Ski Trip to Hunter Mountain

So the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) at Columbia University has organised a ski trip to Hunter Mountain. Hunter Mountain is located in up state New York and is about 125 miles from Columbia University. I am looking forward to this trip as this will be my first time skiing.

Intern at McKinsey and Company!!!!!!

So the spring semester has been the toughest part of my life.... With the current crisis in the US Markets it has been difficult to find an internship with the financial firms. I have struggled because of this and so have my friends....

But now as i write this post I have an offer from McKinsey and Company. I will be a Summer Intern in the IT Department of McKinsey and Company. I am looking forward to the summer as it is going to be very exciting time with the firm. I get to interact with the some of the best consulting brains in the world....

This is a small step towards my long term goal and for the first time in a long long time I am enjoying the sweet taste of success.....

Exams - biggest pain in the ass!!!!!

What was I thinking when I decided to pursue Master's???
I guess I forgot the fact that I would have to take exams every now and then. I hate exams by the way. They just take a toll of ones life.

Exam time = 0 Social Life, 0 enjoyment, 100% suffering, 100% tension.

Well just waiting to see off my exams. After that I will get the opportunity to experience my first Christmas in New York (hopefully in snow) and then on 27th Dec it is California... Can't stop thinking about the song by Phantom Planet - California Here We Come... off course in my case it is California Here I Come....

Kerala - Gods Own Country

This is my favorite click. This was in Kerala, back in 2006 when I went on a roadtrip with my flatmates. I don't know why of all the photos that I have clicked so far I like this the most. There are lot many other photographs which someone might say are better..... but this one is No. 1 for me.....

An all nighter after a long time

I really cant remeber when was the last time I did not sleep for more than 24 hours on a stretch. But today I definitely did pull an all nighter.... I hate to use the f... word but man that's how my life has become off late "f....ed". Just completed 5 (ass)ignments...

These deadly assignments are killing an innocent child...

Someone save me....

The Statement of Purpose.

Over the past two years I have been busy planning on pursuing higher education. I had many options before me and ultimately I decided to pursue MS in the Land of Unlimited Opportunity - The United States of America. Taking the GRE and the TOEFL were some of the initial challenges that I faced towards realizing this dream. However, the biggest challenge of all was still awaiting me and that was writing my Statement of Purpose. Never had I thought that it would be such a difficult task. But today after submitting my applications I realize that it was all about keeping some few points in mind. Here are a few that I would like to share to all those who are planning to pursue their higher education.

The most important point that needs to kept in mind in the Chronological Flow of your essay. Things should be put in the chronological order in which they occurred. This is a rule and must be given the highest priority when writing the SOP. A deviation from this rule can almost lead to rejection of your application.

Keeping in mind the above rule we now come to writing the SOP. Here are some tips that I deem would be helpful:-
1. Write an Introductory paragraph.
2. A brief paragraph on Schooling & Pre- University(which you mention as final years of schooling)
3. A brief on your Undergrad years.
4. A brief on life after undergrad (which may include research or work experience etc.)
5. A brief paragraph explaining why that course (i.e. go through the program website and look at subjects offered and then claim how you think they are your strengths)
6. A brief paragraph on your Short Term and Long Term Goals (This is the most important part)
7. A brief on extra circular activities (Do mention some Social Work as it will have a significant role)
8. A concluding paragraph on why that University. Highlight points on location (how it will help you for both your career and your personality). Describe on how it provides you with the opportunity to learn new cultures. Mention how you can be an asset to that university

In my opinion the above eight points are sufficient to bring about your entire profile in front of the admissions committee. Do remember that they are weighing your profile with hundreds of equally competitive profiles. So your goal - 'Bring out all the details but let the contents be brief and to the point'. Don’t drag anything for long, it will make you profile weak and boring.

While writing the SOP another important rule to be kept in mind is that the content should show how over the years your actions have made you ultimately take up this course. For example, it is very obvious that you will not have taken the decision to pursue MS in XXX course back at your school. So how did you arrive at this course? At school you decided to be an engineer. Then you got into an engineering school. You took up a course. Tell what influenced you to take up that course. Here you came to know about the MS in XXX. Say how this course is relevant to your study in the engineering school and how it would add value to your undergraduate study. This way you establish a link from you school to course XXX. The third rule that must kept in mind is -'Be Honest'. This is very critical as false claims if discovered at later stage may jeopardize you career and eventually your life.

These are some of the inputs that I would like to share with all you people. Some of you may think this is just another oridinary article. My intensions here is to help figure out a simply way to construct the SOP essay. I sincerely hope that these tips would come in handy to all you people aspiring to pursue higher education. Any suggestions are always welcome.

Wish you all the very best.

The Beginning

Today is my first day at any of the blog sites available. I am a bit late when it comes to keeping myself up with any new emerging technology, but better late than never. But once I start I get deep into it till I completely understand it. Honestly speaking I still have no idea about the significance of blogging, it is only after some lengthy discussions over many days with one of best friends and my room-mate Mr.Deepak Jadhav, that I have decided to start blogging.

Let me see how it goes!