Want to Study Abroad? Why GRE, TOEFL, IELTS count

Study Abroad expert Karan Gupta in a chat with Get Ahead reader on April 18 discussed queries like requirements for pursuing ME in automobile engineering in Germany, when to take GRE, TOEFL and IELTS tests, student loans for pursuing studies abroad and a range of other related.

Here's the unedited chat transcript:

Karan Gupta says, Good Afternoon everyone! Welcome to the chat today's chat session.

Bertwin asked, Sir, I would like to know the requirements for persuing my MEng in Automobile Engineering in Germany
Karan Gupta answers, at 2011-04-18 14:02:47If you are looking to apply at German universities, it is very important to check the accreditation of the universities as well as whether the program is offered in English or not. For study in Germany, contact DAAD India through www.daadindia.org.German schools generally need the TOEFL/IELTS only. For more information on these exams refer to the 'Prep Talks' and 'Test Drives' sections on www.educationtimes.com.

Senthil asked, Hi, Could you tell me if I want to apply for Fall 2012 would it be fine if I give my GRE in September 2011
Karan Gupta answers, Yes it would be fine if you take the GRE in septemebre 2011.

kavin asked, Hi. Can u please let me know about the interest free loan for students who's parents are having annual income less than 4.5 lacs..? Thank you
Karan Gupta answers, You will need to contact the banks individually for the same.The maximum loan that you can get is Rs.20 lakhs from state banks in India. The interest rates are around 13% and you need security of around 100% - 150% of the loan amount in order to be approved for the loan. The repayment period is around 5-7 years.

Kunal asked, Hi Karan, Good Afternoon, I have completed my BMS in Marketing in 2010 and i want to pursue my career in Marketin. Kindly suggest the university
Karan Gupta answers, Have a look at the Integrated Marketing Communication programme offered by Texas A & M University, New York University and Northwestern University in USA to see whether it suits your requirements. In order to apply for a Master's degree in the , you will need to appear for the GRE and TOEFL. For more information on these exams, refer to the 'Prep Talks' and 'Test Drives' sections on www.educationtimes.com. Also, most US schools require students to have 16 years of undergraduate education before they apply for a post graduate degree. Hence, you will need to complete MCom I (some universities may even ask for MCom II). Remember to start the process at least 1 year prior to the course starting date.

rspsingh asked, I am a student of 3rd Year Engg. Pl advise me what will be the best thing for me to follow and when should I start acting on it.
Karan Gupta answers, If your are planning to apply for the MS programme for the fall 2012 intake then it is right time for you to start with your procedures. For admission to US universities you need to appear the entrance tests (GRE and TOEFL) and apply to the universities at least 9 months prior to the course starting date.

kumar asked, i have just completed my MCA and intrested to study abroad.... where can i get more details w.r.t subject to select and which college offeres it?
Karan Gupta answers, You can consider applying for a Master's degree in courses such as Computer Science. Computer science is among the fastest-growing occupations today. You can have a look at schools such as New York University and University of Southern California in the US and University of Nottingham in the UK for the Masters in Computer Science to see whether it suits your requirements. Universities in the US need the GRE and TOEFL for admission. UK universities require the TOEFL/IELTS. For more information on these exams refer to the 'Prep Talks' and 'Test Drives' sections on www.educationtimes.com. Also, US universities need students to have 16 years of undergraduate education for admission though a few universities have waived this requirement now. It is better to pursue Masters Part I and fulfill this requirement before you apply (some schools may even need Masters Part II).

kaushik asked, i am a bba graduadte and i average 80% in all my semsters.... i want to pursue mba in england...i have one year work experince....how should i go about choosing a college
Karan Gupta answers, An MBA is recommended only after you have gained at least 3 year of full time work experience after your bachelor's degree. Most top B schools prefer to take students with at least 3 years of work experience along with the GMAT and TOEFL entrance tests (some schools may accept the GRE as well). For more information on these exams, refer to the 'Prep Talks' and 'Test Drives' sections on www.educationtimes.com.

daNISH asked, We want to study in gulf for post graduation
Karan Gupta answers, BITS Pilani Dubai is an accredited institute and it offers the M.E in Electronics and Control. For the eligibility criteria, please have a look at http://www.bitsdubai.com/eligibility.html For other reputed schools in Dubai, please have a look at the universities at Dubai Knowledge Village. In my opinion, you can also opt to pursue the Masters degree in Electrical Engineering in the US and UK. Graduating from a recognized school in these countries will provide you with better job scope as compared to those in the Middle East.

harikrishnan asked, Have heard that most of the universities in US do not accept a 3 year degree. Any chance for me to get into a reputed university in US? I have just completed BBA under MG university and I have no work experience.
Karan Gupta answers, Most schools in US will require 16 years of under graduation; I suggest that you fulfill this requirement before applying instead of limiting your options. You can complete your Mcom I to fulfill the 16th year requirement (some universities may also ask for Mcom II).

Nilesh asked, Till how many years is the GRE/TOEFL/IELTS score valid?
Karan Gupta answers, The GRE is valid for 5 years and the TOEFl/IELTS is valid for two years. Do remember the most universities do prefer recent scores.

prart asked, good afternoon.. hi i am prat. i am in third year of my b.tech(IT department). sir i wonder what to do for successful carrier. either a job or job after m.tech or management aboard?
Karan Gupta answers, Pursuing a degree abroad will give you the international exposure and an opportunity to learn in a diversified environment thus giving you an edge over others in the same field. An MS abroad after your BE will definitely open many job avenues for you. If you get a placement in a globally renowned company and it will not be a wrong decision to work for a few years and then pursue his MBA. Always make a decision based on what your future goals are.

nalin asked, How do my grades in school and co-cirricular activities -- influence my chances of a scholarship for studies abroad (especially US) in undergrad or post graduate courses ?
Karan Gupta answers, Scholarships are competitive and awarded to the most deserving students. Universities abroad consider various factors such as previous academics, entrance test, application documents and so on while assessing an application for scholarships; hence it is important to work on an all rounded profile.

Enrique asked, Hi......I would like to do a PG Diploma course in Advertising from abroad.Kindly guide me about the best institutes offering the same and its worthiness. I am also applying at the St.Xavier's College, Mumbai for the same course. Which will be better in your opinion?
Karan Gupta answers, You can consider a graduate degree in Mass Media. Media Studies, Journalism, Advertising, Public Relations and so on are generally the courses that are offered by the Mass Communication department. For the Mass Media (Advertising) programme, have a look at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and Boston University in the US and London Metropolitan University in UK. The GRE and TOEFL are entrance tests required by US universities (for Masters in non business courses) and UK universities need the TOEFL/IELTS. For more information on these exams refer to the 'Prep Talks' and 'Test Drives' sections on www.educationtimes.com. Remember to apply to universities at least 9 months prior to the course starting date.

ashok asked, I have applied to canadian universities: McMaster, Uni of Waterloo , SFU and Uni of Ontario Institute of Technology for an undergraduate course in Mechatronics branch. Kindly advise on ranking of these universities for this course and availability of various scholarships & bursaries and the procedure for applying.. I am an Indian student and have appeared in my XII exam - CBSE.
Karan Gupta answers, Among the universities mention I like McMaster and University of Waterloo. You will need to take entrance tests such as the SAT(required by some universities) TOEFL for admission to universities in Canada. It is best to contact the universities individually for scholarship details.

subbu asked, I got admit letter in ASU. what is the ranking of this univ and how to fund my education there?
Karan Gupta answers, ASU is a decent school and if you like the course offered, I would recommend you to pursue it. Students who are financially weak but keen on studying abroad can avail of funding resources such as need based grants from universities, grants from trusts and bank loans. Additionally, in India you can consider approaching various trusts such as Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education Trust, Aga Khan Foundation, Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial trust scholarships and Nanabhoy Jejeebhoy Charity Trust which offer loan and grants to students seeking education abroad. Please contact these individual institutes for further details.

navzit asked, I am a MTech pass out. What are the steps I need to take for doing PHD abroad? I am currently working.
Karan Gupta answers, PhD admissions are extremely competitive as the procedure many times requires you to find a professor at your prospective university who will be interested in your area of research. It is important to contact the professors at the universities you plan to apply to and discuss your research work with them. Besides, funding depends on your academic background, research work and work experience if any.The GRE and TOEFL are entrance tests required for admission to US schools whereas UK schools need the TOEFL/IELTS. For more information on these exams refer to the 'Prep Talks' and 'Test Drives' sections on www.educationtimes.com.

Gurpreet asked, i am a Civil Engineer graduate with 9 year of work experience.plz guide me whether i go for Masters in Engg or MGA
Karan Gupta answers, With you profile, it would be a good option to pursue the MBA rather then the ME. For admission to an MBA degree programme to good schools globally you will need to appear for the GMAT and TOEFL. Remember to start applying to universities at least 1 year prior to the course starting date.

SUNIL asked, HI I HAVE DONE MY M.COM, NAND HAVE 7YRS OF EXP AND NOW WANT TO GO TO UK AND STUDY AND WORK.IS IT POSSIVLE
Karan Gupta answers, Yes you can apply to the UK for the MBA degree. For admission to an MBA degree programme in the UK you will need to appear for the GMAT and TOEFL/IELTS. Remember to start applying to universities at least 1 year prior to the course starting date. If you are really looking to work in the UK after you finish your education, then you will have problems. Also it will not be easy to get a job and work in the UK. If you are looking to come back and work in India then its fine to study in the UK. With the new visa rules, do not count on getting a job in the UK.

vinit asked, hi karan. my name is vinit and i am working as business analyst in HDFC bank for last 2 years. i want to pursue MBA from UK. is it necessary to have 3 yrs work exp to Pursue MBA (ACCORDING TO AMBA)?.is it same for US and Australia.
Karan Gupta answers, Yes, it is possible.

ABCD asked, I have got an admit from University of California, Santa Barbara and am planning to go for Masters in Computer Science this fall . It is very costly but it seems to be good for Distributed System ,cloud computing in particular. Is this a good option to go for or should i wait for one more year ?
Karan Gupta answers, UC -Santa Barbara is a well known school and it would not be a bad option to pursue the course of your interest at this university.Students who are financially weak but keen on studying abroad can avail of funding resources such as need based grants from universities, grants from trusts and bank loans. Additionally, in India you can consider approaching various trusts such as Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education Trust, Aga Khan Foundation, Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial trust scholarships and Nanabhoy Jejeebhoy Charity Trust which offer loan and grants to students seeking education abroad. Please contact these individual institutes for further details. At the graduate level you can get funding in the form of graduate assistantships where you work or research with professors. In exchange you will get your entire tuition fees waived off and get a monthly stipend to cover your living expenses. Naturally, such awards are very competitive.

Ajeesh asked, I am a B.tech Production Engineer wih 5 years experience in Steel Industry in production planning( including 2.5 years abroad), I wanted to know the best MBA options for me. What should be the GMAT score to study in UK or USA?is there any other options without GMAT for study/work n Europe/US?or is there option for Executive MBA in IIMs for 5 year experienced graduates?
Karan Gupta answers, Most good B schools globlly require the GMAT along with atleast 3 years of work experience. A score of 680 and above is a good score in GMAT. You can definitely apply to IIM for the MBA programme.

varadhachary@rediffmail.com asked, I am confused on visa. In the germany consulate they ask for scholarship sponsor and many more details. Hopw does it work. What is that we need to submit, IS it enough to just give a letter from bank manager that loan has been sanction?.
Karan Gupta answers, To get a student visa you will be required to show that you can pay for your complete education (tuition) and living expenses. Prepare an Asset Statement showing the division of Movable Assets, Immovable Assets and Family Income. Include the totals available to you from all family sources (immediate family). You do not necessarily have to show all your funds in the savings account or for that matter, one account. You can show that you have enough funds to pay for you entire education through your liquid assets such as shares, mutual funds, fixed deposits and so on.

SWETHAK asked, I am completing my BTech in biotech. I had applied for doctorate in cancer research to some of the universities in the US. I came to know that only candidates with prior research experience will be granted admission. Is it so or if so, I think I should do the MS course in one of the IIT in India and then apply for phd in the US. Is the course of action correct. I have about 1250 marks in gre and 108 in toefl. Pl advise.
Karan Gupta answers, PhD admissions are extremely competitive as the procedure many times requires you to find a professor at your prospective university who will be interested in your area of research. It is important to contact the professors at the universities you plan to apply to and discuss your research work with them. Any kind of paper presentations or prior experience will help in admissions as well as acquiring funding. Yes it would be good gain some research experience and then apply for your PhD

nitin asked, I am a working professional with over 5 years of experience in sales in fiancial industry. to get a boost in my career I am planning to go for higher studies. please advise
Karan Gupta answers, This would be the right time to pursue your MBA. Pursuing an MBA will help you get managerial jobs when you graduate or even help you set up your own business. An MBA will cover all aspects of a business (Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, Operations Management) which is a stepping stone to move up the corporate ladder. You can choose to specialize in the field of your interest. I think it is a great investment and if you have the finances, use this opportunity since you have good years of experience as well.

AV asked, How is Canada ranked for Undergraduate Engeneering degree programms specially Mechanical or Robotic.
Karan Gupta answers, There a few good schools in Canada which are well known globally.University of Toronto, Mcgill University, University of British Columbia are few of the good schools you can look at in Canada.

Girish asked, I am planning to do my PhD in Computing from the "Open University, UK". Is it worthwhile to get a research degree from this university?.. Is this a good university?
Karan Gupta answers, In my opinion, Open University is an average university. I would recommend to speak to alumni and current students at these universities for some direct feedback.

Karan Gupta says, Its time to end the session. Thank you for being a part of it. Goodbye till the next session.

Karan Gupta, founder of Karan Gupta Consulting, has been working as a professional counsellor since 1999. He studied at Ithaca College and then at the University of Texas at Austin in the United States. While pursuing his education, he worked at the office of admissions, financial aid office and the international office. Karan is now the honorary study abroad counsellor at Jaihind College, Mumbai.