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When I was first applying to a four-year undergraduate college
in the U.S., I was this naïve Delhi University student
who was more enamored by the grandeur notion of getting
an education abroad than actually delving into the facts
of receiving the most accurate and helpful information regarding
universities and college degrees. |
Access to information is key to getting yourself to doing anything
in terms of fulfilling the dream or desire of getting a college
education here in the U.S. When I was first applying to a four-year
undergraduate college in the U.S., I was this naïve Delhi
University student who was more enamored by the grandeur notion
of getting an education abroad than actually delving into the
facts of receiving the most accurate and helpful information
regarding universities and college degrees.
For instance, when I was filling out my college application,
I did not have a clue as to the geographic expanse of the five
boroughs of New York City so I went about randomly selecting
my college preferences in the City University of New York. I
must have selected a college from every borough so that I was
making a fair pick.
So imagine what a commute I would be putting myself through
if the University had given me my third option of studying in
Staten Island, and myself being a Manhattan resident! With the
advent of the Internet, simple information like this is accessible
from the click of a mouse, whether you are at home, in a library
or a cyber café in Dharamsala. Luckily for me, I was
accepted into a college in Manhattan, my first preference.
Preparing Early; that is the key. In my opinion, early planning
is crucial for a successful transition into the education system
in the US. Whatever choices you make in terms of colleges, majors,
internships etc., everything has to be well thought out and
planned. Keep in mind that the college degree you have from
the Indian subcontinent will be evaluated in the U.S. for credit
evaluation. Depending on what your intended major and minor
is, the credit transfer varies. If you are transferring to a
college here, you might end up taking additional courses to
fulfill the University’s requirements. If you are enrolling
as a freshman, make sure your 12th-grade transcripts, sealed
recommendation letters, TOEFL and SAT scores are all ready to
be sent to the college you are applying for.
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Respect that you give your professors, instructors, teaching
assistants and fellow students is what makes you stand out
from the crowd. Coming from a country like India, where
you are conditioned to actually stand up and greet the teacher
does not vanish in a second. |
My arrival to the US was earmarked by the fact that I was already
in the late registration process. So as soon as I stepped foot
on NYC soil, I found myself riding the bus to college. Jetlag
was overcoming all my senses and in that state of daze and confusion,
I actually managed to register for my first semester as a freshman.
I later found out that I was blocked from a huge selection of
courses because I had been too late to sit for the Skills Assessment
Tests. And to add fuel to fire, I was under the assumption that
the Orientation Seminar was only for a day. It turned out that
I had to actually go for the whole semester instead. Please
do not be ignorant like myself.
Thus, as an incoming freshman, seek out all the relevant information
and plan carefully so that you will not be in a soup like I
was in. It is very important to plan your courses. I know it
is asking for a lot but believe me, you will be so relieved
when you find out that you have done very well for yourself
by fulfilling all your requirements, major and minor credits,
as well as the electives, in the most efficient manner because
college costs money and you do not want to be in there for too
long. Seek guidance from counselors who will provide you with
resources. They are there to help you and make your life a lot
easier. Stand out of the crowd.
Respect that you give your professors, instructors, teaching
assistants and fellow students is what makes you stand out from
the crowd. Coming from a country like India, where you are conditioned
to actually stand up and greet the teacher does not vanish in
a second. There is some aspect of culture shock that you are
going to encounter when you study here. You just have to take
it in your stride and make the best of the situation.
In the U.S., the educators expect you to work hard throughout
the semester as they are constantly going to pepper you with
pop quizzes, midterm papers, reports, finals and that is how
they grade you. You cannot wait until the very last moment,
for the final exam to bail you out like in India. So, be very
serious from day one.
Some Helpful Tips:
Books and materials are expensive and add up over the years
that you are in school. There are some alternatives to getting
good deals. You can buy used copies at the college bookstore
or fliers that students put up around the campus and on the
Internet. Make sure they are in decent condition, have all the
pages intact and are the right edition. Be prepared to stand
in long lines at the bookstore in the beginning of the semester.
Often the professors or instructors give you information where
you can purchase materials reasonably.
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You have to take into consideration that a lot of the students
juggle jobs, kids and school and other issues in life. And,
you may get involved in a similar situation too. |
When you attend an urban university, the place might not initially
seem the friendliest around. You have to remember that there
are students of all ages, walks of life and countries coming
to accomplish similar goals like you have set for yourself.
You have to take into consideration that a lot of the students
juggle jobs, kids and school and other issues in life. And,
you may get involved in a similar situation too.
You have to put things in perspective whether you are doing
group projects or even having a discussion. The library is a
great getaway from the hectic hustle and bustle of the campus
and a lot of the spaces in campuses have wireless Internet access
or computers. Do make the most of the time you have as it is
precious. Using it wisely will enable you to accomplish your
goals.
After a few years of perseverance, hard work, countless finals,
and papers, it will all be worthwhile when you have that college
diploma in your hands.
Explore Some Options to Work While in College Universities
and Colleges usually give access to students in finding part-time
jobs on Campus as well as in the city, on their college websites.
Whichever college you are attending, go to the web site and
you should find various categories of jobs and internship programs.
Before you get yourself a part-time job and if you are going
full-time to school, weigh your options carefully and manage
time efficiently.
Take into consideration whether the job or internship is relevant
toward your major or minor, or just a job that earns you extra
money. Make your choices and preferences according to what is
going to be most beneficial to you. It works towards your benefit
if you have a couple of internships under your belt when you
graduate.
You have your college diploma, a wealth of knowledge in a sort
of specialized field, student loans or depleted savings and
you are faced with the biggest question for that moment: Now
what do I do?
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Here you are at the crossroads of your life and, believe
me, you will be faced with some difficult choices. The key
to a sane and wise choice is picking the best option. |
Here you are at the crossroads of your life and, believe me,
you will be faced with some difficult choices. The key to a
sane and wise choice is picking the best option.
Please weigh all the pros and cons of any decision you make.
I know that a lot of us would like to step into an ideal position
in the workplace that caters to all our needs: a decent paying
job, perks, a 401(k), nice health insurance package and our
own place to stay. Whenever you look through the classifieds,
one crucial thing to remember is that at least 50 other people
have looked at the same job posting.
What is important is to determine how you are going to stand
out in your résumé and your interview so that
the recruiter can remember you after having looked at several
job applications and interviewed several potential candidates.
Ideally, we would like to be in a career that we have studied
in college and that we like to be associated with. But, that
always does not happen. A lot of us have to swallow the “reality”
pill and get on with our lives and make the best of the situation.
If you do have a great support network that will enable you
to take the time to look for that ideal job then do so as perseverance
can pay off sometimes. But, a lot of us have bills to pay and
those come rolling into our lives even before we wake up to
the realization of that happening anytime soon. So, waste no
time for that winning job to fall onto your lap. You have to
make things happen!
I have seen some people post their résumés at
all these various job-posting Web sites; checking the classifieds
in the newspapers (online or hard copies) and also attending
job fairs. A lot of the corporations, non-profits, and educational
institutions have job postings on their websites. Write a good
résumé, state facts, and have good references.
Please run a spelling and grammar check before you hand over
your résumé and have friends proof read your résumés
and cover letters.
When recruiters do invite you over for an interview, punctuality
and making a good first impression is very important. Make sure
you know where the location of the interview is and give yourself
plenty of time to get there. You are there to make a sales pitch
on your behalf and you have to convince them that you are the
ideal candidate. Be honest about your qualifications because
your employers will know what you are and are not capable of
once you land that job.
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Show your enthusiasm to learn new skills and build your
experience so that you can become a better person professionally
as well as personally. |
Give yourself a moment before you rush to give an answer because
you need to be aware of what you are saying as the recruiter
can come back to some part of your answer and ask you further
questions. Show your enthusiasm to learn new skills and build
your experience so that you can become a better person professionally
as well as personally. Be prepared to return for a second interview,
as that is an indication most of the time that the recruiter
is seriously considering you for that position.
A lot of the jobs available for newly minted college graduates
are at the entry-level position. That is fine as long as you
have positive energy, hard work and enthusiasm to learn new
skills in you to work up the ladder of success. Plenty of us
find ourselves in situations where we end up working in careers
that are completely different from what we aspired for or learnt
in college. That is not bad either because life does not always
happen the way you imagine it is going to be. Sometimes people
make a career switch when they think it is the best thing to
do — if you do so it should be at the right moment when
you feel most comfortable about it.
