Post 6: Arrival at University

You've decided your university, what next?  As soon as you decide on your university, you should sync up with people who might be your potential roommates. Its important to take this decision carefully, you will be living with him/her. Their habits might affect you - either positive or negative.

Your previous batch students at the university work hard to make arrangements for each of your pickups and temporary accommodation  So, when you give your travel details double check and make sure you give the correct details. If you end up not boarding a flight please let them know as soon as you can. (I saw this happening)

Try to avoid asking questions about funding on your way from airport to the university. Use this time to get used to the environment. It might take a while for your body clock to get adjusted and get used to the new surroundings. You could ask your funding questions well in advance of your coming or wait until you come to terms with the new place and see how it works at the university.

People will get homesick and it might remain for some days depending on the individual. If you are a girl, you tend to feel it more. The good news is, you should be able to find a good set of friends for life. If you've lived in a hostel before, homesickness might not affect you.

 I would suggest to take your time the first few days and get comfortable. Get through the formalities like University tour, library registration, etc. If you haven't yet decided on roommates, you will have to make that decision soon and get settled in a house. You will generally start having more friends now. Its a nice and an important thing to have a good "support staff" :).

In many of my situations, I couldn't have gotten through them without support from my closest friends at the university.

Post 5: Where should I apply ?

I would say the answer to this question depends on your subject area, financial budget, and your preference for location.

Should I join a consultancy ?
Personally, I would say no. It depends on what you trust more- your research or someone else. There are a lot of blogs/websites out there which will give you good information. If you are prepared to spend some time,  then you will find a lot of information relevant to you. There are social sites as well which connect a lot of prospective students. One good site is Edulix.

Do university rankings matter ?
To a large extent no. But, you don't want to go to an unranked university as well. What matters is how good the university is in your area of interest. The rankings are based on a lot of factors which is probably unrelated to you like the number of undergraduate students, the school funds, undergrad retention rate, etc. Also, the university ranking covers all departments of which only one or two will be relevant to you.

If you say so, why is it not suggested to apply to unranked universities ?
The answer is simple - remember, the world is full of different people. You are in a foreign land and a person of international origin. First thing someone will look at when you apply for a job is your university. The locals will definitely know which university is good for which subject. But a good profile or a well placed connection can offset this.

How many universities should I apply ?
There is no specific number really. I would say at-least two universities which are good for your subject and where you are sure you will get through. Also, remember that all the universities have application fee ranging from $50 to $100 depending on location, so you'll have to be wise and selective here.

Any preferred locations ?
Its easier to find jobs and internships if you are located on the coasts, especially the west coast. But, that doesn't mean that its difficult to find a job if you are elsewhere. It all depends on you!. It's important to look at the student cost of living in your place of study. Remember, the cost of living for a student will be lower than that for a full-time worker.

Any suggestions ?
If you find a school that is good for your subject and doesn't have a lot of PhD students, its probably the most ideal place for you. This means you have more chances of finding some sort of funding. Funding in the form of  TA/RA (Teaching Assistantship/ Research Assistantship) is going to cover up most of your tuition expenses and depending on the place you will end up saving some as well. I also suggest you try to find a place where you will get a chance to interact with the locals.

Post 4: Should I choose US or Europe ?

This post is relevant to people who are not sure if they want to do their higher studies in Europe or US.

Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages -
Its easier to get an admission into a good university in Europe for a Master's degree. The quality of universities in Europe is very good as well. The downside of Master's in Europe might be difficulty to find jobs in Europe later. I am not sure about the international student rules in Europe, but have heard that they are not as favorable as the ones in US. Keep in mind, a lot of research takes place in Europe.

I would suggest to avoid a 1 year Master's degree, it will not give you enough time to enjoy/learn the subject.
Moreover, high chances you will not even enjoy your student life, with so much going on. In Europe, countries other than UK usually have a two year Master's degree. Switzerland, Sweden, France, Germany, Austria, Netherlands have a few excellent universities. Of course, you'll have to learn their language, but it'l be a good experience.

Some people might argue that you can get done with quicker with a one year Master's degree. You don't have to start from basics, you can start from application level -
I would say, unfortunately as the current situation stands, very few people from India have good basics straight after their Bachelor's.
For example, I am a guy with some communications background, how many of the final year Electronics and Communications guys know - What capacity is ? Who Shannon was ? Can you define Fourier Transforms without telling the formula ?
I don't blame the students for not knowing it, neither the teachers. During Bachelor's in most places (in India), by the time the student realizes what's going on, the semester ends!, time to prepare for exams and remember formulas.One possible reason which I believe contributes to this is, the teachers in India are generally paid less compared to a lot of other professionals.

In any case, if you are sure you intend to do a PhD before even taking up Master's, you could look at direct PhD programs. Also, I would say seriously look at options in Europe as well.
Reason: a) Europe has few top-class universities b) Slightly more easier to get into top universities in Europe than the ones in USA and more importantly c) Since the economy is not doing so well, there is a need for new things, which means much more active research and more funding for research. d) if you commit to a PhD, your application from a funding perspective will be looked at more seriously.