A substantial number of international students have Undergraduate Studies in the USA, because of its compelling reputation in the field of higher education. With over 4000 universities across the country, the US higher education system has always been held in high esteem, is extremely prestigious and exerts a powerful influence on the rest of the world. Undoubtedly, a degree from a top US university is like having global citizenship. Studying as an Undergraduate in the USA can be incredibly enriching and rewarding. Here are some of the many benefits:

Academic Flexibility

The US education system is student-friendly and offers numerous study choices according to the needs and interests of an individual. Students at Undergraduate Studies at the USA level are encouraged to explore a variety of subjects according to their choice of major at the end of their second year. The US education does not just offer traditional courses but a wide spectrum of unconventional courses is also available that broaden the learning perspective of the students and also give them a fair chance to execute their expertise beyond academics. Click here to evaluate your profile with our experts.

Scholarships & Funding opportunities

The US universities have always been very generous in giving scholarships to exceptionally bright students. With a wide range of institutions to choose from in the US, there truly is a university for every student of any background that fits their budget. Such opportunities are not easily accessible in the case of other such destinations.

The two major segments of scholarships are i) Need-based Scholarship and ii) Merit-based Scholarship. Need-based scholarships are not abundant and are granted in special cases however there is a great scope for earning merit-based scholarships for those who are bright.

International and Global Opportunities

US universities focus on the aspect of preparing their students in a manner that is applicable worldwide. This attracts top employers of the world who seek a wide range of knowledge, adaptability, and experience. They often look to hire employees who not only have multicultural language skills, but also who can help communicate, negotiate and conduct businesses across different cultures and geographies.

State-of-Art Infrastructure

There is more to US universities than just faculty, research, and technology. For most international students, the universities become their home for the four years of undergraduate studies. The campuses not just have beautiful open surroundings but have an extremely alluring infrastructure. Each campus offers a state-of-the-art infrastructure that has facilities such as libraries that host rare collections, well-funded students’ clubs, furnished accommodations, health facilities, career & sports centers, offices for international students and much more.

Excellent Faculty

Most professors in US universities have a strong background in research and years of experience in the industry and academia. The professors enjoy introducing new approaches to teaching and research methodologies.  and always encouraging students to bring out their best. Through challenging sessions. Students gain immense confidence and develop an ability to organize and present arguments without fear. The interactions are both formal and informal, over lunches or coffee. Which allows students to form a great bond with their professors. And more often than not, these respectable academicians become great mentors to their students.

 

By: Ankita Thakker

Director: Education Street

US visas can be rejected for a variety of reasons. According to the United States Department of State, an applicant’s current or past actions, such as drug or criminal activities, may make them ineligible for a visa. The most common reason for visa rejection is ineligibility. The applicant may not meet the specific requirements for the type of visa they are applying for, Here are the Top 5 reasons why US visas are rejected.

Definitely looking forward to settling there

Your intention might be to settle there but that should not come across while you speaking with the visa officer. If he gets the even slightest hint on this matter he would straight put a reject on the visa. So very smartly we need to show them that something very strong binds you back to your country.

Financial Inadequacy

Funds play a crucial role in receiving the visa. The visa officer would want to make sure that you have sufficient funds to sponsor your education and living expenses for the intended period of stay before issuing a visa.

Body Language 

You need to show them your confidence and purpose to study. They expect you to come across as a self-assured, well-bred and well-mannered individual and if you look nervous or under-confident, you are going to get yourself into hot waters.

Incorrect Information

Do not provide any false information and documents to the US visa officer. Most common lies are related to any family members in the US. They have the entire background about you in their system so do not fake it. Once caught there would never be a chance for you to visit that country.

Low Academic credentials 

The visa officer wants you to demonstrate your credibility as a good student. Additionally, your English language skills have to be reasonably good. Mediocre GPA and bad GRE scores can also become a deterrent to getting F-1 Visa. If at you have a backlog, you must be able to justify it. Moreover, the ranking of the school you plan to attend also matters to a certain extent. Make sure you are well informed about the university you intend to attend and spare no efforts in creating an impressive credential.

Don’t waste your time and money. Every country is different. Thus, every profile needs to be carefully evaluated before choosing the country to reduce the chances of rejection. Connect with Education street to be in that 99% Acceptance.

 

Also, know- How long does it take to receive an I-20?

The Statement of Purpose for Undergraduate, represents your entire university application. This short essay has the potential to greatly influence your admission decision. So it’s very important to present an SOP that’s professionally and creatively drafted with lots of care. Here are some questions you should definitely address when you sit down to write…

What’s your story?

You could share a life-defining experience that had a great impact on your thinking and ambitions. You don’t need to present your career goals very precisely. However, your passion and aspiration should reflect vividly.

Who’s your inspiration?

You may also talk about your role model in life. It is not necessary to relate it to your academics and career. Rather, try to illustrate how you can grow as an individual by following your icon’s footsteps.

Do you have any achievements or recognition?

The next part should focus on your personality. All countries want students who have excelled beyond textbook academics. You can talk about a remarkable achievement in any field like sports, music, creative writing, quiz competitions, or Olympiads. This must be a narration, not a cluster of loosely tied bullet points. If you have achievement in multiple domains, then focus on one and give a succinct account of others.

Have you worked with people before? 

Share your experience and learning from your community services. Though this would be there on your resume, on the SOP you have to share your experience in details. Then, explain what inspired you to choose your desired subject/stream, and why is the USA your most preferred destination for the course. This should be explained in details logically. It is very important for you to be thoroughly acquainted with your curriculum as you’ll also need to justify your choice of university and course.

Why should we pass your application?

Finally, you may sign off with a very strong reason regarding why you deserve the opportunity to fly abroad in every respect. Your language must be lucid, intellectual and should thoroughly demonstrate your linguistic skills and command over grammar and vocabulary. For example:

“ I have a special interest in human psychology so I would like to opt the same as minor.” Should be replaced by “Human mind is a treasure of enigma. It always amazes me how with the help of science we can read and understand the thought process of a person and even control the same when required that provides a great sense of gratification. I would be extremely happy to have psychology as a part of my curriculum to imply the same in reality.”

Technical aspect

There is no substitute for a grammatically perfect SOP. As far as the language and the vocabulary are concerned, the universities will never compromise even if you are brilliant in academics. Rather, someone with a great test score and academic performance is expected to draft a fairly nice essay. Remember to use tools like Grammarly and Hemingway to check for typos before sending it ahead.

We wish you all the very best for your adventures around the globe! if you have any query feel free to connect with Education Street.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is a standardized test designed to assess the English proficiency of non-native English speakers. Depending on the internet access facilities available at the test centers and locations, this exam is conducted in either of the two formats – the popular internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) or the paper-based test (TOEFL PBT). Here are some important points to keep in mind while registering for the exam

How To Book TOEFL Test?

The booking can be made online, by phone, or by mail. You can also buy registration vouchers or avail of registration assistance at iBT Resource Centers available locally. The list of available iBT Resource Centers can be accessed from the official website

• Walk-in registration at test centers is not available.
• Those with disabilities or special needs should register by mail only.

The Regular exam booking deadline is seven days before the actual exam date (not inclusive of the test date). 

Cancel or reschedule your TOEFL test.

Late registration is accepted only up to three days before the exam date (not inclusive of the exam date) along with a late fee. 

If registering by phone, late registration is accepted one business day prior to the exam date. If registering by mail, the registration form should reach the TOEFL office four weeks prior to the exam date.

It is important that you check the available test centers at your preferred locations and the exam dates before your register. Based on the format and the availability of seats, you can register for iBT or PBT.  A list of iBT and PBT dates and test locations is available online.

• Early booking is recommended so that you get a slot at your preferred date and location.
• If required, you may cancel or reschedule a registered exam online or by phone, up to three days before the exam date (excluding the exam date). 
• Half the fee amount will be refunded in case of cancellation; rescheduling will require you to pay an additional amount.

For more details on registration, see the registration bulletins available online 

How to Register for the TOEFL Test

If you choose to register by mail, you need to download, print out, and fill in the Registration Form available online. After filling in your name and other details correctly, choose the mode of payment from the given options. While registering by mail, you need to enter certain codes manually in the registration form, which can be accessed online.

• Make sure that you have chosen two test locations, at least. Send the form along with payment to the address given on the form.
• Ensure that you receive confirmation from TOEFL, and upon not receiving a confirmation, get in touch with the location where you sent your form as early as possible. This should be done at least three business days before the exam sign-up deadline. You are generally allotted a test date and location as close to your preferences as possible; however, the availability of slots is also a factor to be considered.
• If registering by phone, you need to go through and review the Registration Form accessible online. To complete the registration formalities, you need to call either of the two phone numbers available for US and Canada. If you are from any other location, you need to call your Regional Registration Center; the list of regional centers is available online 
• While registering, ensure you give all the correct details and spell your name correctly. Payment can be made by e-check, credit/debit card, or registration voucher. For more information on exam sign-up by phone or mail, you may refer to the relevant section on the official website

If you’re planning to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and are looking for a coaching center, or online coaching. choosing the right one can be a critical decision impacting your exam score. But don’t worry we are here to help you out. Education Street trained over 1000+ students for the TOEFL exam. We have highly experienced teachers. We give individual attention to students by keeping the batch size small.

Just as in case of undergraduate applications, the Statement of purpose (SOP) has a great importance in Master’s applications. It is also believed that an excellently written SOP can compensate other weaker factors on the profile and can also reduce the chances of admission if not found up to the standards of the university applied to. 

The difference from UG SOP lies in the fact that now the admission committee would expect a matured and professional write up as you are either a college graduate or a working professional. So, we would move away from being abstract and creative towards being sound and precise. Well, that doesn’t mean you should copy points from your resume to prepare this 1100 words document.

The major points that should be focused in SOP 

The introduction should ideally have a statement or a relevant quote. Avoid words like “during”, “As”, “I think/I feel “. Give a clear idea of what you are. For example, “I developed the flair for teaching long back when I was just in 5^th grade. I started admiring the fact that a person can be a strong inspiration to others and eventually that happened to me my profession.”

Then give a detailed account of your academic, professional and extra-curricular achievements. The major points should be like what inspired you to select that particular subject for your college education or further as your career option. How you have reached the level, what has been your key learnings and what have been your experiences should be written elaborately. You should make separate paragraphs for education, profession and extra-curricular.  

Career Goals

It is very important to give a detailed account of your career goals. Do not just write you want to pursue a Master’s program in the USA to expand your qualification. You should be very clear about the idea of what you want to do post-masters.

There are many countries in the world and you selected the US to be your study destination. You have to justify this properly and also why the particular university (subject to change in the name of the University). And, last but not the least, just in 2-3 sentences express why you deserve to be there.

If you’re searching for a statement of purpose service Connect with Education Street and access our expert assistance.

Here’s a short article for those applying for F1 US Visas…

A lot of us dream to study abroad but when the question of financing arrives several students have to take a step backward. Most of the times this happens due to not knowing the right way of displaying the funds.  A lot of students also hear scary stories of showing more than Rs50 Lakhs in the account for 6 months. Some are unaware that funds can be shown from 2-3 sponsors together. A lot of confusion prevails in this area and several fall prey to it and skip their dream to go to the USA. So let us have few basic fundamentals cleared here.

How many fund resources to show?

You have to show one-year funds for whatever duration course you are going. One year Tuition fees + One year Living Cost. This cost is typically mentioned in your I20. Before I20 you would have it on the college website.

Who can sponsor my education?

Several Entities can be your sponsor. So let us see all possible options:

1. Parents – First resort is always your Father or Mother.
2. Relatives – Blood relatives are also allowed to be your sponsor. So the form needs to mention the relation how they are linked to you. So grandparents, immediate uncle aunt from both maternal and paternal side can support you along with cousins also.
3. A mix of Both – You may have Parents + Relatives making it 2-3 sponsors as well to show the entire one-year cost.

Note: It is always preferred to have your sponsors from India and not USA. If overseas but not in USA it is still ok.

How to show those funds?

US universities and embassy accept only liquid cash. You need to show these funds twice.

1. a) Release your I20
2. b) Visa Interview

Parents/Relatives can show that fund in the following manner:

1. a) Fixed deposits receipt – attested by bank
2. b) Savings account statement – balance certificate by bank attested
3. c) PF/PPF – passbook or statement

However, if we do not have liquid cash in the above formats we can choose Solvency letter. Solvency letter is one of the options, which we can use to show funds and get our I20 released.  This option is suitable for people who look forward to arranging a loan at the later stage.

Solvency Letter- A letter from the bank stating your sponsorer is capable enough to raise funds of approx Rs 25 – 30 lakhs for your higher education. This is a not actual fund in your account it is like a capability certificate a bank provides looking at your history and assets which you would mortgage to acquire a loan.

Note that 90% of times solvency letter work but there have been certain cases where in university rejects this letter and in this situation, we have no other way but show liquid cash in above formats.

Loan Letter- Sanction letter is typically received post-receiving I20 by all national and public banks. Only private banks provide loan letters before I20 on the basis of students admit letter.  So incase if you have received the loan letter prior to I20 you may use that also to show funds to university.

So after showing the necessary financial documents university releases the I20 and we can now proceed for Visa. We should certainly maintain what we showed in the I20 as they have records. But not necessary to hold the money for so long in the account. You may have your transactions but when the student goes for visa interview you may again have the necessary balance and may also add a Loan letter in addition which you received post I20 in hand.

A lot of permutations and combination are possible apart from this. So you need to find out as each case is very subjective and hence different solutions are provided.

Preparing for a Visa Interview

Visa interviews are the final hurdle before you can begin to leave for your studies abroad. Often we find that students are not prepared or do not know what to expect when going to a visa interview. At EDUCATION STREET me run complete visa counseling.  We assist you and your parents both. Funds and all other documents are checked and placed in the visa file. We run Mock interviews for you to get a feel of the D-day. So once you join EDUCATION STREET you can be rest assured.

Here are some tips that we think every student should know when going for a visa interview:

1. Make sure you have all your admissions documents – The visa officer will want to see everything from your acceptance letter to your I-20, so remember to carry all copies of all communication you have had with your college of choice. EDUCATION STREET assists you for the same.
2.  Carry your financial documents – The most important records that a visa officer is concerned with are your financial statements and proof of how you are planning on funding your education. EDUCATION STREET assists you for the same.
3. Be ready to answer all questions – Particularly about what you are studying and what your plans after graduation are. EDUCATION STREET assists you for the same.
4. Dress to impress – You don’t need to wear a suit, but make sure you are respectably dressed for your interview
5. Be polite – Your visa is dependent on the visa officer taking your interview, so remember to be clear and polite when answering all their questions.

Follow these steps and you should ace your visa interview. Good Luck!

If you have any further doubts and need clarification on crucial decision about USA education and Visas you may write to me at: ankita@educationstreet.in. I am an overseas education counselor and Educator.  You may find more about us on www.educationstreet.in or FB page: https://www.facebook.com/educationstreet/

A Statement of Purpose is a very important document when it comes to securing an admission in a university abroad. A well written SOP can exponentially amplify your chance of getting into the University of your Choice While; on the other hand, a poorly written SOP can hamper your prospects. Thus, one must make sure that SOP which they are writing should be as error free as it can get. After analysing the SOP’s of many applicants, we came across some common mistakes which students make while framing their essays. In the article below, we will throw some light on these mistakes.

1) Writing an SOP at the eleventh hour

This could be a very grave mistake to do. Writing a statement of purpose is a time-consuming process. It requires lot of thinking and perspective to be able to write an SOP which engages your audience. Therefore, start writing one well before your application deadline. Your first draft can never be the perfect one, therefore, give yourself some scope to make additions as you go.

2) Copying and pasting readily available material from the net

At times, just to make tasks easier, many students readily copy paste sentences from well-written SOPs that are available on different sites. One must avoid doing the same as your SOP might undergo a plagiarism test detection and things could go bad. Rather write down your own ideas in form of properly framed sentences. Take correct guidance and help from experts, teachers, tutors to enhance the quality of your writing and ensure that your SOP is free of grammatical, spelling and structural errors.

3) Avoid mentioning generic adjectives and ideas

“I am honest, sincere and punctual”. This sounds very common and generic which almost anyone can blindly put down. Rather re-write the same ideas with the help of narratives and anecdotes which will not only reflect your qualities and achievements but also bolster evidences to substantiate the same.

4) Do not highlight negatives

Try avoiding writing something that presents a sad picture of you. Academic inconsistencies can be mentioned but make sure that you write something additional to illustrate as to how you could make up for your weaknesses. The same should be written in a very convincing style without portraying your image in the bad light.

5) Check for structural errors

Do not write sentences in the form as you plainly speak them. Remember the way you speak things in English differ from the way you would write them. Hence make sure that you use correct vocabularies in the right context, see to it that the sentences are properly structured and well-framed. Avoid writing very long sentences that disturb the flow while reading and at times make the reader ponder as to figure out the essence of the idea that is being conveyed. Hence write short sentences instead with correct flow and usage of words.

6) Ensure consistency of thoughts

A brilliant SOP should contain all the necessary information about you arranged in a proper order of flow and thoughts to make a dent upon the reader. For instance, you could begin with an introduction about why you chose to take up YXZ field of study. What inspired you to take it (a small story). A brief history of your academic journey, your scores and subjects you were inclined towards. This could be followed by mentioning your project-works, final year project, internships, seminars, industrial visits and much more.

On the same lines, mention about your co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, a small mention of any special skills that you possess. Describe your work profile if you have any. Talk about your short term and long term goals stating your purpose for pursuing the graduate program. Finally describe as to why you consider yourself a potential candidate to pursue your studies at the university that you have chosen to apply for.

7) Avoid repetition of words, phrases, or ideas

A good SOP oversees repetition of words and even ideas. Same ideas should not be repeated in the form of two differently constructed sentences. This reduces the quality of your SOP.

8) Avoid slang, short forms, and informal language

An SOP is a formal document that speaks on your behalf. Hence, care must be taken to see that it does not contain any slang, colloquial expressions, improper usages or short forms and a casual way of representation of things.

9) Check and double-check your grammar and punctuation

Make sure your words are spelled correctly and that there are no typos in your graduate school statement of purpose. Even if your content is good, these mistakes would spoil the impression of the SOP.

10) Proofread the entire thing at least 2-3 times

Proofreading of SOPs by language experts will help in ensuring that the SOP is free from all possible errors and is ready for the final submission for applying to the universities.Spread the love

Thinking about moving to Australia? This article might come in handy.

It is written and experienced by a student studying and living in Australia. Therefore providing information and guidance with finer details. As it is said “Straight from the horse’s mouth” just for you from ‘EDUCATION STREET’ student Miss. Harleen Kaur currently studying Masters at Monash University (Feb 2016 Batch).  She has very well articulated this article on her own sharing her own experience and ideology about Australia. She has been very kind to offer her email id, in case you have any further answers to seek: harleenkaur192@gmail.com. 

——–

I came to Australia over a year ago for my Masters at Monash University in Melbourne. I wish I could say my time here has been a roller coaster ride but it has been pretty smooth.

Disclaimer: My opinions and experiences are based on my experience in Melbourne. I have no or negligible knowledge about other Australian states.

Jobs & Internships

I will not say it is difficult to find a part-time job in Melbourne given the amount of casual jobs that are available here. But it might be difficult to find a job that pays well. Most of the jobs here are approached via references. The pay differs with the job. If your employer is Indian, you probably are going to be paid between 10-17 dollars an hour. But there are many platforms that offer casual jobs. I have listed some of them below.

1. Gumtree
2. Seek
3. Airtasker

Many people go around and distribute their resume in restaurants and stores too for a job. No matter what part-time job you do, it will help you pay your bills.

Stay in Melbourne

Melbourne is expensive when it comes to renting a place. If you are living far away in the suburbs, you might be able to lower your expenses but that will increase your travel. On an average, students spend between 500-800 dollars on rent. This is for a single room. If you are okay with sharing, it might reduce. When I got here, I had found a place close to my university via Airbnb. It was pretty reasonable and the hosts were amicable. My suggestion would be to find a place that is close to university you are studying in because if you are actually serious about attending classes, you might not wish to spend a lot of time traveling because you will also need to come for group meeting which may last for a short while. I say this because I know a lot of people who chase money and skip classes to work. That is something that I never do but preferences differ from person to person.

Traveling 

Public transport is not very reliable or cheap in Melbourne. For the sake of comparison, it is much easier to get around places at cheaper prices in Mumbai. Melbourne has three main modes of public transport: trains, trams and buses. Buses are very unreliable. So, try and find a place of residence close to either a train station or a tram stop. After a point of time, you will want to buy your own vehicle because public transport will not take you everywhere you have to go. If you are traveling in Melbourne, you will have to walk a lot. That helps with my cardio so that I don’t have to work hard in the gym.

Jokes apart, trains and trams run at a high frequency during peak hours and they run till late night on the weekends.

Culture in Australia

Australia is pretty laid back. The pace of life is very slow here. People hardly work over time. They do not work on the weekends. There is a good work-life balance for someone who is working full-time.

Melbourne has a brilliant food culture. You will find a variety of cuisine here ranging from 5 dollars a meal to 200 dollars a meal. People barely cook here. Take-outs are very common. I used to cook all my meals earlier and now, there are days don’t cook at all. Food-wise, you will not find it difficult to adjust here even if you are vegan or vegetarian. During the weekdays, most restaurants close early but the nightlife during the weekends is pretty smashing.

You will find a lot of Chinese and Indian diaspora here in the city. Australians primarily inhabit the regional areas of Australia. Australians do not generally go for a tertiary degree, at least not in the field of business and management. Don’t be surprised if you don’t find local students in your classes.

For those who love to shop, Melbourne is the place to be. Shopping here is a part of Australian culture and the cherry on the cake is the sale. There are sales going on all year round.

Weather in Melbourne

As you must have already heard, the weather here is erratic. You sometimes get to see 2-3 seasons in a single day. Winter clothes never go into storage because it can get chilly anytime. The seasons are opposite to what they are in India. It is summer during the months of November – February. It gets pretty hot. Winters get harsh in June and July. It sometimes goes as low as 1 degrees at night. Moreover, winter here is accompanied by the monsoon season. So, every morning when you wake up, check the weather for the day before you check your emails and WhatsApp messages from your girlfriend/boyfriend (haha!).

Racism

I do not agree with those who say Indians have to face racism abroad due to their accent and the color of their skin. Would you believe it if I said I have been a victim of racism in my own country, India. I have studied in Chennai and I was an outcast there because of my color and cultural background. Racism is everywhere in the world. You will be a victim of it if you try to be an American in Rome. The saying ‘when in Rome, be a Roman’ does actually hold a lot of meaning. Try and acculturate yourself when you go to a country. Be sensitive towards others, no matter where they are from. Something that might be a joke to you can be offensive to another person. People will be biased against you if you don’t behave in a civilized manner. I have, fortunately, never been faced with racism ever since I got here. As long as you don’t try and poke someone, you will be fine.

Studying in Melbourne

I am a student at Monash University and I like it here. Not because of the university and its infrastructure but because of the relationships I have cultivated here. Professors are very helpful here. And I am not just talking about Monash; I speak for most the universities. If you want their help, you have to ask them for it. Beating around the bush will not help. Maintain a healthy relationship with your professors. That will not only help with your assignments but also will help you with internships and jobs after your graduation. I have friends who have been offered jobs by their professors and I have been too. Look for internships during your vacation times. Check with your university if they offer any units or opportunities that you might apply for. This will help you gain local experience and improve your employability according to the Australian way.

To sum up, I would like to say that every individual has a different experience. My opinions and advice are based on my experience and you might hear something different from another person. So, don’t take my words to be the gospel truth but regard this article as a trailer to a movie. The reality is revealed when you sit through the movie experience. I hope you guys enjoyed reading this and found it helpful. Have a positive outlook and your experience will be rewarding. I wish you all the best.

If you wish to contact me regarding anything you need help or guidance with, feel free to email me on harleenkaur192@gmail.com. I will be more than happy to do so.

~

EDUCATION STREET Student 

Harleen Kaur

Monash University

Master in International Business (prior an engineer)

https://www.educationstreet.in

Have you watched Disney’s latest film, ‘Coco?’

I just saw it yesterday. And yes, I did leave the theatre crying like a kid. But it wasn’t merely the animation or the character sketches that melted my heart. I was blown away by the story’s underlying moral, which explains “we are all a part of those who came before.’ 

Deep, eh? The philosophy might be hard to articulate but no other form of media captures it quite like books do. Being one of our most ancient forms of communication, books manage to perfectly brew the essence of enlightened minds, making them accessible to curious thinkers across time and space.

So in a humble attempt to help you stand on the shoulder of some enlightened giants, we’ve put together a small list of 10  great books every university student should read.

From psychology to communication, and modern business to healthy living, this small list covers books that’ll make you street-smart to not just survive but thrive in an increasingly competitive job market.

1. How to Win Friends & Influence People ~ Dale Carnegie
2. The 48 Laws of Power ~ Robert Greene
3. Contagious: Why Things Catch On ~ Jonah Berger
4. The Lean Startup ~ Eric Ries
5. On Writing Well ~ William Zinsser
6. The Intelligent Investor ~ Benjamin Graham
7. Getting Things Done ~ David Allen
8. The War of Art ~ Steven Pressfield
9. Elon Musk ~ Ashlee Vance
10. How Not to Die ~ Michael Greger

Since we acknowledge and appreciate your ambition, we’ve included suggestions for more related titles after every synopsis. You can purchase the books from any of the links provided below their respective reviews.

Happy reading and perusing! Stay curious.

1. How to Win Friends & Influence People

~ Dale Carnegie

From group projects in college to business presentations at work, you’ll have to work with diverse personalities throughout your life, regardless of what industry you are in. To complicate it further, each member of your team will have different views, emotions, and backgrounds.

So how do you rope ’em all together and ensure that you survive all the differences and feuds, all the while moving towards a common goal?

Carnegie seems to have figured it out, and he’s made the secret formulae publicly available through his seminal study of what makes people tick. Motivation, as he explains, is the cornerstone of our behavior.

Once you learn the skill of knowing what people want, you can easily win them over with some easy mental tricks, nicely laid out in this title. If you had to pick just 1 book to read from our list, you should most definitely open up this treasure trove!

You can bite this brain-candy at: 

• https://archive.org/details/DaleCarnegieHOWTOWINFRIENDSANDINFLUENCEPEOPLE_201609
• https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034
• https://www.bookdepository.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People-Dale-Carnegie/9780091906818

If you like this book, you might also want to check out: 

• The Social Animal (Book by Elliot Aronson)
• Influence: Science and Practice (Book by Robert Cialdini)
• Brain Games (TV Series by National Geographic Channel)

2. The 48 Laws of Power

~ Robert Greene

Carnegie’s classic teaches you how to appear on the stage. Parellely, Greene provides guidance on the strings you’ll need to pull behind the curtains if you want to stay in the limelight long after your act is done.

We often foolishly believe that performance, hard work, and honesty are the cornerstones of success. But when you step into the corporate world, you’ll realize that the good guys seldom make it up the ladder.

To win the race, you must plot strategies, often at the cost of your own values and relationships.

It’s a bloody jungle, after all, so you can choose to be prey or strap up for the hunt. This book is the finest hunting gear in stock. Green outlines 48 Laws of Power to help you use your masters, subordinates, friends, enemies, media, and the mobs to harness limitless power.

A word of caution, though- reading the laws is like taking bitter medicine- you’ll be appalled to discover the savage side of man. But you’ll get over the shock soon, rest assured, and be well on your way to the shimmering carpet de rouge.

You can bite this brain-candy at: 

• https://archive.org/details/48LawsOfPower
• https://www.amazon.com/48-Laws-Power-Robert-Greene/dp/0140280197
• https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-48-laws-of-power-robert-greene/1116705941#/

If you like this book, you might also want to check out: 

• House of Cards (Netflix Series on Politics)
• Prince (Book by Nicolo Machiavelli)
• The Art of Seduction (Book by Robert Greene)

3. Contagious: Why Things Catch On

~ Jonah Berger

We know you’re just a student and there’s no real commercial brand you have to manage just yet. But we still think you ARE managing a brand, kind of. Just go look in the mirror. Do you see it? And do you get our point?

When you graduate very soon, you’ll be competing against thousands of other options who’ll be applying for your dream job along with you. To get hired, or if you’re an entrepreneur- to get invested in, you’ll need to sell yourself as the best product available on the market- for your managers, consumers, and staff as well.

In other words, you’ll have to convince others to put their trust, time, and money in you. But as every social psychology student learns, people hate to be ‘told to do something.’ We simply don’t take orders well.

So instead of launching your ideas on others faces, you’ll need to find a way to pull them towards you by giving a strong reason to support your big wild dreams.

You’ll have to make people want to listen to your story and share it ahead. This is exactly what ‘Contagious’ explores- how to harness ‘word-of-mouth’ to promote products, ideas, and dreams.

In her exciting and accessible style, Berger teaches you how to flint social fire and light up your career like a Broadway show. You should definitely read this piece if you want to learn about how and why most of us stay average anonymous Joes while a selective few redefine the meaning of fame itself…

You can bite this brain-candy at:

• https://www.amazon.com/Contagious-Things-Catch-Jonah-Berger/dp/1442359374
• https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/contagious-jonah-berger/1112409985
• http://jonahberger.com/books/contagious/

If you like this book, you might also want to check out:

• Made to Stick (Book by Chip Heath and Dan Heath)
• The Tipping Point (Book by Malcolm Gladwell)
• Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products (Book by Nir Eyal)

4. The Lean Startup

~ Eric Ries

There are 2 types of graduates in this world. First, there’s the majority who dream of getting hired by Google, Apple, and the likes. Then, there are idiots who have the itch to pave our own damn paths.

They want to create their destinies, make their luck, and prove everyone who told them, “You can’t do it!” horribly wrong.

Does that description fit you? Do you have a bug in your brain that keeps telling you to chat your own course? If its a confident yes, then Ries’ text is a perfect guide to kickstart your entrepreneurial adventure.

You’ll learn how to understand your consumers, design profitable ideas, bootstrap your own ventures, ‘pivot’ your business according to changing situations, and build a classic team to stay with you through it all…

You can bite this brain-candy at: 

• https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898
• http://theleanstartup.com/book
• https://penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/210088/lean-startup

If you like this book, you might also want to check out: 

• Zero to One (Book by Blake Masters and Peter Thiel)
• TVF Pitchers (Indian Web Series)
• The Hard Thing About Hard Things (Book by Ben Horowitz)

5. On Writing Well

~ William Zinsser

The world might be turning towards visual content but we aren’t going to abandon words anytime soon, rest assured. In fact, millennials are making up for the lack of reading in the past few decades; all major film and Netflix producers are banking on literary hits; and the hunger for a good story or piece of advice in at an all-time high.

Considering all these trends, it might be a wise choice to pick up Zinsser’s handy tips and polish your writing before you sit down to sketch out your first CV. Yes, good writing is a skill that can be picked up- Actually, its always learned through observation, rejection, and practice.

So if you think that writing is an ‘art’ that only comes to people ‘naturally,’ prepare to be surprised after discovering the strategies sketched here. Once you read this book, you’ll never read any other book in the same manner. Zinner completely changes your outlook about the written word.

You can bite this brain-candy at: 

• https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Well-Classic-Guide-Nonfiction/dp/0060891548
• https://archive.org/details/OnWritingWell
• https://www.bookdepository.com/On-Writing-Well-William-Zinsser/9780060891541

If you like this book, you might also want to check out: 

• On Writing (Book by Stephen King)
• The Anatomy of Story (Book by John Truby)
• The War of Art (Book by Steven Pressfield)

6. The Intelligent Investor

~ Benjamin Graham

Who hasn’t dreamt of sailing the Bahamas on a private yacht stacked with gourmet wine and fresh coral catch? We’re all fighting to make big bucks and this book helps us to ensure our financial victory in the long run.

By effectively balancing theory and practical advice, Graham breaks down the nuances of managing your money regardless of what the volume is or isn’t.

We’d strongly recommend his advice to any and all students who wish to earn at least 10 times more than what they get for their pocket money…

You can bite this brain-candy at-

• https://www.amazon.com/Intelligent-Investor-Definitive-Investing-Essentials/dp/0060555661
• https://www.harpercollins.com/9780060752613/intelligent-investor
• https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/intelligent-investor-benjamin-graham/1100550845#/

If you like this book, you might also want to check out: 

• Rich Dad Poor Dad (Book by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter)
• One Up on Wall Street (Book by John Rothchild and Peter Lynch)
• A Random Walk Down Wall Street (Book by Burton Malkiel)

7. Getting Things Done

~ David Allen

Missed your assignment deadline? You can probably apply for an extension. Reached late for class? Most professors are kind enough to let you walk in.

But when you put on office shoes, you’re expected to run faster than the speed of light. Showing up a minute late might just spell your entire career.

Therefore, time management is an extremely crucial skill for people of our age, regardless of the industry we’re planning to lead ahead.

David Allen’s book is surely the best guide on this topic because it manages to cram centuries of practical advice on productivity, in under 300 pages.

It teaches you how to build a “collection bucket” to stock ideas outside of your mind and stay sharp, keep a “next actions” list to avoid thinking in the present, and do a weekly review of all your tasks, among other interesting tips.

Follow the principles laid out by our seasoned life coach, and you’ll never run out of time- or chase after it!

You can bite this brain-candy at: 

• https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity/dp/0142000280
• https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/getting-things-done-david-allen/1101546710#/
• http://gettingthingsdone.com/

If you like this book, you might also want to check out: 

• The Power of Habit (Book by Charles Duhigg)
• Deep Work (Book by Cal Newport)
• The Productivity Project (Book by Chris Bailey)

8. The War of Art

~ Steven Pressfield

Innovation isn’t ‘creating things out of thin air,’ like we think it to be. Artists don’t just get lucky with an apple falling on their head; ideas don’t sprout out of the blue. Rather, artists simply borrow ideas already available in the world and reconstruct them to suit current and future needs.

Your initial attempts at innovation will often fail because your links are weak. As you read, observe, and experiment, the links start getting stronger- and your ideas start to make more sense.

Remember, no one catches the solution to anything out of thin air. No one has a completely successful first day at their new job.

Nobody just becomes a respectful somebody out of sheer luck. It takes years of screaming and awkward silence before the applause finally kicks in.

However, reading Pressfield’s book will definitely help you speed up this process. He delivers beautiful insights on why and how we keep ourselves from unleashing our full creativity and also suggests a simple remedy to overcome these inner artistic battles.

Whether you’re going through a block, or wish to start off on your journey as a creator, this book is a seminal guide on the tools you’ll need to splash colour on the canvas of your dreams.

You can bite this brain-candy at:

• https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Winning-Creative-Battle/dp/1501260626 
• https://www.bookdepository.com/War-Art-Steven-Pressfield/9781936891023
• https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-war-of-art-steven-pressfield/1005669518

If you like this book, you might also want to check out: 

• Creativity, Inc. (Book by Amy Wallace and Edwin Catmull)
• Steal Like an Artist (Book by Austin Kleon) 
• The Creative Habit (Book by Twyla Tharp) 

9. Elon Musk

~ Ashlee Vance

He’s a legend in startup circles. He haunts the dreams of young innovators across the planet..and who knows, maybe even beyond. He’s humanity’s brightest and boldest visionary- the living exemplification of what it means to push one’s limits and dream filthy big.

Elon Musk has come a long way since he first started his career at the age of 12 by selling a self-made video game called Blastar for just 500 bucks. Now his net 20.6 billion dollars, last we checked- yeah, let that seep in.

Vance provides a riveting account of his struggles, triumphs, and failures with Tesla Motors, PayPal, SpaceX, and many other ventures he’s helped get off the ground.

Filled with anecdotes from his personal and professional lives, this book will give you a sneak peek into the life of an entrepreneur. We advise you to read the awesome story and use it as a boost to mint your own.

You can bite this brain-candy at: 

• https://www.amazon.com/Elon-Musk-SpaceX-Fantastic-Future/dp/0062301233
• https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/elon-musk-ashlee-vance/1120425300#/
• https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062301239/elon-musk

If you like this book, you might also want to check out: 

• Steve Jobs (Book by Walter Isaacson)
• Losing My Virginity (Book by Richard Branson)
• The Art of the Start (Book by Guy Kawasaki)

10. How Not to Die

~ Michael Greger

No matter how much knowledge you gain from reading these and hundreds of other books, your ideas are pretty much useless if you aren’t alive to sell them to the crowd.

To stay alive, you need to take good care of your body and attend to all its needs. But that’s easier said than done.

With mortality rates skyrocketing out of proportion- no thanks to junk food, pollution, rising stress levels, and sedentary lifestyles- it’s becoming increasingly hard to figure out a practical solution for our complicated ailments

Fret not, because this book outlines some little steps you can take to reverse all major medical issues and rejuvenate into a smoothly-functioning body. We won’t reveal the cool diet Greger recommends; but then again, it’s pretty obvious from the cover, innit?

You can bite this brain-candy at: 

• https://nutritionfacts.org/book/
• https://www.amazon.com/How-Not-Die-Discover-Scientifically/dp/1250066115
• https://www.bookdepository.com/How-Not-Die-Michael-Greger/9781447282440

If you like this book, you might also want to check out: 

• Forks Over Knives (Documentary by Lee Fulkerson)
• The China Study (Book by T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell)
• What The Health (Documentary by Kip Andersen, Keegan Kuhn)

With good wishes for a long and healthy life, we conclude our lineup for the top 10 books every university student should check out before embarking on his or her first job.

Hopefully, sifting through the pages of these intellectual gems will give your mind a good energy boost!

But if you’d like some more support with regards to your career development and university selection, do get in touch with us on Facebook at fb.com/educationstreet.

Wish you all the very best in all your future endeavors! Keep growing!

COMPUTER SCIENCE & INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Hey there! Are you confused between the two terms? Then you’re at the right place. We’ve got your back.

Here’s a comparison between the disciplines of Computer Science and Information Systems. While there is some overlap between the two disciplines, both of them equip learners with very different problem-solving orientation and set of technical skills.

If you’d like to discuss more career options in depth, feel free to ping us on our FB page; we’ll be most happy to help you out!

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Computer Science

Computer Science (CS) grew out of the disciplines of mathematics and electrical engineering. It refers to the study of the machine itself and its use as a tool in various disciplines. A major in CS will know a considerable amount of mathematics which will help in technological applications such as computer networking, image processing, database design and development and artificial intelligence. A computer scientists’ strength lies in his or her ability to solve problems of efficiency and overall performance of applications from a machine perspective, and an overall technical orientation to problem-solving.

A computer scientist focuses on the development of solutions to problems taking into account the limitations of the machine and its resources, as well as how to best utilize the resources. He/she should be able to develop algorithms and data structures that can work within the constraints of available hardware and software to produce an acceptable solution. Most of the development will be done in high-level languages, such as C and C++, that can take full advantage of the system hardware and software resources.

Information Systems

Information Systems (IS) is the application of information technology to organizational and managerial needs. An IS major needs to be aware of what information technology can contribute to an organization and how to bring that solution to fruition. The strength of an IS major lies in his/her ability to apply the knowledge of information systems and technology to help organizations compete more successfully in the marketplace or to streamline current operations.

IS professionals utilize their business-based backgrounds in working with managers and users to specify technology needs that benefit the organization. In addition, they write programs to codify that technology and later manage it. As such, the IS professional might develop code for business transaction processing systems, client/server systems or end-user support systems; they might implement such systems in languages as COBOL, C++, Visual Basic or JAVA.

IS graduates also design and administer databases and data warehouses, analyze and implement enterprise-wide solutions to information problems and manage telecommunications efforts. Some I.S. graduates implement and manage corporate-wide Intranets. Finally, IS graduates can also provide project management skills, technical writing or training by melding their knowledge of information technology and business processes.