Latest News on Donald Trump and the h1b in 2017

Donald Trump has been in office for 100 days in 2017; and we have a better idea of what his policies would mean for Americans and for the world. The same is the case for those looking to study abroad in the US. Everyone is looking for the latest news on the h1b and legal immigration. While a lot of the misinformed are hoping for an impeachment, I find that unlikely, though not impossible. The Republicans, who control all of Congress, have shown a lot of tolerance and patience with Donald Trump. If the Democrats win back Congress in 2018, which is again unlikely, there is a better chance of an impeachment. The most probable outcome is a 4-year presidency, with chances of a 8 year presidency.

As for high skilled immigration, Donald Trump has given negative signals to those looking to pursue a degree in the US. He has temporarily suspended premium processing of h1b visas, causing significant trouble for those who are looking to start work or looking to renew h1b visas.

However, one thing to note is that most of the changes and proposed changes do affect the IT Industry/Computer Science majors/Computer Engineering fields. For example, he proposed a minimum wage of 130k USD for those companies dependent on h1b labor (more than 15% h1b employees). This proposal, if it passes Congress, would affect only those looking to work in TCS/Infosys/Cognizant etc. There is a lot of uncertainty regarding changes that may or may not happen. Trump has suggested several changes to h1b system, including removing the lottery, reducing the number of visas etc. However, there may be a lot of opposition to most of the changes from fellow Republicans and Democrats. I double many of these can pass through and become law. There are a couple of changes that Trump has issues that will have an immediate impact on people studying MS in USA.

Companies will have to submit additional proof for entry level programmers that their job requires special skills. This will make it more difficult for people doing their MS in CS in the US to get a job in the US. TCS and Infosys have already tried to shift their hiring practices to hire more Americans.Trump has challenged Obama’s executive order regarding granting work permit to spouses of h1b workers with green card application permits (I-140) approved. It looks likely that those work permits will be removed, and future spouses may not be able to apply.

Besides the above two changes, everything else is uncertain. Trump does not seem to be targeting student visas, as it is an important contributor to the US economy. So you should not see any change in admissions process of universities or otherwise.

If you are looking to complete a MS in USA, then keep the following points in mind:

If you are planning to do a MS in CS, then keep in mind that new rules will make it more difficult for you to get a job once you graduate. So, it is better to work here for a few years before heading to the US. If your experience is recognized, then you may not be considered entry level programmer.If you are doing a MS in any subject, have a contingency plan in case you are not able to get a job. I recommend not getting into a ton of debt doing the MS, as it will be difficult to pay back on an Indian salary.Focus on the knowledge you are getting in the MS and how you can apply it anywhere in the globe. If you are passionate about the subject and enjoy learning, then you are winning no matter the end result.

If you are looking to get started on your profile to study abroad, make sure you download our free MS in USA checklisthere.

Things Needed for Admission Package for MS in Canada

Transcripts from your university up until the latest examination. These need to be sealed and stamped in a university envelope.Course completion certificate if availableLetters of recommendation from 3 or 4 professors/employers/project guides etc. Basically they need to outline different aspects of your work ethics, your personality traits etc, If your college professors have an official college email id, then they can submit the LOR through those also. Personal emails such as gmail, yahoo (who even uses yahoo?!) etc are not advisableStatement of Purpose. Some universities will ask you to upload your SOP online with your applicationResults of your GRE and TOEFL/IELTS. These will be sent directly by ETS or the British Council to the university.

By October, start applying online. Try not to delay beyond December as generally TA, RA and other tuition aids are decided early. Even if you have an amazing profile, applying late can hamper your chances of getting financial aid.

Deadlines will be open till April or May but it is advisable to apply early since university application results will start coming out by late March to April, even before deadlines are done. Also in case they require any further information from you, it is prudent to do so earlier than rush in the months of May and June since you also need time to apply for your Visa.

Once you have started getting your admits, it will be time to apply for your visa/

Study in Canada , Application to Study in Canada, Study Permits , Determine your eligibility - Study in Canada , How to Get a Canadian Student Visa are various sources that can help.

You need to provide a medical examination for your visa. Choose a designated hospital from your city and provide your test ASAP.

A Canadian Visa is straight forward. You do not need to attend an interview unless they ask you to. There is no I20 or anything of that sort. The system has changed a little off late so access the links above to get a detailed idea.

What to do While your visa is under process -

Find the Facebook groups for the Indian student association of your university, They will help pick you up from the airport and set up temporary accommodation etc and help you get settled initially.Network with people from your city who might be travelling to your university and try to see if they have any information on cheap flights.A common mistake people do is to land in the city almost a month in advance. A lot of your seniors will ask you to come early in order to get used to the city, but it is just waste of one month’s rent and expenses. Go about a week before classes start. You can get all your stuff done in that one week. Book tickets accordingly. Find Cheap Flights & Airline Tickets | KAYAK can get you good last minute prices. Also, makemytrip has the best flights to India from abroad.

Go shopping but with a straight head. Please do NOT fill all your suitcases (2 x 23kgs or 3 x 23kgs in some cases) completely with items! I don’t understand why every Indian student does this!

Buy decent amount of tee shirts, tops, jeans (spend money on good quality. Else the winter will make your jeans tear easily), socks and underwear (lots. As you will wash clothes once in 2 weeks or more).Do not buy all your thermals and jackets here in India. Get a decent jacket that will be good for 15 degrees celcius. Get your thermals and winter jacket in Canada as the quality will be very good and they will be very light. jackets in India are heavy no matter how good a brand they might be from.Don’t load up on textbooks, notebooks, stationary etc. You will hardly use any notebooks and the libraries are amazing here. You will get all the textbooks you need. Stationary is hardly used. All assignments etc are done online.Items that you should get are things like hair oil (you will need it in winters as hair gets damaged), any specific soap you need, medicines (they are expensive here and you wont get anything beyond a paracetemol and basic meds, without prescription from doctor). Get pain killers etc if you need to, combs, talcum powder (if you need it.), a good umbrella (the local variety can be flimsy). These are items you wont get easily in all the shopsSplit your utensil with your future room-mate. While in India, decide who will get what. Remember that all the stoves in Canada are induction. so get flat bottomed utensils. Also you can easily get them from garage sales etc as people usually sell their items when they leave their houses. They hardly ever carry anything from house to house. You can get cheap furniture, cutlery, etc.Please dont load your bags with pillows and blankets! Buy them in Canada.Woodlands has good snow shoes for as less as 2000 INR. Get those if you want. Get one pair of sneakers/summer shoes and one pair of house slippers.Not all mobile phones from Asia will work in Canada. Check with a senior.This is surprising but a HUGE number of students (both genders) don't know how to cook. It's hard to believe that they have never stepped into the kitchen ever! Anyway, learn to cook fast. Especially if you are picky about what you eat.

That's about it for now! The basics of how to apply for your MS in Canada. Keep in touch with seniors and network well with them.

AkshayKanth is a MS graduate in Electrical Engineering from University of Ottawa; and a consultant at Profession Gurus platform.

He has a quora blog with more information on studying and living in Canada

https://akshay-kanth.quora.com/

Steps to Shortlisting Universities for MS in Canada

In order to apply to Canadian  the ideal time is to start about two years before admissions.  Yes this sounds like a LONG time in advance but that is only so that you can make an informed decision and not rush before the deadlines like most people do. Utilise one year to sort out your GRE and TOEFL/IELTS exams and one year for your actual application process. GRE is optional and not required for most universities there, but you can always submit it if you want to since it will add value to your evaluation. I would advise you to finish your toefl/gre exams before the third year of undergrad, or at least by October of the year before your admission. By September of your final year, you need to start filling out and sending applications.

The predominant (but, by no means the only) factors that influence the choices made by prospective Graduate students from India are - Job prospects, fees, location (density of Indian population), possible immigration after studying.

Though in reality, the driving forces should be - Validity and relevance of the course, reputation of the University of that subject, current work scenario of alumni, racial assimilation of that country and the time you can spend on your masters.

The first thing you should check out are the universities that have the biggest grants for the subjects you are interested in working in. Let’s look at an example. University of Ottawa became the largest center for photonics/optics in the world and has received significant funding. This means that it will have a lot of scholarships available in the field. So even though University of Ottawa is not in the top 3 or 4 universities in Canada, it is the best for photonics research.

The University has approved 3 different sources of funding; $47 million from the university’s board of Governers, $10 million from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and possibly another $70 million during the duration of the project.

Here's what is recommended when it comes to actually deciding what course you can pick in Canada -

Look at WHAT you want to study. Check out the research in those fields. See what interests you.Then look at thesis and non-thesis based options. One has more research and the other has more course-work, and they are both equally good when it comes to future opportunities.Try to check where their alumni are working now. That will tell you what impact the university is making in General.Consider finances too. Check out the fees and the availability of financial aid.Ask them to provide you with a statistic of number of applicants and number of admits. That will also give you better insight.Talk to more people and ask them about their opinions and reasons for those opinions as well.Discuss with professors in your college. They should have a general idea about who is doing what in which part of the globe

An pragmatic timeline would be -

Let's assume you are looking for 2018 Fall intake. You should ideally plan and finish your exams by now. By May of this year you should already have started short-listing universities. The rule of thumb is to choose universities in three categories -

Safe options - These are universities where you have a very good chance of getting into. Look at the average admission profiles of previous students and use various forums to figure out where you stand. Again, these are not "definite" chances but those with high probability.Moderate options - These are universities that you might get into or might not. The admission standards might depend on your course and other factors. You should definitely try for them though. To improve your chances, try to take different programs rather than the crow favourites such as EE, CS, Mech etc.Ambitious - As the name suggests, you will find it tough to get into these. Not impossible, but tough. Getting into these universities is tricky because their application pool is big, and their profiles are pretty good.

By September to October of this year, have your list of universities ready. Maybe 2 to 3 in each category, But that is your wish.

On an average, the top 15 universities (in no particular order) for Masters (engineering stream) in Canada are -

University of TorontoMcGill University, MontrealUniversity of British Columbia, VancouverUniversity of Alberta, EdmontonUniversity of WaterlooQueens University, KingstonUniversity of OttawaUniversity of MontrealMcMaster University, EdmontonWestern University, London, OntarioSimon Fraser University, VancouverUniversity of Montreal, MontrealUniversity of CalgaryDalhousie UniversityUniversity of Victoria

The above are not in any particular ranking. These will vary on many factors and will also vary from course to course. For instance, UWaterloo is the best for Computer Science and is highly ranked in North America for CS.

To help you shortlist -

Look at groups and forums online to talk to existing students. Get their profiles and form an idea.Talk to professors in those universities in case you want to work with them.Get your LORs and SOPs evaluated by many people. Get their feedback and include those in your edits. A good SOP and strong LORs can make a big difference.More projects and/or publications = better chances of an admit even if your GPA is low.Find the Facebook groups for these universities and meet other prospective students like yourself. Information flows best when it is two-ways.The best and most effective way is to talk to students who are already in Canada. They will form your base-line and help you place yourself on their scale.

It is a multitude of factors that decide where you will get in.

For example a student with a 8.7 GPA and 2 summer internships might get into Alberta. Someone with a 7.9 GPA might not be able to,  but if he/she has good extracurriculars and perhaps 2 publications, then Alberta would be a strong contender.

Author, Akshay Kanth

Edited by Abhishek Kumar

Akshay Kanth is a graduate of the MS in Electrical Engineering program at University of Ottawa. He is a consultant at Profession Gurus, and owns a Quora blog regarding studying and living in Canada.

https://akshay-kanth.quora.com/

How to Apply for a MS in Canada

Before you begin the hunt for the perfect shortlist of universities for yourself, answer the question -  “Why do I want to do an MS, that too in Canada?” . This is a profound question that will define how your life goes :) Are you planning an MS because you want to? Do you want to do it because you just want to move to Canada? Did you choose Canada simply because of the current uncertainty in the US or maybe because you thought it was an easier way to get into North America? If you have answered in the positive to any of the last 3 questions, then you need to reconsider for sure. Going abroad is not a guarantee to a great job and swanky new car or apartment. It takes tremendous hard work and planning before you apply, and even after you land there.Now, you need to figure out what and where to study? You have more options in Canada than in India. Figure out what you would like to specialize in, based on your interests. For example, if you are someone who likes VLSI, you need to know if you swerve more towards analog or digital VLSI. If you like optics, you need to know if you prefer optical networks or something like Photonics instead.You can also consider these factors when choosing your university in Canada1.    Location - Canada is overall a very cold country. Alberta and Manitova tend to be very cold in winter for long periods. Vancouver weather is not as cold, but has more of a wet weather. It is similar to Seattle weather. Ontario and other southern states also get very cold, though it is not as bad as Alberta. It is similar to Chicago weather. If you are not a person who loves the outdoors, the cold will not be a major factor. You will spend most of your time in the heated indoors or in your pre-heated car.2.    Cost of living - Canada is overall an expensive country, though it varies from city to city. Vancouver is ranked among the most expensive cities globally. Toronto and Montreal are also expensive, though eating out tends to be cheaper. Ottawa is very beautiful, and not very crowded. It is culturally rich, though it is expensive to shop and eat out. It has one of the best public transit systems in the world. Edmonton and other areas in the west are pretty popular for newer industries to set up. Halifax in the eastern coast has gained popularity of late as an up and coming tech town as opposed to the fishing port name it has been stuck with for many years.3.    Indian population - There are locations in Canada with a heavy Indian diaspora. Overall, Canada has a heavy Sikh population. Vancouver, Toronto suburbs as well as Edmonton have a lot of Indians. Brampton, a suburb of Toronto, has so many Indians that it is called brown town. Montreal has a higher population of Sri Lankans. Ottawa has more of a healthy cross-section of culture, with people from all over the world. Choose a place that fits your need. I personally prefer a place with less Indians as I wanted to experience different cultures.4.    Job Prospects - These will largely depend on you . You ought to remember that others will also have the same concerns as you do. Cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal etc will have more companies and hence more jobs. This will also translate into more competition from people around the world. You need to constantly update and upgrade your skills.

Author, AkshayKanth

Edited by Abhishek Kumar

AkshayKanth is a MS graduate in Electrical Engineering from University of Ottawa; and a consultant at Profession Gurus platform.

He has a quora blog with more information on studying and living in Canada

https://akshay-kanth.quora.com/

Should I pursue higher studies in US if I want to start a business?

“ If you're trying to create a company, it's like baking a cake. You have to have all the ingredients in the right proportion.“ This quote, by Elon Musk, was meant to describe creation of a business. But it can be used to describe creation of a career abroad as well. Having started several businesses and also having pursued my higher studies abroad, I have a strong perspective on this issue. I also know several entrepreneurs in the US and around the world.

So, you have probably heard of Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs? You may want to be like them. You also watch TV shows like Silicon Valley and dream of doing something similar. So you feel inclined to pursue your higher studies in the US and start a business after that. If that is your idea, I would strongly suggest that you don’t do it. There are several reasons for this:

The best way to learn about business is actually starting a business. No formal education can replace that. If you do pursue your higher studies in US, you are losing out on 2 years of valuable learning time. Also, towards the end of your higher studies in US, you will be likely be in debt or looking to get a return on your investment. So, you would want to work 3-5 years. So, in total you might lose 6-8 years.The money spent is money that you could have spent on your business. If you are spending 20 lakhs to pursue your higher studies in US, this is 20 lakhs that could be used towards growing your business.The US is a tough place to start a business from scratch, but is a great place to scale a business. If you do not have a lot of financial resources, the US is difficult to start a business from scratch. Lawsuits are very common for new businesses starting off. It is a common tool used by bigger companies to finish off smaller companies. Since the economy is already developed, you will need to produce something truly innovative to get funded and get traction.India is still developing; so there are a lot more opportunities for improvement and entrepreneurship. Of course, it is very hard to do business in India. But it is hard anywhere, and you are better off getting into a market that you are familiar with. India is also growing much faster than the US.The Immigration system in the US is often a death bed for your business. You cannot start a business in the USA on a student (F-1) visa or work (h1b) visa. And, for Indian citizens, it currently takes 10 years to get a green card. There is a huge number of disgruntled wantrepreneurs on h1b’s, who can’t realize that all they have to do is move to a better location. If you do end up starting a company on h1b, you will spend half your time trying to find loopholes in the system; and might finally end up getting deported.It is a global world now. Now it is easy to sell to customers in US as an Indian business; and vice versa (if it is an online product). And, for physical products, you can look at manufacturing in China and drop shipping to US.

However, there are a few cases in which you should consider pursuing your higher studies in US:

You want to start something in an advanced technology that is only available in USA. There are quite a few technologies that qualify. In this case, pursuing your higher studies in the US is the only option. You can learn about the technology and start a business with the university or with a local citizen. You can also complete a PhD in that technology and get a green card in priority processing (within 1 year).You want to start something in financial technology. The US is so far ahead of the world here and has so much more funding in this area; that it is definitely worth it. Also, the amount of funding required here makes VC funding essential. All of these can be obtained a lot easier if you do a MBA at one of the top universities in the US.You already have a patent or successful business in India, and are looking to expand it to a more global market. If you already have a profitable business or patent with huge potential, you will not have trouble finding VC capital to fund you to transfer your business to the US.

An alternative option you can look at is starting a business in Australia or Canada or other country; if you have a permanent residence there. An entrepreneur is great at figuring out solutions to complex problems; so if you are a true entrepreneur, you will figure out what’s best for you. If you are just looking to complain or looking for others to solve your problems, then entrepreneurship is not for you.

Are you looking to pursue your higher studies overseas? Check out our free scholarship guidehere.

How to Contact Professors for Graduate School Admissions

A lot of students have asked me about how to contact professors for graduate school funding or graduate school scholarships, once they have submitted their scholarship. Some students are frustrated at having sent a ton of emails to professors, with no response. Having been on the other side, let me add that professors get hundreds of emails from students all over the globe, in addition to their daily workload. Professors are extremely busy, drafting research proposals, teaching classes, correcting homework and exams, supervising students etc. They are not very inclined to respond to most students from across the globe. The pressure to perform is even higher for those professors who have not obtained tenure yet. So, I am going to start off with other ways to contact professors if you have a year or so before applying:

Start a research project in your field at your own university. Get some relevant research experience in a relevant field where you are the lead. Publish a paper or two; present at a conference. This helps you expand your contacts and this can get you in touch with professors across the globe. So, while you are working on your research project, you can contact relevant professors in your university of interest; looking for collaboration opportunities or asking for some help. Make sure that your email is to the point, concise and displays all the necessary elements of your project. The professor is much more likely to respond, and you can develop a relationship with the professor; which may go a long way towards getting you funding at a top graduate school.Visit the Professor in person: Obviously, this is not an option for everyone. If you happen to study in the US for your Bachelors’, or are visiting the USA for vacation/business; stop by a professors’ office during his office hours. In most cases, a Professor’s office hours are listed on the school program’s website.Call the Professor: If you call the professor during his office hours and he is impressed by your introduction or research background, he will pay more attention to your proposal.

Ok, so you are probably telling me at this point; “I don’t have the time or resources to do this. I’ve already applied for graduate school.” So, I would tell you to maximize your chances of a response by making sure you avoid the mistakes that many students all over the world make.

Do not mass email professors with the same template. Personalize your email to those professors that best fit your interest. Professors instantly delete any email that they feel is sent out to multiple professors.Do not call the professor ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’. Make sure you use their name.Make sure you clearly understand the professor’s research area and expertise before emailing him. It will be clear to the professor if you do not understand or have no interest in the research area.Review enough literature in the field so that you can make a clear, abbreviated attempt at explaining how you and the professor can work together in the future.If you are submitting a research proposal, make sure you submit evidence that the proposal is both realistic and considerate.Do not make the email longer than a few paragraphs. Be brief and to the point.

And finally, if you end up getting an admit without funding; make sure you contact your seniors at the university regarding what your chances of getting a research/teaching fellowship are. If most students end up getting funded in their first one or two semesters there, then you are good to go. If not, you should look at alternate arrangements or alternate options.

p.s. Are you looking to study abroad but worried about funding? Get our free guide to applying for scholarshipshere?

How to Contact Professors for Graduate School Admissions

A lot of students have asked me about how to contact professors for graduate school funding or graduate school scholarships, once they have submitted their scholarship. Some students are frustrated at having sent a ton of emails to professors, with no response. Having been on the other side, let me add that professors get hundreds of emails from students all over the globe, in addition to their daily workload. Professors are extremely busy, drafting research proposals, teaching classes, correcting homework and exams, supervising students etc. They are not very inclined to respond to most students from across the globe. The pressure to perform is even higher for those professors who have not obtained tenure yet. So, I am going to start off with other ways to contact professors if you have a year or so before applying:

Start a research project in your field at your own university. Get some relevant research experience in a relevant field where you are the lead. Publish a paper or two; present at a conference. This helps you expand your contacts and this can get you in touch with professors across the globe. So, while you are working on your research project, you can contact relevant professors in your university of interest; looking for collaboration opportunities or asking for some help. Make sure that your email is to the point, concise and displays all the necessary elements of your project. The professor is much more likely to respond, and you can develop a relationship with the professor; which may go a long way towards getting you funding at a top graduate school.Visit the Professor in person: Obviously, this is not an option for everyone. If you happen to study in the US for your Bachelors’, or are visiting the USA for vacation/business; stop by a professors’ office during his office hours. In most cases, a Professor’s office hours are listed on the school program’s website.Call the Professor: If you call the professor during his office hours and he is impressed by your introduction or research background, he will pay more attention to your proposal.

Ok, so you are probably telling me at this point; “I don’t have the time or resources to do this. I’ve already applied for graduate school.” So, I would tell you to maximize your chances of a response by making sure you avoid the mistakes that many students all over the world make.

Do not mass email professors with the same template. Personalize your email to those professors that best fit your interest. Professors instantly delete any email that they feel is sent out to multiple professors.Do not call the professor ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’. Make sure you use their name.Make sure you clearly understand the professor’s research area and expertise before emailing him. It will be clear to the professor if you do not understand or have no interest in the research area.Review enough literature in the field so that you can make a clear, abbreviated attempt at explaining how you and the professor can work together in the future.If you are submitting a research proposal, make sure you submit evidence that the proposal is both realistic and considerate.Do not make the email longer than a few paragraphs. Be brief and to the point.

And finally, if you end up getting an admit without funding; make sure you contact your seniors at the university regarding what your chances of getting a research/teaching fellowship are. If most students end up getting funded in their first one or two semesters there, then you are good to go. If not, you should look at alternate arrangements or alternate options.

p.s. Are you looking to study abroad but worried about funding? Get our free guide to applying for scholarshipshere?