Well just some corrections from my point of view. Please see my comments inline in bold letters to clarify.
--- shariq samad <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > well arsalan ... let me reply to the points that I think I am > capable to.. i am including others as well in my reply so that if > they do not agree with me ... 'speak now' ... else enjoy the > delete option ... > > POINT 3 REPLY - > > Can not comment on german universities ... however i can give you > a financial estimate for some US universities. I did my MS from > UT Austin. My estimates for first semseter are - > > 1. Living - $4,000 ($800 per month for five months Aug > > - Dec, this is extremely conservative, may be put it at $900 - > $1000) I dont think so that by any means the monthly expenditure for a Student is around 900 - 1000 usd, whichever state he is living In. Now the first thing while coming to us is that be flexible Because anywaz you will share the house with couple of roommates So if there are 4 roommates which is an average the cost goes Down to 1/4th. According to what i have seen when i used to be In dallas is that the rent for a 2 bedroom apartment/ 2 bathroom Apartment is around 700 usd, and so if 4 guys are sharing the Apartment, the rent comes down to 175/head. Similary is the case Of grocerries and bills. Moreover, once you come to a school Here, its pretty normal that you will get credit cards so you can Pay the tuition fees through them as well. A rule of thumb that exists is that you will have to bring the Tuition for the first semester and some extra money keeping in Mind that you might not be able to find a job for around 2-3 Months. I guess this is more than sufficient. > 2. Tution (out of state)- $3,600 - $4,000 so you are looking at > about $8,000. Now mind you this is assuming you have no TA, > no assistance, whihc is a rarity in UT AUstin. Invariably > every one finds assistance even in the first semester. > Assuming that is the case, you are looking at teh revised > estimates as - > > 1. Living - same > > 2. TUtion - 1,200 (Instate tution) > > 3. TA Allowance - minimum 800 - 1200 per month. > > Damn you are probably saving money ;) > > This estimate is for UT Austin adn is pretty much applicable to > other texas universities. I am sure things will be different if > you go to a norh east university or a west coast university. Well the other option is that even though if you dont get a in State tuition fee, even then the universities allow you to pay The tuition fee in installements which is the best part of it. So even if you bring the first semester fee and some money as Cash with you, you can even then save money with you till the end Of your first semester which is long enough to let you get Settled in america ( state doesnt matter here i guess). > > 4. Wat r the pre-requisites of US / German > > Universities n wat the exact procedure applying 2 > > them ??? > > FOr US Universiites you are looking at a good GRE, nice referral > letters a bamboo type statement of purpose, and unfortunately a > US visa :( My opinion would be apply to different universities. Like apply To some good school but at the same time do apply to some average Ranking school as well. Reason behind this is that you dont know About the decision on your application till 2 months before the Semester so in case if the good school rejects you, you can still Move to us with the average school and then always get Transferred to a good school after the first semester. Thing is dont waste time because of your GRE and TOEFL. Do try To move here as soon as you get admitted. > > 5. Wat r the ways of getting scholarships in these > > universities , I mean wats the impact of score of > > GRE + the university GPA . > > For TA, your presence plays a MAJOR role. Go to departments > collect adn submit appilcations adn wait. For RA, it ofcourse is > a function of your interaction with teh concerned professor and > hence your GRE, your GPA and your understanding/prior work in > that subject. If you can bear winter, then try the state university in Minnesota as it gives instate tuition fees to international Students. The only problem there is cold weather but i know Couple of pakistani students who are there. The only thing that matters is that what are you getting against Bearing cold for a limited period of time. :) > > 8. Wat measures I can take in advance being a final year student > > who desperatly wana get his postgraduate from abroad . > For US - > > 1. Make a list of universities based on their expenses, ranking > and your subject of interest. > > 2. FOR TA - Correspond with ex-/current students of that > university regarding their knowledge with respect to which > department has most funding. Do not waste yoru tiem chasing a > department that has no funds. > > 3. FOR RA - find out what are your strong points, identify > professors who are involved in that field in cocerned > universities adn then find out if they have funding, basically > go fromt there... Try university of central florida, orlando and the advisor there Is a pakistani person whose name is dr. Mubarak shah. I can Give you some more contacts there as well. This university is Pretty open for funding to good students. The other university is university of delaware which has quiet Some pakistanis in the phd program there and they have did they Ms from their as well. As far as i know every pakistani studying There is on funding. Please let me know if you need any help in whatever i have said. My advice is dont get afraid by moving to us in terms of Expenses. All those things are secondary...if there is a will There is a way might be able to understand you this thing much Better. I hope this mail helps you in some way. Thanks and AllahHafiz Khurram ----------------------- More Info? ------------------------ NED's Official Website: http://www.neduet.edu.pk NEDian.ORG.PK : http://nedian.org.pk NED Alumni USA : http://NED-ALUMNI.org ECN List: http : http://nedian.org.pk/ecn/ecn.html List Archives : http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] ECN Members' Blurbs : http://nedian.org.pk/ecn/blurbs.html ---------------- http://nedian.org.pk ---------------------
