cases, a nonbank institution can help you finance your education in an expensive country.

The interest rate should also be taken into account along with the tenure of repayment of the loan and other individual factors like the collateral security required. Banks will be best if you can manage to secure a scholarship and arrange for personal methods to finance yourself while non-bank institutions are ideal if you need a huge loan amount but can guarantee payment in following years.

A collateral on an education loan is a security that is to be provided by the student at the time of receiving the loan in case of a default in payment.

The collateral may be in the form of residential property, fixed deposit, mutual fund, shares, life insurance and non-agricultural land. An institute may accept other forms of collateral as deemed fit according to the Reserve Bank of India and other regulatory bodies. A collateral is not required on loans below `4 lakh.

WHAT WILL BE THE INTEREST RATE ON MY LOAN?

The interest rate on a student loan varies

according to the institute. Banks have an average interest rate between 10.50% and 13.50% of the loan amount rising up to 15%. Non-bank institutes have an interest rate with a base of 11.50% rising up to as high as 14.50% on the loan amount. The rate of interest changes according to various factors but can be considerably lower if the applicant will be joining a reputed institute, provides a sufficient collateral and has a good credit history.

WHEN DO I HAVE TO START REPAYING MY LOAN?

Every organisation allows the student a certain moratorium or holiday period before they have to start repaying their loan. This period is between 6 months to a year after completion of the course or 3 to 6 months after attaining employment, whichever is earlier.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO REPAY MY LOAN?

The tenure of repayment of a student loan depends on the type of financial institution you have borrowed from.

Non-bank institutions allow a student a maximum of 10 years in which the loan must be repaid in full. Banks, on the other hand, have varying packages; some allow only 7 years for full repayment while few others allow up to 15 years for full repayment.

CAN STUDENT TAX BENEFITS HELP ME IN REPAYING MY LOAN?

According to section 80E of the Income Tax Act, an individual can apply for deduction in tax for repayment of interest on a loan. This deduction is only applicable on interest payable over the student loan and not on the principle amount which is payable as part of the loan repayment. This deduction is available for a maximum of eight years while the student is paying off the principle amount of the loan. The deduction can only be applied for when the loan was used to fund ones own education or that of a spouse, child or legal guardian.

OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 49

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9/25/2013 6:08:06 PM

SPECIAL FEATURE

All about

VISAS Getting a student visa is the real end to the months of meticulous planning and work to study abroad. Countries make it more and more difficult to apply for visas, but as long as you’re ahead of the game, you will be approved for a student visa with almost no hassles

THE SUCCESSFUL VISA INTERVIEW CHECKLIST

 Converse in fluent English  Be concise; the visa interview is only a few minutes long  Have all your documents ready and neatly organised  Be positive, polite and confident in your responses  Speak for yourself; you are being questioned, not your parents  Convince the interviewing officer that you have reasons

for returning to India after the course. Either mention career opportunities or family responsibilities in India – any reason relevant to you. This is entirely subjective  You may have to answer questions relating to career opportunities in India in your field, as well as questions about your family and social ties, so be ready to demonstrate how you will maintain these relationships  Articulate how your chosen programme fits into your career aims and why you prefer to study it in the country of your preference  Stress that your main purpose of going abroad is to study. Every candidate is a potential immigrant and countries are wary of accepting people who want to be employed and eventually settled there  If anybody in your family has studied in that country and has returned to India, impress it upon the interviewer  If anybody in your family relies on you for financial support, you will have to tell the interviewer how your family intends to take care of itself in your absence. If the interviewer feels your presence in India is crucial to your family, your visa application may be denied

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THE QUICK VISA DOCUMENT CHECKLIST

Education counsellor Jayanti Ghose provides a list of the most commonly required documents for a visa application. As visa rules are constantly revised, please check with the embassy/ immigration department of the country you are going to before applying.

“The admission offer (e.g. I-20 in the case of the US) by the university; student’s proof of residence; passport with enough years of validity; financial documents in support of cost of education, living expenses, etc; intention to return validated by sufficient ties to the home country; all documents in support of education, health, identity, etc and photographs (as specified for the country) are the usual requirements. Details of documentation are provided on the immigration website of the country (e.g. Home Office UK Border Agency, US Embassy, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, etc) where a student is planning to study, as also the university website.”

QUICK VISA FACTS

US

UK

AUSTRALIA

Apply online, then visit Visa Application Centre to submit biometric details and then embassy/consulate for interview and to submit documents

Apply online, then visit VFS office to submit documents and biometric details

Apply online via an eVisa agent, then visit VFS to submit documents, or send paper application by post to VFS New Delhi with documents

`11,520

`31,300

Approx. `31,359

US$200 (`12,600) SEVIS fee; `400 if using lounge service

`260 if paying visa charges in person; `2,500 if using Prime Time service; `2,000 if using lounge service

`601 VFS service charge

VISA INTERVIEW

Yes

NA

NA

MEDICAL TESTS

NA

Tuberculosis test if going to the UK for more than 6 months at a UKBA approved clinic

Mandatory; to be done by an Australian government approved doctor

Within 60 days of visa interview

5-15 working days

Within 90 days

IMMIGRATION WEBSITE

 http://travel.state. gov/visa/temp/types/ types_1268.html  http://cdn.ustraveldocs. com/in/index.html

http://www.ukba. homeoffice.gov.uk

http://www.immi.gov.au/ students

APPLICATION WEBSITE

https://ceac.state.gov/ GenNIV/Default.aspx

 http://www.visa4uk.fco. gov.uk/ApplyNow.aspx  http://www.vfs-uk-in.com

http://www.vfs-au-in.com/ student.html

APPLICATION MODE

VISA FEES ADDITIONAL FEES

APPROXIMATE PROCESSING TIME

For more detailed information, please visit the respective country’s embassy/immigration department websites.

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MY STORY As an Indian student in a foreign country, you might have to counter some unpleasant experiences. From missing spicy Indian curries to adapting to a new culture, four students share their experiences of settling in a foreign land

EVEN TABLE MANNERS ARE DIFFERNT

“In the first few months of my stint abroad, I was swept over by the change in lifestyle. One always experiences the jitters in the early months – simple reason being the difference in the culture in which you grew up as a child to a carefree, yet more responsible life abroad. Everything is different. For instance, the basic table ethics in a local restaurant is entirely different from what you were taught back home. For most, even a change in weather makes them feel home sick. Being able to overcome such subtle problems is what we call survival. Eventually you learn to live.”

- Parameswaran T.G., University of West London, UK

FOREIGN CURRENCY = MATHS OVERLOAD

“One of the most challenging things about studying abroad was the money management.

It was not only because of a different currency but also because I was handling a large amount of money completely on my own for the first time. (The previous experience with the meagre `400 per month pocket money barely counts.) Initially I used to perpetually convert SGD to INR in my mind. Eventually I understood the big mac equivalent. I stopped the conversion, and also started noting down my expenses. It really helps you spend less if you know exactly how much you are spending.”

- Megha Bhattacharya, University of Singapore, Singapore 52 Youth Incorporated OCTOBER 2013

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$15 FOR SABZI THAT TASTES TERRIBLE

“I left India in summer and landed in New Zealand in winter. A world apart is the correct term. I found Kiwis to be very friendly and chilled out! On occasion a few Kiwis went out of their way to help me out. Queenstown, NZ did not have many Indians. I was probably one of the 20 in a population of 20,000. To each dollar I spent there as a student, my parents paid `42. Yes our currency sets us back a whole bunch. At times I paid NZ $15 for a below average curry or sabzi dish, and they don’t even taste half as nice.

But trade off wise – it’s a fair trade. I didn’t go to New Zealand to eat and experience Indian cuisine. I was in New Zealand, it was time to experience their culture and eat what they ate. And every time I felt home sick, there always was a curry available at the Indian restaurant.

Irrespective, NZ gave me the opportunity to gain an education and a qualification in something I love – adventure tourism. The experience was worth all the trouble that I went through. My advice: if you find something you really love and really want to study, then it will be worth all the bad tasting meals, cold climate and wacky humour you might suffer. Not just for yourself but your parents as well.”

- Samar Farooqui, Queenstown Resort College, New Zealand

I EXPERIENCED ‘REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK’

“Being from a modern Indian family from a city, I wasn’t scandalised to see a different culture in the UK. I had seen most of that in films, so I didn’t experience a big culture shock. Public display of affection between homosexual people was a little over the top, though. But I had talked to a lot of people before travelling and after exhausting all my questions on the course, cities, etc, I had asked about culture, so all that information was in the back of my mind.

It was my first time living alone, but that becomes a part of your personality. Coming back to India and adjusting to life here was a bigger issue. After having mixed with people from all over the world, returning to just a certain set of people was difficult. In the UK, I was used to being in groups where one was from the US, one from Spain, one from France, etc. But in Kolkata, where I’m from, there are only two communities – Marwaris and Bengalis. And then I had to readjust to living with my parents again – following their instructions, routines, etc when I had become accustomed to my way of living and being answerable to no one. This ‘reverse culture shock’ was stronger than any culture shock I experienced in the UK.” - Rashmi Punjabi, University of Warwick, UK OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 53

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COVER STORY

Make some money,

honey INDI.CA, FLICKR

Working part-time as a student abroad will not only pay for many of your meals, but will also teach you new skills and make you new friends and contacts.

What’s more, it’s actually fun

BE A BARMAID

Yes, you can literally be a barmaid. Pubs, bars and clubs on campus and even in neighbouring towns recruit students to handle drink orders and generally help the staff on crowded nights.

If being around alcohol is not your thing, you can opt to wait tables or clean dishes at restaurants and cafés. If you don’t want to work with food and drinks at all, you could get a job at your university’s entertainment centre – the theatre or the cinema – as an usher. The perk: you could watch shows for free!

WORK FOR YOUR UNIVERSITY

Universities employ students for a variety of odd jobs and administrative tasks. You could work in your department or for your faculty, sorting out the files; or assist the international student office in their work. Some even employ student brand ambassadors and tour guides to give prospective students and visitors to the university a background of the institution and a tour of the campus.

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BECOME A MYSTERY SHOPPER

BLOOMSBERRIES, FLICKR

This is one of the more popular student jobs. Agencies and businesses recruit mystery shoppers to go on a paid-for shopping spree or sample meals at restaurants for product, quality and service testing. You may not be paid much, but you do end up getting a lot of perks – for instance, free gym membership, anyone?

BLUMPY, FLICKR

DO VACATION INTERNSHIPS

Most countries allow you to work full-time during the vacations, so there is good opportunity to do an internship in the field of your choice when you have time off. Many internships are unpaid, but there are also a handful that do pay.

Scout for those.

OPT FOR CPT

Curricular Practical Training is available for international students in the US. If you have finished one academic year of your degree programme, you may apply. CPT allows you to work while a student – either in a full-time, part-time or intern position – in a job that relates directly to your coursework.

Usually, CPT is available to those whose curriculum demands it. Speak to your department head at the start of the course or semester to start the process of becoming CPT-eligible.

BECOME A RESEARCH SUBJECT

Various departments in your university would be engaged in multiple experiments headed by PhD students, and at some point of time, they would need to test their theories and prototypes on human beings. At such times, they rely on other university students to step up and become test subjects. Not to worry – these are seldom hazardous (unless you sign up to test a new drug – proceed with caution!) and actually pay a nominal amount.

ELVIS, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

BECOME A STUDENT MARKETER

Companies always need an event, scheme or product advertised in university campuses, and they hire students to do that for them. From setting up a freebies giveaway stall to handing out flyers and putting up posters, you could do a variety of activities as a student marketer. This usually pays well by the hour, but is more of a one-off assignment than a regular job.

BECOME SELF-EMPLOYED

Before you do so, check the terms and conditions of your student visa. Some countries (eg UK) do not allow full-time international students to be self-employed. If you are allowed, then the opportunities are endless.

You could tutor people: either teach your mother tongue or any other skill you have – perhaps playing the guitar – to other students.

You could also get together with some friends and start a campus business – wash cars or clean houses. If you want to do something more ambitious, start a bigger business.

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COVER STORY

s t s o c t u c o t w Ho on

S U P M A C

Spending when studying away from home is inevitable, but spending less is a simple matter of intelligence and budgeting. Here are the specific areas you can save money while on campus

T

he best way to make sure you don’t spend through your nose is to research how much money you will need while in a foreign country and make sure you don’t spend more than that. Keep a monthly or weekly log for your expenses and compensate in following weeks if you overspend in one week. Also set aside specific dates to receive money transfers from India and save money so you don’t go broke before those deadlines.

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CURRENCY EXCHANGE

The first step to saving on your expenses is to keep tabs on the exchange rate between the rupee and the currency of the country you are planning on studying in. Make sure to convert your rupees when you get the best exchange rate.

Many Indian students who were planning on studying in the USA and UK in the month of September waited until before leaving India to convert their rupees into dollars or pounds which lead to huge losses since the value of the rupee dropped by 18% over time.

LODGING

JENNY WILLIAMS, FLICKR

TEXTBOOKS

S

ENTERTAINMENT

At home

A computer is a vital investment. Invest in a good internet plan and a cheap cell phone plan. A good net plan will allow convenient international calls to family and friends via services like Skype. You don’t need an expensive phone plan; make do with basic call and messaging schemes. Another positive to a good net plan is the eradication of the need for cable or satellite TV. Sign up for online services like Netflix and Hulu which let you watch TV shows and movies at your convenience.

Going out

One of the biggest positives is the availability of student discounts.

Universities tie up with local businesses to provide discounts to students; check with your university personnel to know more. Student friendly cities also provide discounts for everything from public transport, megastores and restaurants to movie tickets, museums and music festivals.

FOOD

The best way to save money on food is by signing up for campus meals. Most universities offer this option to international students where registering for a nominal fee can get you regular meals at the university cafeteria. If not, you could always buy food at the cafeteria when required. If you are living off-campus, get together with a group to make cooking and eating meals a social event which will also help you save money. You can take turns to cook meals and minimise costs by cooking in bulk as opposed to preparing small servings. For groceries, purchase store brands rather than high-end brands; the quality is usually the same but at cheaper prices. If eating out, patronise ‘happy hour’ timings at restaurants and pubs; also remember to package leftovers for future meals. Cafés are usually expensive so brew your own coffee as much as possible.

Remember the tip on visiting restaurants and pubs during happy hours; it also helps bring down socialising expenses. Visiting the theatre for matinee shows is always economical since they are less crowded and priced lower than night shows. A matinee show will also reduce your spending on snacks since you can eat a meal before or after the show.

MICCAH SITTIG, FLICKR

Purchasing new textbooks is fairly expensive abroad. In certain countries new texbooks amount to US$1000 every semester which means you may pay anywhere between US$2000 and 3000 a year. It would be better to purchase used textbooks. It is also possible to rent textbooks and other study material from textbook rental companies. Resell any textbooks you have purchased when you are done using them to minimise costs for your next semester. Online stores like eBay occasionally sell books at 10% of their retail value; you can purchase these for use and sell them at the end of the semester to recover your costs. Ebooks are also good options since Amazon has activated textbook rentals on the Kindle ebook reader. If all fails, head to the university library.

Living with relatives usually turns out to be the cheapest option since you will save on expensive lodging and food costs. On-campus lodging usually tends to be expensive but is also convenient since it helps minimises travel time to and from classes.

Try securing a bed for yourself while bunking with a roommate; this will help you cut down on costs drastically. Alternatively, you can rent out an apartment near the university with two or more flatmates. Having accommodation on campus or nearby will also help cut down your travelling costs.

Also remember to pick a semi-furnished apartment to reduce costs of furnishing; free furniture can be found on streets of residential areas where people discard furniture which can still be used if sanitary.

STUDENT DISCOUNTS

NICOLAS NOVA, FLICKR

TRAVEL

Walk over short distances to avoid spending unnecessarily. When transport is required, remember that public transport is always the cheapest. Public transport systems in most countries are well connected, especially in metropolitan cities. They also have facilities of pass systems to help reduce costs. When you have free time to explore, travelling within the city/ town you are living in keeps the strain on your wallet low and also gives you opportunities to discover more about the culture of the place where you are temporarily residing. Make your travel convenient by avoiding peak hours; public transport will be less crowded which will reduce the need for expensive taxi services. yi OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 57

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POINT OF VIEW

The wealth of

studying

abroad

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Nisha JamVwal dips into her experience of studying abroad and provides insights on what it means to get an international education

I

f you can afford it, I’d say definitely. Go for it. Nothing was more liberating, mind expanding, adventurous and exhilarating to me than going abroad to procure a Bachelor of Associated Arts at California. Apart from the fact that education is so easily available for those of us who wish to suck in every drop of learning, you can add extra credits and subjects if you are open to going without sleep and burning the midnight oil for the extra grey matter.

Invaluable life experience

For me, true life experience began away from the comfort zone of home and country. The sameness of growing up among your own people brings fewer challenges. I flowered and became stronger as a person, learnt to adjust to differences and find ways around difficult situations. I was on my own and had to make it work.

It was all so fabulous and all life’s lessons learnt in books or lectures from parents and teachers came into play only when I was thrown into alien situations and I learnt how to fly, metaphorically. If there is one advice I’d give to students, it is to take the opportunity if offered to them, and take the sting of studying abroad.

It makes a man of a boy! Especially mamma’s boys. No one to cook, clean and pander to your every whim. Trust me, your girlfriend/partner will thank you for leaving your nest later in life.

Broadened horizons

The entire world view is expanded so that you are exposed to different cultures, and forced to communicate better and with all nationalities. You begin to look at life differently and are encouraged to be more independent and self-reliant. You are forced to do your own cooking and cleaning, which also makes you a well-rounded individual. When I studied abroad,

I found a lot of my peers, who were also foreign students, developed their confidence levels along the way, when compared to their initial personality.

I’d also say that some of the more enterprising students pick up a foreign language during their course and stay abroad. All this works wonders upon your all-round curriculum vitae, and employers look favourably at candidates who have a well-rounded experience.

A well-rounded education [is one] where you get up in the morning excited about a day of learning and growing, not moaning about mugging and stress. An education that excites you, not one that leads to dread and suicide Hands-on teaching

That was all on the personal front.

As for the education part of it, I have to admit that the entire attitude, especially in America, is more hands-on and experiential. It works brilliantly for when you go out into the world to perform. A textbook-ish mugging up approach is not so fantastic when it comes to performance in a real world atmosphere, apart from which it is more laborious. I’d say that I really began to top my class and realise my strengths in America.

I studied interior architecture in Los Angeles, and to teach us the finer

nuances of design, my professors took us to swanky Hollywood homes. You can imagine how well the message of scale, colour, aesthetics and standard measurements reached us. I’ve never forgotten the lesson and love the moments I reminiscence of those times.

Choosing the right country

Always remember to research and choose the right country, to select an appropriate course. Here I must mention that the most liberating thing about study abroad, especially America, is the wide variety of choice in subjects and the freedom to change if you find post one semester that it’s not working for you. Then the next step is to research and choose the correct university and college for yourself. The American universities, I must admit, are most welcoming and from small liberal arts colleges to large universities, the appeal of higher education in the US is in their noninterventionist approach to life and education.

Real education

That’s what I call a well-rounded education, where you get up in the morning excited about a day of learning and growing, not moan about mugging and stress. An education that excites you to know more, not one that leads to dread and suicide.

Yes, suicide! Remember the film Three Idiots? I cannot remember another film in recent times that has shown us the repercussions of a poor education system, one that runs a college like a dictatorship. yi

Read more of Nisha’s point of view at www. nishajamvwal.blogspot.in, tweet her on @nishjamvwal and write to her at nishjamvwal@gmail.com OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 59

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WISE UP

1

2

R

D 1

3

O N Z 1

1

2

- By Niloufer Gandhi

1

E

O W

Choose the option that is closest in meaning to the main word and complete the sentence.

1. compendium (kuhm-pen-dee-uhm)

At the beginning of the fiscal year, the managing comittee published a _____ of the significant changes in its management policies. (a) dossier (b) summary (c) newsletter

2. dross (dros)

After the earthqauke struck, the once bustling market was now buried under layers of _____. (a) debris (b) petals (c) swatches

3. timorous (tim-er-uhs)

While a handful of soldiers were brave to revolt, the majority was ___ to go against the dictator. (a) fearful (b) intrepid (c) eager

4. onerous (on-er-uhs)

In the wake of recent thefts, the security arrangements at the art gallery have become an ____ task for the curator. (a) nostalgic (b) tivial (c) burdensome

The verbal section of the GRE tests your verbal reasoning abilities. Questions based on text completion and sentence equivalence depend greatly on vocabulary, so a powerful vocabularly plays an instrumental role in achieving a good score.

5. expurgate (ek-sper-geyt)

The censor board had to ____ a few portions of the popular sitcom because its content was considered unsuitable for certain sections of the society. (a) conjure (b) include (c) delete

6. interdict (n-ter-dikt)

For years, the Coast Guard has been working closely to ____ the flow of illegal weapons. (a) prohibit (b) permit (c) camouflage

GRE VOCABULARY WORDS

7. repugnant (ri-puhg-nuhnt)

What was ____ about the ad-hoc ommittee was that it exacerbated the very problem it was created to solve. (a) objectionable (b) pleasing (c) defunct

8. predilection (pred-l-ek-shuhn)

As strange as it may sound, one of the most ruthless dictators in history, Adolf Hitler had a great ____ for comedy. (a) reaction (b) liking (c) hatred

9. etiolate (ee-tee-uh-leyt)

DICTIONAR Y ENGLISH GRAMMAR

It was shocking to see Samâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s athletic body _____within months of his being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy (a) strengthen (b) contort (c) weaken

10. mendacious (men-dey-shuhs)

The consumer court recently ordered the withdrawal of a product that claimed to help its users lose weight in a few days on grounds of ____ advertising. (a) genuine (b) contentious (c) false

Answers:

1. B, 2. A, 3. A, 4. C, 5. C, 6. A, 7. A, 8. B, 9. C, 10. C 60 Youth Incorporated OCTOBER 2013

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yi

entertain

Motorsport fever is about to hit the country. Read all about India and the F1...

Page 72

SAHARA FORCE INDIA FORMULA ONE TEAM

K E E PI N S I D E 

Pg62 Pg66 Pg69

Pg78

THE FUTURE IS HERE; THE FUTURE IS NOW

10 MASTERS, 10 MASTERPIECES

FOODSPOTTING ON INDIAN STREETS

‘SUPER’SIZE YOUR WARDROBE

SCI-FI IS NOT JUST FICTION. READ UP ON ALL THE SCI-FI PREDICTIONS THAT HAVE MATERIALISED IN THE 21ST CENTURY

EVEN IF YOU ARE NO ART CONNOISSEUR, THERE ARE 10 ARTWORKS AND THEIR ARTISTS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT

MAKE A TRIP AROUND INDIA TO SAMPLE THE BEST STREET FOOD THE COUNTRY HAS TO OFFER

STRUT AROUND IN SUPERHERO CLOTHES AND FEEL LIKE THE KING OF THE WORLD

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ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE

THE FUTURE IS HERE; T UsageSCIENCE ExamplesFICTION,

THOUGH THOROUGHLY ENTERTAINING, HAS ALSO PROVED TO BE REMARKABLY INTUITIVE. APARNA SUNDARESAN TRACKS DOWN SOME PREDICTIONS SCI-FI BOOKS AND FILMS HAVE MADE, AND ASSESSES HOW ACCURATE THEY HAVE BEEN

Usage Examples See. Snap.

Get.

See. Snap. Get.

S

cience fiction has fired the minds of many people with its futuristic setting and fantastic possibilities.

And while it is firmly in the realm of ‘fiction’, much of See. Snap. Get. it has made its way to the real world. If today’s science fiction is tomorrow’s reality, then we are contemplating a future that has no limits.

However, let’s consider their feasibility in light of modern science before we let our imagination run away with us.

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SCI-FI IMAGININGS THAT CAME TRUE

SEE. SNAP. GET.

See. Snap.

Get.

MOBILE TECHNOLOGY

Which is: Tablet computers, cell phones, Bluetooth technology As seen in: Star Trek (late 1960s onwards), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968 film) Star Trek had a number of communicators, notably See. Snap. one that resembled the modern-day flip phone and another that was essentially a Bluetooth headset.

Tablet computers also made an appearance. Called Personal Access Data Devices, or PADDs, crew members would punch in coordinates into them Snap. for the next star system, as well as used themSEE. to watch videos and listen to music. In 2001, the tablet technology is taken to the next level: called Newspad, they are reading devices for e-newspapers – another futuristic technology that has seen fruition.

SEE. SNAP. GET.

SEE. SNAP. GET.

Get.

Get.

SEE. SNAP. GET.

23-09-2013 18:54:52

E; THE FUTURE IS NOW MODERN MEDICAL MARVELS

THE DARING LIBRARIAN, FLICKR

MODERN WEAPONS OF WARFARE

Which is: Atomic bomb, heat ray As seen in: H.G. Wells’ The World Set Free (1914), The War of the Worlds (1898) Wells was familiar with the investigations into radioactivity in the early 20th century and came up with the idea of radioactive materials blowing up at one go. Thus was born the atomic bomb (yes, he even called it that in his work). As for the heat ray from The War of the Worlds which disintegrates everything with a blast, the American military uses a non-lethal version that uses microwave radiation to make crowds uncomfortable enough to disperse.

Which is: Genetic engineering, test tube babies, anti-depressants As seen in: Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World (1931) Huxley’s novel is truly frightening in that it is not only accurate in its description of these breakthroughs (which didn’t happen until later), but also because we are seeing them much before 2540, the year the novel is set in. With genetic engineering and test tube babies, the novel purports that people are manufactured and no longer conceived and birthed naturally. Test tube babies today are similar laboratory creations.

Anti-depressants in the novel are so commonplace that people take them leisurely and without guilt. This isn’t unlike today when anti-depressants are available easily and addiction to them isn’t unheard of.

24X7 SURVEILLANCE

Which is: CCTV monitoring, Internet spying As seen in: George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) When it comes to hitting the proverbial nail on the head, Orwell comes closest. Before the television and the personal computer, Orwell wrote of the world in the year 1984 where citizens’ every move is spied on by cameras and every correspondence is read by the powers that be and censored. Every inch of cities in the west today is covered by CCTV cameras and India is going the same way. As for the recent revelations that NSA is spying on all our emails and online activity, enough said.

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ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE

THE BIGGEST TIME-WASTERS OF THE 21ST CENTURY

Which is: The Internet and social media As seen in: Mark Twain’s From the ‘London Times’ of 1904 (1898) In this short story, Twain visualised the whole world interconnected by a phone system for information sharing (the telephone was still a fairly new invention then) called the telelectroscope. He further wrote, “the daily doings of the globe made visible to everybody, and audibly discussable too, by witnesses separated by any number of leagues”. In other words, Internet, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

EXPLORATION VEHICLES

Which is: Submarines, lunar modules As seen in: Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870) and From the Earth to the Moon (1865) Verne belonged to that legion of pioneers who had an astute sense of what science could and couldn’t achieve.

Nautilus, the electric submarine in Twenty Thousand, was conceived when electric submarines didn’t exist. From the Earth was about sending a space launch with three people to the moon.

A ‘space gun’ called Columbiad was a projectile which sent the astronauts out, not unlike the lunar modules that NASA sends today. Random trivia: NASA’s first spaceworthy shuttle was named Columbia. Also, man actually landed on the moon only in 1969.

SCI-FI IMAGININGS THAT MISSED THE MARK BITE-SIZED MEALS

Which is: Food in pill form As seen in: The Jetsons (1962-1987), Futurama (1999-present) The Jetsons popularised the idea that popping a pill would be akin to eating a satisfying meal.

Scientists today say this is not viable. The average human body needs 2000 calories and it is not possible to pack all those calories in one small pill. Hypothetically, a 2000-calorie pill would weigh about 250 grams. Besides, what could beat the heady feeling of tucking into a good meal?

INSTANTANEOUS TRAVEL

Which is: Teleportation As seen in: Star Trek, Doctor Who (1963-present), Douglas Adam’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (1979) When you teleport, you disappear from one place and reappear instantaneously in another. In the real world, this would entail disintegrating the atoms of the teleporting object at the point of departure and then reconstructing them at the point of arrival. Apparently this is theoretically possible with quantum teleportation – the object is disintegrated, and rather than being reconstructed, its copy is made at the point of arrival; the original object is destroyed. Now, the human body is made of 3x1027 atoms, and even if a single molecule is out of place, the ‘teleported’ person would emerge with serious physical defects. Not to mention, that person would only be a copy/clone. The actual person would be dead.

(METAPHORICAL) WORLD WITHOUT BOUNDARIES

Which is: Satellites for wireless communication As seen in: Arthur C. Clarke’s The Space-Station: Its Radio Applications (1945) To be fair, Clarke’s work was a paper, not a novel. However, his postulations are so sharp, we cannot but help include his vision in this list. He imagined ‘space-stations’ outside Earth that could be used for broadcasting television signals, among other functions including communication. This is precisely what satellites do today.

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JD HANCOCK, FLICKR

HISTORY MAKING TRAVEL

PLEASURABLE PUNISHMENT

Which is: The tasp As seen in: Larry Niven’s Ringworld (1970) While a taser administers an electric shock on a person, a tasp is a device that remotely stimulates the pleasure centre of the brain (as in, helps the person orgasm). It temporarily incapacitates the person, but it is also highly addictive (of course).

And like all things addictive, inaccessibility to the tasp induces withdrawal symptoms ranging from depression and mania to suicide. Sure, it’s scary, but when anti-depressants (and drugs like Viagra) can already do this, we think a device that can achieve the same isn’t far behind.

DAVID ORBAN, FLICKR

Which is: Cure for all cancers and the common cold, human regeneration by 2000 As seen in: Robert Heinlein’s Where To? in Galaxy magazine (1952) Heinlein was a respected science fiction writer who made a number of predictions about the year 2000. Some of it has come true (“Your personal telephone will be small enough to carry in your handbag.”); some of it hasn’t (“Cancer, the common cold, and tooth decay will all be conquered; the revolutionary new problem in medical research will be to accomplish ‘regeneration,’ i.e., to enable a man to grow a new leg, rather than fit him with an artificial limb”).

He also claimed that intelligent life would be found on Mars. Whoops.

TOTAL WIPE-OUT

Which is: An epidemic that depopulates Earth starting 2013 As seen in: Jack London’s The Scarlet Plague (1912) An uncontrollable epidemic called Red Death pervades Earth in 2013 and depopulates it almost entirely by 2073. Prediction fail?

We don’t have a disease called Red Death this year, at least not yet.

By the way, the paranoia the disease caused in the book is eerily similar to the one we witnessed when anthrax, swine flu and bird flu broke out. The release of anthrax, particularly, proved that germ and chemical warfare is a very real threat in the 21st century.

BRIANNA HAGER, FLICKR

A DISEASE-FREE WORLD

SOARING TRANSPORT

Which is: Flying cars, hoverboards As seen in: Back to the Future Part II (1989), The Fifth Element (1997) According to Back to the Future, in 2015 we will have flying cars, and hoverboards – skateboards without wheels that will glide above surfaces.

Prototypes of flying cars have been made for years, but only this year did the concept achieve a significant thrust; a company called Terrafugia has built the first fully autonomous flying car which is expected to be commercially available in 2021. People have tried to create hoverboards too, although almost all of them were just wooden boards propelled by leafblowers. Hoverboards that use magnetic and superconducting technology are in the works.

KOBOLDMAKI, DEVIANTART

Which is: Time travel As seen in: H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine (1895), Doctor Who, Back to the Future trilogy (1985-1990) Theoretically, time travel is possible (some physics supports it), but Stephen Hawking has said that lack of tourists from the future is proof that time travel is not physically possible.

Experiments have been conducted to make time travel a reality, but they have been inconclusive – if not outright unsuccessful – so far.

However, prominent British scientist Brian Cox is of the opinion that time travel would be possible some time in the future, subject to the findings at the LHC experiment at CERN, Switzerland.

SCI-FI IMAGININGS THAT MIGHT MATERIALISE

ROBOTS THAT REPAIR THE HUMAN BODY

Which is: Nanobots that can make us immortal As seen in: Ray Kurzweil’s The Singularity is Near (2005) This is also not a work of fiction, however, Kurzweil is a futurist who has been writing books chock-full of predictions since 1986. In the 2020s, he says, we will have tiny robots in our body that will be capable of performing multiple functions, from doing brainscans to destroying pathogens, thereby making us potentially immortal. Pioneering insight or just the fancies of an imaginative mind? Only time will tell us. yi OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 65

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23-09-2013 18:55:39

COUNTDOWN

10 masters, 10 masterpieces

Don’t restrict your knowledge of art to the Mona Lisa. Vatsala Chhibber introduces you to ten masterpieces that have emerged from the brushes of the world’s greatest artists

10

9

master: Michelangelo The Creation of Adam (1511-12) The The masterpiece: The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, which is

The Night Watch (1642)

The master: Rembrandt van Rijn The masterpiece: With his impressive use of colours, Rembrandt creates an almost theatrical display of light and shadows in this painting, making it one of the most recognised works of art in the world.

Though popularly known as The Night Watch, the painting’s actual name is The company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch preparing to march out, which also serves as its description.

8

a collection of Biblical paintings (the most famous being The Creation of Adam) took Michelangelo four years to complete.

“After four tortured years, more than 400 over life-sized figures, I felt as old and as weary as Jeremiah,” he wrote. In 1990, a physician named Frank Lynn Meshberger concluded that the imagery behind God in the painting is actually an anatomically accurate depiction of the human brain. This is not surprising as Michelangelo’s knowledge and fascination with the human anatomy was well-known. Some consider this addition to mean that intellectual abilities are a gift controlled by God.

Impression, Sunrise (1872)

The master: Claude Monet The masterpiece: Through this painting, Monet unwittingly gave birth to a new art movement. This style of painting with loose brush strokes and lack of detailing, though disregarded and criticised initially, was later given the term impressionism, borrowed from the name of this painting.

7

Starry Night (1889)

The master: Vincent Van Gogh The masterpiece: The tumultuous mind of Vincent Van Gogh ultimately led him to a mental asylum where some of his greatest works, including Starry Night, were born.

The artist, who is infamous for cutting off a part of his ear, painted this dramatic piece from memory: his interpretation of the starry sky he witnessed the previous night. Sadly, success eluded Van Gogh in his lifetime as he sold only one painting while alive.

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9/25/2013 12:57:00 PM

6

The Card Players (1892)

The master: Paul Cézanne The masterpiece: This postimpressionist painter has been referred to as “the father of us all”

by Pablo Picasso. Cézanne’s The Card Players (one of a series of five paintings) made news last year, when it was bought at an auction for US$250 million, making it the most expensive painting ever sold.

5

The Scream (1893)

The master: Edvard Munch The masterpiece: This painting is a prominent example of expressionism where art is used primarily to convey an emotion, mood or idea. The emotion that inspired The Scream has been summarised by Munch in a diary entry: “One evening I was walking along a path, the city was on one side and the fjord below. I felt tired and ill.

I stopped and looked out over the fjord – the sun was setting, and the clouds turning blood red. I sensed a scream passing through nature; it seemed to me that I heard the scream. I painted this picture, painted the clouds as actual blood. The colour shrieked. This became The Scream.”

4

The Kiss master: Gustav Klimt (1907-1908) The The masterpiece: It is suggested that the lovers in the The

Kiss are Klimt and his companion Emile Floge. This is also his most significant work from his ‘golden phase’ where he employed the use of gold leaf to gild his paintings. In fact, certain art historians believe the title of the greatest painting of all time lies with The Kiss because unlike the Mona Lisa, it does not leave you underwhelmed when you are confronted by it. Instead, it draws you in to an intriguing and aesthetic moment shared by two lovers.

3

Three musicians (1921)

The master: Pablo Picasso The The masterpiece: Picasso, along with his contemporary Georges Braque, gave birth to a form of art called Cubism, which uses geometric figures and shapes to give you a multi-layered perspective, though one angle.

The three musicians in the painting are said to be Picasso and his friends Guillaume and Jacob. While cubism paintings look like the creation of someone with distorted vision, on close observation you will notice different angles, layers and elements gradually emerging from the piece. For example, in this painting, did you notice the dog seated under the table?

2

The Persistence of Memory (1931)

1

The master: Salvador Dali The masterpiece: You can credit the dream-like imagery in Dali’s works to the art movement of surrealism. There have been many interpretations of this painting, but none that the artist has confessed to.

Do the melting watches signify how time loses its rigidity and form in a dream? Is the fleshy creature lying in the painting a profile of Dali’s face? The answers can only lie in the eyes of the beholder.

No. 5, 1948 (1948)

The master: Jackson Pollock The masterpiece: Why would paint splatter on canvas fetch US$140 million at an auction, you ask? Well, Pollock used a technique called ‘action painting’ where his entire body was involved in creating this masterpiece; hands, toothbrushes, syringes, paint spills, all came together to create this chaotic piece. In a letter, Pollock states, “When I am painting I am not much aware of what is taking place – it is only after that I see what I have done.”

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IndianMasters

COUNTDOWN

The

Raja Ravi Varma His masterpiece: Shakuntala (1870)

Abindranath Tagore The masterpiece: The Passing of Shah Jahan (1902)

Many of Raja Ravi Varma’s iconic paintings capture moments between mythological lovers Shakuntala and Dushyant. In this particular painting, in order to dodge the prying eyes of her friends, Shakuntala pretends to remove a thorn stuck in her foot while searching for her lover Dushyant. Varma’s work is a stunning amalgamation of Indian subjects and European technique (he was trained by a Dutch artist).

His paintings found international acclaim and won him several awards and honours.

“I can only paint in India.

Europe belongs to Picasso, Matisse, Braque… India belongs only to me.”

- Amrita Sher-Gil

MF Hussain

Rabindranath Tagore’s nephew Abindranath was a pivotal figure in the Indian modern art movement.

He modernised Mughal and Rajput painting styles (as can be seen in The Passing of Shah Jahan) and later infused Japanese and other East Asian influences in his work, thereby staying away from European influences that were prominent at the time. Tagore also trained and inspired several prominent Indian artists such as Nandalal Bose and Jamini Roy, who were his students.

His masterpiece: Battle of Ganga and Jamuna: Mahabharata 12 (1971-72) This painting, which fetched a record-breaking US$1.6 million at a Christie’s auction, is inspired by the Mahabharta (Hindu mythology was a frequented theme in Hussain’s art) and depicts the battle between good and evil.

Popularly known as the ‘Picasso of India’, (cubism techniques are apparent in his style) Hussain’s nude portraits of Hindu gods and goddesses caused intense displeasure among some communities who filed cases against him for hurting religious sentiments. The artist ultimately lived in self-imposed exile till his death in 2011.

Amrita Sher-Gil

Her masterpiece: The Village Scene (1937)

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In her brief 28 years, Amrita Sher-Gil rose to prominence in the Indian and international art community. Her painting Village Scene, which is a depiction of rural life (inspired by her stay at an estate in Uttar Pradesh), also made her the most expensive female artist in India when it sold for `6.9 crore.

Though she studied in Paris and was influenced by European artists, her heart remained with India and Indian themes. She said, “I can only paint in India.

Europe belongs to Picasso, Matisse, Braque… India belongs only to me.”

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TRAVEL TRAVEL

of many aspects e n o is d o fo t e e tr S a country. s a ia d In s e fin e d t tha s that travelling Sean Sequeira find hing for both uris for food can be no out more in d in F . d in m d n a y bod od travel guide this Indian street fo

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THE FOUNDERS OF VADA PAV

MUMBAI

ASHOK VADA PAV is a roadside stall near Kirti College in Mumbai which is definitely the best place to go for vada pav.

They sell the snack hot, with a tasty chutney and additional fried crumbs which makes it a delicous nibble that definitely deserves a thumbs up.

ALSO GOOD FOR VADA PAV: Anand Vada Pav near Mithibai College and Aram Milk Bar opposite Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai.

DEEPESHMD, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

TRAVEL

WORTH KNOWING: Ashok Vada Pav is supposedly the first makers of the vada pav in Mumbai. They claim the dish originated to serve office workers who were always on the go.

THE OLD CITY DOSA

ANGALORE B VIDYARTHI BHAVAN at Basavanagudi in Bangalore is a

ALSO GOOD FOR DOSA: Central Tiffin Room (also known as CTR or Shri Sagar) at Malleshwaram and Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR) at Lal Bagh Road in Bangalore.

WORTH KNOWING: A mayor of London once visited Vidyarthi Bhavan and was so impressed by the quality of the dosa that he invited them to open a branch in London.

THE PANEER-RICH CHOLE BHATURE SITA RAM DIWAN CHAND at Paharganj in Delhi is known to serve the best chole bhature the Indian stomach can find. The bhatura is stuffed with paneer to give it a unique taste while the chole is spiced to perfection. It is no wonder that people throng from all over the country to stand at their tables (no seating space).

DELHI

KIRTI PODDAR, FLICKR

KIRTI PODDAR, FLICKR

reminder of the old city since the metro changed around it but the eatery remained the same. The dosa is hailed for its secret ingredients and being consistently delicious over the decades.

ALSO GOOD FOR CHOLE BHATURE: Baba Nagpal Corner at Lajpat Nagar IV and Chache di Hatti at Kamla Nagar in New Delhi.

WORTH KNOWING: Sita Ram Diwan Chand is a favourite among Delhiites for the aloo sabzi and pickle served along with the chole bhature. Many people skip meals to enjoy two servings here.

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THE FAVOURITE PYAZ KACHORI JAIPUR

RAWAT MISHTHAN BHANDAR in Sindhi Camp at Jaipur is very well known for its pyaz kachori. In fact, someone jokingly stated that the eatery could suffice on the sales of its pyaz kachori alone. The kachori is crispy and the stuffing is rich and heavy which makes it a typical Rajasthani-style snack.

WORTH KNOWING: Rawat Mishthan Bhandar is a highly rated sweet home. Apart from the pyaz kachori, their mawa kachori is quite reputed for a sweet snack and their own version of the traditional Rajasthani ghevar is also quite famous.

BARRY POUSMAN, FLICKR

ALSO GOOD FOR PYAZ KACHORI: Janta Sweet Home at Nai Sadak in Jaipur.

KSPODDAR, FLICKR

THE ORIGINAL KATHI ROLL

KOLKATA

NIZAMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S RESTAURANT in New Market Area of Kolkata is undoubtedly the best kathi roll you can find in the city. The kitchen of this restaurant was the birthplace of the kathi roll in the 1930s. The parathas are fried with egg, lathered with delicous sauces and then rolled up with sauteed vegetables and well cooked meat.

ALSO GOOD FOR KATHI ROLLS: Hot Kati Roll on Park Street and Zeeshan on Sarat Bose Road in Kolkata.

WORTH KNOWING: The snack was made to serve British officers who asked for a wrap so as to not touch the meat with their hands. The name stuck after bamboo sticks called katis were used to cook the meat.

THE HERITAGE KEBAB

LUCKNOW

TUNDAY KEBABI on Naaz Cinema Road in Aminabad, Lucknow is famous for being one of the best kebab eateries in the world because of its special family recipe that has been passed down over generations for over 100 years. The secret recipe makes sure the kebabs are perfectly cooked and the taste is always delicious because it is considered a family heirloom.

ALSO GOOD FOR KEBABS: The restaurants Dastarkhwan and Naushijaan in Hazratganj of Lucknow UGOD, FLICKR

WORTH KNOWING: Tunday Kebabi was originally started over a hundred years ago and has been run by the same family through the years. The descendants of the original owner decided to break away and form their own chain of restaurants called Grandsons of Tunday Kebabi, while still using the original family recipe. yi

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MARC OLIVER JOHN, FLICKR

SPORTS

INDI A AN D TH E F1 THE BEGINNING OF F1

Formula One, also known as F1, is a motor racing sport which started in the early 1920s.

The Formula in the name Formula One refers to a set of rules which all participants needed to follow and was originally called Formula A. Discussions and plans for a Formula One drivers’ championship took place in the 1930s but the real foundation was laid only in 1945 with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) sanctioning the rules for the sport. It took until 1950 to iron out the final details and the Drivers’ World Championship was launched with the first race at Silverstone, England.

PRIYARANJAN SINGH, FLICKR

VINE PROVY KUMAR GUID IDES A AND E TO THE SUCCTRACES F1 INDI ESS OF THE PRIXAN GRANTHE LAUNFROM D NEARCH TO TH FUTU E RE

JITESH JAGADISH, FLICKR

THE RACE DAY FORMAT

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The F1 season consists of a series of races, called Grand Prix, held throughout the world on roads known as circuits (either closed or open). Every race has two prior sessions: a practice session and a qualifying session. The qualifying consists of one or more sessions wherein drivers attempt to set the fastest time to occupy the highest position in the grid for the main race. The finishing position of the driver during the race rewards them with points. These points are tabulated over the entirety of the season to determine two World Championships, one for the drivers and the other for the constructors.

23-09-2013 19:45:52

Nine out of ten F1 fans would label Ayrton Senna as the greatest driver to ever grace the circuits of Formula One before death got the better of him at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994. Statistically speaking, a German by the name of Michael Schumacher (nicknamed Schumi) has to be regarded as the greatest ever.

He dominated the early 21st century which culminated in five consecutive titles, from 2000 to 2004, with his Ferrari, and seven overall. He was unbeatable at the peak of his career and his rivals had no answers to his abilities and dominance.

THE CONTEMPORARY BEST

All good things come to an end and in 2006 Schumi retired. He made a comeback in 2010 but a young Spaniard named Fernando Alonso ended his hopes of signing off with another title. Alonso became the youngest Formula One champion.

One title later, he was challenged by two new rivals – Lewis Hamilton, who then became the youngest champion, and Sebastian Vettel who usurped the title from Hamilton. Vettel and his powerful Red Bull car went on to win three consecutive World Championships and is in the bidding to win a fourth title this year. At only 25, he looks to be the heir of Schumacher. Only time will tell if he will be consistent.

NICK J WEBB, FLICKR

THE FIRST INDIANS IN F1

In a country where cricket is considered a religion and Sachin Tendulkar a god, the impact of Formula One has been quite significant. Narain Karthikeyan became the first Indian driver to compete on the Formula One circuit in 2005 when he joined the racing team Jordan. His association with Jordan lasted only a season, though, and he was not to be seen on the circuit until Hispania Racing Team (HRT) snapped him up on a one-year deal in 2011. Karun Chandhok was another one season wonder, racing for HRT and Lotus, before drifting into wilderness.

Indian business tycoon Vijay Mallya established the Force India team (later named Sahara Force India) in 2007.

The current drivers for the team are Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta

F1 COMES TO INDIA

The most significant development for Formula One in India was the building of the Buddh International Circuit, India’s first F1 racing circuit, in Greater Noida. After years and years of negotiations, the Formula One finally came to India with the hosting of the first Indian Grand Prix in 2011. This was a big step for India’s Formula One hopes. Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel won the inaugural race and the sole Indian participant Narain Karthikeyan managed to complete the race by finishing in the 17th position. The Sahara Force India team did well with Adrian Sutil finishing in the 9th position and Paul di Resta finishing 13th.

SUBRAMANYA PRASAD, FLICKR

INDIA’S F1 BREAKTHROUGH

PH-STOP, FLICKR

THE GREATEST DRIVERS

HOPE IN THE BALANCE

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NIC_R, FLICKR

The third Indian Grand Prix will take place on 27 October this year.

The fate of the fourth edition hangs in the balance after it was scrapped from the 2014 F1 calendar. It is scheduled to resume in 2015 in March instead of October. Reports state that issues with organising the event in March 2015 with only a few months in hand after the event in October 2014 prompted the cancellation of the 2014 edition. Instead of worrying about the next edition, let’s focus on this one insetead – go Sahara Force India! yi

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G-SPOT the

Gadgets Gizmos Geeks

Which is the best e-book reader?

KINDLE FIRE HD `15,999

This e-book reader lets you read your e-books, magazines and newspapers, surf the net via Wi-Fi and watch movies or television shows in high definition. You can also download and play your favourite games. Screen size 7 inch with internal memory of 16 GB. PROS  1.2 GHz dual-core processor and dual-band, dual antenna for quicker downloads  Dolby audio and dual-driver speakers for virtual surround sound  Allows you to choose brightness levels instead of standard greyscale levels CONS  No expandable memory since there is no slot for SD card  No rear camera and poor quality front camera

NOOK HD `17,674

SONY READER TOUCH EDITION T2 `12,301

A compact e-book reader, it has a touch screen with a high contrast display for sharp images. It has a 6 inch screen and comes with up to 2 GB of internal storage.

PROS  Compact and lightweight  Built-in Wi-Fi  Supports microSD card up to 32 GB  Supports Facebook and Evernote applications CONS  No light-up screen  Touch interface is not very userfriendly  Slow performance  No Twitter support  No audio support  The Sony bookstore isn’t as extensive as Amazon’s or Barnes & Noble’s

It allows you to set up six different profiles in the event that multiple people are using the same device. There are more than three million books available from Barnes & Noble; hence ample reading material is available. Screen size 7 inch with built-in storage space of 8 GB. PROS  MicroSD card slot  Quality IPS screen a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels  Supports up to 6 different users CONS  Does not offer text-to-speech capabilities  Lacks built-in HDMI  Lacks camera  11.5 mm thick  No access to Google Play

FINAL VERDICT: If an excellent ebook reader is what you are looking for, shell out a few more rupees because the Amazon Kindle Fire HD will give you the best reading experience ever. It also has a few additional functions which are a plus.

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NEW GADGETS

Tired of Candy Crush Saga?

We just found you five addictive replacements

iPhone 5S &

iPhone 5C

Apple has announced its latest smartphone line which will include an update to the iPhone 5 and a cheaper variant.

FINAL VERDICT: The iPhone 5S wins hands down especially since further updates will be available to the world’s first 64-bit processor smartphone.

iOS 7

The latest update to Apple’s operating system family has a new look and updated user interface.

FEATURES Bright new colours and new looks for app icons and change in fonts Swiping anywhere on the lock screen unlocks the iPhone Swiping the screen opens Control Center Folders open over the entire screen App updates for Camera, Mail, Photos, Safari, Compass, Messages and Settings New apps include Airdrop and Facetime

FINAL VERDICT: iOS 7 has mostly positive reviews.

Anything new will take getting used visually but the improvements made by Apple are quite refreshing.

MONTH

Platform: iOS, Android Description: A fun word

`35,500 (Expected)

DIFFERENCES iPhone 5S has a superior camera iPhone 5S has an A7 processor and M7 motion coprocessor iPhone 5S has a fingerprint identity sensor iPhone 5C comes in 16 and 32 GB while iPhone 5S comes in 16, 32 and 64 GB iPhone 5S comes in 3 colours while the iPhone 5C comes in 5 vibrant colours

of the

SAY THE SAME THING

`50,000 (Expected)

SIMILAR FEATURES 4 inch Retina display screen with 1136 × 640 resolution 8 MP rear camera with 1080p HD video recording 1.2 MP front camera with 720p HD video recording.

15 hours of battery life Dualband 802.11n Wi-Fi Up to 13-band LTE support

FREE APPS

DOTS Platform: iOS, Android Description: You have

association game that you can play with your friends.

Enter a random word, your friend enters another word and together you enter a word that combines the two. This game might just help you discover which of your friends you have the strongest 'connection' with.

60 seconds to connect a bunch of brightly coloured dots (the graphics do add to the game’s appeal) with the help of three power ups. It’s the simplicity of this game that makes it so addictive. The 60-second time limit makes it easier to say, “Just one more game”.

LETTERPRESS Platform: iOS,

Android

Description: After Words with Friends, this game has the potential to become the next most addictive word game. Letterpress allows you to play against multiple players and has more strategic game play options such as blocking or stealing tiles.

DINER DASH Platform: iOS, Android Description: This game will test

your management and multitasking skills as you try to keep your diners satisfied. Though you have to pay for the full version of the game, the free app allows you to play seven levels and keeps your addiction in check.

CLASH OF CLANS Platform: iOS Description: If you enjoy strategy

games, you must try your hand at Clash of Clans. The game allows you to perform multiple functions which include building your village, training your troops and planning attacks against other clans. Not only does it have an exciting gameplay to keep you hooked, the frequent upgrades will also add to your addiction.

OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 75

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NEW GADGETS

TECH ADVICE SHOULD I BUY A SMART TV? WHICH SETS SHOULD I CONSIDER? When selecting a Smart TV, personal preferences come into play as much as usage of the device.

For a first time Smart TV purchase, we would recommend one of the following in the range of 46 inch screens

Sony SmartWatch 2 `14,990

Sony launched a new version of its smartwatch, which can sync with Android smartphones, with quite a few updates.

FEATURES 1.6-inch screen with 220 x 176 pixel resolution Syncs with Android smartphones running Ice Cream Sandwich or later Battery life 3-4 days Comes with in-built apps with ability to install more Charges with micro USB port Bluetooth 3.0

FINAL VERDICT: It is relatively better than its competitors as well as cheaper. A useful device if you are looking to improve your smartphone experience.

SAMSUNG SERIES 8 SMART 3D FULL HD LED TV ES8000 The Samsung ES8000 has voice control, motion control and face recognition with a fullHD screen at a pixel resolution of 1920 x 1080. `1,51,000 SONY BRAVIA 3D FULL HD LED KDL-46HX850 TV The Sony Bravia KDL46HX850 TV comes with Sony’s X-Reality picture engine, which helps in giving clearer picture. It is also a full-HD television with in-built WiFi. LG 3D FULL HD LED TV 47LW6500 `1,23,900 A 3D television with full-HD, this Smart TV is equipped with LG’s Triple XD Engine which gives a crisper picture quality. `1,14,999

Canon EOS 100D

`53,995

The 100D from Canon has features of an above entry level camera for those looking to take up photography.

FEATURES 18 megapixel DSLR camera 3 inch LCD display with 1040K resolution ISO 100-12800 Shutter speed 30-1/4000 Video recording at 1920 x 1080 resolution in 30 frames per second Weighs 370 grams One year warranty from purchase date

FINAL VERDICT: The 100D is a good camera. It is priced higher than entry level DSLR cameras and lower than semi-professional cameras since it falls in the same range when it comes to features.

PANASONIC SMART VIERA 3D FULL HD LED TV TH L47ET50D This television comes with IPS LED LCD Panel and active shutter progressive 3D. `1,16,900

PHILIPS 46PFL8577 LED FULL HD 3D DDB TELEVISION This television set comes with a dynamic ratio of 8000000:1 as well as 480Hz Perfect Motion Rate (PMR) which helps deliver motion sharpness. `1,06,000

76 Youth Incorporated OCTOBER 2013

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PROMOTION include Ice-Clocks with the same Ice-Watch signature. The brand will bring to India its latest collections including Ice-Forever, Ice-Love, Ice-Chocolate, IceChrono Party, Ice-Glow and Ice-Chrono Electrik starting at `5500.

INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED BRAND

ICE-WATCH

LAUNCHED IN INDIA WITH MORE THAN 10 MILLION WATCHES SOLD IN OVER 110 COUNTRIES SINCE ITS LAUNCH, THE ICE-WATCH BRAND WILL BE RETAILED ACROSS MAJOR METROS IN INDIA

I

conic Belgian watch brand Ice-Watch announced its launch in the Indian market spread across the cities of Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Kochi last month. In addition, the watches will also be available through all key retail online portals. The watches in India will now be a part of the global Ice-Watch phenomenon and join the brand’s vast network of 12,000 stores in over 110 countries worldwide.

MORE THAN 500 VIBRANT DESIGNS One of the most eye-catching features of Ice-Watch timepieces is that they positively burst with bright, bold and very vivid colours from deep cherry reds to bright lime greens, vibrant and exciting to behold. 500 different Ice-Watch designs to complement different lifestyles will be available in the Indian market together with a bold range of accessories that

EXCLUSIVE FEATURES Styled to reflect European glamour, Ice-Watch timepieces are designed in Belgium and the brand brings a host of desirable qualities to the table.

Offering impeccable quality, the timepieces are guaranteed for two years and are one of the few in its sector to offer features such as 10 ATM water resistances, a screw-on rather than a sealed caseback, and a robust ‘Ice-Ramic’ polyamide+ case. Ice-Watch has thus transformed into an international reference in fashion watches.

Brainchild of Belgian entrepreneur Jean-Pierre Lutgen, Ice-Watch has sold almost ten million timepieces across the world and clocked a turnover (jewellers) of €400 million for the year 2012. The Ice-Watch brand has brought a breath of openness and fresh air to the watch-making world thanks to an idea, a vision, a strong identity, a wink to luxury and a community of enthusiasts who pass on the spirit of the brand to others around. yi

OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated

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TREND UPDATE

TORSO WITH AN AT TIT UDE

T-shirts that give you an instant makeover

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‘Super’ s ize your wardrobe

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`799 For a good night’s sleep while Superman watches over you

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Men’s merchandise from www.planetsuperheroes.com

CRIME-FIGHTING BOOTS

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SLEEPING WONDER This caped sleepwear is reserved for the Wonder Woman in you `1637

Supergirl boots with sass and class

`1511

When you’re good, you’re Batgirl; but when you’re bad, you’re Catwoman

THE UNDERCOVER SECRET Let Black Widow, Invisible Girl `1763 and Black Cat safeguard your femininity

Women’s merchandise from www.superherostuff.com

78 Fashion.indd 78

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Disaster Selfies

roomng h t a B Bli

FASHION LADY GAGA, MILEY CYRUS It is common knowledge that Miley Cyrus’ tongue refuses to go back in her mouth, which also explains this disastrous selfie. We have no idea what Lady Gaga was trying to do.

r a t s self ies

JUSTIN BIEBER The teenage pop sensation is using Instagram to show the world he’s a grown man now, by posting bathroom selfies, shirtless selfies and tattoo flaunting selfies.

Celebrities nowaday s can safely be te rm ed as ‘selfie-obsessed’; th Twitter and Instagraeir accounts are oozin m self-love. To help gyowith reduce your stalkin u time, we’ve compiled aglis of the most stylish t disastrous ‘star se and flies’

ty Beau d the an it hobb

SONAM KAPOOR, ELIJAH WOOD Sonam Kapoor glows like an ethereal beauty while Elijah, well, poses with an ethereal beauty.

Pucker vs Pucke r DEMI LOVATO ,

If I were a boy

BEYONCE, RIHANNA Beyonce recently posted pictures of her new hair cut. Rihanna forgot to wear pants.

PRIYANKA CHOPRA If you’re going to invest in a lip job, you might as well pucker up in every photograph like PC. But looks like Lovato’s doing a better job in this selfie she posted for her fans on Twitter.

OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 79

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TREND UPDATE

CHANDERI SILK SUIT Span `2850

fashforiothen festive season Fashion designer Arpita Mehta provides some styling tips on dressing for the upcoming festive months and reveals the current hot trends in ethnic fashion Diwali dress-up

If you are going for a Diwali party, you could wear a stylised cocktail sari in deep winter colours like violet, burgundy or midnight blue or wear a fun crop choli and sharara in bright happy colours like orange, mango and sindhoori.

Solemn worship

If one is attending a pooja, a simple Lucknowi suit or a Chanderi silk anarkali in pastel colours would be apt.

CROP CHOLI WITH A SHARARA Indiabazaaronline.com `15,955

Top 5 trends this festive season

MIRRORWORK YOKE ANARKALI Danifashions.com `6699

Wedding revelry

If one is attending a wedding, it is always good to have a few light outfits and few heavy outfits in their wardrobe.

For the mehendi, I would suggest a mirror-work yoke anarkali in colours such as yellow, lime green pink.

For the sangeet or cocktail event, a light lehenga with a lot of ghera, a heavily embellished choli and a pretty dupatta would work fabulously.

As for the wedding itself, a pretty silk Benarasi sari in red or royal blue teamed with an offset quilted blouse would not only look interesting but also add an element of surprise to the ethnic look.

HIGHWAIST LEHENGA with a sexy embellished blouse and a dupatta

QUILTED BLOUSES with ethnic saris

80 Youth Incorporated OCTOBER 2013

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23-09-2013 20:08:36

Care for your

B dy Piercings

Vikas Malani, co-founder of the popular tattoo parlour and piercing studio, Body Canvas, provides expert advice on how to care for body piercings

D s 

D n’ts 

You may feel stinging, burning, aching or other unpleasant sensations off and on for several days or longer.

Bleeding, bruising, discolouration and/or swelling are not indications of complications. A multivitamin supplement with zinc and vitamin C may help boost your body’s healing abilities.

Never, never touch healing piercings with dirty hands; wash hands thoroughly with liquid antibacterial soap and hot water. Body piercings need to be cleaned once or twice daily, every day, for the entire initial healing time.

 Avoid undue stress (exercise is fine, just

 Mild sea salt water soaks at least

once a day will accelerate healing and reduce irritation. Dissolve a pinch (1/4 teaspoon) of sea salt in one cup (8 oz.) of warm or hot water in a clean cup.

Follow with a clear water rinse or splash then pat dry.

listen to your body), recreational drugs, and alcohol consumption. Get enough sleep, eat a nutritious diet and wear clean, breathable fabric clothing in the area of your body piercing. The healthier your lifestyle, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal.

 Don’t apply any ointments such

when you are cleaning it. Leave the starter jewellery in during the entire minimum initial healing time.

as Neosporin or any triple antibiotic ointment on your piercing. These prevent oxygen from reaching the wound and form a sticky residue which can cause complications.

 If the piercing discharges a thick pus

 Avoid oral contact, rough play, and

 Leave the piercing alone except for

instead of the normal liquid secretion, see a physician for evaluation and possible antibiotic treatment.

contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing. Avoid submerging your piercings in water such as pools, jacuzzis, etc.

eb Cel Secrets

Skin care regime

As basic as possible. I predominantly use my own label NAKED. To exfoliate and cleanse, I use a homemade mix of blended rice and aloe vera. To moisturise, I use a blend of almond oil and aloe vera.

Lisa Haydon has been seen in Bollywood films Aisha and Rascals.

Before that, she was Magic makeup trick your perfect a successful model, Find foundation colour. I use with numerous minimal under eye cover up, television ads, fashion mascara from Clinique and shows and magazine Blush from Chanel for a no covers under her belt makeup look.

Favourite fragrance

At the moment Viktor&Rolf FlowerBomb

Favourite make up brand

Bobbi Brown and Chanel

5 beauty must-haves

Elizabeth Arden’s eight hour cream, Over Night Elixir drops from my own line NAKED, iPod, good book, cashmere shawl.

Beauty faux pas

Make up overload in daylight

OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 81

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M OV I E M ATC H M A K E R M OV I E M ATC H M A K E R

BEST OF

M o v i e s

/

T V

/

M u s i c

/

B o o k s

M MAT OV IE CHM LETT A ERS O K ER: N SC R EEN

LETTER S TO JACK IE A documentary that revists some of the cond olence letters written to Jackie Kennedy after JFK’s assassinat ion

A IL GOT M nd E ’V U O Y ds a line frien When on s fall in love e real life fo

LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA Japanese perspective of the Battle of Iwo Jima; directed by Clint Eastwood

BOX THE LU NCH hbox deliver y One wrong lunc ual nning of an unus serves as the begi fan rr (I er een a widow friendship betw t ra im (N usewife K han) and a ho Kaur)

E HOUSE THE LA K rs, a lake ge Two stran x, and a il a bo house, a m nge of letters s exha mysteriou ss time acro

M OV I E M ATC H M A K E R M OV I E M ATC H M A K E R

iMHO

82 Youth Incorporated OCTOBER 2013

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THERE MAY BE AN ASTERISK INVOLVED: NOT ANOTHER CHICK LIT Another ‘chick lit’ by an Indian author? I was a little sceptical when I picked up There May

9

`29

Be an Asterisk Involved by Vedashree Khambete but as the blurb on the back cover reassured me, it was much more.

The story revolves around Ira Bhat, an overworked copywriter at J. McCarthy, (one of the best advertising agencies in the country) who strives to make it big in her advertising stint while battling against the barmy, bizarre perils and pitfalls of having to deal with “comma obsessed clients, award obsessed bosses, obnoxious marketing executives, high-strung creative types, impossible deadlines, obscure briefs…” While the oh-so-mushy romance does eventually blossom, it does not take to the centre-stage of the novel (it is more of a personal diary). The author keeps you glued to the book by her simple way of portraying the eccentricities of what appears to be a glamorous profession aided with a subtle yet sharp touch of humour. The wacky footnotes clarifying jargons used by the ad professionals add to the feel-good reading experience.

QUICK-FIRE INTERVIEW WITH VEDASHREE KHAMBETE Blogger, copywriter, journalist, author – in what order do you identify with these roles?

I guess it’d be author-blogger-copywriter-journalist. Though journalist might be stretching it at this point – I don’t seem to have any objectivity of any kind.

What inspired you to write this book ?

Advertising, by its very nature, attracts all kinds of lunatics. So by extension, a lot of madness goes on in ad agencies. After the fiftieth instance of saying to myself, “Someone should write about this stuff!” I decided that maybe I should.

What was the craziest situation you encountered as a copywriter?

There was this radio spot we recorded a while ago. The budget wasn’t much, so my then-boss was playing one of the characters. The script had a line about how his character had a small penis. Somehow he couldn’t get the line right and had to take lots of re-takes. So basically, at 1 o’clock in the night, I was sitting in a recording studio, with my boss saying “My penis is so small” over and over and over again.

Definitely one of the craziest moments of my career. Or life.

-Darshana Krishnamony Read the entire interview online at www.youthincmag.com

R E C E N T AN.AL: THE ORIGINS

by Athul DeMarco Genre: Horror, gore Plot: Steeped in gore, violence and expletives, this is the adventures of two amateur detectives Andy and Alfie who share one body.

Price: `250

R E L E A S E S HOW NOT TO MAKE MONEY

by Raj Kundra Genre: Thriller Plot: In presentday UK, three small-time crooks of South Asian descent join hands to pull the biggest con the country might see.

Price: `299

THE GHOST HUNTERS OF KURSEONG

by Shweta Taneja Genre: Mystery Plot: Kartik Godse moves to Kurseong, a sleepy town, and encounters ghosts, murders and rumours, which he investigates.

Price: `295 OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 83

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CONTROVERSIAL MUSIC PERFORMANCES

ROCK YOUR BODY Usage Examples

ARTISTS: Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake WHEN & WHERE: 2004, Super Bowl Halftime Show WTF MOMENT: Timberlake sings about getting Jackson “naked by the end of the song” and then seemingly rips off her top.

That bit was planned. What happens next wasn’t.

WAR

I’M A SLAVE 4 U

Usage Examples See. Snap.

Get. ARTIST: Sinead O’Connor WHEN & WHERE: See. Snap. 1992, Get.Saturday Night Live WTF MOMENT: When O’Connor holds up a picture of Pope John Paul II, says “Fight the real evil” and tears it up.

ARTIST: Britney Spears WHEN & WHERE: 2001, MTV Video Music Awards WTF MOMENT: First she shows up in a cage with a tiger, then hangs a python around her neck and dances about.

GETT OFF

PAPARAZZI

See. Snap. Get.

See. Snap. Get.

ARTIST: Lady Gaga WHEN & WHERE: 2009, MTV Video Music Awards WTF MOMENT: Gaga ‘bleeds’ midway then ‘hangs’ herself in the end and pretends to be dead.

84 Youth Incorporated OCTOBER 2013

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See. Snap.

Get.

SEE. Snap. Get.

ARTIST: Prince WHEN & WHERE: 1991. MTV Video Music Awards WTF MOMENT: When Prince turns around, reveals his ‘buttless’ pants and waves them around at the audience.

SEE. SNAP. GET.

SEE. SNAP. GET.

SEE. SNAP. GET.

9/23/2013 8:19:00 PM

SEE. SNAP. GET.

kiss&tell

What ‘Shuddh Desi Romance’ taught us In a day and age where live-in relationships seem to be on the rise, YRF has come out with a film that is somewhat based on this concept.

Here’s what we figured the movie tried to tell us…  It pays to be a ‘paid barati’ as your alternate profession. It really ensures quick money, food and even a gold chain (if you are really lucky)!  If you try to smoke in order to impress your GF, it just doesn’t take time for you to become a chain smoker yourself!  While in a live-in relationship, it’s totally OK to call yourself the girl’s brother, in order to prevent the world from asking questions.  When a girl falls for you without any effort, you make the girl run after you. And when the same girl leaves you, you run after her to bring her back!  That Sushant Singh is luckier than anybody in Ramayan or Mahabharata, as nobody got a second chance like he did!  When the heart breaks for the third or the fourth time, it gets used to heartbreaks and hence makes no noise!  By placing a tikki in a burger, it doesn’t become a hamburger. It will still be called a tikki burger!

By Satish Sundaresan

‘Roy’: first look Ranbir Kapoor claims he plays a supporting role in this film but the poster suggests otherwise.

Shooting for Roy is scheduled for next month and the movie will release in June 2014

85 Kiss & tell.indd 85

Kareena refuses to kiss Ajay Devgn

I

n Prakash Jha’s Satyagraha there is a very romantic, erotic love song ‘Ras Se Bhare Tore Nain Saawariya’ which required Kareena and Devgn to kiss and make love. However, one hears Kareena, otherwise a very dedicated artiste on location in Bhopal, flatly refused do the intimate scene with her co-star. In Vishal Bhardwaj’s Omkara, Kareena had done some very intimate scenes with Devgn. But that was before her marriage.

Says a source from the Satyagraha location, “Prakashji wanted at least a brush-on-the-lips since this was a very passionate moment between the lead pair. But now after marriage, Kareena won’t do any intimate scenes with any of her co-stars. Not even her own husband Saif. There is a certain code of conduct that Kareena must follow as a Pataudi bahu. Also, Kareena would do nothing to hurt her mother-in-law (Sharmila Tagore) whom she loves dearly.”

By Subhash K. Jha

SEPTEMBER 2013 Youth Incorporated 85

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89 subscribe.indd 10

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RiAsiRng ST

Your first gig was:

Unoffcially my dad’s birthday party, officially sunburn Goa 2010

Describe your music in 3 words: Emotion.

Meldoy. Happiness.

Your dream performance would be: Tomorrowland!

An artist you would love to collaborate with: Ummet Ozcan, Aly and Fila, EDX Your favourite music festival: Sunburn Festival (India)

3 tracks you love right now: The

Sun – Leventina & EDX, Valhalla – Paul Webster, Arctic Moon, and The Future – MaRlo

Biggest compliment you’ve received: What I remember of it is

“That was amazing, make India proud!

You can make it big, you can make India proud.”

Advice for aspiring DJs:

Follow your heart, it’s simple! It will lead you to where you want to be and what you dream to do. Be strong and don’t let anyone stop you!

With his first gig at age 15, DJ Shaan became the youngest DJ to perform at an international music festival. He has played alongside some of the biggest names in the music industry such as Avicci, Afrojack, David Guetta and Swedish House Mafia

Celebrities you would like to see at your gig: Axwell, Aly and

Fila… well, these guys are celebs for me!

The perfect party song is: The

Cube – Ummet Ozcan!

How do you find inspiration for your music?

Emotion, to be honest!

Your next performance in India will be: Sunburn

Festival (Mumbai edition)! yi

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hangout  

PLACES AND EVENTS FOR THE MONTH

SALT WATER CAFÉ, MUMBAI Salt Water Café is a chic restaurant that blends deli food with a gourmet treatment in the hope of bringing about an exquisite quality that can’t `100rs0on be found elsewhere. r pe CUISINE: Fares from Spanish, Italian, French pe and more cuisines are blended for an overall European affair.

FOOD AND DRINKS: The food is rich and full of flavour. Most of the ingredients are imported from European countries. If you prefer finger foods, try one of the cold plates or a burger. A sandwich would also be perfect, especially the smoked salmon in a bagel. For the long haul meal, try the mushroom soup followed by the shiitake pasta or the 8-hour braised lamb shanks.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: The décor is mostly wooden with an overall brown and beige look. The music isn’t too loud so it does not interfere with conversations. The food quality is good but terribly overpriced.

87 Chapel Road, Rose Minar Annexe, Next to Mount Carmel Church, Bandra West, Mumbai - Aakash Mehta

MONKEY BAR, BANGALORE

`700

n per perso

Monkey Bar is a place where you could either indulge in socialising, because you always meet interesting people, or lounge around with a group of friends.

VIBE: The seating area is spacious with large tables and comfortable booths. You may also hang out at the bar or take up a small personal table. A staircase down leads to foosball and pool tables and more seating. It has an absolute fun atmosphere all around.

MUSIC: The DJ console is situated above the bar.

Classic rock is the staple but the choice of music changes to suit the crowd whenever required.

BITES ‘N’ BOOZE: The food is a conglomeration of a variety of cuisines but mostly consists of bar food which is easy to eat while drinking. The best part about this gastropub is the booze which is extremely creative. The cocktails are the best parts especially since they serve beer cocktails in mini jugs.

FAB OR DRAB: Monkey Bar is an excellent eatery for young people. It isn’t the most expensive of restaurants but would require a fair share of money.

BEST NIGHT: Friday night to bring in the weekend amid a good atmosphere. Patrons below 18 years of age may be denied entry after 6 pm.

14/1 Krishna Manere, Wood Street, Richmond Road, Ashok Nagar, Bangalore - Aishwarya Mahurkar

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HOUSE OF ASIA, MUMBAI With Asian restaurants raining in Mumbai, the presence of House of Asia in the city is no surprise.

CUISINE: Pan Asian and Indian FOOD AND DRINKS: Go for their lip smacking kebabs – the Rajma Galouti Kebab and Tangri Kebab. The Chicken Kung Pao, spiced pumpkin Indonesian curry and Vietnamese stuffed mushrooms are favourites.

Although the mango mousse served in tiny white chocolate cups, orange mousse, berry crumble, Mohan Bhog, Gelato and an array of toppings, pralines, brownies and mini macaroons are worth a try, the Indian desserts are more irresistible.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: The pan Asian ambience with elegant marble flooring and urbane woodwork undoubtedly sets the mood for any occasion. The staff is alert yet not intrusive. Their buffet spread is not extensive but is definitely economical.

Their Oriental spread may not be impressive but their Indian preparations are to die for!

Hotel Mirador, New Link Road, Chakala, Andheri East, Mumbai - Darshana Krishnamony

EVENTS THIS MONTH BACARDI NH7 WEEKENDER ‘13

One of India’s most famous music festivals will return this year by kick starting at its original hub in Pune this month. The list of artists to be featured at the festival this year includes Devoid, Scribe, Skindred, Textures and many more.

Pune – 18-20 October

`750

n per perso

RUSSELL PETERS INDIA TOUR One of the world’s most popular comedians will return to India for a four-city tour as part of The Russell Peters Notorious World Tour.

Gurgaon – 25 October Mumbai – 27 October Chennai – 29 October Bangalore – 31 October

2013 FORMULA 1 AIRTEL INDIAN GRAND PRIX

The third edition of the Indian Grand Prix will be hosted at its usual venue at the end of this month. The 16th race on the Formula One calendar of 2013, the Indian Grand Prix will continue to be an exciting affair as it has proven to be over the last two years.

Greater Noida – 25-27 October OCTOBER 2013 Youth Incorporated

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_GRAFFITI

TRENDING THIS MONTH

r belly e e b l a e r The ar-old A 61-ye a

as has from Texdrome: n sy rare ac h his stom uor brews liq eats after he dratecarbohy ls due rich mearesence to the p ain type of a cer t in his of yea st t some gut. Wanour booze? Y ossibly belly is p it! brewin g

YOUR “IT’S LT ” FAU

A new satirica l video by comedy trou pe All In dia Bakchod parodies the upsettin g tren d of victim-blamin g in rape ca ses. Here’s ho ping their sarcasm makes an impact.

MAJOR BUZZKILL

A million excited Apple fans tried to download iOS7 as soon as it released.

What followed was massive system overloads downloading errors, and a mass hyster of over 7 million ia tweets.

Mallik a sing s for Modi

Mallika Sheraw at sang an aw kward Happy Birthday for her ‘per fect bachelor ’ Naren dra Modi. That was some weird na tional-level flirt in g.

Fe e l

the NASA wants te st subjects to stud y the musculoskeleta l and psychological long-term conef fects of to a reduced finement environment. gravity to do is spend All you have in bed (withou 15 week s t getting of f it) and yo u US$5000 per get paid Sounds like a dmonth . ream job, eh?

SPACE…

Blunder Years

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RNI Number: MAHENG/2011/38909 Postal Regd. No: MH/MR/WEST/293/2012-2014 Posted at Mumbai Patrika Channel Sorting Office GPO, Mumbai 400001 on 2nd of every month Date of Publication: 1st of every month

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