05 Costly College Admissions Mistakes

1 - Focusing on a very narrow field of colleges

This is admirable but foolish in the same stroke. If you are single-minded, ruthless and confident enough to go for just one college, then why not? With an attitude like that, you will probably get into any college you set your mind to. On the other hand, you may have to come to terms with the fact that you will not gain entry into that college. This leaves you with a few options. You can take a year off and try some other colleges next year, or in the meanwhile you can get more qualifications so that the college that rejected you will accept you. Another option is applying to lots of backup colleges--just in case your preferred one turns you down.

2 - Thinking that colleges want good all-round applicants

Colleges consider a good all-rounder to be a perk, and not a requirement. If an applicant is good all-round then it is a sign of academic expertise, which is a good selling point for them. However, if you are applying for a degree in biology, and you aced your science exams, it won’t matter if you did poorly in English, French and geography, etc.

3 - Thinking that the essay has to be perfect

It does have to be good and well written, but perfection is not what the colleges are looking for. They are looking for people who are not going to drop out. They are looking for people who have the motivation and brains to do well in their college. They are looking for people who are not going to bring disgrace to the school. It is up to you to address all of these issues (without making it obvious that you are doing it). You must be aware of those colleges’ priorities, and adhere to them, without appearing to adhere to them.

4 - Thinking they won’t check your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIN, etc

This is foolish because even though the colleges do not have the time to go through and background check everyone, they do have the time to check social media and to Google your name online. If you have assured them that you do not drink or smoke drugs, and have pictures of you with a beer bong in one hand and a smoke bong in the other, your application will go down the toilet.

5 - Thinking that VIP recommendations matter more than they do

They do matter a lot, but only if they are from very important people. For example, Prince Harry in Britain got a recommendation to Eton by his dad Prince Charles, and his grandma the Queen. His recommendation must have mattered because he only came out of Eton with a B in art, and E in geography. So they do matter but other factors such as your academic achievements, past glories, essay, interview, enthusiasm and lack of criminal history, are going to play a much bigger role (unless you know the royal family).

About the Author:
This guest post was contributed by Alice N. She is a writer for essay writers review website.

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Finding the Right U.S. College or University

Currently, United States colleges and universities enroll more students from India than from any other nation.  Among the reasons for that is that many United States institutions of higher education actively recruit Indian students by opening admissions offices in major Indian cities and/or by working closely with educational consultants who specialize in assisting students in identifying and gaining admission to colleges and universities meeting their individual needs.

Although an experienced educational counselor can help students navigate through the college selection and enrollment process, professional assistance is not necessary if a student is motivated enough and follows the simple step-by-step process below.

First of all, it is important to begin the process no later than eighteen months prior to the date upon which a student wishes to begin his or her studies.  Starting earlier than that is even better.  Step one is to put together a list of colleges to explore by asking questions like what field(s) of study interest you, where you would like to be located, how large an institution appeals to you, which colleges are most likely to offer you admission, and which are within your budget.  Financial issues can prove to be a bit of a deterrent, since many U.S. colleges do not award significant scholarship assistance to international students studying at the undergraduate of masters degree level, but there are exceptions; some private colleges and universities with large endowments offer generous scholarships and/or financial aid to high-achieving international students, especially in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields of study.  And, almost all PhD programs offer funding to students, often in exchange for teaching or research-related duties.

Graduate students might also want to spend some time on the Internet putting together a list of colleges and universities which have faculty engaged in research in their primary area of interests.  Finding  a faculty member that is doing research in their primary area of interest is likely to improve a graduate student’s chances of admission and increase the likelihood of him or her being offered a good financial aid package.  Also, of course, it almost fully ensures a great academic experience.
Undergraduate applicants would be well advised to put together a “wish list” of important college features to help them decide which colleges to eliminate quickly and which merit further consideration.  Indian students may prefer a college with an already established community of students from India and/or a college with a culturally and geographically student body and/or faculty.  Their wish list might also include study abroad options, self-designed majors, independent study options, internships, and good graduate and professional school placement rates.  Putting together a comprehensive wish list takes some thought, but it winds up being a great time and energy saver, there’s no doubt about it.

While researching colleges and universities, remember that most publish a profile of their incoming freshman class which includes their secondary school grade point averages, class rank, ACT or SAT scores, and other relevant data.  If the profile is not a part of the website, prospective students should contact the Office of Admission or the Enrollment Management Office.  It would be a mistake for a student to eliminate a college because he or she does not fully meet the freshman class profile, and it would be equally foolish to become too confident about being admitted to a college on the basis of comparing yourself to the statistically “average” freshman.  However, by comparing himself/herself to recently admitted students, an applicant should get a pretty good idea of his or her chances.

There are no hard and fast rules, but it’s generally recommended that students narrow their initial list down to no fewer than 6 colleges;  a “reach” college to which they hope to be admitted, 3 colleges likely to admit them, and 2 “safety” schools to which admission is almost certain.  Here is where some students make a serious mistake.  It is important to choose safety schools they would be truly happy to attend, not just institutions virtually guaranteed to admit them.  That way, their college search is bound to have a happy ending.

Unfortunately, most of the inbound students from other countries often consider only the colleges with which they are already somewhat familiar and/or extremely selective institutions like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, etc.  In fact, there are numerous colleges and universities in the United States you have never heard of which can offer you a great education and a terrific four year experience.  Students who immediately rule out colleges with unfamiliar names often do themselves a great disservice.

Ideally, students should visit at least 2-3 of the colleges that admitted them before making a final selection.  However, if the required time and/or the cost makes that impossible, most colleges will arrange to have admitted students meet with admissions and/or international student office personnel via Skype or a similar video communications tool.

At that point, students can get answers to any remaining questions they may have.

Author Bio:
Dan Rosenfield has served several colleges as a Director of Admission, Dean of Admission, and Dean of Enrollment Management.  He now publishes higher education websites including http://www.college-scholarships.com and http://www.online-degrees-and-scholarships.com.

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Engineering - The Most Popular Discipline Among Young Indians

The idea of engineering existed in the world since ancient times when humans made important inventions like lever, pulley and wheel. The earliest examples of engineering marvel can be traced back to the ancient times. Structures like the Acropolis, Pantheon, Colosseum, the Pyramids of Egypt and the Great Wall of China are all examples of engineering marvels.

Later in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries with the Industrial revolution, engineering as a field started developing when the first steam engine was built in 1698 by Thomas Savery. Slowly various branches of engineering started developing which included fields like mechanical, chemical, civil and so on. With the passage of time educational institutes were established that started offering courses on engineering. The oldest engineering college of the English speaking world is the School of Engineering, Trinity College, Dublin established in 1841.

In the Indian subcontinent, the history of engineering can be traced back to the days of the Indus Valley Civilization. Highly sophisticated drainage system and water storage systems exhibit the skills of the then engineers. Later, colonial India witnessed the growth and spread of science and engineering in leaps and bounds. Several Indian scholars were exposed to the western thoughts and science that gradually led to educated Indians accepting the discipline of engineering. Once recognized as a discipline, there increased a demand for engineering colleges in India. The first engineering college of the country was established in 1794, in Guindy, Tamil Nadu. It was affiliated to Madras University in 1859.

Later, as an independent nation, India entered into war with China in1962 (Sino-Indian War) and suffered huge loss and destruction. This led to swift changes in the country’s military policy. This was followed by India winning two successive wars against its neighbour Pakistan; one in 1965 and another in1971 where India helped in liberating Bangladesh from Pakistan’s colonialism. Definitely India’s engineers and military power was at the right place.

Post-Independence the country saw the establishment of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) at Kharagpur, West Bengal. This opened the door to higher studies in engineering in India. By 1961, four more IITs were set up. With the passage of time, a demand for engineers increased and more and more young Indians aspired to become engineers. This led to the established of engineering colleges across the country. Engineering colleges were established in cities like Delhi/NCR, Bangalore, Kolkata and Mumbai. Gradually private players jumped into the field and became a dominant player. Many engineering colleges in Delhi/NCR are affiliated to private universities.

Even in an era of choices, engineering still dominates as a discipline which every science students would aspire to pursue after completing high school. There are more than 3000 engineering colleges in India, with a capacity of around 15 lakh seats across 36 courses, which have been approved by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE).

It is a fact that, an institute plays a vital role in providing a good platform for students. Globalization has helped India in becoming the cynosure of technical optimism. Demand for Indian engineers is high both nationally and internationally. There are several engineering colleges in the country offering degree in engineering. Delhi, the country’s capital is home to some of the best engineering colleges of the country.

Engineering colleges in Delhi/NCR offer a wholesome learning experience to its students. They are exposed to the latest trends in the market. The institutes follow unique methods of education that ensures overall development of the students and prepare them to face the corporate world with full confidence. Apart from the Indian Institute of Technology, (IIT Delhi), other engineering colleges of Delhi/NCR include Delhi College of Engineering, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, Engineering College for Women, Amity School of Engineering and Technology and many more. So those who are willing to pursue a career in engineering can try the engineering institutes in Delhi.

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Department of Psychiatry at AIIMS has Much Work to Boast of

The following blog's post focuses on the Department of Psychiatry at AIIMS.

The Department of Psychiatry at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) was started in 1962. The department excels not only in providing training but also imparting education. The department also deals with providing training in Psychiatry in General Hospital setting in India. It can be said that AIIMS is known to establish psychiatry as just another medical specialty. The department has made path breaking contributions towards the field of Psychiatry. One such attempt was the development of rural mental health services with the help of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The ICMR funded the mental health project at the Ballabgarh Community Centre way back in 1964.

Another path breaking achievement of the department happens to be the introduction of the First Child Guidance Clinic in Delhi again in 1964. Later on the department was instrumental in forming the De Addiction Centre in 1976 which later went on to become the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre. The centre is now attached with AIIMS.

Of late, the department of Psychiatry has been witnessing a gross imbalance in the demand and supply of services in this department. This is because with the passage of time, the number of patients requiring psychiatric treatment has increased in leaps and bounds. This is precisely reason why there has been an imbalance in the services of the Department of Psychiatry.

When inquired, doctors were found saying that, other hospitals should be upgraded so that it helps AIIMS in running a parallel centre pertaining to Psychiatry and related field. The department of Psychiatry’s registration takes place in the normal procedure. The main registration counter opens at 8 in the morning and shuts down by 10. However, in the case of Psychiatry, patients’ cards are not accepted at the registration counter after 9 am. So, those who get a card after 9, has no other option but to come back the next day. According to norms, only 80 cards are issued against 300 to 400 applications that take place on a regular basis.

The institute has restricted on the number of patients that can be checked in the OPD every day. For the department of Psychiatry, since the number has been reduced to only 40, it has led to imbalance in the Department. However, doctors have a different story to narrate. According to them, every patient visiting the department requires a little more attention than that of others visiting any other department.

Currently the Department of Psychiatry’s main objective is to develop highly trained workforce, proper curriculum and techniques for undergraduates as well as postgraduates, an added benefit for students pursuing their medical studies in Psychiatry from AIIMS.

Other areas of focus of the department happen to be the epidemiology of substance abuse clubbed with general mental health. Students specializing in the field of Psychiatry are trained through outpatient, inpatient, community based, and family based mental healthcare.

All these have been included only because the number of patients visiting the Department of Psychiatry has increased manifold.

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Impact of technology on education

Technology and various communication processes have lead to the development of different sectors, and have added to their growth in a big way. We all have become technology freak and get highly attracted to the latest developments, which make our lives easier in one way or the other. Even the fundamentalism of our life has changed with the introduction of technology in almost every part of our lives. Starting from the early morning, our life is totally dependent on technology and hence has landed us to a stage where we just cannot live without the use of automated tools. To let the students learn the basics of these education processes, the colleges in India, have started introducing courses, which would train the students in the subjects pertaining to the latest demands of the industry.

The subjects have been modified and the curriculum has been set according to the requirement of the respective industry. Other than introducing courses as per the latest demands, the schools and colleges of India, have also started adopting the latest technologies to teach the students. Many new ways have been introduced in the country, which provide various opportunities to its students to enhance their skills and face the competition globally. The institutes and the colleges are no doubt trying to match the pace with the rest of the world, but our teachers and the dictators, imparting education to the students need to upgrade their skills.

It is highly imperative for the growth of the students to have well trained teachers. The teachers of the schools and colleges needs to be updated by the medium of workshops or training sessions, so that they are able to synchronise with the time and technology. We need to come over from the traditional method of teaching and adopt new methodologies of teaching. A solution needs to be brought out, which would be a mixture of the traditional and the technological ways, which would instil the all the latest developments in the students. 
Technorati:ZSPGCER9UFG2

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Give alphabets the shape of your imagination

Right career goal and the correct route to achieve that destination is the most important requirement these days. It is generally seen, that students tend to opt for a career field, which is in demand and which is preferred by a large number of other students. But I am sure there are students who have an urge to do something different and want to pave their route towards success in a different way. Today, I was reading about a career field, which would surely interest all the students with an inclination towards creativity and the course is calligraphy. I know it’s quite shocking, but it seems to be an interesting career opportunity for those blessed with the flavour of innovation and creativity. 

Career in calligraphy in today’s date is not only limited to handwriting, but it has also extended its arena in the fields of graphic designing and digital media. The students aiming for this career, needs to have a flair in writing styles and the proficiency over drawing creative images of words and producing new ways of writing alphabets and numbers. Beautifying a document and giving new meanings to it, is the main job of a calligrapher. There is no university course in calligraphy provided in India, but still there are many short term courses, which make a student earn proficiency in the field of calligraphy. Institutes like Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, New Delhi, Achyut Pallav School of Calligraphy, Mumbai, Calligraphy India, New Delhi, etc, are the ones which are renowned for providing calligraphy courses in India. 

There are many other institutes also, but before taking admission in those, you must check the credibility of the institute and the education provided by them. The scope of this career is growing day by day with its need in the various fields of designing like fashion designing and interior designing. So if you have the power of imagination, then you can surely rock the world of designing by learning the art of calligraphy. 

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Knowledge Utsav, the Largest R & D Conference in India

The Indian education system is setting new benchmarks everyday with one or the other achievements. After signing multi million education deals with US & UK and launching the proposal of Unique ID systems, next in line is the largest research and development (R & D) conference in India for the first time ever.

The conference to be held on August 28, 2010, Saturday is going to be a huge platform bringing 400 research papers from 44 disciplines along with over 100 inspirational talks. This meet named ‘Knowledge Utsav’ is to provide India the much needed R & D momentum by bringing together the brightest of the researchers and developers across various disciplines. This largest ever R & D event is organized by EDU.IN in association with Tumkur University and Jain Research Foundation (JGi) at the Jain University, Global Campus, Kanakapura Taluk, Bangalore Rural.

Those in education industry believe that despite the reforms introduced by the government, there is a long way to go to achieve academic success globally. The roadmap for 21st century needs to address the upcoming challenges to nurture future leaders. This Utsav is conceived with objectives of encouraging creative thinking while creating a platform for government, researchers, scientists and students to interact and exchange ideas. It has been emphasized time and again that India possesses immense talent and potential which is yet to be explored. The conference aims at lending a helping hand to aspiring researchers by providing them some visibility.

If any of the researchers, students, faculties, corporates, scholars or R & D Organizations are interested in participating in the Utsav, they need to apply by August 9. Those whose abstracts are selected after screening of the entries shall be intimated by August 12. This meet is sure to revolutionize the R & D sector in India.

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India and UK Join Hands to Prosper Education Sector

The education sector in India is reaching unprecedented heights with government signing deals worth crores of rupees with various countries. With the mission of spreading high quality education to students in India, the Ministry is collaborating with numerous foreign education institutions. Through various multi-million agreements and deals, exchange programs, workshops and other such efforts, the educations system is surely undergoing a transformation phase.

Some of the recent achievements in academic sector include India-US summit on higher education; investment of gargantuan amounts in technology institutes; extension of loans at cheaper interest rates through education loan camps; promotion of e-learning trends and adoption of Unique ID system. The latest feather added in the cap is finalizing of a 5 million pound deal with UK facilitated through the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI). The two nations are coming together to work on developing and disseminating education among students in both India and UK.

The Indo-UK deal involves setting up of new educational institutes and holding skill development & leadership programs. It includes focusing on assurance and maintenance of quality of the courses offered to the students. India and UK are equal partners in the deal i.e. both of them have invested 2.5 million pounds each after signing the MoU today on July 28. University Grants Commission (UGC), the Commission that allocates grants to Universities, has funded the share of nearly Rs. 18 crores on behalf of India.

UK has expressed interest in developing education with India as a partner by including the proposed Innovation Universities of our country on its agenda. It wishes to set up new institutes besides developing such universities and take it further. Indian education system is acknowledged worldwide and so, many countries are looking forward for active educational tie-ups. Such programs are expected to boost India’s education sector tremendously and take it to uncharted territories.

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Say NO TO RAGGING

College is a place, which gives new definitions to student’s life and welcomes the students to a new phase, where at every point they get to learn new things. Colleges in India are meant to make students learn different situations, so that they are further able to become competent enough to deal with the complications of life. One thing, which every student has to face is ragging, which is usually meant to introduce the students with the seniors and make them familiar with the college environment. But, with the changing times, the definitions and the ways in which the ragging is being conducted in colleges is changing drastically. Now ragging has become a tool, which is used by the seniors to humiliate the freshers and to make them realise their power. Due to which ragging has been started considered in the negative sense, and in fact it has caused a terror in the students, due to which they prefer not going to college in the first few days.

This has to be stopped, by any means it has to be. Though, ragging has taken the shape of a terrifying act performed by the seniors of the college, to harass the freshers in one way or the other, but somewhere, someone has to take a step ahead and put a ban on such degrading actions. There are many unions and groups formed in the colleges of India, which are for anti- ragging. But, it is still not working and many students are not following the rules and norms formed against ragging. They say ragging is for fun, but if we actually see, the kind of ragging practised in the colleges today are for the fun of seniors only, but for the freshers it becomes an embarrassment.

Therefore, before doing any such heinous act, first try and place yourself there, and feel the pain and humiliation, a student goes through, when he is being ragged. It is actually a crime, and moreover being a senior, you should welcome the freshers coming to your college in a cheerful manner and make them feel comfortable in the college environment. This would not only add value to your college, but you will also gain respect in the eyes of the new fuchas!!

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Government Adopting Latest Technology to Boost Education System

The Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry is coming up with a unique ID programme to monitor education system in India. This program is set to help millions of students across the country in various ways from their primary and secondary to higher education levels.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) will store the entire record of a student’s education. It will be made compulsory to enroll students in the programme from the first day of their school. UIDAI, based in New Delhi aims to assign 12-digit universal identity numbers to more than 600 million citizens in India over next four years. Some of the benefits of adopting Unique ID are listed below:

-Monitoring the education system

-Speeding up the education loan grant process

-Smoothening the repayment of study loans

-Tracking school and college dropouts

Moreover, it will help check forgery as banks will not have to worry about students showing fake educational qualifications to avail loans. It will prove to be of immense help to poor students and can propel dissemination of education across the nation.

The Unique IDs will contain photographs, fingerprints and iris scans but since these keep changing up to 18 years of age, the biometric identity of parents will serve as a foolproof measure. And as soon as the student turns 18, his/her photograph and biometric prints will be treated final for all future uses.

The discussions between Union Government and UIDAI are nearing completion with two rounds of consultations already done in last three months. It is one of the largest government schemes in several decades and so, many highly experienced professionals are roped in to implement the task effectively and in time. Since ‘UID is not a one-size-fits-all product’, the biggest challenge is to market the idea among citizens from every caste, region and religion while creating ‘want’ for this identity number.

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Modernizing Education in India

There has always been a debate in India over transforming the traditional education system into the contemporary one. Today, the way education is imparted is witnessing a transition with blackboard, chalk and duster being replaced by whiteboard and marker. It has become a two way interactive process rather than teacher teaching and students listening (or hearing in many cases).

Everything in the education system is changing from the look of the classroom in schools and colleges to the learning process via use of technology. The conventional methods of teaching or rote learning are now inching towards modernity with tech based learning becoming immensely popular. Various schools and colleges have come of age and are adopting e-learning ways to walk hand in hand with the rapidly changing world scenario, trends and technologies.

E-learning has become an indispensable part of learning in the current times. Other countries have been following it from ages but it is comparatively newer to Indian domain. The low literacy rate and the lack of access to computers and internet have been detrimental to the progress of education sector in the country. Though learning process has improved by leaps and bounds, lot needs to be done to develop and maintain the overall efficiency of the system.

The content quality is not only the top most priority but also of paramount significance. Information anywhere anytime seems to be the buzzword, catching up with both students and teachers. With the vast usage of laptops, CDs, web, wireless networking, etc., learning is just a click away. Distance learning is growing the fastest with e-learning becoming a favorite across the taught and the teaching faculty. Even though internet has grown the fastest in the world, Indian education system still needs to cash in on its benefits galore. The path is defined and thus, success too shall come soon.

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Last chance for admission in DU !

Securing a seat in any of the DU colleges seems to be the toughest nut to crack in today’s scenario. The cut- off lists for DU released this year were unimaginably high and students have been drooling around the various colleges of Delhi University, to grab a seat for themselves in the course of their choice. Most of the colleges under Delhi University have closed their admissions after releasing the third cut- off list. It has been a heart breaking announcement for most of the students. But still there is a hope, as some of the colleges have released the fourth cut- off list for admissions. The fourth cut – off list was listed in the colleges on 6th July and the students can fill in the admission forms till 9th of July, i.e. today. The students should immediately check their stats, as in whether they match with the admission criteria’s for the fourth cut- off list or not. This is your last chance to board the train for admission into the most prestigious educational institution of the country, i.e. Delhi University.

While filling the OMR sheet, the students are expected to fill at least two or three career options, which widens the chance of them cracking in any one of the courses applied. Becoming a part of the Delhi University is the choice of every student, for which each and every possible effort should be made. In case of the courses, which have entrance examinations, the students should give their best shots and crack the entrance tests, with all their hard work and abilities.

Success does not come through short cuts; you need to put in a lot to achieve the status of a winner. And admission in the college of DU, is the very first step of a student towards the achievement of his goal, therefore the student should put his best foot forward and should keep trying till the last ray of hope diminishes.

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Is course more important or college?

The cut-off list is out and this year’s cut–off is invariably high. The students are really in a shock to see the 5-6% hike in the cut-off this year as compared to the last years. The panic for the admission into one’s favourite college has already started. Students are getting very worried about their future and are now eagerly waiting for the next cut–offs. These cut-off lists of the college of Delhi university, plays the most important role in letting a student choose the right course and college for him. The top most colleges of Delhi University like, Hindu, LSR, KMC, Hansraj, have the highest of the cut-offs, because of which many students are facing the stages, where their dreams might get broken.

In fact, I heard on radio that for taking admission in the choice of their college, many students are even ready to change their course. I know college is important, but changing the choice of course, because of the unavailability of the seat in college of your choice, is something really not acceptable. I mean, how a student can compromise with his choice of his career. A student is said to give his best efforts in the studies, if the course he is perusing is of his interest. But, sacrificing your choice for the college does not seem to be a wise decision. The brand name of the college does matter, but I don’t think that should overpower the choice of your career.

Therefore, the decision of the course as well as the college should be taken very wisely. It’s a life time decision and affects the whole future of the student. So, all the students should be very careful with the course they opt for, which should surely be a reflection of your interests and preferences.

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Huge Investments Made to Improve Tech Education in India

A whopping Rs.2,430 crores will be invested under the second phase of the Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP) in India. Around 200 engineering colleges will be competitively selected to bridge the huge gap between the quality and education standards of the IITs and others.

The objective of this improvisation of technical colleges is to upgrade the overall standards of education. The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave thumbs up to the next phase of the scheme of education up-gradation running since 2003. IITs offer an unsurpassable quality of technical education in India and so, the efforts are being made to bring other engineering colleges closer to their superior levels. Along with assistance from World Bank (Rs.1,395.50 cr.), state and private institution (Rs.518.50 cr. and Rs.16 cr.) too will make investments in the government’s mega project TEQIP (contributing Rs.500 cr.) divided into three phases.

The scheme is 10 to 12 years long with first phase being completed in the year 2009 covering 127 colleges in 13 states. This project is open to all engineering institutions approved by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). The committee CCEA chaired by Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh has recently approved the proposal for investment in second phase of the project.

The mammoth investments made into upgrading quality of education in India is surely going to strengthen institutions resulting in improved learning outcomes and employment chances for graduates. It is all set to scale up post graduate education and demand-driven research and development and innovation. This would further lead to establishment of centers of excellence and imparting of pedagogical training as well. Such initiatives are definitely a key to add quality professionals to the already talented workforce of India while making it one of the most sought after human resource destination.

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Novel Learning Mantra : Borrow and Study

The young generation in India has been maturing everyday, call it Western influence or age of technology or increasing awareness or anything else. The Generation Y definitely knows how to handle itself and overgrow the boundaries they have been fenced in for so long. Thwarted till today by societal pressure, they are now coming up as the future leaders who are poised and competent enough to take on the world.

These global leaders of the future are taking rein of their lives in their hands from as early as their schooling times. No longer hidden behind their mothers’ shelter or guided by their parents, the youth of today is ready to unharness the horse and take it full on. This begins even before they complete their schooling as they plan their career path and the course of action well in advance. Immediately after clearing Class X exams, they would join coaching centers for preparation of engineering, medical, law and other entrances for various government and private institutes of higher education. And then after preparing for two years and clearing the entrance, they get into the graduation colleges. Then begins the preparation for clearing through post graduate colleges offering courses like MBA, MCA, MA, etc. These institutes generally charge hefty sums of money as tuition fees which salaried people may not be able to afford owing to the increasing cost of living and fluctuating markets.

Here comes the role of education loans as they have made it much easier for students to pursue higher education. Taking loans or borrowing from banks was earlier seen in negative light as it invites liabilities and burdens but has become important today to live a quality life. So, the education fee of students is financed by banks who then repay the loan after completing the course and getting a good job.

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Indian Education Industry Going Places

The ever growing education market of India is expected to reach a staggering US$50 billion by 2015 according to industry estimates. The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) in its recent study said that more than 50% of Indian middle class families have started saving for their children's higher education.

I. With nearly a 20 to 25% rise in the income levels, the saving ratio has considerably gone up reflecting potential for growth in education industry. Till few years ago, it was looked upon as an expense but the need for higher education has been felt increasingly by Indian middle class. India has one of the largest middle class in the world which is calculated to be about 300 million.
India’s total education market size is valued to be around US$25 billion of which higher education sector contributes nearly US$15 billion. It is expected to more than double in next five years as evaluated by Assocham’s projections.

II. Not only this, education boom in India is spreading its wings to Canada and UAE as well. Canadian universities and colleges are opening up their doors to welcome higher number of Indian students. Canada India Education Council (CIEC) founded by former Canadian foreign minister Pierre Pettigrew believes that their education system is among the best and there is a need to build the bridge between India and Canada to promote it as an education destination. CIEC will endeavor to operate exclusively and strategically within the burgeoning Canada-India education corridor by creating a social, legal and physical presence in both India and Canada.

III. A human resource meltdown has been predicted by Kapil Sibal, HRD (Human Resource Development) minister of India. He foresees a shortage of young professionals as the population ages and is making efforts to come over the deficit by engaging in talks with other countries like UAE.

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Admission time at DU (Delhi University)

Delhi University is an institution, which is popular across the globe for its educational facilities and its quality of education. Students not only from India, but foreigners can also be seen working hard to grab a seat for themselves in the colleges of Delhi University. Due to the limitation of seats in the DU colleges, it is not possible for all the students to become a part of the DU. There is a total of 83 colleges under Delhi University, most of which provide education in all subjects, with one or more specialised subjects. DU has many courses, in which admissions are provided to students on the basis of their merits lists. So, all those who have scored well in their 12th boards can surely dream of taking admission in the college of their choice

But at the moment, what must be going in your mind is which course to opt for, which course would help you in paving the route towards a bright future. Choosing the course after 12th is really a tough task to do, because it is the step, which forms the basis, on which the four pillars of your career will stand. The admission to these colleges is mostly on the merit basis, but there are many courses in Delhi University which has started taking entrance examinations for few subjects. Courses like English honours, Masters in Business Administration, M Sc. Operational Research, Dental entrance examination, etc are the subjects which give admission to students on the basis of their performance at entrance examinations:

The entrance examinations are taken to give equal chance to each and every student to prove their capability and grab a seat for themselves. There is a minimum percentage required for taking entrance examination in DU, which is on the basis of their merit card in the 12th boards. The cut- off list of DU colleges for this year is still awaited and I hope and will pray that all of you get admission in your desired colleges.

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Achieving Excellence in Higher Education

The education sector in India is set to reach new heights with top Indian B-schools and technology colleges spreading their wings. The entry of foreign universities into the country also shows positive signs for students who will now be endowed with better academic opportunities.

Union Human Resource Development Minister, Kapil Sibal is spearheading a huge reform by asking focus on increasing the number of college enrollments and the creation of more infrastructures for education institutes.

According to him:

-Education sector should be given priority lending rates and not commercial rates to enable construction of more schools and colleges across the country.

-The gross enrolment ratio (GER) should be improved which demands focus on substantially increasing the number of college going and research students. The GER of other countries varies from 40 to 50% whereas it is as low as around 12% in India, thus, becoming a matter of serious concern.

The coming up of new institutions would definitely add volumes to the opportunities available in higher education. This will help in potentially increasing enrolment and improvement of quality both directly and indirectly. But, this will help only if the foreign universities impart education in line with the goals, objectives and mission of Indian higher education.

The importance of creativity, new ideas and innovation has to be understood by our education system. It must give space to students and help them develop the qualities they already possess rather than forcing them to follow conventional study patterns. The scope and extent of collaborative learning and exchange programmes is huge and needs to be taken advantage from.

The mission of higher education in India is better access and excellence. As more students pursue higher education and take up research, it will bring immense benefits for the country and its economy.

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Entry in a renowned college is a sure short way to success

Students these days are very much considered about their future and the job to which they land after doing a particular course. Whether it’s you or me, we make it sure that a proper plan is followed to reach the destination or the goal decided. Obviously there are back ups for the same, but we put in the best possible efforts to fulfil our aim through the primary route. For students like us, the sure short way to success is grab a seat in the most renowned college, after which things like jobs and success follows. Though, the most difficult part is taking admission in these colleges, but, once a student gets enrolled in such colleges, the road to success is comparatively much easier and convenient. Hard work is surely the synonym to success, so if you say, its difficult, that a lot of hard work has to be put in, for taking admission in the cream college of the country, then it’s surely not your cup of tea.

These colleges takes a lot from you in the starting, you need to study like crazy, need to have extra intelligence, must have great analysing power, put in a lot of money, but at the end what it gives you back is unbelievable. Loads of success, name, fame and an ever growing bright career, are the sure rewards given by these institutes. Whatever you put in, whether its money, hard work or madness in the form of time you studied for, works as an investment for your future, the return of which is manifold.

Therefore, one should never hesitate or act lazy in investing all these factors, because initially if you are able to crack a seat in the top institutes of the country, then your future is set. The associations, these institutes have with companies and faculty is mind blowing and surely helps in making it easy for the student to find a perfect and suitable job for himself. Being a part of such institutes, your condition can also be compared with a child who is in the safe arms of his mother, where you don’t have to fight for anything, everything comes to you in a ready made format, which is in this case is money, fame and loads of success!!

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Gujarat hoping for help from IFC, for funding in higher education projects

Higher education is the ultimate route, which helps in landing the person to his dream job. Whether it’s you or me, everyone wants to achieve high degrees from good institutes or colleges, the degrees which helps us in cracking most demanded jobs in the industry. The students in the small cities of the country, mostly have to sacrifice their luxurious and lavishing lifestyle in their hometown and move to the metro cities, for obtaining higher education. But now there is good news for the students of Gujarat, the International Finance Corporation, has formed associations with the Gujarat government to help the underserved areas of the city, with the facility of higher education.

The development support agency of Gujarat has appointed IFC, as the main transaction advisor, to help in the set-up of the higher educational institutions, as a result of public- private partnerships. This would definitely lead to a developmental start up of the higher education projects in the state. This is according to a report by business standard, under which it was mentioned that the project which is planned for five years, will provide higher education to 1000 students every year. The city of Gujarat has already been famous for its structural reforms and according to the reposts, the city is said to produce 20 million by the year 2020, in almost all the major industries of the country.

Providing higher education to the underserved areas of the city will surely be an achievement for the government and also because of the larger interests and involvement of the private sector in the reformation of the education as an industry, this declaration, doesn’t seem to be fake or wage. So, in the next few years, we would surely be able to see city of Gujarat as another major hub of education.

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