Sourabh shares his experience of successfully applying to universities at US and Canada: Shiksha Success Stories
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Studyabroad.shiksha.com got in touch with one of the students – Sourabh Taluja, who got admission to University of Illinois – Chicago in the US for the course MS Industrial Engineering 2016 – 2018.
Question: Why did you choose to study abroad?
Sourabh Taluja: A colleague of mine had applied for the same course at the University of Illinois. He inspired and guided me to apply for the Industrial Engineering course. That is how I got interested in applying to universities abroad. I applied to seven universities at US and Canada; University of Illinois – Chicago, University at Buffalo - SUNY, University of Kentucky, University of Texas – Arlington, Concordia University, and University of Victoria. I have finalized University of Illinois – Chicago and I will be attending MS in Industrial Engineering for the 2016 -2018 batch.
Q: Once you were sure of going abroad to study, how did you research the application process? Was it a difficult stage?
ST: I really needed someone to help shortlist the universities for me and to help me understand the course structure. I found that taking help from Shiksha proved to be the most convenient way as everything was done online rather than visiting them in person.
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I was confused between shortlisting colleges in US and colleges in Canada. You need different preparation strategies for both the countries and I had no way to know how to go about it. The counselors at Shiksha helped me structure my application process and steadily I came to the realization that US colleges are a better option for me.
Q: How did you start with your study abroad preparation?
ST: Since my colleague has already suggested getting into University of Illinois, Chicago I started researching more about the college. From there on I explored other American colleges as well. I came across GRE and IELTS exams and the fact that they are required for admission to masters courses and international students respectively. I started by preparing for GRE and IELTS. I scored 310 in GRE and 6.5 bands in IELTS.
Q: How did you come across Shiksha study abroad counselling services? What are your honest opinions about the help provided to you by the team?
ST: I came across Shiksha while searching for universities online. I found that all the information was available on Shiksha in a comprehensible manner. Then I decided to write an email to the counsellors and I got a prompt reply with detailed answers. I was introduced to new and suitable universities of which I was totally unaware of. I always had the freedom to choose where I wanted to apply to, Shiksha team never forced me to select a university of their choice. So it was very impressive that the priority of team Shiksha was my benefit and not theirs. The ‘Rate My Chance’ tool gave me a good idea about my chances of getting into the universities I had shortlisted.
The help I received for editing my statement of purpose and letters of recommendations was vital. Although I gave my own draft to the editorial team, they gave very precise feedback on editing it so that the final drafts looked very professional and crisp.
Q: Did you have any apprehensions when you signed up for Shiksha study abroad counselling Service?
ST: Yes, initially the whole concept of Shiksha counselling was very new and it took me some time to understand it. The counsellors recommended I apply to University of Kentucky and I wasn’t as sure as I had never heard of the name before. However, the more I researched on my own and talked to people, I realized that it is a very good option for pursuing Masters in Mechanical engineering.
Also, since the whole service was being provided for free of charge I had a doubt at the back of my mind that there must be something dicey or the company must be benefiting in secret. But after spending last six to seven months being in touch with the Shiksha team that thought has totally gone.
Q: Do you have any advice for prospective international students?
ST: Deciding on going abroad to study is a big step. And for any big exam or a major decision, you need to prepare accordingly. Having the right objectives and plans is very important. You need to know all the steps involved in getting accepted to a university abroad first. Had I known better, I would have given TOEFL rather than IELTS as the former is preferred at American universities. So I first gave my exams and then started shortlisting universities based on my scores, while it should have been the other way around.
Sourabh is now going to begin his college session in the United States of America. Studyabroad.Shiksha.com wishes him a prosperous career.
Read more Shiksha Success Stories:
- How Priyanka scored a scholarship to study in US
- P. Gopinath's journey to making to the course of his choice at Sweden
- Shubhansh's journey from quitting his job to getting into NJIT
- Vaibhav on why European universities were his exclusive choice
- Why Aishvarya chose a Canadian university over American colleges
- How Ankit made it to Lakehead University's most popular course
- How Medha made the decision between pursuing MBA and MS
Q: What GPA is required for the University of South Dakota?
The University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 from undergraduates and 3 from postgraduates on the 4-pointer scale. Along with the GPA scores, undergraduates must meet the basic eligibility and submit an ACT score of 21 or higher and an SAT score of 1070 or higher. In addition, they must submit the required documents, such as academic history, transcripts, letters of recommendation, English language scores, and more.
Q: Is the University of Illinois at Chicago a good school?
The University of Illinois at Chicago is one of the most prestigious universities for higher education in the United States. UIC is one of the largest public research universities in Chicago, Illinois. According to Shiksha Grading, the University of Illinois at Chicago has an overall ranking of A grade. Additionally, UIC is ranked #82 under the category of ‘Best Colleges in National Universities 2024’ by a top-ranking authority. Moreover, UIC features more than 3,100 well-qualified and experienced faculty members with over 11,000 full-time employees.
Q: What GPA is needed to go to Ohio State?
There is no minimum GPA score for UG admission at Ohio State. However, International students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent) for graduate admission. Applicants may submit a standardized test score (GRE or GMAT) if their cumulative GPA is below 3.0 for the last degree.
Q: Is it hard to get into the UTSA in San Antonio Texas?
According to various sources, University of Texas San Antonio has an overall acceptance rate of around 87% which makes it somewhat selective for international student admissions. Some of the general requirements to be considered for admission are given as follows:
- SAT/ACT scores
- Overall Student's GPA
- Letters of Recommendation
- High School Class Rank
- Additional Academic Records
Q: Is University of North Dakota good for Indian students?
The University of North Dakota is one of the top choices for international students to pursue their higher education. The UND warmly welcomes its international students as they have contributed a lot to the success of the university. Moreover, the university offers a top-notch environment, the best academic opportunities, technical & career training, etc. The university boasts over 1000 international students who represent more than 95 countries. Additionally, international students highly enjoy the facilities provided by the University of North Dakota. The UND is one of the largest research universities in the United States for international students.
Q: How much is the application fee for Alabama University?
The Alabama University application fee for International students vary by application type. Mentioned below are the application fee for UG and PG applications at Alabama:
- UG: USD 40 or INR 3,342.14
- MBA: USD 80 or INR 6,684.28
Q: Can I get into Oregon State with a 3.5 GPA?
International students must have at least a GPA between 2.5 and 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 for UG and PG admission at Oregon State. Therefore, candidates are eligible to get admission to the university with a 3.5 GPA in their academics. Oregon State University GPA requirements are different for undergraduate and graduate admission. Mentioned below is the range of GPA required for Oregon State University admissions:
| Program | Minimum GPA Required (on a scale of 4.0) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 2.5 - 3.0 |
| Graduate | 2.5 - 3.0 |
Read about the Grading System in the USA
Q: What is Northwest Missouri acceptance rate?
The Northwest Missouri acceptance rate for international students is around 80%. This shows that the university follows a moderate selection criteria when it comes to admission. However, the moderate selection criteria does not imply that the university accepts every application. International students must showcase their excellent academic performance, score high GPA, submit standardized test scores and English language proficiency test scores. In addition, if a student has a history of participation in relevant extracurricular or experience, their selection probability increases by 50%.
Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio
Syed Nazrul Hassan, an MA graduate in International Relations, is an adroit counselor who believes in the philosophy of putting himself in student's shoes in order to provide honest and sincere counseling services. ... Read Full Bio
- Universities in USA1037 Universities
- Universities in Canada174 Universities
- Universities in Australia122 Universities
- Universities in UK175 Universities
- Universities in Ireland32 Universities
- Universities in New Zealand70 Universities
Statement of Purpose
Letter of Recommendation
Student Visa Application
Admission Essay Writing
Student Curriculum Vitae
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Finding a good MBA course in US without GMAT will not be possible. Along with GMAT, you need to have compulsory work experience to study MBA in US. In UK, you can look at the following colleges https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/uk/universities/university-of-east-london/mba https://studyabroad.shik
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