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The “YOU” Research 
	 
	The basic understanding yourself and your reasons for choosing the USA as your education destination form the crux for all things to follow. A student must do his due research to the best of his abilities about the colleges he wants to go to and what he expects from going abroad. There is no room for doubts and hesitations later on so you must be absolutely sure about your decisions and intentions. 
	 
	Profile Analysis 
	 
	This is where you must delve deeper into your profile and thoroughly analyze your strengths, weakness, requirements, and limitations. This enables you to create a comprehensive plan that suits you perfectly. The profile analysis is an essential part of any college admission process. This is the part where a college gets to see you as a person and not just as a mark sheet. Get involved with Sports, Community Service, Co-scholastic activities, take up a research project, do an internship and more. Be unique. It is advisable to contact a guidance counselor for applying abroad. 
	 
	Exams/Test Preparation 
	 Clearing a specific set of examinations is a necessary part of admissions to any foreign University.IELTS, <keyword id="6408824" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="TOEFL">TOEFL</keyword>, SAT, GMAT and GRE are some of the major exams to look for. Do a comprehensive research on what exam(s) you would need to take for your intended course. If faced with any difficulties while preparing for them, visit a test prep center. 
	 
	University Selections 
	 
	Finding the “Best Fit” universities are often not very easy and with many admission requirements, the process of selecting the right colleges can be very tough. A student must do his due diligence on the kind of University and course he/she wants to attend. Always keep your financial limitations and future plans in consideration. Set up a dialog between yourself and the University office via emails to solve your various queries, but make sure to stay professional in your communication. 
	 
	Branding Yourself 
	 
	This is where you step out of the general norms and take an extra step forward to make your dream come true. Here you must focus on your individuality and mark out the qualities which separate you from everyone else. Your grades and marks must take a backseat while you try to form a unique and highly personalized strategy to brand your co-scholastic and honors. Understand the importance of a good first impression; it plays an integral part when colleges consider you for admission. 
	 
	Write Compelling Essays 
	 
	A College Essay is a medium for representing the unique story of each and every student to the admission officers. The ability to truly convey yourself to another is considered an essential asset for any good student to have. You must ensure that you give your best efforts to write a standout essay that highlights the best of your abilities and catches the eye of the admission officers. A pen is mightier than a sword after all. Consult a guidance counselor if you face any problems. 
	 
	Recommendation Letters 
	 
	Selecting the right recommender is a vital step in any application process. Talk to your trusted teachers and professors to give you an LOR that highlights your credentials not only as a student but also as a person. Good LORs from the most appropriate sources have the best positive impact on your application. Be strategic to choose the right recommender for yourself. 
	 
	Submitting Perfect Applications 
	 
	Quality should be your byword at this point of time. The final application that you submit should be pragmatic, positive and devoid of any errors whatsoever. A good application isn’t just based on what it carries but also what it shouldn’t carry. Weed out the non-essential components and help the admission officers’ focus on what is truly important:‘You’. 
	 
	Acing the Interview 
	 
	It is the final and the most imperative part of your admission process. You should be meticulously prepared for all such interviews. Read up on books regarding interviews and be calm, confident and uniquely yourself. Consult a guidance counselor as they teach you all the tips and tricks they have picked up throughout their career to ensure that your chances of succeeding are exponentially increased. 
	 
	Applying for the <keyword id="6359421" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Visa">visa</keyword> 
	 
	Now that you have your acceptance letter in your hand, you must apply for the visa. You should be ready with all the information you need regarding the process. If you feel that you might be burdened with too much work, consult the experts and start your journey to a brighter future. 
	 
	​This article has been authored by Shirish Gupta, founder and director of Mnemonic Education and Overseas Admissions.

These 10 tips are must before you plan overseas education

There are smartphone apps for almost anything new that you want to learn, improve on or skill yourself with. Take improving your English vocabulary for example. You can easily do this now without having to carry a thick dictionary with you all the time. There are various apps that help you improve your English vocabulary and in a fun and visually interactive way. These apps are free and easy to use while some have paid versions for more features and benefits. Not only beginners but even people who are native speakers or fluent in English can add new words to their vocabulary. Here, we’ve listed the top five Android and iOS apps to improve your English vocabulary. Improve English by Knudge <div type="image" title="improve english" msid="87713655" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Improve English by Knudge offers different level-based courses, and also to prepare for exams like GRE and TOEFL.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> In this app, there are different level-based courses here such as easy for beginners, immediate that has essential words to know, and advanced which help in exams like GRE, TOEFL, and CAT. You also get to learn English idioms, common English phrasal verbs and common confusing words on this app. Each course has words explained with their meaning, pronunciation, origin and usage. There are also fun games that you can play to increase your vocabulary. The Improve English by Knudge app requires you to become a member of the platform but the registration is free. There’s also a paid version of the app that comes with benefits such as adding notes to flashcards, unlimited access to goal-oriented journeys, interactive minis and more. Knudge Pro starts at ₹1920 per year, and ₹3,000 for a lifetime. Vocabulary Builder by Magoosh <div type="image" title="magoosh" msid="87713673" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;This app is especially designed for competitive exams.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Vocabulary Builder by Magoosh is designed for competitive exams such as GRE, GMAT, ACT, SAT, TOEFL and IELTS. Although this app is suited for people preparing for these exams, it can still be used by anyone wanting to improve their English vocabulary. It’s however recommended only for people who are more on the advanced level and not for beginners. In Vocabulary Builder by Magoosh, there are different levels of words whose meaning you have to choose. You will have to clear levels by choosing the correct meaning or definition to get to the next level. Once you choose the correct definition, a more detailed meaning behind the word with its usage and pronunciation will be available. You can also play with other players in guessing the correct word definition through this app. WordUp Vocabulary <div type="image" title="wordup" msid="87713685" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The app is designed in a way that your learning takes place according to your fluency and knowledge of English. &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> WordUp Vocabulary is designed for two sets of learning audiences - kids below the ages of 16 and adults. It also lets you choose which level your English is at - native, fluent, intermediate or basic, and either British or American accent. You can set reminders based on the time you want to practice. How this app works is you get a set of words that you need to confirm if you know it or you’re not sure about it. Then the words you’re unsure of you get to learn the meaning. The app is designed in a way that your learning takes place according to your fluency and knowledge of English. So this way you’re only learning words that you need to. WordUp Vocabulary is available on both Android and iOS, and it’s for free. Vocabulary - Learn new words/Learn words daily <div type="image" title="vocabulary" msid="87713711" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;This app has a good-looking design and widgets.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> This is a feature-rich app that you can use to improve your English vocabulary. You can get daily reminders of new words that you can learn. The app lets you choose the number of new words to learn daily, and also set the timer for when you want these reminders. There’s also a widget for this app that displays words with its meanings. It’s a simple and intuitive app that displays one word at a time with its meaning and pronunciation. You swipe up to go to the next word. You can also like words that get added to your favourite section. The app even has various themes that you can choose from but you’ll have to watch an ad to get them. Or you can get the premium version of the app that’s priced at ₹1,699 per year. Word of the Day <div type="image" title="word of the day" msid="87713729" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;This app lets you learn about the word of the day from different sources.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Word of the Day is an interesting app that is recommended not only for beginners but even for those who want to add new words to their English vocabulary. As the name suggests, this app highlights one word of the day from different platforms like Oxford English Dictionary, Merriam Webster, Dictionary.com, and The Free Dictionary. It also has quizzes to test your vocabulary and a practice mode for you to learn new words. There are different and popular Word of the Day apps available on the Play Store and App Store. Android users can download the Word of the Day app by Helium Apps, while iOS users can get the one by BIGGIKO. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/halow-wi-fi-technology-with-a-1km-range-is-the-future-of-long-range-iot-application/articleshow/87712856.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">This new Wi-Fi technology with a 1km range is the future of long range IoT applications</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/realme-is-stepping-into-the-premium-smartphone-segment-to-take-on-samsung-apple-and-others-with-its-new-offering/articleshow/87711262.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Realme is stepping into the premium smartphone segment to take on Samsung, Apple and others with its new offering</a>

Top 5 Android and iOS apps to improve your English vocabulary

When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. <a href="https://www.insider-inc.com/commerce-on-insider-inc/">Learn more.</a><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=40328&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.coursera.org%2Fdegrees%2Fmcit-penn%23-penn%23" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><ul class="summary-list"><li>Students who don't come from a <keyword id="6390100" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="computer-science">computer science</keyword> background but want to enter the valuable and lucrative field of computer science can now do so with the help of <keyword id="1588580" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="UPenn">UPenn</keyword>'s online <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=40328&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.coursera.org%2Fdegrees%2Fmcit-penn%23-penn%23" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Master of Computer and Information Technology (MCIT) program</a>. </li><li>The online version of the on-campus graduate-level course, it takes 16 to 40 months to complete, comprises 10 courses, and costs about $26,000 (one-third of the on-campus cost). </li></ul>With its wide-ranging application to nearly every industry, a major in computer science is more valued and in-demand than ever. <a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/50-highest-paying-college-majors/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to Glassdoor</a>, it was the highest-paying college major in 2018, with median base salaries starting at $70,000. People who didn't major in computer science or take any computer science courses during undergrad can feel like they're behind or at a disadvantage if they're now interested in entering the field. However, a new online master's degree offered by UPenn through e-learning site <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=40328&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.coursera.org%2Fa.org%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Coursera</a> intends to break the financial and institutional barriers of gaining a graduate-level <keyword id="6355445" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="education">education</keyword> in computer science.The <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=40328&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.coursera.org%2Fdegrees%2Fmcit-penn%23-penn%23" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Master of Computer and Information Technology (MCIT)</a> is the only online graduate-level degree program of its kind: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/free-online-courses-from-the-best-colleges-2018-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ivy League caliber</a> and designed for students with a non-computer science background. It's the same degree that on-campus students earn, but it's earned through more affordable and flexible means.The final diploma doesn't indicate that it was earned online. The MCIT program is made up of 10 courses (six required courses including Introduction to Software Development, Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science, and Introduction to Computer Systems, and four electives in topics such as machine learning and data science) and can take 16 to 40 months to complete, depending on your pace. Alumni from this program have been able to combine the computer science education with their existing backgrounds to develop more well-rounded skill sets. 2016 alum Theresa Breiner, for example, earned a BA in Linguistics. After graduating from the on-campus MCIT program, during which she gained a broad understanding of computer science and took linguistics-related electives, she landed a role as a software engineer on Google's Speech &amp; Keyboard team. Other alumni have gone on to earn positions at Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, and Oracle. Chris Murphy, an associate professor in Penn Engineering's Department of Computer and Information Science says, "Not only is computing permeating our everyday lives, but there's so much potential for it to help solve some of the world's major problems and have significant social impact. This program will allow people from all backgrounds to participate in that." The cost and flexible structure of an online program are also draws. The total cost, tuition plus fees, is $26,360, which is about a third of the cost of the on-campus degree. You can continue to work a full-time job while attending the MCIT program part-time, or you might just prefer the independence an online class offers over the traditional classroom. To apply, you'll need a bachelor's degree from an accredited university, personal statement, two letters of recommendation, unofficial transcripts, résumé, and TOEFL scores (if applicable). You don't need to submit a GRE score, though the school says that they will be taken into consideration if submitted, and can boost your application.The program begins in the spring of 2021, and the application is now open through October 1, 2020.

UPenn is offering a relatively affordable online master's degree in computer science in the spring of 2021 that prepares students for a successful career in tech — here's how to enroll

<ul><li>The Ministry of Health <a href="https://www.mohfw.gov.in/">data</a> shows that there are 2,514 infected people, out of which 157 recovered and 56 died. </li><li>The World Bank approved $1 billion emergency funding for India to help it tackle the coronavirus pandemic.</li><li>Five people tested positive for COVID-19 in Bihar on Thursday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 29.</li><li>The Kerala High Court on Thursday stayed a state government decision to issue special passes to tipplers.</li></ul>It is day ten of a 21-day lockdown here in India. As the country entered the critical phase of Coronavirus pandemic, the number of coronavirus cases in India crossed the 2,500 mark. The Ministry of Health <a href="https://www.mohfw.gov.in/">data</a> shows that there are 2,514 infected people, out of which 157 recovered and 56 died. The total number of active cases stands at 2,301, which includes 55 foreign nationals. Coronavirus toll in Gujarat touches 8, a 7-year-old among new patients A 78-year-old man from Godhra died on Friday due to the coronavirus infection, taking the death toll in Gujarat to 8. Till Friday, total 95 persons were found positive in the state, including a seven-year-old among the new cases. The man from Panchmahals was admitted in the Savita hospital, Vadodara for the pandemic infection. "A female (60), a male (35), female (30) and a 7-year-old girl, all from a single family have been found positive from Bhnderi Pol in Kalupur area of Ahmedabad. All of them getting infected from a single source. A 68 year old male from Kalupur with a travel history to Delhi have also been found positive. All of them are admitted in the SVP Hospital. A male (62) and another male (17) both from Bapunagar admitted in the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital," said Jayanti Ravi, Gujarat principal secretary, Health and Family welfare Department. Prime Narendra Modi urges people to light candles, torches on April 5 at 9 pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that no one is alone at home during the lockdown in a speech today. He requested Indians to light candles, torches and mobile lights on balconies or windows for nine minutes on April 5 (Sunday) at 9 pm, after switching off all electric lights. “During this, people should ‘not’ gather together while doing this. No one should not break the principle of social distancing, which is the only way to break the chain of COVID-19,” he insisted. Misbehavior with nurses in Delhi On April 1, some of the participants of Tablighi Jamaat, who have been put in quarantine facilities in Delhi, have been misbehaving with healthcare staff and spat at the doctors and nurses. Quarantined migrants breach lockdown in UP Upset over being kept away from their families, migrant workers who have been quarantined in various districts in Uttar Pradesh, have now started running away from shelters. Reports coming in from districts say that an increasing number of quarantined workers are escaping the shelters, said IANS report. Officials, however, deny such reports and say that all is well with the quarantined. On Wednesday, 26 persons escaped from the shelter home in Faridipur in Sultanpur district where a total of 112 workers had been quarantined. Four of them were caught and brought back while 22 have not been traced yet. On the same day, in Hathras, 35 migrants, who had returned to the district in the past 15 days and were quarantined at Bisawar Primary School, escaped from the government facility at night. World Bank approves $1 billion emergency fund for India The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/world-bank-approves-1-billion-funding-for-india-200-million-for-pakistan-to-fight-coronavirus/articleshow/74957213.cms">World Bank has approved $1 billion emergency funding for India</a> to help it tackle the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed 76 lives and infected 2,500 people in the country. “In India, $1 billion emergency financing will support better screening, contact tracing, and laboratory diagnostics; procure personal protective equipment, and set up new isolation wards,” the World Bank said after its Board of Executive Directors approved the first set of emergency support operations for developing countries around the world, using a dedicated, fast-track facility for COVID-19 response. Third coronavirus case found in Asia’s largest slum Dharavi A 35-year-old doctor who has a clinic on the main road in Dharavi area of Mumbai tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, a civic official said. This is a third COVID-19 case where the patient has a connection with Dharavi, considered to be Asia’s biggest slum with a high population density. An official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said a doctor who had a clinic on Dharavi’s main road and who was also attached as a surgeon to a prominent private hospital tested positive for the virus. “The building where he lives will be quarantined, and all high-risk contacts will be traced,” the BMC official said. Bihar reports five new Coronavirus cases; total at 29 Five people tested positive for COVID-19 in Bihar on Thursday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 29, an official said. According to state epidemiologist Ragini Mishra, two women from Gaya, the wife and the mother of a coronavirus patient with travel history to Dubai, and as many men from Gopalganj, both of whom returned from the Middle East recently, tested positive. A resident of Saran district, who had recently travelled to the UK, also tested positive, she said. “Altogether, 1,973 samples have been tested in the state so far, of which 29 have tested positive,” Mishra told PTI. 9,000 Tablighi Jamaat members, primary contacts quarantined in the country: MHA About 9,000 Tablighi Jamaat members and their primary contacts have been quarantined till now in the country after the government undertook “massive efforts” as part of steps to check the spread of the novel coronavirus, a senior home ministry official said on Thursday. Hospital staff complain against Jamaat members’ ‘obscene behaviour’ Following complaints of “objectionable behaviour” by many members of Tablighi Jamaat -- in some instances singing obscene songs before the nursing staff — a joint probe by Ghaziabad police chief and Additional District Magistrate has been ordered. In a complaint, some Tablighi followers who were rounded up and taken by bus to Ghaziabad on Tuesday-Wednesday for a medical check-up after they had been to the Markaz headquarters — said to be the new coronavirus epicentre in the national capital — allegedly spat on police personnel and government officials. A section of staff in Ghaziabad-based M M G Government Hospital wrote in a complaint on Wednesday to the Chief Medical Superintendent that “many Jamaat members admitted in the isolation ward of the hospital were misbehaving with the employees and the nursing staff”. The Jamaat members, many of whom are corona suspects, were seen roaming around semi-nude in front of female nursing staff and singing obscene songs, the complaint said. Now, globally students can take TOEFL, GRE exams at home except China and Iran Global exams like TOEFL and GRE will be taken at home except in mainland China and Iran in view of the COVID-19 situation across the globe, according to the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The tests had been suspended across the globe following coronavirus outbreak. Shillong hospital to admit only critically ill non-COVID19 patients from other states A premier hospital of Shillong has decided that it will admit non-COVID19 cases from other states only if they are critically ill and certified so by the health authorities of the patients’ states, an official said on Friday. This is part of a precautionary protocol adopted by the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), an autonomous institute under the Union ministry of health and family welfare. The protocol, drawn up following a direction from the state government on Thursday, will be in force until the COVID-19 pandemic is over, NEIGRIHMS Director DM Thappa said. “Only critically ill non-COVID19 patients certified by the state health authorities concerned can seek treatment at the NEIGRIHMS, and only one attendant will be allowed to accompany the patient. However, such a person will have to be quarantined for 14 days as per government directives,” Thappa said. Kerala HC stays special passes for tipplers The Kerala High Court on Thursday (April 2) stayed a state government decision to issue special passes to tipplers, who have withdrawal symptoms and doctor’s prescription to purchase liquor from the Excise department. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/topic/coronavirus">Coronavirus News and Updates</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/narendra-modi-speech-and-highlights-on-april-3/articleshow/74959547.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Indian Prime Narendra Modi urges people to light candles, torches, and mobile flashlights on April 5 at 9 pm⁠— as a symbol of a unified fight against novel coronavirus</a>

Coronavirus cases in India crosses 2,500 mark, 157 cured and 56 dead

<ul><li>Many top universities have turned flexible with student intake, and lowered criteria to increase the number of falling foreign students, Akshay Chaturvedi, founder and CEO of Leverage Edu told Business Insider in an interview. </li><li>However, nearly 50% of the students look to defer foreign university admission. </li><li>To attract <keyword id="113647" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="International-students">international students</keyword>, higher education platforms and universities are now teaming up to conduct webinars, virtual university tours — allowing students to meet the school representatives for one-on-one conversations. </li><li>Ravneet Pawha, deputy VP at Deakin University Australia says that most universities are giving provisional offers, allowing the students to enroll fully once the entrances and other exam results are out.</li></ul>The Coronavirus pandemic has played spoilsport on what could have been the best year for Indians students to <keyword id="68134" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="study-abroad">study abroad</keyword>. Many top universities have turned flexible with student intake, and lowered criteria to increase the number of falling foreign students. “A lot of top schools have lowered the eligibility criteria slightly. They are giving GMAT, GRE waivers in terms of scores, extending deadlines etc. And this has never happened before in the last 20-25 years,” Akshay Chaturvedi, founder and CEO of online higher education platform Leverage Edu told Business Insider in an interview. ‘Nearly 50% of the students look to defer foreign university admission’ This year, half of applicants received a seat and most of them had even paid admission fees, according to a recent survey by Shiksha. But now these students are having second thoughts. They are concerned about health and other restrictions and choosing to delay plans to travel abroad for education, due to the Coronavirus scare. Nearly 50% of the students are considering the possibility of deferring to the future. Ravneet Pawha, deputy VP at Deakin University Australia believes that while the students are considering deferring their international study plans, the sentiment is ‘okay’. “Around the world, this is the time that students are finalising their destination, applying to universities. But this whole lockdown situation has changed the mindset of parents and students to think of international education. Having said that, students are wanting to defer but not cancel plans,” she said. The Great Lockdown effect The delay in admissions and classes at the university level is not encouraging either. While many universities have shifted to <keyword id="977497" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-classes">online classes</keyword> for even full-time courses for the current semester, students are preferring to defer to next year to enroll in the January 2021 batch because they are still unsure of the online model. “There will be a downturn in international students this year. Universities have already delayed the start of the September cohort. At this juncture, nobody would want to go,” Nitish Jain, President at SP Jain School of Global Management told Business Insider. To attract international students, higher education platforms and universities are now teaming up to conduct webinars, virtual university tours — allowing students to meet the school representatives for one-on-one conversations. “We are getting universities to do webinars every single day and we are directly connecting the applicants to the universities. Universities are also playing on frontfoot. They are ensuring students that, if for the worse the situation does not get better anytime soon, the classes would be conducted online throughout,” Akshay said. Universities extend provisional offers - before entrance exams For those applying to undergraduate colleges, the hurdle has come from exams itself, which have been delayed. And, final year students are awaiting their results. Students are not preparing for any exam that cannot be given online, and they are definitely not sitting for the international entrances like GMAT, GRE or TOEFL. In fact, many test centers across the globe have also closed down in the wake of Coronavirus. These test scores are necessary for graduate school admissions. Universities are now going the extra mile to woo students back. Pawha says that most universities are giving provisional offers, allowing the students to enroll fully once the entrances and other exam results are out. “You can start studying online, paying for one or two subjects for now and by August end, you can submit their final results,” she added. For instance, INSEAD recently became the first B-school that allowed aspiring MBAs to apply without test results. In spite of the many efforts, it looks like students will decide on their plans to study abroad only after the rate of infection ebbs. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/iim-calcutta-covidian-batch-of-mba-students-kick-off-classes-digitally/articleshow/75425281.cms">IIM Calcutta’s 'Covidian' batch of MBA students kick off classes digitally</a>

How international universities are dealing with enrollment and intake of Indian students

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Abby Jackson/Business InsiderIf you're deemed an "admit six" you probably made it through.</div></div></div><ul><li>Phillips Academy receives 3,000 applications each year but only accepts about 13%.</li><li>The admissions committee looks for characteristics of optimism, social agility, perseverance, and resilience in applicants.</li><li>The school calls an applicant with top scores from the admissions team an "admit six."</li></ul> It's not easy to gain acceptance to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/phillips-academy-tour-2017-10">Phillips Academy</a>, the Andover, Massachusetts boarding school pegged as the best high school in America.Of the more than 3,000 applications it receives each year, Andover only accepts 13%, dashing the hopes of many students vying for a slot.To get a glimpse into what the Andover admissions committee looks for in winning applications, Business Insider spoke with Jim Ventre, current dean of admissions and financial aid and himself an Andover alum."The quality [of the student body] isn't necessarily driven by just grade point average or test scores. It's really about the character and talent," Ventre told Business Insider.Ventre said that the admissions office looks for students with the characteristics of optimism, social agility, perseverance, and resilience.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Phillips Academy/Yoon ByunPhillips Academy.</div></div></div>Social agility is the "ability to recognize that you need help," Ventre said. "We try and cultivate a sense of self advocacy with our students." Students who make good use of mentors stand out during the admissions process.To get to know students better, Andover interviews every student who applies. It also relies on recommendation letters from parents and teachers to confirm that students can meet academic expectations.As for those academic expectations, it reviews standardized-test scores from the Secondary School Admission Test and the Independent School Entrance Exam, though Ventre said there is no exact cut-off for test scores. Every applicant is their own case.But for applicants whose first language isn't English, there is a cutoff for on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Students must score about a 100 - comparable to the score required at Harvard - to be considered as an applicant.Once every section of an application is complete, there is a three-part review - first by the admissions team, next by a team of faculty, and last by the Andover committee. Each group gives a score of one (lowest) to six (highest). The school calls applicants who score sixes across the board "admit six."Ventre stressed that final decisions are based on a holistic review of all components of an application."Not everyone has the same preparation, has the same opportunities, but in the context of where they are from and the opportunities that are available to them, we are looking for kids who make the most of those opportunities," he said. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/phillips-academy-andover-best-high-school-america-education-boarding-2017-10">Inside the best high school in America, which costs $53,000 a year</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

Here's what it takes to get into the best high school in America, an elite boarding school that feeds students into the Ivy League

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>As the number of Chinese students in U.S. colleges outpaces that of any other country, the journey to get into an elite American university has only gotten more cutthroat and students are rising to the challenge in strange ways.Think: Scalping tickets for tests, making up exotic adventures, and getting tutored at 1:00 am. China is already known for one rigorous exam that students spend years preparing for - the gaokao. The determining factor in a high school student's college placement, the gaokao is the cause of pressure, stress, and occasionally cheating among test takers.But as graduates emerge from Chinese universities without jobs, more high school students are directing their efforts overseas. Chinese students now make up 31 percent of all <keyword id="6356001" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="international">international</keyword> college students at U.S. universities, according to data from the Institute of International <keyword id="6355445" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Education">Education</keyword>.In contrast, gaokao test takers reached a <a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/edu/2013-05/07/c_124667008.htm">low in 2012</a> of about nine million since its peak of 10.5 million in 2008. <a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/edu/2013-05/07/c_124667008.htm">The Financial Times</a> reported that an additional million students backed out of the test last minute in 2013.The pressure that once came with the gaokao now falls for some students to the SAT, ACT, and TOEFL.Scott Wang, a high school teacher who works with students applying to U.S. universities, said the amount of studying that goes into these efforts has intensified."Five years ago, I couldn't convince a single person to even consider taking the ACT," Wang said. "I begged, I was like 'I will even pay for your testing fee if you take the test and get a good score, because I know you can,' - nothing. This year, half the students are ACT takers."Wang said wealthy parents especially have become more zealous about getting their children admitted to U.S. universities.One family refused anything less than a one-on-one tutoring session, asking Wang to tutor from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. - the only free time the student had. Another family sent their child to an SAT boot camp under the guise that they were going on vacation to Korea, Wang said.Parents have also hired multiple college application specialists at once. Wang said one of his students from last year went to three different tutoring companies for SAT training alone."Why are you bothering?" Wang had asked him. "He said, 'Well, my parents just want to be thorough."<h3>Trying to stand out</h3>The intense measures Chinese students go to during college applications is only representative of a fraction of the population. However, stories traded around the education industry highlight the competition that comes with wanting an education abroad. Traditionally, Chinese students have always been rigorous when it comes to academics and test-taking. For those that are doing everything to get into a U.S. university, the sheer number of high test scores has made standing out even harder.Cheng Ho, a Harvard graduate who has interviewed Chinese prospective students in Beijing, said he talked to tons of students with similar qualifications. If one student said she went to Africa to volunteer, a thousand other students will soon have the exact same thing on their resumes as well, Ho said."Chinese students are no different, they all have great grades," he said. "All they were ever taught was, 'You gotta do this, you gotta be number one, you still have to be number one.'"Another challenge facing students and schools is the difficulty in accurately evaluating all applicants. A student's aptitude for test taking may mask deficiencies in actual English or other capabilities, Guy Sivan said. Sivan is the COO of Vericant, a company that offers video interviewing services and identification verification for U.S. college and boarding school applicants.In their time at Vericant, Sivan and China director Kelly Yang have heard many reasons why such a service is necessary. One admissions officer, while speaking with a Chinese student over Skype, thought it was strange that the student had a black cat in her lap during the interview. Several minutes into the interview, the admissions officer realized that it wasn't a cat, but the hair from her mother's head as she whispered answers to the applicant.Another admissions office received ten applications from students of the same school, all claiming to be the top student at the school. Sivan said this kind of occurrence is very common."It's very, very high stakes, it's basically your path of life," Sivan said. "And people have different senses of what's possible or not possible to do."Giving admissions officers personalized books cataloging students' achievements has also become a common practice. Sivan remembered seeing one hardcover book that charted a student's arctic expedition. Unfortunately, because these additional materials are hard to verify, they often only carry entertainment value, piled into a corner of the admissions office."From the student's point of view, this is a way to get the attention of the admissions officer, to show something very, very impressive," Sivan said. "It's sad, but I think in most cases it's not really honest, and that's why the admissions officers ... they already kind of figure out, 'We can't really take it seriously, we can't really consider it.'"<h3>Money for the middleman</h3>Wealthier families have an inherent advantage in the landscape, since they are able to afford the test fees and services that will make a student more competitive. Because of this, there's a lot of money to be made by those in the industry.In the frenzy to get the best scores, some students ends up taking tests like the TOEFL multiple times in a few months. This makes it very difficult to get a testing seat, so students have to travel to remote areas of the country in order to take the exam.Kelly Yang said the demand has turned into a market for scalping test seat tickets. Referred to as huangniu, literally translated to 'yellow cow,' ticket scalpers buy up seats for tests, then sell them at a higher price, Yang said. Although she said it was most common with sporting event tickets, the operations had recently moved over to student exams. Yang discovered the trend while helping someone look for a September TOEFL test seat, and couldn't find any earlier than December."We searched online and said, 'What if I can't get the test date I want?' she said. "It said 'Go to huangniu.'"While some parents and students have become very well-versed in U.S. college admissions, others are willing to pay high premiums for agents and consultants to do all the work. This has created an environment in which it is very easy to take advantage of hopeful students and parents.As a result, some companies may end up over-promising.With expectations rising, teacher Scott Wang said he's seen parents demand their child get into a top school with an average GPA and SAT score, even though the likelihood is very low. "The problem is that in this city there's always going to be somebody out there who's like, 'Yeah, we can make that happen,'" Wang said. "And they'll go there, hoping against hope that something's going to be possible when it's not."

The unbelievable things some Chinese students are doing to get into US colleges

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div><ul><li>Our president is an extremely prejudiced man and also an extremely superficial one.</li><li>Some conservatives have been trying to make this week's immigration conversation about skills, but that's not what Trump says he wants, as evidenced by his alleged outbursts against what he called "shithole countries" on Thursday.</li><li>The president's prejudice causes him to make snap judgments about people, and his superficiality makes him incapable of processing information that might reverse his prejudices.</li></ul> President Donald Trump has said he <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-meeting-national-governors-association/">likes to seek out appointees from "central casting,"</a> who have a physical appearance that suggests they can perform their job duties. He is proud, for example, that Mike Pence is a "central casting" vice president.He rejects other job candidates for superficial reasons - for example, The New York Times reported he told aides Sen. Bob Corker, at five-feet, seven-inches tall, was <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/us/politics/trump-corker-feud-tweet-liddle-bob.html?hp&amp;action=click&amp;pgtype=Homepage&amp;clickSource=story-heading&amp;module=first-column-region&amp;region=top-news&amp;WT.nav=top-news">too short to be Secretary of State</a>.He thinks a judge can't provide him a fair trial if that judge is "Mexican" - actually of Mexican descent, born in Indiana.He'll hire a Jewish lawyer or doctor <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/12/why-does-trump-hire-terrible-docs-and-lawyers.html">even if that person is manifestly incompetent</a>, because Jews are good at those things.And <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-shithole-immigration-haiti-african-countries-2018-1">he doesn't want immigrants from "shithole countries."</a>All these things are related. They all stem from the fact that our president is an extremely prejudiced man and also an extremely superficial one.Some conservatives have been trying to make this week's immigration conversation about skills - insisting the president wants changes to immigration law to prioritize immigrants who are educated and speak English. But that's not what the president himself said he wanted on Thursday.He said he doesn't want immigrants from "shithole" places like Haiti, or countries in Africa."Why do we want these people from all these shithole countries here?" he asked.Trump's objection to African immigration is no more related to TOEFL scores than his choice not to nominate Corker was about his votes in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.The president's prejudice causes him to make snap judgments about people, and his superficiality makes him incapable of processing information that might countermand his prejudices. Corker is too short, and, as implied by Trump's alleged remarks on Thursday, the Africans are too black.Erick Erickson asked this question rhetorically, but I think it's worth addressing:This is not how the president thinks about it.President Trump can't focus on the idea that this theoretical Ghanaian immigrant wants the American dream, or that the white, blond Norwegian has fundamental values disagreements with him.He sees the Norwegian guy and sees a "central casting," Americanized immigrant. The Ghanaian did not come from central casting. In the president's view, he came from a shithole.You might think this isn't about race, that it's just a rich-country, poor-country thing, but then you'll notice the president isn't clamoring for more Japanese immigration to the US.I think the president is <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-shithole-comment-gives-up-immigration-game-2018-1">somewhat mistaken</a> about the extent to which the immigration bills he has endorsed would serve the racist goals he has. In part because he is so superficial and so prejudiced, he doesn't realize how many Africans have the qualifications to pass the skills tests that would be established by a law like the RAISE Act.Of course, the overall decrease in immigration under RAISE would slow the pace of diversification, which itself would serve the president's goal of a whiter country. But the president's intentions matter a great deal, and so do his words.That the president wants an immigration policy aimed at making the country whiter, so more of the people who live here look like they came from central casting, is horrifying, regardless of the actual effects of policies he makes.<div></div> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/animated-map-of-200-years-us-border-territory-changes-2016-1">Here's how the map of the United States has changed in 200 years</a></h3> <div> </div> </div></hr>

Trump governs by prejudice, and not just the usual kind of prejudices

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Microsoft&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Microsoft</a> Accelerator’s Bangalore Demo Day was held on June 23rd. The program is a three- to four-months intense <keyword id="3441132" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="boot-camp">boot-camp</keyword> that’s aimed at helping entrepreneurs get through the challenges of building a company, finding customers and scaling to global markets. 
 
Seven accelerators have been located around the world. These programs have a focus on enterprise startups. The Think Next program in Bangalore showcased late stage startups with enough traction in various verticals including retail, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=ecommerce&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">ecommerce</a> and healthcare. 
 
Here is a list of the startups that applied to this program: 
 
1. <a href="http://www.admissiontable.com/" target="_blank">Admission Table</a> – Imagine a single place for everything to study overseas – university short listing, admission counseling, scholarships and financing, and tutoring for SAT/ GRE/ GMAT/ TOEFL/ IELTS – all on your mobile in real-time. 
 
2. <a href="http://www.altizon.com/" target="_blank">Altizon</a> – Altizon is the world’s first Industrial Internet Platform Company focused on making Enterprises IoT (Internet of Things) ready. 
 
3. <a href="https://www.reportbee.com/">ReportBee</a>- The next-generation smart report cards for schools – is a new age data analytics startup that makes education data more insightful for students, teachers, parents, school administration, and education eco-system partners. 
 
4. <a href="http://www.aureusanalytics.com/" target="_blank">Aureus Analytics</a> – Aureus Analytics provides platform and products to bring the power of big data analytics at the point of decision for Insurance and Banking. 
 
5. <a href="http://www.babychakra.com/" target="_blank">Baby Chakra</a> – BabyChakra is the fastest growing online platform that connects expecting mothers and new parents to services and products that makes parenting a less tedious affair. 
 
6. <a href="http://www.calm.io/" target="_blank">Calm.io</a> – Calm.io is a DevOps platform for orchestrating cloud operations comprising of containers, micro services and virtual machines in cloud-native, on-premise and hybrid deployment environments. 
 
7. <a href="http://www.distiman.com/" target="_blank">Distiman</a> – Distiman allows Mom and Pop retailers in India to double their profit with just-in-time procurement, right from their smartphones. Distiman canopies more than 160 brands and nearly a million retailers. The company is profitable with more than $1 million. 
 
8. <a href="http://www.locus.sh/" target="_blank">Locus</a> – Locus is a state-of-the-art delivery automation platform which uses advanced algorithms to automate logistics of an on-demand business and provide better end-customer experience. It offers proprietary route deviation engine, order dispatch automation, field user app, route optimization, end customer tracking, and predictive analytics. 
 
9. <a href="http://www.tarnea.com/">Tarnea</a>- Tarnea SmartMile™ platform is an open B2B2C platform for transaction and collaboration for the unorganized retailers. It allows them to deploy a cloud-based IT solution for their in-store automation, and simultaneously transact and collaborate with their upstream supply chain of distributors and manufacturers. 
 
10. <a href="http://go.reverieinc.com/" target="_blank">Reverie</a> – Reverie, as a service platform, encompasses technologies for delivering multilingual content to users across devices and includes intelligent transliteration &amp; localization APIs along with local language keypad. 
 
11. <a href="http://www.stridessoftware.com/" target="_blank">Strides</a> – Strides enables safe, better quality, and high availability of blood components. Their product ‘Safetrans’ facilitates blood transfusion rules to support good transfusion practices, tracks, and records. It also acts on each step of the blood transfusion process – right from the donor selection to the blood component being transfused into the patient. 
 
12. <a href="http://www.yellowmessenger.com/" target="_blank">Yellow Messenger</a> – Yellow Messenger is a one-stop mobile app with an Artificial Intelligence-powered chat interface to discover, enquire, and shop from millions of brands and stores both off and online. It enables users to shop lifestyle products and electronics, book travel packages, make mobile recharges and bill payments, order from neighboring grocery stores, book home services, make restaurant reservations, and order food over a simple chat interface. 
 
<a href="https://c.s-microsoft.com/en-in/CMSImages/img4.JPG.jpg?version=bb663a6d-63a7-36c6-3063-722d44b868a7">Image Source</a>

Here are the 12 exciting Indian startups
that graduated from Microsoft’s Accelerator program

<div type="image" msid="54362720" hostid="261"></div> About 1 in 10 applicants were accepted last year at the <keyword id="70846" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Harvard-Business-School">Harvard Business School</keyword>, the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and <keyword id="42639" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="wharton">Wharton</keyword> – all of them are the top ranked <keyword id="112381" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="business-schools">Business Schools</keyword> in the world. 
 
What really distinguishes that one candidate who was accepted from the rest? Is there a way we can get sure-shot ways of knowing the parameter used for judging candidates during interviews? Maybe not. 
 
But we can definitely get closer to perfection if we get an insider’s perspective, basically get to know about the kind of people who study at let’s say HBS, their qualities, their background and their personality. 
 
So we collated answers from the posts of several Quora users as well as spoke to some of them, all of whom also happen to be studying or ex-graduates from HBS, and produced a list of what could help you to land into the world’s top B-school if you're an Indian. Here are some key points that caught our attention: 
 
Apply by your mid 20's: 
HBS students are actually younger than the students at the other Top 10 MBA colleges. Richard Ludlow, who started studying at HBS early last year says – “Bulk of students are 24-26 years old and 3-4 years out of school.” 
 
The sweet-spot for applying is when you have around 3 years of experience after graduating. The more experience you have, the lesser the chances of getting in. 
 
Consulting is the clearest path here <keyword id="6372399" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="McKinsey">McKinsey</keyword> Business Analysts have a 92% success rate in getting into at least one of HBS and Stanford GSB. Richard wrote in his Quora post- “People will tell you that consultants are a dime a dozen and you're much better off doing something more interesting, but the fact of the matter is that 1 in 4 students in the entering class had worked at McKinsey, Bain, or BCG.” 
 
Write that essay with a lot of love 
Ben Schumacher, another ex-HBS graduate, keeps it short and simple - Love your essays. “Each essay needs to be a gem that unfolds a new layer about you, further differentiating you from the crowd. Also, if you're from a traditional background, lean more toward writing about activities outside of work than you initially think." 
 
It’s a must to get these three things right - Talent, passion, purpose 
Tyler Cormney, an MBA admissions consultant as well as a HBS graduate, says he found three common denominators in students – “They all had talent, passion, and purpose. Of course, they were competing with highly-qualified candidates who also had talent, passion, and purpose. The secret sauce, if you'll forgive the expression, appears to be the way in which those three ingredients combine to create a compelling leadership identity. The successful candidates proved in their application and interview that they had impressive talents fueled by exceptional passion and directed by a clear sense of purpose.” 
 
Emphasize what makes you a great leader 
Meanwhile, Richard says - “HBS really does try to select for people that will be leaders in business and society, not people who will be great individual contributors. They simply love applicants that show both leadership potential and technical skill.” 
 
While all of these opinions really count before you move to applying in HBS, it won’t hurt to know from Harvard itself, the three things it looks out for in students: 
 
A Habit of Leadership 
“Leadership may be expressed in many forms, from college extracurricular activities to academic or business achievements, from personal accomplishments to community commitments. We appreciate leadership on any scale, from organizing a classroom to directing a combat squad, from running an independent business to spearheading initiatives at work. In essence, we are looking for evidence of your potential.” 
 
Analytical Aptitude and Appetite 
Harvard Business School is a demanding, fast-paced, and highly-verbal environment. 
 
“We look for individuals who enjoy lively discussion and debate. Our case and field-based methods of learning depend upon the active participation of prepared students who can assess, analyze, and act upon complex information within often-ambiguous contexts. The MBA Admissions Board will review your prior academic performance, the results of the GMAT or GRE, and, if applicable, TOEFL iBT and/or IELTS, and the nature of your work experience. There is no particular previous course of study required to apply; you must, however, demonstrate the ability to master analytical and quantitative concepts.” 
 
Engaged Community Citizenship 
“So much of our MBA experience - including the case method, section life, and student-organized events - requires the active collaboration of the entire HBS community. That's why we look for students who exhibit the highest ethical standards and respect for others, and can make positive contributions to the MBA Program. The right candidates must be eager to share their experiences, support their colleagues, and teach as well as learn from their peers. We want applicants who have these traits, as well as bring a variety of skills, accomplishments and aspirations. In each class, we create a dynamic environment that mirrors the breadth and depth of our world economy. Our promise to our faculty and to every student here is to create a class of 900 students who come from as many different backgrounds and perspectives as possible.” 
 
We hope this helps you in your quest. All the best! 
 
(Image credits: Reuters)

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