Re: Moving to the US
Online programs aren't a match for the real on Campus programs. Are they?
Traditionally no, because the universities offering them were not great unis, but now programs are being offered by some very good schools. Penn State for example. Just sharing another potential option with you. Don't know your grades, goals, finances, obligations, preferences etc so sharing what may or may not resonate with you but is another option out there
Re: Moving to the US
Understood, although you dont need to come 6 months before your program starts to lose your mind, a few weeks before will work as well if you are going with the approach I suggested.
My point was less about you coming over before uni starts and getting settled in etc but more about what your next few years could look like. while foreign students dont have loans and grants available to them so unless they have parents paying, they must work to pay the bills, but US citizens can get grants and loans, have a more relaxed grad school experience and then pay off loans after graduation.
if you do go with the plan to land here get a job for a few months until uni starts, dont sign long term rental apartment leases, because while u may be in houston for starters, what is the guarantee that you are going to a uni in houston...or you want to go to a uni in houston. keep your options open.
Loans are scary. It's a slippery slope. One day I'm borrowing money for college, the next day I go lease a car, then a house. Scary!
About losing my mind. I meant I'd lose my mind living here in Karachi. Life has been pretty easy up till now. School, then college, I knew what I had to do. After college...... My Dad couldn't find work here in Karachi and the thought me finding a job here simply scares me.
I had another plan I was thinking about(plans plans plans). How about giving me your opinion on this.
Going to US air Officer training school.
I wanted to join the army as a kid. But I could join the Pak Army cause of my dual-nationality. So now I've been thinking of trying out for US air force, only if the let me enlist as an officer based on my Bachelor's degree(Slim chances cause it's a foreign qualification). Again I'd have to be there in the US to go through the testing, and medical examinations. The reason I'm even considering this. My uncle(Dad's brother) was in the US army, not an officer though. That's how he put himself through college. I liked his stories of the army. This plan could be a result of my current boredom.
I'd just try getting in when I get there, just for the heck of it. My dad would be pissed if he knew this is what I'm thinking (Or he already knows).
Thanks for reading and replying.
Re: Moving to the US
Traditionally no, because the universities offering them were not great unis, but now programs are being offered by some very good schools. Penn State for example. Just sharing another potential option with you. Don't know your grades, goals, finances, obligations, preferences etc so sharing what may or may not resonate with you but is another option out there
How about I tell about a few off the above.
Grades: I have cumulative grade point average of 3.6 right now. 1 more semester to go.
Goals: Financial independence from my Dad.
Finances: I could borrow some money from my mom(don't want to), $2000 to $3000 nothing more than that.
Obligations: I owe my mom her US immigration. That would be easy as long as I show I can support her.
Preferences: Don't know. Not sure right now.
The answers I've given are pretty crappy. Sorry for that.
Biggest advise I can give you is that don't let current boredom or fear of some future boredom influence your long term career plan.
As far a loans go, they can indeed be scary, but we are not talking hundreds of thousands here. Just what may not be covered by graduate assistantship stipend, tuition reduction etc.
You can go to some also ran university, work massive hours at minimum wage and graduate and make $x
Or you can go to a good university, Do some solid networking, graduate and make $x+30% and any loans you took would be more than covered by the incremental compensation due to the better role at a better company. And you would be on a better trajectory.
Re: Moving to the US
I agree withh what X2 suggested.
I have friends who came here on student visa and managed to finish their Masters without parents support. Once you have your Masters degree, chance of getting a nice job is much better.
If you are a US citizen, you do not need to take TOEFL. I think may be get a letter from your university that your medium of instruction was english in college.
To get into a good school, you need good GRE score. I would not suggest going the US airforce route.
Re: Moving to the US
Biggest advise I can give you is that don't let current boredom or fear of some future boredom influence your long term career plan.
As far a loans go, they can indeed be scary, but we are not talking hundreds of thousands here. Just what may not be covered by graduate assistantship stipend, tuition reduction etc.
You can go to some also ran university, work massive hours at minimum wage and graduate and make $x
Or you can go to a good university, Do some solid networking, graduate and make $x+30% and any loans you took would be more than covered by the incremental compensation due to the better role at a better company. And you would be on a better trajectory.
Thanks. This puts it into perspective.
Re: Moving to the US
I agree withh what X2 suggested. I have friends who came here on student visa and managed to finish their Masters without parents support. Once you have your Masters degree, chance of getting a nice job is much better. If you are a US citizen, you do not need to take TOEFL. I think may be get a letter from your university that your medium of instruction was english in college. To get into a good school, you need good GRE score. I would not suggest going the US airforce route.
I'd still have to give my TOEFL, as I didn't go to an American high school or college.
Re: Moving to the US
I'd still have to give my TOEFL, as I didn't go to an American high school or college.
If you want to, you can but you dont have to.
My friend had a GC and she did all her studying in Pakistan, she did not have to take TOEFL for her Masters (I think she went to San Jose), infact she did not even take GRE. A cousin of mine (GC) had inquired and he did not have to.
TOEFL is a requirement for foreign students. A US citizen is not a foreign student, but inquire with the universities you plan on getting into.
Re: Moving to the US
If you want to, you can but you dont have to. My friend had a GC and she did all her studying in Pakistan, she did not have to take TOEFL for her Masters (I think she went to San Jose), infact she did not even take GRE. A cousin of mine (GC) had inquired and he did not have to.
TOEFL is a requirement for foreign students. A US citizen is not a foreign student, but inquire with the universities you plan on getting into.
Depends on the school you're applying to. All the schools I've researched ask for a GRE and TOEFL score.
Re: Moving to the US
is there good public transport where you are planning to go? you don't want to be too dependent on relatives.
Re: Moving to the US
is there good public transport where you are planning to go? you don't want to be too dependent on relatives.
The public transportation in Houston is crappy. However a metropolitan would good public transportation would be expensive(living costs).
I'm rethinking this whole moving thing. Guess it would be better if I took the college route. Besides I'm waiting for my dad, I'll see how his plans workout. Not going anywhere in 2012.