Life in a US campus: What is it like to do an MS or Ph.D.?

Going to the US to study is the dream is most students as American education is considered the best in the world. There are so many articles and blog posts available on the internet saying that the American methods of teaching are very different and better than those of India. But how different are they really? India has very competitive institutions where getting admissions is considered a kind of achievement on its own. So why still is the American education system better?

First, we need to understand the American lifestyle and work ethic to really understand the crux of the differences. Western ideologies and work cultures are drastically different than those we are used to in India. Students who plan to or are going to the US to pursue MS or Ph.D., need to first mentally prepare themselves for these shifts in style of learning. Here are some of the factors which are quite different than those in India.

Course Structure

The professors take it as their responsibility that the concepts they teach are well understood by students. They make sure to give out a lot of interesting homework and assignments after finishing a hard topic. The idea behind this is to make sure the students use their own reasoning abilities to understand those difficult concepts. In the end, every student feels good that he has learned and applied something.

The course and electives you choose are flexible and you can select the courses you are passionate about. No one judges you if your grades fall down as getting an education is not a rat race in the US. Since we Indians are conditioned right from birth to keep our grades high, most Indians believe getting a good GPA is everything. In the long run, you will understand it is not. You will have all the resources there, make use of it and learn something worthwhile. People in the US will appreciate your passion, skills, and knowledge, without judging you for the work you do.

There will be numerous nights without sleep and every single one of them will be worth it. The knowledge you will gain there will always stay with you. You will learn indispensable time management skills and will realize that 24 hours in a day are more than enough to do a lot more than what you thought.

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Students and classmates

All students in the US take classes because they want to and not because they have to. As a result, the teacher doesn't have to face an impassionate bunch of students who are disinterested in what is being taught. While there are some courses that are mandatory, others courses don't require compulsory attendance.

When it comes to choosing classes, the best person to turn to is your advisor. Do not go to your seniors for advice on such an important decision as what suited them may not suit your requirements. Also, understand that being in a foreign land can be a bit isolating and you feel the need to interact with fellow Indians, but this should not mean that you ignore life outside your social circle.

Many students still continue the Indian style of “copying the assignment” before turning it in. This concept falls flat on its face in the US. If you earn a "B" through your own work, it is still much better than an "A" earned by copying. You left your family and friends, paid half your parents’ savings, and came to the US to copy someone else's work? You need to remember the bigger picture of why are you there in the first place.

Professors and Teachers

American professors know their subject very well and have worked years, doing research and keeping track of the latest developments. In the US, the best people in their field choose to become professors. This is one reason why America as a country leads in innovation, because of the teachers and professors

Comparatively, the US may have lesser numbers of under-graduates than India but American students turn out to be far better than most Indian undergraduates, it is all because of the efforts put in by the American professors into their profession. Most of the professors will value your ideas, and time and treat you as someone they care about. They will hear you out and provide legit advice. It may not really be what you wanted to hear, but you got to accept what they say and do what is best for you.

One reason why giving assignments is an essential part of the curriculum is that the professors have teaching assistants and graders under their wings. The professors can offload tasks like grading and correcting homework/assignments to these TAs so they can focus primarily on the course.

Outlook

Your perspective towards learning will change as you go through the rigorous course of MS/ Ph.D. Many notions that held true before will be proven wrong. You will realize how you might not have learned to your maximum capacity in the years of under graduation. In the US you will meet some amazing people, whether Indian or from another culture, and will make friends with them. Some real scientists will be teaching you and you will have the opportunity to interact with and learn from them, this will make you closer to some of the real innovators and thinkers. Ultimately, during your stay in the states, you will be far less cynical than you were in India. Not only will you have the opportunity to do and learn stuff you really wanted to, but you will be respected for it too.

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