Crime rate in USA

You may be excited going to USA for higher studies, but you should be aware of your surroundings where you are going to spend a considerable amount of time of your life. It is better to be cautious if you are going to pursue masters/Phd in the USA as the crime rates are too high.

Rank	State	Rate/year
1	South Carolina	766
2	Tennessee	760
3	Nevada	742
4	Florida	712
5	Louisiana	698
6	Alaska	688
7	Delaware	682
8	Maryland	679
9	New Mexico	643
10	Michigan	562
11	Arkansas	552
12	Missouri	546
13	Illinois	542
14	California	533
15	Texas	516
16	Arizona	501
17	Oklahoma	497
18	North Carolina	476
19	Georgia	471
20	Massachusetts	447
21	Pennsylvania	439
22	New York	435
23	Alabama	425
24	Kansas	425
25	Colorado	392
26	New Jersey	352
27	Ohio	350
28	Washington	346
29	Indiana	315
30	Minnesota	312
31	Mississippi	299
32	Wisconsin	284
33	Iowa	284
34	Virginia	282
35	Nebraska	282
36	Hawaii	281
37	Connecticut	281
38	Oregon	280
39	West Virginia	280
40	Kentucky	263
41	Montana	254
42	Idaho	247
43	Wyoming	240
44	Rhode Island	228
45	Utah	224
46	South Dakota	171
47	New Hampshire	139
48	Vermont	137
49	North Dakota	128
50	Maine	116

University Decisions 2016

Wondering if you can make it to your dream university?
Are you still in dilemma whether to apply to the university based on your profile?

Then this is the perfect place to be right now, guess why?
We are going to give you the access to our previous year's data of all the decisions of the universities of USA.

Click the link to view the admission decisions of 2016

Admit Reject 2016

On-Campus vs Off-Campus Jobs in US Universities

Once we come to US as student, we all try to  find ways to support ourselves. We try not to ask parents for money either it is for fees or for expenses. Typically students do two kinds of Jobs. One is legal and other is illegal on F1 visa. Let me explain you the differences and what are those.

What is an On Campus Job ?  

As the name says, you work “On Campus ” and it is part time. There is a cap of 20 hrs per week if you are a full time international student and working beyond 20 hrs is against the rule. You can only work  for more than 20 hrs in Summer, when you are not taking any classes. Technically, if you are not enrolled in classes, you can work full time up to 40 hrs in summer term.

So, what kind of On campus jobs do you get to do ?

On campus jobs are typically jobs meant to support the University operations. Typically, jobs like working in library shelving books, working in Computer Labs taking care of printers, terminals, etc. Working in cafeterias, receptionist in an university’s offices, Admin kind of stuff in several offices like international students office or academic affairs office.  In fact, a decent size university would have quit a few of these on-campus jobs and you should be able to get one, if you search well. Working On-Campus is legal and allowed by immigration law.  Also, for some of these jobs you may get tuition waivers and it only depends on school and type of job.  Typically tuition fee waivers are common for  Teaching assistantship (TA), Graduate  Assistantships (GA) and Research assistantships. 

How much can you make in On-Campus  Job ? 

Well, it depends a lot on the state minimum wage that you are working in and the University classification for a job.  You can make anywhere from 7 to 12 dollars or more.  It amount per hour varies by state.  Imagine you get 7 USD per month, then on an average ( if you work 20 hrs ) per month 20 x 4 x 7 = $560.  

What are Off-Campus Jobs  ?

Unlike above, you do not work on campus. You work outside of campus. Anything that is not affiliated with University is called Off campus Job. Typically, it is ILLEGAL to work off campus if you are on F1 Visa, unless you get an exception and waiver from school for severe economic hardship.   It is not very uncommon for students to engage in some sort of off campus job because they do not have a choice to support themselves. You see students take this path, when they are having hard time finding jobs on campus and in need for money.  From Immigration perspective, if not approved by school, it is totally illegal and you can get into big trouble and even get deported.

What are the kinds of Off-campus  jobs ?

Typically, working in a Gas station as cashier and doing other work ( this is what people talk about students back in India, saying he was cleaning floor and stuff filling petrol ) , working in a Motel as front desk person to handle customers ( just like lodge in India working at front desk ), working in different stores in Malls, Working at restaurants ( Food is free, may people do this ) or anything like Mc Donald or Subways which are owned by Desis, Working in Desi stores, etc…

How much do you make Off Campus :

It all varies by negotiation and state minimum wage. As it is illegal to work without proper authorization from school, students are paid anywhere from 5 to 10 dollars. It depends on the type of job, it is up to your boss to decide. But, most of the times the owners are good and they pay around market rate. Some good students get carried away by the money they see in off campus and ruin their education. So, it has to be watched out carefully and not advised to work off campus.

Did you work on-campus or off-campus ? What has been your experience ?

Career Fairs in USA

Register at the students’ registration desk, put on your name-tag and collect the career fair guide.  Go to your target companies’ tables first. You might get overwhelmed by the number of companies participating and might not get enough time to talk to your entire target list.  Hence, start with them first.

How to talk to  employers/company on your target list at Career Fair

When you see a company that you want to talk to, wait in line if the employers are busy talking to other candidates. You do not want to be rude and ruin their conversation. On your turn, greet the employer with a smile and a firm handshake. Introduce yourself. You should have a short introduction of yourself – your summary – to catch the recruiter’s interest. Remember, there are many students like you and you surely want to stand out. You may want to hand over a copy of your resume to the recruiter. The recruiter will then explain you about the company and jobs available. Show genuine interest and try to strike a conversation. However, never ask, “What does your company do?” This is extremely rude and might offend the recruiter. Talk to them about your interests in the field and your background as it relates to the jobs they have. The recruiter might ask you some questions based on your resume. Be prepared!

Sometimes, employers might not accept a paper copy of your resume. They, instead, suggest you to register online on their company’s job portal. If you are handed out any brochures, take them for use later. However, although tempting, do not greedily pick up freebies (pens, notepads, knickknacks) – it just spoils the great impression that you have created.  Ask the employer for his/her business card for contacting later. If the person wishes not to provide you one, do not be disheartened – it may be the company policy not to hand out business cards at recruiting events. Thank the employer and leave after a firm handshake. Visit as many companies as possible.

What NOT to do at career fairs?

• Do NOT show up in jeans and sneakers or even business casuals, for that matter, at the career fair.
• Do NOT greedily grab freebies – they are not worth much, anyways.
• Do NOT ask the employer what the company does! You should be aware about it. You, of course, should ask other details of the company.
• Do NOT spam your resumes at all company tables – it won’t get you a job, but will surely spoil your impression if some other recruiter spots you doing this.
• Do NOT jump lines or interrupt others. Speak only when it is your turn.

What should you do after the career fair? Follow Up !

Write a thank-you emails to all the recruiters you spoke to. Send an email either the same evening as the fair or the next day – you cannot afford to be late. However, write a separate email to each company. Do not send out a common generic email – it never works. Try and incorporate the conversation you had with the employer. It is advisable to attach a copy of your resume to the email. The employer might have lost/thrown the paper copy you had handed.   If you were instructed to register at the company’s job portal, do accordingly. Follow all instructions you were provided.

Do career fairs work?

Yes! Many students get interview offers after the career fair! Many others struggle just to get an interview call. Applying randomly to jobs works sometimes, but networking has a higher chance. And this is the easiest way to network. Sometimes, the recruiters at the career fair might be your interviewers. It surely helps to know the person before your interview.  Have a positive mind-set and remember to smile and be friendly. The last thing you want to do is to annoy a recruiter because of your grumpy nature!

Jobs in India after MS in USA

When you are planning to pursue higher education like MS or MBA in USA, you would need to first think of Why you would like to do MS in USA then decide your goals for doing MS in USA . Along the same lines, if you plan to return back to your home country, which is India in this article context, you need to also consider your job prospects in your home country.  I have worked in both the countries for a good amount of time and will share my thoughts and facts based on my conversations with my friends in recruiting and general job trends in India.

How do people perceive your  MS or MBA degree from USA ? Is it considered Fancy like degree from IIT or IIM ?

I did my MS and MBA from reasonably decent state schools…when I returned to India after MS and MBA, I was under the impression that my degrees would be valued decently. I was NOT expecting that people value it on par with IITs or IIMs. But, I was wrong, they are not perceived as of decent value, unless you have a degree from Ivy league or Stanford kind of top 10 schools.  Your MS or MBA is just equal to yet another M.Tech or M.Sc from an average school or any university India.  So, if you are going to be under impression that MS in US is of great value and will get me job here without any hassle, wake up !

How are the Job Prospects in India after MS in US ? What are the Job opportunities in India after MS in USA ?

If you are a freshly minted MS or MBA graduate from a US university looking for a job in India without any prior experience, you are out of luck. Unfortunately, you will be considered as a Fresher with M.Tech or M.Sc Degree holder in India.   Your job opportunities as a fresh MS degree holder from USA are just like any other M.Tech or MCA degree holder who could not get job in on-Campus selections and struggling to get a job off campus.   Also, most of the top tier companies, select freshers  by on-campus recruitment and you will not have the option to get picked by top tier companies, because you did not go to school in India. Another bad part is that you do not have any network of friends, who are freshers in India, who can help you with walk-ins and other information on job search…you are on your own. You need to just rely on online job application and personal references.

In a nutshell, your job opportunities in India after MS in USA, without any experience as a fresher, are very limited and you are up against a large crowd. It is not the best idea to compete against such large pool of Masters degree holders in India.  Also, if you are under the impression that I worked on-campus, here is another thing to consider…most of the times, your on-campus employment is not really considered as real work experience by many companies in India as you were studying full time. When my cousin included his RA/GA experience in US as work experience in his resume, the company just took that 1.5 years out of the overall experience and told that you were studying full time and we cannot include this experience. It is ironical, but that’s the fact.  Some small companies may consider, but many do not take it, just be cautious… In any case, as a fresh MS degree holder from America, you are just like another fresher here… So, what do you need to do ?

How to get a Job in India after MS in USA ?  What is the best way to increase your odds?

In India, getting a job is all about work experience…to be more specific, it is relevant work experience in that field that you are applying to work !  Recruiters just look at number of years of work experience in a particular field.  For instance, if you are applying for an IT job as a Developer or Tester, the recruiter would look your experience as a developer more specifically developer of that technology like Java, C++, Android, etc…  So, what should you do to get Job in India after MS in USA ?

During MS or MBA, you would have CPT, consider working on full time CPT in Summer and part time during school as well, it will add up as experience ( of course, you may need to convince them during interview) . After MS in USA, you would get either one year OPT or for 29 months, if you are from STEM Degree , you need to utilize that time and work in US for that 1 year or 29 months to get relevant experience that you can put in your resume. It is best if you can work for 29 months because you will be out of danger zone in India.  Most of the fraud resumes in India are of students who have under 2 years of experience.  Also, you should get certifications done in your field… in IT industry there are many certifications offered by Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, etc. Pick the one relevant to your field and complete it, you can possibly use that in your job search.  Also, if you can do any courses in your area of experience, it will help as well. Many small companies are interested in hiring trained candidates with one or two year experience, you can easily crack the interview and get a job in such cases.

Campus Placements in US Universities

Many of the international students are used to the concept of Campus placements or on-campus recruitment for getting Jobs, especially in counties like India.  It does not exactly work the same way in America. This article will focus on some facts about campus placements in USA universities.

Are there Campus Placements in American Universities? Do they Offer Job offers directly ?

If you were to ask anyone in a typical US university, they would be wondering about the term “placement” as they are not used to it much. Many call it On-campus recruitment.  Every US University has something called a Career Services Center, which will focus on helping you getting jobs, help you prepare for interviews, etc.    .

In a typical campus placement in India, there would be common exam conducted to about 500 or all students in a College and they pick the top 10% or 5%. But, recruitment works differently in US. Firstly, they would NEVER conduct a mass recruitment like what happens in India by conducting a general test.  Secondly, it is always driven by student interest.  Most of the times, companies that recruit through the university do NOT offer a job directly, rather they will offer you an internship or co-op. Companies would like to see you work for few weeks or months before they hire you full time. It is a great concept, because they get to see your work and you get a chance to prove yourself as well.

In general, top schools have tie-ups with fortune 500 companies. The University Career Center typically arrange something called a Career Fair, where you would get a chance to drop off your resume at a company’s  recruitment booth and understand about the company. Some time, they will do on the spot recruitment and offer internships…if not, they will reach out to you at later point of time. As a student, it is your responsibility to check and follow up with the recruitment teams.

Also, Career centers would have an internal job portal. You may need to pay some extra money to join that…But, the advantage is that you get to apply to jobs posted there by company recruiters. Some companies prefer to talk to students in person and then recruit, so they will circulate the job or internship by an internal posting and subsequently they will schedule interviews on –campus and then recruit you for an internship or job at times…

Summary

They key take away is that, there is no mass recruitment that you imagine in your home country. You need to work with the Career Services to get any jobs or internships.  Getting an internship or co-op is pretty much your opportunity to get a full time job and find your H1B Sponsor.  Also, going to a top school does not guarantee a job in US, you need to do your home work to get the internship. Depending on the school, each department will have its own career services center and one mega one for the whole university. You should work with your department career center and then go to the University common career center.

Credit Hours & Courses in US Universities

If you are an international student, you may have hard time in the beginning trying to understand what credit hour stands for and what are courses. Everyone around  you would be talking the credit hour lingo and courses….it can be frustrating..I was recently asked by one of our readers about credit hours as well, let me share some of my thoughts on credit hours.

What are credit hours ?

In simplistic terms, credit hour is the basic unit of measurement that count towards award of degree either bachelors or Masters.  Every degree would have its own set of requirements for credit hours…i.e. for instance, to obtain a bachelors degree usually schools may require anywhere from 110 to 140 credits depending on school…similarly for Masters, it may be anywhere from 30 to 39 or more depending on program.

What is the relation between course and credit hour ?

A course is measured in terms of credit hours. Based on the amount of work load and instruction hours, a course is assigned certain number of credits.  Basic courses may be like 1 credit or 2 credits in Undergrad. As you take higher level ones in Undergrad, they may be range 3 to 4 credits. In masters most of the courses are either 3 or 4 credits.

Credit hour work load, instruction time in class ?

This totally depends on school….but in general, each credit hour corresponds to one hour of lecture time in class per week. For instance, if you take a 3 credit class, you would have 3 hours of instruction in class.  Depending on school, a credit hour can have 2 to 4 hours of off class work like labs, home work, project work etc. What it means is, if you take 3 credit class, you may be required to study 6 to 12 hours outside of class to be able to do well in class.

Full time vs. Part time based on credit hours ?

In Masters level, typically, if you take 6 credits or less your status is considered part time. if you take 9 or more credit hours, then it is considered full time. It does not matter how many courses you take, what counts is the number of credits.For instance, you may take one 3 credit course and two 1.5 credit courses,  though you are taking 3 courses, still you are part time because you are taking less credits. In undergrad level, typically taking 12 credits is considered full time. Also, there may be limit on the number of credits you can take in a semester based on the school…