Month: June 2020

Trump ban on new H1B visas: updates for Grad Students

Trump has put a ban on new H1B visas – what does it mean for Graduate Students? Here’s some clarifications and advice on moving forward.

President Donald Trump blocked visas for a wide variety of jobs, including those for computer programmers and other skilled workers who enter the country under the H1B and L1 visa on June 22, 2020. It is a temporary ban that will remain in effect till Dec 2020. src: NYTimes

Trump has said that the ban will help domestic workers in USA since the economy is already struggling. The visa suspension could open up 525,000 jobs for US workers, a senior administration official said. The official, however, did not explain how the administration arrived at that figure.

Watch Nistha’s analysis

Will Trump putting a ban on new H1B affect Graduate Students?

The ExecutiveOrder does NOT impact students on F1 visas, CPT or OPT. It only impacts the following categories of visa – H-1B, H-2B, L-1A, L-1B, or J-1. This refers to (intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair, summer work travel only) and who do not already have such a visa as of June 24, 2020.

New entry suspensions do NOT apply to any of the following:

Individuals inside the U.S. on the effective date of the proclamation
F-1 students (including those on OPT, STEM OPT, and/or cap-gap)
J-1 students (including those on Academic Training)
J-1 exchange visitors in categories other than intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair, and summer work travel.
Individuals outside the U.S. who already have a valid visa prior to June 24, 2020.
Individuals outside the U.S. who seek to apply for a visa in a category other than H, L, or the J program categories of intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair, and summer work travel
Any application filed with USCIS including OPT, STEM OPT, H-1Bs, changes of status, etc.

How does it impact the students who graduate this year?

Trump’s Executive Order places a ban on new issuance of H1B visas till Dec 2020. If your H1B visa is already filed and approved earlier in 2020, you should not be affected. However, it is best to contact your employer and confirm this.

In general, the proclamation does not negate selection in the H-1B lottery or suspend an employer’s ability to file an H-1B petition for an employee. If you have more specific questions about this proclamation as it relates to changes to your immigration status that are or will be handled through your employer (such as H-1B, permanent residency, etc.) please reach out to your employer’s immigration team or legal counsel for specific guidance for your particular situation.
NC State International Students Office

So, who is this bad for?

The proclamation temporarily blocks foreign workers entering on H-1B visas (skilled workers) and L visas (for managers and specialised workers being transferred within a company). Trump also blocked those entering on H-2B seasonal worker visas, which are used by landscapers and other industries. The suspension also applies to J-1 holders “participating in an intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair, or summer work travel program.”

The order also restricts the ability of American companies with global operations and international companies with U.S. branches to transfer foreign executives and other employees to the United States for months or year-long stints. And it blocks the spouses of foreigners who are employed at companies in the United States.

However, the above does NOT ban someone who is already in USA as well as valid visa holders overseas, but they must have an official travel document that permits entry into the United States.

Is this a bad news for international students?

Not directly since it has no bearing on F1 visas whatsoever. Last month, we heard a good news that H1B will give priority to people who have studied in USA which is a great news for international students. However, if Trump carries on like this and makes H1B more restrictive, it creates a ripple effect on students ability to work after graduation. I have already written about What is happening with H1B – should I apply for MS? Such news create an uncertainty in the job market and employers become more cautious in sponsoring H1Bs.

Can there be more bad news for immigration in future?

The June 22, 2020 proclamation does instruct the Secretaries of the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Labor, and the Department of State to work together to recommend modifications to the proclamation within 30 days and then every 60 days after that. So, we do not know at this time if the proclamation will change or if new proclamations will be issued. However, OIS will continue to monitor news bulletins for more information and update this FAQ accordingly once we know anything.
NC State International Students Office

What can I do so that these developments do not impact me?

Some of my colleagues from Citi who couldn’t get H1B were relocated to other countries. Companies try to retain their skilled employees as much as possible, they can move them to Europe or Canada if needed. Talk to your employer & figure out your options.

Of course, startups may not have all these options but if they really want you, they figure out a way especially now when remote working is widely acceptable.

If you were planning to apply to US for studies, be prepared for such announcements. I believe US is best innovation hub – the kind of work and salaries you get there is unmatched elsewhere. If your goal is immigration, look elsewhere as well.

There’s something called recession or Trump proof graduate – he’s the one who’s been so busy skilling himself that he knows he can find a job in any market. Be that guy. If you want to figure how can you become evergreen employable, try our career coaching services and contact us.

If you are solid in your fundamentals, you WILL find a job. It may not be what & where you wanted it right away but you won’t be unemployed.

Lastly, world is changing in unexpected ways. It’s better to be prepared for the worst. The moment you accept that anything can happen, you are half way ready to handle it. Think of backup options & be damn good in your field.

You can do this. Good luck ?

How to choose right university when you have multiple admits

choose right university from multiple admits

Congratulations on landing multiple admits. Now, choose the right graduate school for yourself by understanding what matters the most. It is critical that you do a good research on the university by reading about it, talking to current students (and alum) and discussing with study abroad experts.

Choose right research oriented university from multiple PhD admits

Go by the reputation of Professors and depth of work in the field of your interest
This determines the quality of your thesis, publications, ability to attend good conferences etc. It also helps you to get good references when you apply for research and academia. Advisor matters the most in PhD.
Go by the availability of funding for PhD students
Usually most of the good schools are able to offer some sort of funding to their PhD students. You may still want to double check though.

Choose right MS program when you want to join Industry

Ranking matters because higher ranked schools attract more and better employers – Stanford, UIUC, Cornell, CMU, Columbia have great placements for example irrespective of global economic factors. You can afford to choose a university with higher ranking when you have multiple admits.
Location matters to the extent that if you are not able to get into a high ranked program, prefer a school in a place that has enough good employers around. E.g. Silicon Valley, NYC, Boston, Chicago, Dallas etc. in general. If you are going for a specific field, pick locations that matter for you. Eg. Portland has huge Intel presence, San Diego has Qualcomm etc.
Tuition and Availability of Scholarships – how costly is it to attend can matter a lot since grad school is pricey. I might love to attend Columbia for its great brand and location but do I have $100K to spare is the question. Why apply to schools you know you cannot attend?
Curriculum matters – A student of ours left CMU MISM 12 month program in between because he felt he wasn’t learning anything new. Do a thorough study before heading to any program.

Choosing the right University is crucial to your success. Of course, you should have already done a major chunk of this research when you were shortlisting schools for your MS/PhD applications.

For those who are applying for MS – read our guide on Shortlisting Schools for MS

This is what Northeastern University has to say about choosing the right Graduate School.

school selection

How to get a Study Abroad Education Loan?

Before understanding the process of getting an education loan to study abroad, you must be familiar with how it works. First of all, you cannot even apply for the student loan if you have not secured admission at a renowned school abroad.

How does education loan work?

The admission offer is necessary to asses your credibility for the study abroad education loan. After a total approximation of the education cost is provided by the education institute, the type of the program or degree you have applied to will play a role loaning. The prospects of your future are guessed depending on your degree, to determine if you will be able to repay the loans in the future.

Majority of the loan givers need a guarantor to ensure the loan will be returned over time. Education loan to study abroad is usually free from the condition of putting something valuable against the loan money to secure loan repayment.

Moreover, a student is never given the loan money directly. These loans are managed by the educational institute and its financial aid office. Thus, education loan for studying abroad is provided directly to the institution instead of specific students’ bank accounts.

Shall I go for study abroad education loan?

There is a myriad of benefits of getting an education loan to study abroad. Some of them are:

A loan can make you financially independent. Major loans cover all of your expenses to study abroad, including living expenses, healthcare charges, and other expenditures.
Study abroad loan offers easy repayments. The small repayment amount is decided over a longer period of time to make it easy for the students to repay the charges.
Education loan also includes the option of applying for a scholarship, which can result in loan forgiveness or decrease in the amount of loan to be repaid.
Many students are eligible to apply for the education loan to study abroad. Applicants from undergraduate as well as postgraduate can apply.
Loan processing time is very less so the students can make decisions about their admissions quickly well before the deadline of a particular institute.

What kind of loans are available?

Bank Name	Study Abroad Education Loan Amount	Interest Rates
State Bank of India (SBI)	Up to ₹20,00,000 (20 Lakhs)	10.70%
HDFC Bank	Up to ₹36,00,000 (36 Lakhs)	14.88%
ICICI Bank	Up to ₹3,00,00,000 (3 Crore)	11.50%
Punjab National Bank (PNB)	Up to ₹1,00,00,000 (1 Crore)	11.10%
Canara Bank	Up to ₹36,00,000 (36 Lakhs)	10.70%
Axis Bank	Up to ₹75,00,000 (75 Lakhs)	13.70%
Bank of Baroda	Up to ₹20,00,000 (20 Lakhs)	15.00%
IDBI Bank	Up to ₹20,00,000 (20 Lakhs)	9.50%
Avanse Financial Services	Customized according to the applicant	Custom

Also read: 10 best study abroad loan providers – Indian banks, NBFCs or international lenders?

What documents are required for study abroad education loans?

To apply for education loan for studying abroad, the applicants must have four main types of documents which are listed below:

1. Academic Documents

Offer letter from the college (in case of Bachelor’s) or graduate school (MS or MBA)
SAT Exams, LSATS, GRE GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS, other aptitude tests
Result cards of previous classes:
- Class 10th
- Class 12th
- Equivalence certificate can be provided as well.
- Graduation degree, if relevant.
- Post-Graduation degree, if relevant.
Student Status Certificates (country-specific)
USA I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status
UK (England) CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies)
Australia GTE (Genuine Temporary Entrant) as per SVVF
Other student VISA and immigration letters
Scholarship for foreign education records (if any)

2. Financial Documents

Bank Statements
IT Returns copy
GST returns copy: (only in case of self-employed/business-oriented applicants/co-applicants)
- Min: last two quarters, max: last year
Salary Proof:
- Income tax computation statement (attested by CA and employer)
- Salary Slips (Min: last three months, max: last nine months)

3. Collateral Documents

Loan against property:
- Property deed/lease agreement/allotment letter by Govt./Municipal Authority/NOC from society-builder
- Property tax statements
Loan against security:
- DE-mat account statement (min: 12 months, max: 36 months)
- Insurance policy receipt and original policy certificate
Loan against deposits:
- Original FD/RD/Gold Deposit/Bond certificate
- Interest statement: (min: 6 months, max: 24 months)
Loan against third-party guarantee:
- Certificate of third party guarantee (with signature and verified by appropriate authority)

4. Identification/KYC Documents

PAN card (at least Co-applicant mandatory)
Aadhaar Card/ Passport Copy/Driving License/ Voter’s ID
Residence proof: rent agreement/residential lease/electricity bill-phone bill/LPG bill
PIO (person-of-Indian origin)/NRI (non-residential Indian) Identification documents

It is recommended to start preparing the documents early for the loan program to avoid any confusion at the last minute.

What is the process for getting a study abroad education loan?

Every major education institution has a student financial aid office assist the students in applying for education loan. The whole process is quite lengthy and exhausting, so it is better to apply as soon as possible. In this way, you will be able to avoid any problem in getting a loan to study abroad.

Generally, the following process is performed for getting a study abroad education loan:

Evaluate the list of degrees in which you are going to enroll in to make sure it is recognized by the loan provider
Asses the total amount of the loan you will be needing. Calculate the money that you will be able to arrange by yourself.
Compare the various student loans offered by a number of banks. This helps you in determining the best loan scheme according to your demand.
Finalize the bank, loan scheme, and the total loan amount as soon as possible. Apply for the load using the application form and contact the loan provider if you have any ambiguities about the process.
Once the loan is approved, a loan document is issued by the bank. This document will include every detail about the loan.
Sign the loan document if you are satisfied with the terms and conditions of the loan.
The loan amount will be disbursed by the bank according to the terms of the university.

Also, read: Study abroad scholarships for students

education loan

How can students take care of mental health in Grad School

First year in college or grad school can be brutal for the students. Students who are far from home, trying to create a new life in a new city can suffer from deteriorating mental health. Good news is that it is a correctable issue. Even if you are feeling momentarily lost or low, you can get over it with simple precautions.

Given the covid-19 pandemic and heartbreaking news coming from all corners of the world, we have brought in expert Counseling Psychologist, Sharmishtha Khanna for some well-meant advice. The following post is authored by her.

What causes mental health issues in students?

When the surroundings are unusual and the friendships uncertain, the tendency to feel insecure and weak can come through. In such a situation, it becomes even more important to seek mental stability. You must remember that the onset of college life can be tough at times, but it is worth the effort.

My dear students, the initial excitement and ‘fear of missing out’ can endanger your mental health, so take it easy on yourselves. Take your time to settle in, get accustomed to the novel environment and make friends. If you are in a rush to do everything soon, there are chances that you will not be able to handle all the pressure. Listen to your mind and body, it will always tell you what you can do and when.

This does not mean that you do not push your boundaries – do so with preparation and effort, rather than compulsion and peer pressure.

“A lack of sleep, poor eating habits, and not enough exercise are a recipe for depression among college students. The stress that comes with academia — including financial worries, pressure to get a good job after school, and failed relationships — is enough to force some students to leave college or worse.”- www.healthline.com

How can students cope with depressing thoughts?

Stay in touch with your family and friends, talk to them about your struggles at college and personal life. have someone who you can reach out to when feeling low.
Avoid peer pressure as much as you can. In order to be a part of some group, students do the things that they may not do otherwise. Refrain from losing your sanity because of someone else.
Take charge of your life, set limits for yourself in terms of social activities that involve any kind of intoxication. Exercise the power of choice.
Be assertive. Do not succumb to bullying and report it as and when required. You do not deserve to be insulted and nobody has the right to do that to you. Stay away from such people.
Romantic relationships, at this age, can seem overtly important for survival – losing people may feel like world is ending but remember that it is not the case.
Practice mindfulness. Learn to be in the moment and abstain from living in the past or future. There are apps like Headspace, Calm and Balance that you can use to get started.
Focus on the short term goals that will eventually lead to the main goal. It will build confidence and help you succeed in your endeavours.
Some plans will work out, others may not. Keep trying without worrying about the end result, that is what is in your hands- free will.
Most importantly, seek help when required. Do not let some kind of mental block delay your visit to a therapist. The earlier you identify the problem, there are better chances of you coming out of it.

About the author: Sharmishtha Khanna is a Counseling Psychologist with clients world over. She has been in the field since the last 5 years and has touched the lives of many individuals and helped them in becoming a better version of themselves. She is trained in Cognitive Behaviour and Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapies. You can find her write ups and posts under the name of Maansikta on Facebook and @Maansikta.health on Instagram. She is available for e-counseling, and can be contacted at maansikta.health@gmail.com, along with Facebook Messenger and DM on Instagram for the same.

Also read: 20 Secrets to Successful Dating in Grad School

Most graduate schools have an in-house counselor and visiting them is covered in your student health coverage. If you are feeling low and sinking into negativity, reach out and make an appointment with your counselor TODAY.

depression mental-health self-help

How Ajita got Product Design Internship at Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, USA

Wondering how to get product design internship in USA? We have a great example with us – Ajita Shukla and she has graciously shared her story with us.

You know what’s the incredible part? She did not have any long formal work experience in design before going to USA. Sometimes, we choose safer options because we believe its not easy to get into a niche area like design. Ajita’s story tells us that you don’t have to compromise on what you want to do.

Watch the video at the end of this article to hear her talk about it all. I am summarizing few salient points below-

What kind of background helps

Ajita graduated from Delhi University with a BTech in Computer Science. An active participant in fests, college magazines, Enactus etc, Ajita figured her early interests in product management and design. To explore these further, she undertook a couple of internships with startups.

Eventually realizing that a Master’s program will be helpful, she zeroed in on MIS programs that offered such specializations in USA. She came to Scholar Strategy in 2018 and started working on her applications from Aug. She got admits from University of Washington – HCDE program (which she finally accepted), CMU Software Management, UIUC MSIM and so on.

Starting the internship preparation early

She attended the Internship Masterclass sessions with Scholar Strategy which helps applicants to prepare for internship and job hunt (sometimes before starting the Grad School). This proved helpful since she got more clarity about the roles she would seek, and created effective resume and LinkedIn profiles which saved a lot of time later on. More importantly, it helped her being mentally prepared for the challenges that were about to come.

She had started working on few independent design projects. These came handy in building her profile even though she had no long corporate experience in design.

Taking relevant courses and doing hands-on projects at University of Washington added well on her resume. She started her product design internship hunt from December and applied to 30 places overall. Chan Zuckerberg Initiative was one of these places.

(Details of finding the internship and its interview process is covered in the video below)

Cracking the actual interviews

Ajita talked to seniors and searched online to understand what the design internship recruitment involves. Usually, they have a phone screening and then onsite interviews. There are multiple number of design interviews and a behavioral round. A major aspect of it involves creating a good portfolio and being able to talk about it.

Additional Tips for finding Product Design Internship

Ajita shares the following:

Design roles involve a lot of user understanding and storytelling. One critical aspect of cracking these interviews was to able to tell her story well.
She also recommends reading a lot of design articles (follow relevant publications on Medium etc).

Hear Ajita’s story in her own words

So that was it. Here are my final takeaways

You can get any role as long as you strategize properly
Stay focused on 1 (max 2) roles else you will dilute your efforts
Starting early is the key. So if you are going to Grad School this year, make sure you prepare from right now

Scholar Strategy Internship Masterclass Success

You can also find your dream role with our Internship Masterclass ($100K+ salaries)

Join next batch

HCI UWashington video

Sample LORs (Letter of Recommendation) for MS

In this post, you will find real sample LORs from real MS candidates. Use these samples as a guide to get effective letter of recommendations for your MS in USA applications.

How to use sample LORs in your MS applications

The sample LORs provided in this post will aid you in encouraging your recommenders to submit strong LORs. These are not provided to be copied – reputed universities take plagiarism very seriously.

What is a good LOR

The best letters of recommendation come from professors or individuals who know you well.
A well-written letter of recommendation provides admissions committees with information that isn’t found elsewhere in the application.
A letter of recommendation discusses your personal qualities, accomplishments, and experiences that make you unique and perfect for the programs to which you are applying.
Make sure that the Letter of Recommendation does not conflict with or duplicate the rest of the application (Personal Statement, Transcripts, Resume, etc.)
Recommender should describe his qualifications for comparing the applicant to other applicants.

Format of a LOR

The university emails your recommender with a form and a chance to upload a LOR file. The form asks multiple questions to understand how well the recommender knows you and how strongly is he rating you. A sample LOR form from UIUC can be viewed here.

Of course, the freeform LOR that you recommender can submit is the actual detailed LOR that we are discussing in this post and these samples. Follow the format mentioned below:

Start with a salutation and heading such as ‘To whom it may concern’
First para should contain introduction and qualification of the recommender and why is he writing this letter. Why is he qualified to recommend you?
Next 2 paragraphs will contain specific assessment of the candidate with appropriate examples. These will talk about multiple aspects about his candidacy and why recommender is recommending him. More specific the examples, better the LOR. Avoid generalizations and praises (think how a third person will write about you).
Final para should summarize the assessment and recommend the candidate for the program in question.

Academic LOR Sample

sample academic lor for ms — Sample Academic LOR for MS

Professional LOR Sample

For specific LOR tactics, check out our bestselling MS Book: Smart Engineer’s Complete Guide to MS in USA.

For our professional counseling, check out our MS/MBA Admissions Consulting Services

LOR