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35 Questions to Ask Before Preparing the Perfect Statement of Purpose Essays

Writing a statement of purpose from scratch unnerves even the best of writers. This is no ordinary essay. This essay is a compilation of your goals, dreams, and your milestones. Not just that, you have to write an essay stunning enough to take you through the golden gates of your dream college abroad.

So how do you begin to write the perfect statement of purpose? What should you do to ensure that you have covered all ground to create a jaw-dropping good essay that positions you as the ideal applicant?

The best way forward is to create a bank of pertinent questions that help to answer the key questions about your life goals. As you chalk out your answers, you will achieve two things:

1. Clarity of thought.

Some of you may feel confounded by the multiple options, the lack of clarity, and an inability to make a decision. If you are plagued with doubts, answering the questions from a question bank helps to clear your mind. You see your goals clearly, and understand how to work towards them.

2. Comprehensive presentation of your profile.

The question bank will ensure that you have all aspects covered. You may want to mention an important event that changed your life. Or you may want to talk about how you developed leadership skills in a outbound program. If you use a comprehensive question bank, you can make sure to include all important aspects that go into making a well-rounded letter of intent.

35 Questions to Help Write the Perfect Essay for Your Study Abroad

Write down detailed answers to each of these questions. Some questions may have overlapping answers, but to evade the risk of missing out an important detail, write the point again.
As far as possible, give details. Flesh out the story, express your feelings, thoughts, and dreams wherever required. This helps the admissions committee to get a greater insight about you.
To make your story real, make sure to include some failures you may have encountered. But don’t leave the failures unaccounted for. You have to explain what you learned from your failures, and how you plan to overcome them in the future.

Wrap up your essay with a powerful thought, that reflects your aspiration. Use specific examples, numbers and details to establish credibility to your story.
Tie all loose ends. Your essay should be consistent with the content in your resume, letter of recommendation and transcripts project about you. For example, you couldn’t possibly say that you are an avid computers fan, when you have no accolades, recognition or achievements to add weight to your statement.
Questions:

1. Describe any special, unique, or distinctive quality about you.

2. What details of your life might help the admissions committee understand you or help set you apart from other applicants?

3. When did you originally become interested in applying for this program?

4. What are your learnings about the program?

5. What are your learnings about yourself that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well suited to this field?

6. How have you learned about this course – through classes, readings, seminars, work or other experiences, or conversations with people already in the field.

7. If you have worked in a professional setup, what have you learned (leadership or managerial skills, for example), and how has the work contributed to your personal growth?

8. What are your career goals?

9. Are there any discrepancies in your academic record that you want to explain?

10. Any unusual obstacles or hardships that you may have had to overcome (e.g., economic, familial, physical) in your life?

11. Any personal you possess that would enhance your prospects for success in the field or profession? (Examples you may want to consider: integrity, compassion, persistence, hardworking, relationship building, leadership, quick learning, team player, etc.)

12. Is there a way to demonstrate or document that you have these characteristics?

13. What skills (leadership, communicative, analytical, number crunching, logical thinking, organizational skills, etc.) do you possess?

14. Why might you be a stronger candidate for graduate school – and more successful and effective in the profession or field — than other applicants?

15. What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be interested in you?

16. What you want to study at graduate school?

17. Why this particular course or specialization?

18. Why do you want to study at this college?

19. Why us? List at least 3 points that you like about our school.

20. Why study in this country? List compelling reasons why you chose this country.

21. How much and what kind of experience you have in your area of specialization.

22. Is your experience related to your choice of degree?

23. If you already work in the same field, what additional skills do you hope to gain from the specialized program?

24. Would you choose to take up a job or pursue research?

25. What are your expectations from both the graduate program, and the university?

26. Would you like to study or do research under any particular professor?

27. How can you contribute to our university and our program?

28. Apart from work and education, what are your hobbies, interests, and habits?

29. What do you understand about our student community and culture?

30. Why do you think you will fit in?

31. What is that one unique aspect/characteristic about you that we should know?

32. Why does it matter to us or to the fellow students of your class?

33. What in your life story makes you special, unique or impressive?

34. What interests you about the field of work/study for which you are applying and how did you learn about it?

35. What are your relevant work experiences?

These questions will help you draft the perfect statement of purpose. Use these questions to form the skeletal structure of your essay, and craft a winning essay with the help of the points you noted.

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How Indian Students Can Cope With Culture Shock While Studying Abroad

“The first two months abroad were excruciatingly difficult. Finding roommates to share the room, adjusting with their cultural and personal lifestyle, and then the challenges of adjusting in the sea of diversity in class. Every day was a new experience at the cafeteria. Initially, it was fun to try out new foods, but I started to miss the aromas and tastes of my home. At times, this distance and homesickness would drive me crazy. I would sit up nights thinking about the overload of cultural differences I was going through. Missed my mom so much. I had nobody to help me with my laundry, cooking, and even tiny jobs like fix the light in my room. I thought I’d suffocate!”

What the student was experiencing was culture shock. Believe it or not, most students studying or working in foreign countries go through a state of culture shock. The stark, glaring dissimilarities in cuisine, ambience, language, social skills, and other cultural aspects make you feel like an alien. It is common for students to feel isolated, lonely and homesick. Culture shock is a reality, that needs to be addressed.

What Is Culture Shock?
While studying and living abroad, you may face a ‘newness’ in everything you do. You may not be used to the rules and regulations in your host country. People’s attitudes and behavior may seem strange to you. You don’t recognize or understand social signals, behavior, or speech accents. What you considered taboo, may be the accepted norm, and vice-versa.

Culture shock is not a hair-raising experience. It is the feeling of disorientation, and difficulty to accept and adjust to the change in environment. If you allow the shock to settle in, it will affect your study and work. You will find yourself feeling low, pining for your family back home, and unwilling to blend in your new surroundings.

How Do You Know If You Are Suffering From Culture Shock?
The telltale signs of culture shock could be any one or a combination of the following:

Feeling low, angry, irritated or anxious
Inability to eat, Overeating or Drinking
Not making friends with other international students
Hostility toward host country students
Physical ailments like cold, headaches, or fever.
Severe symptoms could include homesickness, emotional upheavals, inability to concentrate or work, and panic attack.

How Will You Overcome Culture Shock?
Well, the good news is that it does not last for long. According to psychologists, culture shock goes through four different phases: honeymoon, frustration, adjustment and acceptance.

1. The Honeymoon Phase of Euphoria
In the first stage, you feel overwhelmingly positive. You are excited about everything that’s new. You also rationalize by finding the similarities in your country, and accept the newness as a part of the study abroad deal. You enjoy the travel, discovery, and meeting new people.

2. The Frustration Stage of Irritation and Hostility:
When the love season is over, reality starts to bite. The differences now seem to glare in your face. Things that seemed to be fun, special or interesting, now irritate you. You question everything, want to change the way things are, and grow increasingly hostile towards your host country and the culture. Frustration gets triggered for the smallest reason. A roommate’s habits may blow your fuse. Or a wrong turn you took because of confusing traffic signs will frustrate you.

3. The Adjustment Stage or a Period of Acceptance
This stage happens to different people at different times. But it will surely come through. Once you get over the second phase, the third will be a relief. Soon, you learn the new ways of living. You understand and accept the language, food, and culture of your host country. You find your own identity in this alien world.

4. The Acceptance Stage
In most cases, international students reach the acceptance stage after their first trip back home in their summer break. Once you adjust to the host country, you begin to identify yourself as a part of the new ecosystem. The new culture becomes a part of you. Hence, most students who go back to their home country during holidays, find themselves at a loss in their own country of origin. You may even begin to miss college life. You appreciate the things you took for granted. You may even learn to become bicultural, by learning to balance both cultural worlds.

8 Tips to Cope With Culture Shock

Here are some tips to help you deal with culture shock.

1. Realize that culture shock is a common affliction, and you are not the only one who has had a difficult cultural experience. Be realistic about how you feel. Don’t deny when you are confused, irritated or uncomfortable. You should know that cultural fluency isn’t achieved overnight.

2. Learn as much about your host country as possible. Talk to students, alumni, or residents who have been to your host country.

3. Find a healthy distraction. Take some time to yourself. Catch up with a movie on Netflix or in your local theater. Cook a meal from home, or invite friends for a cultural exchange party. You’d be surprised how many have been through culture shock.

4. Push yourself to make local friends. Get to know the culture from the experts. Explain how you are feeling, and they may have some remedies available.

5. Participate in cultural festivals, community work, and social exchanges in your new college. This is your best platform to soak in the cultural diversity from different countries. It could even enhance your education. Stay active, and keep learning.

6. Make an effort to learn the local language. You will understand the culture lot better when you learn the language. Pick up customs and traditions by following the language.

7. Be more accepting of cultural differences. Back home, you may have been following rigid beliefs. You have the opportunity to increase your breadth of awareness simply by absorbing other cultural beliefs.

8. Don’t shy away from seeking help. You may feel that you can cope with the challenges alone. But it is always best to talk it out with a friend who can help you change.

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5 Reasons Why Engineers Should Pursue an MBA After Graduation

One of the common dilemmas students go through after completing their engineering degree is should they pursue an MBA after graduation or not?

Students who opt for computer engineering study various aspects of computers, technology, and software development. Most jobs that pertain to Tech and ITES, prefer candidates with a technical background. That’s why students who have chosen computer engineering seem like the best fit for such technology based roles.

In the case of civil, mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering students, there are a slew of careers in the energy, power, and infrastructure industries. Companies that have huge manufacturing, distribution, and factory units prefer engineering students with the relevant subject specializations.

Why MBA after Engineering?
For engineers with a sound technical background, a job in their own technical specialization seems like the perfect fit. For instance, a computer engineer would most probably be happy to work in top IT companies such as Google, Facebook, or Infosys.
However, mid-career, when the software professional has leveraged his or her skills to maximize learning as well as career growth, there can come a time when the career graph plateaus. This is because, for any professional to climb further up, the professional would need management skills.

To break from the technical mold, and blend seamlessly into mainstream management roles, it makes good sense for engineers to upskill by studying in an MBA program.

Here are 5 Reasons Why You Should Consider an MBA After an Engineering Degree:

1. Climb the Corporate Ladder.
The corporate world also resonates this theory that an engineering education with an MBA for post-graduation is the best combination of skill and knowledge required to gain traction for your career. With a managerial background, engineers can hope to fast-track their career to higher supervisory roles, and even visionary roles. This would be painfully slow growth for an engineer without a management knowledge.

2. Develop Managerial Skills.
As an engineer, you have developed a deep understanding of the technical side of work. Your course syllabus strengthens your scientific bend of mind. Number crunching may come easily to you, since you have had adequate practice with mathematical subjects. However, an MBA prepares you for the real world problems. You understand the role of human elements in business. You pick up concepts on communication, human resource management, enterprise management, time management, and other such. These skills are critical for anyone who aspires to take on managerial roles in their career.

3. Understand Business as a Whole.
Develop a holistic perspective to work and work related problems. Business requires to observe the macro level problems. Problem solving is far more complex and dynamic in a business environment. Learn how to solve problems holistically.

4. Fast-Track Your Career.
The average starting salary of an engineer with an MBA is significantly higher than an engineering without an MBA. This clearly points to the fact that the corporate world also favors engineers with a management specialization. You can command a higher pay, and faster career growth with an Engineering plus MBA combination.

5. Experience Personality Development.
Many students who opt for an MBA after engineering develop their personality as well. The MBA curriculum focuses a lot on group discussions, projects, presentations, and industry visits. As a result, students hone their personality, develop confidence, and learn to communicate well. These skills are important for any future manager.

In addition to personal development, students who choose to study MBA abroad, gain a new perspective about businesses, and experience living abroad. This exposure helps to stretch your cultural and intellectual boundaries.

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* Searching for online classes taught by experts? Wondering how to build your resume further? Have an interest that you are curious to learn more about?
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7 Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make at Your Job Interview

Know that feeling when you say something, and bite your tongue later? Most people will not admit it, but we have all been there. Job interviews are stressful. And stress makes you blabber without thinking. You want to say something, but somehow your brain compels you to speak about other things. You realize that you have firmly put your foot in your mouth.
There is no way you can undo what you said. Words are like a quiver of arrows. Once you have let them go, there is no way you can turn around the destiny of those words. They could make a mark. Or leave a mark on you forever.
Here are 7 things to avoid saying in your job interview. It helps to be cautious when you are put your best foot forward:

1.“I really hate my job/boss.”
Sitting in the interview room is your potential boss who is looking for a promising candidate. By blurting out how negatively you feel about your ex-boss or your last job leaves an unsavory taste in the mouth. Whatever you do, don’t speak unfavorably about your previous job. Badmouthing others reflects poorly on you. Even if you had a really bad experience in the past job, it is best to let bygones be bygones and move on.

2.“When are your vacations? Will I get paid vacations?”
Even if you are planning to take a trip to the Bahamas, you don’t ask for vacations while seeking a job. You need to realize that companies have to put all stops when an employee needs to go off on vacation. If you want to take vacation time, don’t mention it. This isn’t the time or place to share your problems or negotiate work arrangements. Asking for paid vacation is like pushing it too far. Save these types of questions until after you have been offered a job.

3.“All that you are asking me is already written in my resume.”
Cheeky, huh? When the interviewer asks you a question, you simply answer. There are no two ways about that. The interviewer probably did not have a chance to read your resume. Or he probably wants to hear you speak about yourself. You don’t want your interviewer to think you are one over-smart candidate. So play on.

4.“It’ really hot/cold in here. Can you please crank up/down the air conditioner?”
Keep your personal preferences back at home. At the interview, try to be as accommodating as possible. Your lack of ability to adjust can reflect poorly on you. Bear with the conditions at your office. If you are asked whether you are comfortable, and whether you need anything, you could politely ask for change of temperature, a glass of water. But stick to bare minimum requirements. You are here for a job interview, not on a casual date.

5.“I will do whatever you ask me to do.”
Don’t grovel in front of your interviewer. Even if you are desperate for the job, don’t let that show. It is important that you maintain your dignity, without looking arrogant. Using words like, ‘I’ll do whatever is needed’ is setting up yourself for trouble. Later you may regret having offered your unconditional service. Also, employers value you less when you don’t value yourself.

6.“Will my pay increase after one year of working here?”
Talking about pay hike even before you got the job is a big no-no. You can discuss emoluments, increments, and additional benefits after you get the job. Don’t let the salary become the thorn in the foot.

7.“Oh! I…Um…I…Um…Like…Thought ….Like…Um.. You Want….Um..Like…!
It’s annoying to hear someone speak as if they have not made up their mind. If you aren’t sure what you want to say, don’t say anything. Work on your speech, if you have the habit of interspersing your language with filler words such as ‘like’ or ‘um’. Be clear in what you are saying. Structure your thought before speaking. If you have a problem with speaking fluently, work on your speech. Take the help of a friend or professional advice on how to speak confidently.

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Check our campus vibe section to know more! Click here

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How Important Are Your 12th Grade Marks in Your Future Career?

As the months of February and March approach, high school students in their 10th and 12th grade begin to feel the heat of the mounting pressure of studies. The ISE and CBSE Board exams for grade 12 happen around February, and for the 10th grade, the Board exams take place in March-April. Naturally, school teachers, parents, and students gear up for the final lap of studies with multiple preliminary tests, revisions and doubt-solving sessions. Many students who also take up private coaching have an additional burden of studies, tests, and classes.

Here’s What You Need to Know About 12th Board Exams

Why are Board Exams Important?
Many of you may have been told that 12th board exams are the deciding steps of your future career. They also form an important part of resume and act as an indicator of a student’s academic performance. If you plan to pursue higher studies abroad, many prestigious colleges and universities assign separate points to your marks in grade 10 and 12, and heavily rely on them while granting admission to the students. Students who are planning to apply for a scholarship program need to show exceptional performance in their Board exams, without which scholarships are difficult to win.

Not just for higher studies abroad, even if you seek to pursue a Masters in India or MBA in a top institute such as IIMs, your 12th board marks will weigh heavily on your admission decision. Placement decisions are also based on the marks you acquired during your 12th grade.

Your 12th grade marks are also important to help you identify your future career goals. If number crunching is your strong suit, you’d probably want to get into careers in accounting, finance, commerce, and other such. If you feel that you lean more towards computers, you may choose to follow a career in technology, computers, software programming, and the like. Some students prefer to pursue vocational training such as journalism, culinary arts, nursing, and many others.

3 Ways to Maximize Your Performance in Your Board Exam

● Closer to your exams, practice as much as you can with previously solved exam papers. Plan to solve least one full length test every day. Look closely at the weak points in your subject and work on strengthening and fine tuning your skills.

● Keep off stress. Stress happens when you let your mind waver to negative thoughts. Meditate daily. Listen to music. Go for a walk. Draw. Paint. Cook. Keep your stress busters close to you.

● Listen carefully to all instructions given at school on how to appear for the exam. Plan everything in advance. Make sure that you have all your resources, apparatus and notes handy. Reach your exam hall at least half an hour before time. This gives you a chance to assess your surroundings and adjust to it.

Exams are just one more step in your career. It’s not the end of the road. If you don’t perform well, don’t lose heart. There are many ways to get ahead in your career other than board exams. With the right attitude and confidence, you’ll overcome every obstacle.

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Complete Guide to Cost of an MBA Program to Top Schools Abroad

We often hear that MBA program abroad is worth every penny spent. We also hear of staggering costs of an MBA degree in a top university abroad. There is a lot of misinformation about the value of an MBA degree. Many students ask us: Where are cheaper MBA degrees available abroad? Why should I spend 3x the amount on tuition fees at College A, when I can get an MBA from College B in the vicinity for an affordable price?

This article aims to dispel all doubts, myths, and misgivings that students tend to have about the cost of MBA education abroad. While the numbers will vary from college to college, and country to country, we have tried to ascertain the actual figures based on our surveys, keeping in mind the needs of an Indian student planning to pursue an MBA abroad.

We cannot look at cost in isolation. To really understand the cost, we have to evaluate the value of MBA education. Some value-ads that an MBA gives you cannot be assessed in monetary terms. That’s because they are the intangible benefits you accrue from studying at a top school abroad. While these benefits may seem intangible, they are often the biggest drivers of success for any career aspirant. They help hone the skills that make MBAs world leaders. Here are these non-monetary benefits:

1. A Globalized Outlook to Problem Solving
There have been numerous evidences of managers who developed a holistic understanding of business problems just because they did a short course or a two-year management program abroad. You learn how to solve problems with an international perspective, by utilizing the learning of a diverse classroom.

2. Enhanced Communication Skills and Personality Development
The dynamic interaction you would be exposed to in an international school pushes you to upgrade your communication skills. You develop the confidence and leadership skills by engaging with people around the world. MBAs who have studied abroad have an excellent command over their communication skills which teaches them to speak and listen to a diverse population.

3. Networking With Peer Group From Across the World
By the time you have graduated, your classmates would move to distant parts of the world. As alumni of the same school, you will find many opportunities to network, explore business opportunity, and grow your market in new geographies. Not just that, you get access to mentors who are themselves distinguished, celebrated personalities with a tremendously successful track record. You get to learn and leverage yourself with the help of these people.

What’s the Cost of an MBA in a Top School Abroad?

MBA program in a top 20 business school abroad could cost you around $45,000 to $80,000 a year, but most of the programs cost between $55,000 and $68,000 a year. In the US, although the cost of an MBA degree can vary, the average tuition for a two-year MBA program exceeds $60,000. If you attend one of the top business schools in the US, you can expect to pay as much as $100,000 or more in tuition and fees.

Of course, these costs don’t take into consideration your opportunity to earn scholarship, grants, or financial aid. While the actual numbers look grim, most students manage to ‘earn while learning’ through campus jobs, internships, and other working opportunities too.

But monetary analysis is incomplete without evaluating the salaries that MBA’s from top schools abroad draw. According to the latest survey done by US News, 90% of job-seeking MBAs from top schools found jobs within three months after graduation. Graduates who were employed within three months of receiving a degree earned an average of more than $100,000. MBA graduates from top schools such as Stanford, Harvard, and Wharton earned an average salary and bonus of $164,000. According to 2017 annual survey by Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), the median starting salary for business school graduates in the U.S. hit $110,000 for the first time in 2017, which is a jump of $10,000 over 2015’s starting salary.

However, there are many caveats to these figures. The salary will depend on several factors such as:

How much work experience you had before your MBA makes a big difference to the earnings you’ll receive.
Where you seek the job, i.e., geographic location, since the cost of living varies depending on the city and state of employment.
What is the field or industry you choose to pursue an MBA? Salary offers vary widely between the government or non-profit sector and private sector industries.
What’s your job function: whether you choose accounting, human resources, or sales can affect your earnings, with those involved in management commanding top dollar.
What is the RoI Over a Long Period of Time?

Most B-school alumni do extremely well financially throughout their careers. They end up in top positions globally in multinationals, heading important divisions of conglomerates, and even becoming successful entrepreneurs.

An MBA program abroad may seem expensive, but it is a worthwhile investment if you seek to pursue a lucrative career in a high-demand role.


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Check our campus vibe section to know more! Click here

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2 Big Challenges of India – Healthcare and Education

At a Panel Discussion in IIT E-Summit 2018, Founder and CEO of ReachIvy.com got into a conversation with Dr. Aniruddha Malpani, a renowned IVF specialist and Satya Narayan, CEO of Career Launcher. Here are some takeaways from the discussion:

Vibha: What do you feel about the trend of students going for Coursera, MOOCs, online. Do you feel threatened? Or do you capitalize on this trend?

Satya: MOOCs provide a great opportunity for entrepreneurs. Technology can be beautifully used in education sector. Technology can be used for ultra-personalization is only possible with technology. To check on a student’s performance, I just login and see a students’ performance there. And 6 months before the GMAT or CAT exam, I can check on the student’s level of preparedness. Some of the first in the world innovations in education technology, they are ready to happen in India, and that gives us the confidence that there is a great future.

Vibha: Aniruddha, I’m sure you have also faced the same dilemma in the medical profession. Nowadays, people use the Internet to diagnose, and even treat diseases. Everyone uses Google as the proxy doctor. Is this an unhealthy trend or do you see benefits of treating an informed patient?
Aniruddha: I don’t think doctors are going to become obsolete because of technology. We want to build a trust between doctors and patients. We want patients to come educated, and doctors to create their own websites, so that doctors become trusted sources. This can actually enhance their trust.

Takeaways from the Panel Discussion:

The panelist summarized to include the following thought provoking points about the challenges faced in India for healthcare and Education:
For Healthcare:
1.The Indian population is the reason that health concerns are resonating across the country, but these concerns have not been able to shake the policymakers. They pay little attention to
emerging health threats, even the most virulent ones.
2.We need to increase spending on preventive care and encourage health check-ups, curb tobacco and alcohol, and promote physical activity.
3.Even today, a staggering 70% of the population that lives in rural areas has no or limited access to hospitals and clinics. In contrast, the urban centers have numerous private hospitals and clinics which provide quality healthcare. This gap needs to be bridged.

For Education:
1.Most of the parents in India are not willing to send their children to schools to attain basic education, as they are illiterate so they don’t know the value of education.
2.In schools and colleges, lots of attention is given to theory and books and practical knowledge is completely ignored. Practical knowledge and skill based education is still far away from the reach of students studying in schools, colleges and universities.

The ethnicity in India creates challenges to provide quality education. Also, children of poor families are forced to work. Illiterate adults have limited access to education. Education through MOOCs, online courses with the right platform is the way to go forward.



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IIT E-Summit 2018: What the Youth Want From Indian Education System

According to the youth of today, our education systems need to thorough shaking up. They had some of the most interesting insights about our education. It’s time we listened to our youth and take their suggestions into consideration.

Walking down the long, winding road inside the IIT-Bombay campus on the morning of the E-Summit 2018, you couldn’t help but be rivetted by the razzmatazz put up by the E-Cell division of IIT-B. The spotlessly clean roads were flanked by huge flex boards, banners, and posters of the biggest and the best thought leaders of the world. Mark Zuckerberg smiled back, while Elon Musk looked on with a grim expression. Indian change leaders such as Arundhati Bhattacharya, Shiv Khera and Tanmay Bhat watched over the thronging crowds that were here to pick the best brains and launch their own careers in a new trajectory.

The youth was everywhere. In halls. In the cafeteria. Loitering around the booths. Waiting outside seminar halls. Posing for pictures. Patiently queued up to get into some of the high-octane sessions. They were here for a reason. They wanted answers. A blueprint. A chalked path. A brainwave. Anything that could make them the next big thing on the Internet. They knew that the answers would be here, inside the campus of IIT, in one of these seminar rooms.

As the Editor in Chief of ReachIvy.com, I had the opportunity to interview at least 15 young minds. They were forthcoming with their views, never shy of media or people. They liked the fact that somebody was listening. They were ready for the show and tell. So here’s what I gathered from my interviews with the students of India.

1.Education System in India Needs an Overhaul.
According to the youth of today, our education systems need to thorough shaking up. We are still stuck in a distant era, and not keeping up with the business imperatives, and employability. The current education system does not equip a recently graduated engineer or commerce or arts student to get into mainstream jobs, as their educational qualifications fall short of industry expectations. While India produces the highest number of employable graduates in the world, we fall below world standards in terms of quality of teaching methodology, teaching resources, and ‘industry’ experience. Our current academia focusses so much on theoretical inputs, that there is little scope for enterprise, self-learning, and intellectualization.

2.They are Highly Enthusiastic to Become Entrepreneurs.
With jobs drying up, it is not surprising that most engineers and graduates want to walk through the fire of entrepreneurship. The wind is in our favor, they say. With the Indian government backing up entrepreneurial ventures, with angel investors and VCs shopping for the most promising startups, the youth feels that entrepreneurship is the wagon they want to hitch to a loaded investor. Unfortunately, they haven’t really thought through the whole process of business, as their sights are locked only on the finances, not on the big picture.

3.Technology Is the Key Driver to Any Business.
Good or bad, blame it on technology! Our digitally transformed world is ready for a revamp of business models. From retail to ecommerce, from restaurants to online food delivery, from schools to MOOCs, we have been slowly weaned out of the physical world, to integrate with the World Wide Web. Technology will rule in the next era. Those who master technology will be the next Zuckerberg or Larry Page. Our Indian young minds strongly believe that India is at the crux of a technological revolution. And they don’t want to miss riding the crest when it hits.

4.Failures Are Important Stepping Stones.
Me: “What if you fail?”
Responder 1: “How can you learn without failing? Of course, we are going to fail. I’ve come to learn how to climb up after failing.”
Responder 2: “We are still young! We can afford to fail.” (grins)
Responder 3: “I think I can stomach a failure than a boring life at a job.”
I think to myself. Is this sheer bravado, or has the youth really made up their mind on embracing unemployment and bankruptcy for the love of entrepreneurship?

5.Adequate Management Knowledge, Engineers Can Become Successful Entrepreneurs.
To jump the high wall, engineers feel that they just need some brushing up on basic management skills. More specifically, they want to pick up skills on networking, business strategy, communication, negotiation and business projections. That’s why engineers prefer to pursue an MBA after completing their graduation. They question: why can’t our education system equip engineers with a semester of management subjects? That way, they wouldn’t need to go for yet another 2-year course.

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How to Make a Successful Career in Artificial Intelligence

A career in Artificial Intelligence is not only remunerative, but also cutting edge. Here is how you can get into the Artificial Intelligence sector. The Artificial Intelligence Career Overview.

Isn’t it ironic that we want to look for a career in artificial intelligence, when it is a known fact that AI is the single biggest reason for depleting jobs and increasing automation? However strange that it sounds, artificial intelligence is the hottest new career on the block. And everyone is making a beeline for it.

According to a research by Oxford University, around 47% of all current US employment will be automated over the next decade. The silver lining to this grey cloud is that of the 1.8 million jobs AI will get rid of, the emerging field will create 2.3 million by 2020.

Currently, every big and small tech companies working in the field of AI and top companies like Google, Yahoo, Apple, Facebook and Infosys are actively working to empower computers with the ability to learn, think and adapt. But the way we are headed, it looks like the future of jobs will be where artificial intelligence will make tremendous progress.

Students with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering or some similar discipline under their belts may be keen to get into AI tech. Along with a bachelor’s degree, many employers may want masters or doctoral degrees for even entry level positions involving supervision, leadership or administrative roles. A course in AI would include some or all of the following:

Advanced mathematics including statistics, algebra, algorithms, logic, probability and calculus.
Physics, robotics and engineering
Coding, programming languages and computer science
Graphical designing or Bayesian networking, involving neutral nets.
Analytical science theory.

But nothing can get you faster up the ladder than real-life work experience. There’s no substitute for development work if you want to really understand the principles of AI and machine learning. You can start with mock data sets and basic applications, then work your way up to more serious, real-world problem-solving and solutions.

Jobs in AI

You can have a successful career in AI working in private enterprises, public organizations, teaching, health care facilities and even the military. AI professionals work as:

Software researchers and developers
Computer analysts and computer engineers
Algorithm experts
Research analysts and engineering experts
Mechanical engineers and sustaining technicians.
Electrical and manufacturing technicians.
Surgical experts working with robotic apparatus

Why Should You Choose a Career in Artificial Intelligence?
AI achieves incredible accuracy though deep neural networks – which was previously impossible. Artificial Intelligence is the future of the world. It automates repetitive learning and discovery through data. AI is different from hardware-driven, robotic automation. Instead of automating manual tasks,
marketing, for instance, from the sentiment analysis in social platforms to the predictive capabilities in data-driven marketing solutions.

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Story of an International Student at McCombs School of Business

Studying at one of the top MBA programs on the other side of the world seemed like an impossible dream to me. Yet here I am at McCombs, one of the best MBA programs that I could have possibly asked for.

Often, we feel that we have limited resources. But in reality, even the ones available to us are more than we can handle. Before I joined McCombs, I explored all avenues offered by colleges to assess the value and quality of education: the coffee chats that schools offer, the contact details of student ambassadors and admins, the various websites with exhaustive information, and the information sessions that the schools host. After a thorough research, I was convinced that McCombs was the school that resonated with me on all levels.

How the McCombs Program Helps Me Blend In

The program that McCombs offers ensures that I cover my basics in the core classes before I move ahead in my journey and also allows me to choose which path I want to go down by providing a spectrum of electives to choose from.

While the academics are definitely a plus, I enjoyed the case challenges covering all the fields one could possibly want to enter after graduating, providing a taste of what it would be like to work in that particular industry. In addition to these, I found the micro-consulting projects that McCombs offers in partnership with various firms extremely valuable, as they helped a career explorer like me to narrow down my choices of industry. That said, no matter what industry I finally choose, McCombs has provided me a strong foothold in each of them.

The one highlight of the McCombs culture is the extremely supportive environment and collaborative culture that makes one want to thrive and maximize one’s learning experience. I’d like to share an important experience to elucidate. An alumnus from a reputed school whom I met at a college fair once told me that the schools I apply to want to know what makes me a good fit for their program. I told him that while I admit it is a very important question, I also needed to figure out whether the school was a good fit for me. Any program, no matter how great, will not serve the purpose if you are not at ease in the environment. So, he advised me to talk to at least 3 people from the school, and if I feel I can have a conversation about anything with them, then it’s probably a culture that resonates with me. I followed his advice, and was pleased to find that McCombs was the one school I felt completely at ease with.

I regularly interact with people from all over the world who have all kinds of experiences to share. The second-year students have been a strong pillar of support throughout and I have been able to lean on my career and academic counselors whenever needed. Everyone at the university makes every effort to take care of your worries, so that you can focus on your priorities. One such major step is to ensure that no student has to go home alone late at night and is accompanied by a certified guardian.

Coming to McCombs has been one of the best decisions of my life and the way my journey is panning out, I feel that it will make all the difference in helping me accomplish my goals.


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Cheat Sheet of Top 20 Questions Asked by Investors at a Startup Meet

Are you a startups looking to raise money in Venture Capital meeting? Don’t let the investors throw you a curve ball. Here is a cheat sheet of top 20 questions you should have answers to.

These 20 Questions Can Help You Make a Great Pitch

At a recently held closed door seminar at IIT-Bombay’s E-summit, I had the opportunity to witness one of the most electric events held in the campus, famously known as the 10-Minute Million. The room was brimming with an eclectic mix of the brightest minds in the country – from angel investors, to IIT students, to professors to young professionals and entrepreneurs. Just like the popular game show “Shark Tank” that airs on TV channels, this event hosted by the E-Cell has gained a lot of clout among the investing and startup community of India.

As an observer, I was privy to some of the best pitches made here in the presence of a discerning crowd. It was an arena of battle, where the crowd was cheering for the gladiators, who bravely stepped up on the stage to present a 10-minute pitch to the investors, seated in the front row. No sympathies for the entrepreneur who could not stick to the 10-minute deadline. The organizers were brutal when it came to time management which put an added pressure on the young startup founders to make the most of their precious 600 seconds. The winning team could land an investment as high as a whopping Rs. 1.6 million to jumpstart their venture.

The pitches were sharp, swift and deft. But the investors were not easy to please. They were astute business people, looking for their unicorns. Entrepreneurs came and left, failing to make the cut. Only two startups won the hearts of investors, who were happy to part with their money and invest in the dreams of these young entrepreneurs.
At a later discussion with investors, I got to understand that entrepreneurs who haven’t done their homework thoroughly sink faster than a stone. They fail to put themselves in the shoes of the investor, and understand what the investor is really looking for. Savvy looking presentations don’t pull wool over our eyes, said one angel investor. ‘We have seen far too many pitches to fall for the fluff ball,’ he smirked.

So, what are angel investors really looking for? What are their concerns? After attending a couple of startup pitch meets, I have created a cheat sheet of top 20 questions asked by investors. If you plan to make a pitch deck, make sure to prepare your answers. Use these 20 questions as a ready reckoner to ensure that you have no holes left unplugged.

Here are top 20 Questions That Every Investor Wants to Ask Before Signing the Dotted Line:

1. What are the barriers to grow/entry for competitors?

2. Exclusivity contract?

3. What is the value-addition you bring to the table? What do you bring to the business?

4. What is the cost of customer acquisition?

5. What is the company’s desired pre-money valuation?

6. Is your technology/product patented?

7. What is the cycle-time to close the sale?

8. What legal risks do you have?

9. What is the customization you bring to the brand?

10. Do you have any contracts/ lock-ins with any partner/collaborator?

11. What are your revenue projections for 1 year? 3 years? 5 years?

12. What is the typical onboarding time for the client?

13. Why are you raising the funds you want to raise?

14. What is the platform you are going to use? Physical retail? Ecommerce? Mix of both?

15. What percentage of the market do you plan to get over what period of time?

16. Who are your competitors?

17. What’s your exit strategy?

18. Are you working full-time on this?

19. How do you plan to manage the shift from a small business to a scalable company?

20. What are the key differentiated features of your product or service?

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ReachIvy 2018 Scholarship

To bring out the best in you, you need a perspective from experts. And when the list of experts includes Harvard, Stanford, LSE Alumni; your application may just become worthy of a dream Ivy League University. Add to this, a 100% counseling fee waiver and who knows, the dream could just be within your reach.

Get FREE Counseling from Experts
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Best Strategies for Success in space odyssey Online Exams
Test-taking should not have to be stressful. If you are planning and make preparations well in advance, it should be a piece of cake. The exam might be tough, but you can do it! Use these simple Strategies listed below to help you succeed in your NASA exam for school students online examination.
1. Time management strategies- Developing very good time period management abilities and being aware of how you use your time is really important for your success. Firstly you will need to build a study plan and set aside a set amount of your time of study hours each week. Are you more productive every morning or at night? Find out the time of day when you are most productive and use that time to study for your space odyssey online exams.
2. Exactly what is the finest study NASA projects for school students you can think that? Dedicate a peaceful study space that is totally free of distractions where you can target and focus solely on your studies. Let your friends and relations know that this is your perfect time to} study and not to disturb you during these time periods.
4.Every week review - What exactly is the ideal time during the week you can actually review? Set aside 1 day every week for a review session and use that time to review class notes as well as other materials.
5. Get advice - Internet is full of information - Make use of your laptop or computer and the internet. Everything and anything you need to understand is just a mouse click away. Another way to get additional guidance is to talk to an online tutor or classmate or ask your online instructor for help or clarification if you're not confident about something. There are also a number of online discussion groups that you can join and get help like that. During test stay to relax, the more stress and anxiety you take, less the chances of clearing your" Distance Learning. Look at the instructions very carefully and proceed. You will do just fine - you will see. Space Odyssey 2018 is an ambitious program to nurture inquisitive minds, and promote analytical and critical thinking. Space Odyssey Program is a national level 2 stage competition for all age student.
3. Focus on work - What exactly topic do you need help with space astronomy club module 1? The easiest way to study for an online exam is to start with the most challenging topic first, then work your way to the easiest.If you want to more information about Space Odyssey online exam you can search here https://www.spaceodyssey.in/