In this blog I want to write about applying for UK visa, connecting with alums and in general preps before you travel to a different country.
This is one of my last few entries on this blog. I'm closing this blog and continue writing on my regular blog about my life in London. So my visa is done and tickets are blocked.
Steps to take once you have your admission -
* Make list of things to do and then put them in order. Examples -
- People to connect with at the travel location
- People to meet before you leave
- Things to do before you go
- Things to take with you
* Money calculations, account for -
- Visa fees
- Visa consultant (if you want one)
- Flight tickets
- Tuition fees
- Luggage (if you don't have big suitcases already)
- Laptop
- Clothes : formals are a must have
- Food items (specially if you're from asia)
- Phone connection
- Accommodation
- Books
- Monthly living cost
* Visa
- In simple language UK student visa asks for two things - CAS and Funds
CAS: This is a number you get from School/ Uni you're selected for. There are few things written on your CAS which consitute the documents to submit for Visa. This also helps calculate funds to show in your account.
1. CAS Number
2. Documents for your selection criteria (Degree/ work ex etc)
3. Course fee and how much is paid
4. Proof of English proficiency (Where applicable)
The above documents are all you need to submit along with your passport, visa forms and photograph. Now along with this use some common sense - if you have been working for long time and you are selected on degree, then its never bad to attach work ex certificates.
FUNDS: Funds are what is pending to pay as your course fee + maintainence funds. Maintenance funds are mentioned in the form - typical 800gbp a month if your school is in inner London boroughs and 600 if in outer. How many months will depend on your course duration. The funds can be shown in anything thats liquid or can be converted immediately (Things that don't work are funds with locking period, GPF unless there is approval on withdrawal). If funds are not in your name - use common sense and the details follow -
1. Funds in parents name: Proof that they are your parents (birth certificate or affidavit) and documents to support that funds are liquid (letter from bank manager/ property papers etc)
2. Joint Account: No objection certificate from joint account holder + their identity proof
3. Loans: Loan papers saying you'll get the money subject to your visa clearance
4. FD/ other savings: proof that its encashable. Letter from bank manager works the best.
To summarize, here are the docs you require for Visa -
1. Visa Forms
2. Passport + photocopy
3. Photograph
4. Print of CAS statement
5. Proof of degree(same as you have sent to your school/uni)
6. Work ex certificates
7. 10th and 12th pass certificates (for India, not sure about other countries)
8. Bank statement/ passbook/ loan papers
9. Birth certificate/ NOC/ affidavits (if required)
* Accommodation : Hostel or halls if there are available or temporary accommodation for a month to give you time for flat search and deciding on flatmates.
* Connect with Alumni : I believe this is always helpful. Find alums through facebook or just email your school/uni to share these details with you. I found alums very helpful. I'm in touch with only one who regularly responds to me and is friedly so it works.
* Connect with batchmates: This was the best thing that happened to me. We live in facebook world and should use that stuff! There is a group created for all Indians joining LSE this year and there is another group of all those joining my institute (social psychology) this year. We're all working through things together - collecting documents, applying for visa, booking flights, shopping, finding accommodation. so basically there are 160 people to talk about the entire cycle. Then the institute group helps stay connected with those I'll be studying with. I would highly recommend creating a group or find if one already exists. It helps to stay connected!
This is what I have done so far. The biggest items on my list are to sell off some of my belongings and to be able to pack my never ending stock of shoes!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Comparing schools and courses
Now that I have to take my decision, I thought of listing down factors to consider to make decision when there are offers from more than one school and course.
There are two parts to this - school and the course and they both go hand in hand.
First step is to prioritize what is more important of the following and decide accordingly
1. Career aspirations - Do you want to work or go for further education
2. Methodology - More handson or more theory
3. Region of work - where do you want to work
4. Region of comfort - where do you have more friends, place familiarity etc
5. Food habits - availability of particular food choices specially if you're vegetarian
6. Social life - Do you want more community involvement or are happier on your own
7. Party life - Do you like to go out in the evening a lot
8. Commute - Are you okay with walking or have to take a bus or need a car
9. Reputation of the university
10. Reputation of School
11. Reputation of course
12. Peer group - Too many people or too less
13. Accommodation preferences - Do you want a hostel or are ok looking for something by yourself
These are just some I was able to think now... There can be lot specially if you have a family. Btw, most of the b schools have spouse community which has a lot more fun. If your spouse is working or if you have kids of school going age well u got to think a lot more.
An easy way to shortlist schools is to begin with your main focus. If it's finances then look for tuition, cost of living, scholarships available etc. If it's job security then region, ranking and placement data is important. If location then you know how to begin and so you begin with first cut.
Next comes your chances - typically everyone will say aim for 1-2 top ends, 3-4 wit fairly good chances and 1-2 sure shots. The problem is u never know where things go wrong or where they might click. In my case my sure shots dint work out either and i know of mor such stories. I also k ow people who were discouraged from applying to a school cuz it was out of his league and he made it through quite easily. My take on this is you know what you want, listen to your heart and then use some brains to self analyze your capability. When on doubt - outsource!
Let me go back to the shortlisting of school and course. There are times we are lost in the glamor of going to a top ten or twenty ranked b-school that we either not make it or fight it out at each stage - loans, school work, peer pressure, job hunt and then loan payback. You may sometimes find a lesser known school with great faculty n placements n less expensive too smwhere in lower ranks.
Similarly in glamor of MBA you might forget that all you care for is to get into a particular organization or field of work n miss out on looking at other courses that can take u same place. Like cfa for finance professionals, crm courses, ms courses on project management, SPHR for HR professionals. I'm sure there is a lot more out there in the market that we're not very familiar with.
My big tip on selecting school - know what you want to do, your studying is means to get somewhre MBA should not be the end goal!
Ohhh n also don't be a conformist, do wht u feel is right for u... Good luck!
There are two parts to this - school and the course and they both go hand in hand.
First step is to prioritize what is more important of the following and decide accordingly
1. Career aspirations - Do you want to work or go for further education
2. Methodology - More handson or more theory
3. Region of work - where do you want to work
4. Region of comfort - where do you have more friends, place familiarity etc
5. Food habits - availability of particular food choices specially if you're vegetarian
6. Social life - Do you want more community involvement or are happier on your own
7. Party life - Do you like to go out in the evening a lot
8. Commute - Are you okay with walking or have to take a bus or need a car
9. Reputation of the university
10. Reputation of School
11. Reputation of course
12. Peer group - Too many people or too less
13. Accommodation preferences - Do you want a hostel or are ok looking for something by yourself
These are just some I was able to think now... There can be lot specially if you have a family. Btw, most of the b schools have spouse community which has a lot more fun. If your spouse is working or if you have kids of school going age well u got to think a lot more.
An easy way to shortlist schools is to begin with your main focus. If it's finances then look for tuition, cost of living, scholarships available etc. If it's job security then region, ranking and placement data is important. If location then you know how to begin and so you begin with first cut.
Next comes your chances - typically everyone will say aim for 1-2 top ends, 3-4 wit fairly good chances and 1-2 sure shots. The problem is u never know where things go wrong or where they might click. In my case my sure shots dint work out either and i know of mor such stories. I also k ow people who were discouraged from applying to a school cuz it was out of his league and he made it through quite easily. My take on this is you know what you want, listen to your heart and then use some brains to self analyze your capability. When on doubt - outsource!
Let me go back to the shortlisting of school and course. There are times we are lost in the glamor of going to a top ten or twenty ranked b-school that we either not make it or fight it out at each stage - loans, school work, peer pressure, job hunt and then loan payback. You may sometimes find a lesser known school with great faculty n placements n less expensive too smwhere in lower ranks.
Similarly in glamor of MBA you might forget that all you care for is to get into a particular organization or field of work n miss out on looking at other courses that can take u same place. Like cfa for finance professionals, crm courses, ms courses on project management, SPHR for HR professionals. I'm sure there is a lot more out there in the market that we're not very familiar with.
My big tip on selecting school - know what you want to do, your studying is means to get somewhre MBA should not be the end goal!
Ohhh n also don't be a conformist, do wht u feel is right for u... Good luck!
Friday, May 20, 2011
NYU MS in HR
Last evening when i least expected i got an email from NYU that my results are now available for my application. And it was a positive...
I think i missed mentioning about my LSE and NYU apps in detail on this blog. Well these were two courses i applied to out of my interest in a course in Org Dev.
I could never be sure on which I preferred but I did expect to get through them. So i now have both results in hand and both positive. This is a good place to be in.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I think i missed mentioning about my LSE and NYU apps in detail on this blog. Well these were two courses i applied to out of my interest in a course in Org Dev.
I could never be sure on which I preferred but I did expect to get through them. So i now have both results in hand and both positive. This is a good place to be in.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:,Hyderabad,India
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Post admission - preparing for the move
In the next few posts I'll write about my preparation to move - Visa, Loans, Travels, Connecting with alum, Summer job, Part time work options, Driving License, Accom etc.
The first thing that hit me is that I won't be earning for an year. Trust me the impact of this is much higher when you come closer to jumping in, nothing can prepare you for this feeling. The impact is worse if you have been working for long! Suddenly the entire life will change from earning and living lavishly to studying. Moreover, my course is lot more academic which is a huge transition considering last I went to school was 10 years back and that too I did not do much subjective work.
I always thought I would quit my job a few months earlier, travel India and then move out. The entire perspective is now shifted to working till last minute, take 20 days before travel to pack and shift to my hometown, spend time with my parents and then head out.
The first step is to make a list of things to do -
* Visa - Applications have to go 3 months before date of travel so I have to wait till July
* Loans - Doesn't look complicated as I don't have to fund a two year MBA at a big B-School. (For those considering going to B schools, think this over very carefully)
* Driving License - haven't even started to find out how this works
* Accommodation - Connected with seniors and applied for school halls (they look good)
* Travel tickets - haven't decided the date, planning to block tickets already
* Part time work options - no clue yet!
* Alumni connections - already started on this, they are very helpful
* Sell my stuff - I have loads of things I'll have to sell before I shift including about 200 books! Will have to hold this till I get my visa and then go through the last month selling mania
* Meet people - family and friends I want to meet before I travel
The first thing that hit me is that I won't be earning for an year. Trust me the impact of this is much higher when you come closer to jumping in, nothing can prepare you for this feeling. The impact is worse if you have been working for long! Suddenly the entire life will change from earning and living lavishly to studying. Moreover, my course is lot more academic which is a huge transition considering last I went to school was 10 years back and that too I did not do much subjective work.
I always thought I would quit my job a few months earlier, travel India and then move out. The entire perspective is now shifted to working till last minute, take 20 days before travel to pack and shift to my hometown, spend time with my parents and then head out.
The first step is to make a list of things to do -
* Visa - Applications have to go 3 months before date of travel so I have to wait till July
* Loans - Doesn't look complicated as I don't have to fund a two year MBA at a big B-School. (For those considering going to B schools, think this over very carefully)
* Driving License - haven't even started to find out how this works
* Accommodation - Connected with seniors and applied for school halls (they look good)
* Travel tickets - haven't decided the date, planning to block tickets already
* Part time work options - no clue yet!
* Alumni connections - already started on this, they are very helpful
* Sell my stuff - I have loads of things I'll have to sell before I shift including about 200 books! Will have to hold this till I get my visa and then go through the last month selling mania
* Meet people - family and friends I want to meet before I travel
Sunday, May 8, 2011
London School of Economics
7 weeks after submitting application, 3 days of super intuitive anxiety... An emil in the mailbox on the busiest day at work late in the eve... 5 minutes before an extremely important meeting. the first thot another reject and then before clicking... I need to be positive and the first line... "i'm pleased to inform you..."
LSE it is... Masters in organization and social psychology. Still time before i decide whether i hit this or pursue the more sought after MBA greens. But for now i know i have what i need.
Like i mentioned in my earlier blogs, MBA is not the end its only a means for me to get where i want to. If its not my top choice of London Business School, well... London it still is!
Will write more on what i consider to decide and what my final decision will be.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
LSE it is... Masters in organization and social psychology. Still time before i decide whether i hit this or pursue the more sought after MBA greens. But for now i know i have what i need.
Like i mentioned in my earlier blogs, MBA is not the end its only a means for me to get where i want to. If its not my top choice of London Business School, well... London it still is!
Will write more on what i consider to decide and what my final decision will be.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Hyderabad,India
Thursday, May 5, 2011
TOEFL results and after reject plans
So I took TOEFL finally. I can't comment on how to prepare for it because I never prepared. I registered 6 weeks in advance and couldn't prepare. 5 days before the date I thought of rescheduling but couldn't due to internet issues. And the rescheduling does not happen 2 days before the test. So I decided to jump in. In two days all I did was to look at question patterns, go through some online resources and went for my test. And to top it all I went for speaking test with bad throat.
After the plush GMAT center TOEFL test was a huge disappointment. My story of TOEFL center isn't as bad as many I have read online. People there were courteous, we got a locker. During the speaking section everyone around is audible and gets the same questions. I was able to hear what others were replying.
Well for as bad a prep as I had I got a 102 which is good enough for me to apply to courses that I want to. I would not be able to give tips as I did not really put in effort.
Now also comes time to start looking at what am I doing this year.
First step - Request feedback from schools from last year
Second step - Relook at feedback from people who reviewed my essays and applications
Third step - Re evaluate goals and aspirations
Fourth step - Do I still want to do an MBA?
Fifth step - School selection
Sixth step - Hunt for recommenders and start socializing with them... second most dreaded one
Seventh step - Apply! the most dreaded one for me
My checklist
First step done
Second step - in process
Third step - this is easy cuz my aspirations remain
Fourth step - hmmm... this is a tough one cuz I have made tremendous progress at work and that changes well not everything but a lot! Do I still need an MBA - I do need some form of higher education. I'm lost on options out there in the market. Also age plays a role as I'm growing older.
So its time now for self exploration reflection! more as I decide my path...
After the plush GMAT center TOEFL test was a huge disappointment. My story of TOEFL center isn't as bad as many I have read online. People there were courteous, we got a locker. During the speaking section everyone around is audible and gets the same questions. I was able to hear what others were replying.
Well for as bad a prep as I had I got a 102 which is good enough for me to apply to courses that I want to. I would not be able to give tips as I did not really put in effort.
Now also comes time to start looking at what am I doing this year.
First step - Request feedback from schools from last year
Second step - Relook at feedback from people who reviewed my essays and applications
Third step - Re evaluate goals and aspirations
Fourth step - Do I still want to do an MBA?
Fifth step - School selection
Sixth step - Hunt for recommenders and start socializing with them... second most dreaded one
Seventh step - Apply! the most dreaded one for me
My checklist
First step done
Second step - in process
Third step - this is easy cuz my aspirations remain
Fourth step - hmmm... this is a tough one cuz I have made tremendous progress at work and that changes well not everything but a lot! Do I still need an MBA - I do need some form of higher education. I'm lost on options out there in the market. Also age plays a role as I'm growing older.
So its time now for self exploration reflection! more as I decide my path...
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Dealing with Rejections
I have already written about it, thought of expanding a little more on this. Its never easy to deal with rejections. When others know you're applying, there are eyes on you. Some are hopeful and more confident than you are - you should've applied to better school, Wharton Booth Kellogg are better options. Some are waiting for you to fail - She can't get through, let her touch reality in some time. Others - She would've never made it to these schools, remember how she was in school this was so out of reach for her; She has no skills (analytical, comm, etc etc)wasn't deserving enough; If she can get through this school then I can get through Harvard and Wharton with all the scholarship I want.
Other things that run through mind are answering your recommenders, specially if you asked for too many from same person. Answering bosses when you put your promotion at stake and kept telling your boss that I'm only staying until I get R1 results - R2 and so on.
Then comes the money factor. At the beginning of application it is GMAT and Application fee for 2 schools. This grows to 5 schools, then TOEFL, then mail costs of sending transcripts, transcript evaluation, essay review, consultant fee etc etc. This varies from person to person. In my case it has extended only to TOEFL. No plans to use consultant yet.
The first step is that if you researched and prepared well, you would know that MBA is not I have to get through this year or its gone. MBA is not the plan, its a means to achieve a plan. If that plan is as short as 2-3 years, then well look at your plan B.
I have heard many people say I have to go for MBA this year, I will complete it by the time I turn 26, work for two years, get married by the time I'm 28 and then first baby by 30. Or the story is I got married last year, will do MBA by the time I turn 29 and then first baby by 30. Or I have a child who is two years old, will do my MBA by the time he/she is 3-4 and then need to think of his/her school, savings etc etc.
There are many such stories I've heard. In fact one such story was why I let of Asian Institute of Management in 2007. I'll never know how that would've turned out for me, I do know that I will never regret not trying for other schools even if I failed at most of them.
If you don't get admmitted in the first year of application, first off, don't lose heart. Second, take a short break to rejuvenate. Spend time with family, go travel, get pampered, sit at home and get drunk. Whatever it may be take a break from regular MBA plans and preps. This break can last anything between a week to a month or two.
Now ask some more questions -
- Why did you apply for MBA in the first place
- What is your long term goal
- What is your short term goal
- What are your essentials for the schools you go to (gmat, age, placements, location etc)
- What is changing this year for you (at work, extracurriculars, personal life etc)
- Do you still need MBA
If you still want to do MBA then you should now get into analysing your apps -
- If you have feedback from schools, take a look at that
- Look at your essays
- Who recommended you and do you know what they wrote (specially weakness, are you working on it already)
- Who reviewed your application
- Did you spend sufficient time on your applications and with recommenders
- Who can recommend you next year, have you built more bonds with people
- Which schools you thought are good but never got around applying to them
There are more questions that will offset from the above. Write them down, even if its in a word or two so that you can refer back.
Now -
- Evaluate if you need to retake GMAT (this is the easiest to do)
- Do you want to reapply to some schools
- Do you want to explore other programs besides MBA
- Which schools and which round do you want to apply to
- Do you want to use any previous recommenders
- Restart the application process
Now these are the starting points. I'm sure you'll find many articles on reapplications. To me MBA was just a means and my goals haven't changed. As I explore options, I will post if there are some I feel might be helpful to others.
Other things that run through mind are answering your recommenders, specially if you asked for too many from same person. Answering bosses when you put your promotion at stake and kept telling your boss that I'm only staying until I get R1 results - R2 and so on.
Then comes the money factor. At the beginning of application it is GMAT and Application fee for 2 schools. This grows to 5 schools, then TOEFL, then mail costs of sending transcripts, transcript evaluation, essay review, consultant fee etc etc. This varies from person to person. In my case it has extended only to TOEFL. No plans to use consultant yet.
The first step is that if you researched and prepared well, you would know that MBA is not I have to get through this year or its gone. MBA is not the plan, its a means to achieve a plan. If that plan is as short as 2-3 years, then well look at your plan B.
I have heard many people say I have to go for MBA this year, I will complete it by the time I turn 26, work for two years, get married by the time I'm 28 and then first baby by 30. Or the story is I got married last year, will do MBA by the time I turn 29 and then first baby by 30. Or I have a child who is two years old, will do my MBA by the time he/she is 3-4 and then need to think of his/her school, savings etc etc.
There are many such stories I've heard. In fact one such story was why I let of Asian Institute of Management in 2007. I'll never know how that would've turned out for me, I do know that I will never regret not trying for other schools even if I failed at most of them.
If you don't get admmitted in the first year of application, first off, don't lose heart. Second, take a short break to rejuvenate. Spend time with family, go travel, get pampered, sit at home and get drunk. Whatever it may be take a break from regular MBA plans and preps. This break can last anything between a week to a month or two.
Now ask some more questions -
- Why did you apply for MBA in the first place
- What is your long term goal
- What is your short term goal
- What are your essentials for the schools you go to (gmat, age, placements, location etc)
- What is changing this year for you (at work, extracurriculars, personal life etc)
- Do you still need MBA
If you still want to do MBA then you should now get into analysing your apps -
- If you have feedback from schools, take a look at that
- Look at your essays
- Who recommended you and do you know what they wrote (specially weakness, are you working on it already)
- Who reviewed your application
- Did you spend sufficient time on your applications and with recommenders
- Who can recommend you next year, have you built more bonds with people
- Which schools you thought are good but never got around applying to them
There are more questions that will offset from the above. Write them down, even if its in a word or two so that you can refer back.
Now -
- Evaluate if you need to retake GMAT (this is the easiest to do)
- Do you want to reapply to some schools
- Do you want to explore other programs besides MBA
- Which schools and which round do you want to apply to
- Do you want to use any previous recommenders
- Restart the application process
Now these are the starting points. I'm sure you'll find many articles on reapplications. To me MBA was just a means and my goals haven't changed. As I explore options, I will post if there are some I feel might be helpful to others.
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