Mission 2015, Civil Engineering Society

NITS GradKaféA Seminar on GRE and Graduate School Admission Process in NIT Silchar

Speaker: Nirjhar Bhattacharjee (Electrical Engg, Class of 2009)

Venue: NIT Silchar Date: 29/01/11

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Whys and Hows of Graduate Studies?

Standardised Exams

GradSchool Admissions

• Why go for a Graduate Degree?

• MS or PhD?

Why go for a Graduate Degree?

UG Degree is Generalised and BasicSpecialists are paid more than

generalistsExpanding horizon of knowledgeDeveloping contacts in Industry and

AcademiaExperiencing a new cultureGreater work variety, more

independence. Flexibility in learning.More practical education system

MS or PhD?

MS PhD

More suitable for Industry Jobs

Research Oriented –Industry/Academia

Easier to get admit More difficult

Difficult to get Funding Almost Assured Funding!

Average completion time: 1 ½ years

Average completion time: 3 -4Years

Thesis and non-Thesis Thesis

Do you have any questions?

Standardised Exams

• GRE

• Subject GRE

• GATE

• TOEFL

• IELTS

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Given year-round at testing centers (Nearest in Kolkatta).

Computerized –computer adapted: speed & accuracy count.

Most programs will look at your ENTIRE application & not focus on GRE. So don’t sweat too much over it.

NEW GRE from August 2011. Find more info from ETS website.

AnalyticalVerbal Quantitative

How to Prepare?Books

1. Barron’s GRE Guide

2. Kaplan GRE Guide

3. Word Power Made Easy - Norman Lewis

Online Resources

1. www.mnemonicdictionary.com

Softwares

1. Powerprep GRE (Most Important, high prediction accuracy)

2. Barron’s CD

Power Tips1. Read a lot. A LOT.2. Start with Barron’s High Frequency Word

List3. Needn’t panic if you can’t complete all

wordlists4. Give MOCK TESTS (Very Very Important).

You will learn words more by tests than through rote learning alone.

5. Best time to prepare: 1st/2nd Year in NITS6. Three months of focussed preparation is

usually sufficient

Do you Require Coaching for GRE?

Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL )

Very Less preparation required.

Total score for IBT: 120. Anything above 90 is safe.

Just try to speak slowly and distinctly

Questions will be intuitive and easy to answer

Don’t put on a fake accent

Reading WritingSpeaking Listening

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engg. (GATE)

Simple - Study Hard. Keep your basics clear

Many top Universities like NUS, NTU accept GATE score in addition to IITs/IISc.

Do you have any questions?

Gradschool Admissions

Process

•Timeline

•Documents

•Profile

Decreasing order of IMPORTANCE(Sourced from present Graduate Students)

1. Conference and Journal Publications and Research Internships

2. Recommendation Letters

3. Overall CPI (after 6 Semesters)

4. Statement of Purpose (SOP)

5. Relevant Projects Completed

6. Thesis Work and Current Projects

7. G.R.E (Analytical Writing and Math Sections)

8. Organization Activities, Leadership, Awards and Honors, Scholarships, Fellowships etc.

9. Conferences, Technical Symposiums Attended, Presentations

How to build a Strong Profile?Maintain a healthy CPI. More the Better.

However, a good CPI alone won’t land you top admits.

Good Internships or Research Projects.

Publish in Good Conferences and Journals!

Maintain excellent rapport with your Professors or future recommenders. Don’t approach Summer Projects as a two-month holiday. (Very Very Impt)

Documents Required Passport - Apply as early as possible.

Transcript – Get it from Academic Section. Rs 500 for first copy. Rs 100 every subsequent copy.

Nicely Formatted CV (Formats available on our website)

Well-written SOP. Ask fellow applicants/alumni/anyone you know to proof read and modify.

Letters of Recommendation (Minimum 3)

GRE and TOEFL Scores

Arrange for a credit card.

Apping Timeline1. University Hunting (May – July)

2. Website, Writing SOP Draft, Intimating Recommenders (Aug)

3. Sucking to Profs – if necessary(Sept)

4. Finishing GRE and TOEFL LATEST by this Time (Oct)

5. Online Application Process (Oct-Dec)

6. Postal Supporting Docs Submission (Dec)

7. Waiting for Results (Till Jan to April!)

The ART of Choosing your Recommenders

1. Project Guides

2. Course Instructors

3. Internship Supervisors

4. Employee or Research Lab Head

Prefer people with whom you have worked and are

sure to give STRONG recos. Simple ‘I-know-him’ recos

won’t land you good admits.

What constitutes a GOOD recommendation?

Emphasis on why you are creative, different, have research potential

Why suited for MS/PhD program

long rigorous hours in the labs, good at academic performance, excellent past research work,

What work you did with the Prof, its significance and your long term goals.

(A comparison with previous people recommended helps, but is notnecessary)

Do you have any questions?

MODULE D

Financials

Form of Funding1. Fellowships2. Teaching Assistantships (TA)3. Research Assistantships (RA)4. Outside Scholarships

Since PhD admissions almost always comes withfull funding, you are encouraged to opt for it.Though MS funding is comparatively difficult, itis still gettable. If you are short of funds, apply toplaces like Hong Kong (HKPU, HKU etc)andSingapore (NTU, NUS).

GRE - $ 190 (50% discount for the new format from August).

TOEFL - $ 165

GRE additional Score Reporting –$ 23 per university

TOEFL ASR – $ 17 per university

App fee – Average $ 70-80 in US. Free in Europe and some other places.

Cheapest courier service – Overnite (Rs 1000)/ India Post (Rs 500)

Never Hesitate to ask help from alumni of IITs and NITs

Visit www.edulix.com for information and support

Do you have any questions?

Organised by: Zain Ahmed, Manish Sharma (Coordinators, GRE Club)Amartya Dey (General Secretary, CES)Manabendra Saharia (Coordinator, MISSION 2015)

Copyright holder is licensing this under the Creative

Commons Attribution-Non commercial-No Derivative

Works 2.5 India License.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/in/

Brought to you by Civil Engineering Society, an active

student body of National Institute of Technology, Silchar

committed to powering the dreams and careers of all its

members.

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Civil Engineering Society

NIT Silchar

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