Rediff Celebrity Chat

Mr. Yogish Lavanis, Director & Co-Founder for GRE Edge who also heads the Student Facilitation team participated in the Rediff Celebrity Chat for GRE aspirants. He interacted with a lot of students aspiring to write their GRE.

Yogish Lavanis says, email: info@greedge.com

Yogish Lavanis says, It was nice interacting with all of you. Hope the session was useful. Wish you success in GRE and your academic pursuits. If you need further help, visit www.greedge.com. email: +91 98844 53276

kapil asked, is the stipend for PhD varies from university to university? How much is it around? Whether it is ample to live comfortably their and do saving?
Yogish Lavanis answers, Kapil, yes one's PhD stipend does vary from university to university, however it will usually be in accordance with the standard or living and living expenses in that particular location, so you don't need to worry!

pri16 asked, what is anaverage pay of a student after completing MS in say computer science
Yogish Lavanis answers, t totally depends on your overall performance in your MS and in the interview, in the kind of job you are applying for, etc. Eg. you can work as a researcher in a university doing state of the art projects for $40,000 per year. If you have an excellent academic and interview record and if you're interviewing for a high end company then you can easily make $80 - 100K per year. So there is a wide range. More than the money, make sure you find the right place where you will shine and grow.

prabhu123 asked, (My question was .. " I am an IT professional with 5 years of work exp. I hold an H1 Visa. Can I study MBA in USA on H1 Visa.. please suggest? ") Thanks Yogish for the answers... F1 is the only visa which is required for full/part time MBA? Is there any visa that helps in holding a job and also allows you to do a masters in Business or similar courses? Thanks in advance !
Yogish Lavanis answers, Prabhu, many universities have part-time programs for working professionals, even those on an H1 visa. However your employer/HR dept needs to provide their full support and also confirm that all of the INS/SEVIS regulations have been met with. If you have more specific questions, you may contact our student counselor. We can advise you on your specific issues. (call/SMS at +91 98844 53276 )

armaan asked, yogish sir, doing MS from canada,australia or newzealand is a good optionm oe not????
Yogish Lavanis answers, We need to know more about you to advise you better. You may contact our student counselor. We can advise you on your specific issues. (call/SMS at +91 98844 53276 )

freak_85 asked, In case, my work exp is not related to the field that i want to pursue my masters in, then how do i still mention the work-exp as an advantage in my SOP and Resume? or is it totally irrelevant?
Yogish Lavanis answers, One's work experience builds in us a lot of things other than mere subject knowledge - such as doing projects on time, teamwork, leadership, hard work, perseverance, problem solving. These qualities will of course hold you in good stead anywhere in life including a university setting. So don't leave out or suppress your work experience, but use it to highlight your drive or problem solving capabilities which you will channelize towards a different field of study during your MS

pri16 asked, what about teaching allowance and research allowance .what are the chances of getting it. r they enough for taking out our monthly living and food cost
Yogish Lavanis answers, since you have very specific queries, you may contact our student counselor. We can advise you on your specific issues. (call/SMS at +91 98844 53276 ) www.greedge.com

kapil asked, I have secured a gold medal in my B.Tech course but have just started my curriculum in Masters, dont u think when applying for PhD in US I should get at least one reco from my undergaduate Prof? How important is the qualification of a Prof?
Yogish Lavanis answers, If you had a professor in your BTech who knew you well and can attest to your superlative skills in research and your qualities like perseverence and innovative spirit, then by all means get a letter of recommendation from him or her. A professor's qualification is important (minimum PhD!) and if he/she has good publications and research then it helps. But it is more important that the prof knows you and your qualities well than if it is a well qualified person who has barely known you.

Yogish Lavanis says, Hi Folks, If you have very specific querties, you may contact our student counselor. We can advise you on your specific issues. (call/SMS at +91 98844 53276 ) Visit www.greedge.com

kapil asked, what is the best source for verbal and reasoning prep?
Yogish Lavanis answers, Hi Kapil, log into Greedge.com and take the free 10days trial sessions. if you find it useful, you can also join for a full time prep course. a number of students got 800 in quant and 700 +in verbal after taking sessions at greedge.com

pri16 asked, what about teaching allowance and research allowance .what are the chances of getting it. r they enough for taking out our monthly living and food cost
Yogish Lavanis answers, pri16, see my response to saurav. Basically, most universities will allow you to work as a TA (Teaching Assistant) or RA (Research Assistant) provided your qualify yourself well and there is a need. In that case they will reimburse your tuition and also provide you a monthly stipend, but these assistantships are highly comptetitive and sought after. A 50% TA or RA (20 hrs of your time commitment per week) will usually take care of your tuition and living expenses. A lesser percentage of funding (eg. 25%) will require some financial support (eg. bank loans) from your end. You can also compensate by taking part-time on-campus jobs such as library supervision, etc

pri16 asked, u said it would take 30000$ for all expense except tution fess but it wont get reduce if we share our apartment
Yogish Lavanis answers, When you apply for a Visa, you need to show this information. (You could share acco later). But you need to show that you have budgeted for the worst case scenario

freak_85 asked, Hi, i have been working for over an year now after my engg. how much of a positive effect will this added work-exp have on my getting into a good university
Yogish Lavanis answers, If the experience is relevant to the field that you are planning to pursue your masters, it can really help. you need to project it correctly in your SOP highlight the skills/insights that your have picked during the experience

ashwin asked, I am doing my BTech in paper technology.can i apply in any field other than my field of study
Yogish Lavanis answers, certainly you can. Check with the univ before you apply. If you are applying for CS or IT, it will help if you take subject GRE

prabhu123 asked, I am an IT professional with 5 years of work exp. I hold an H1 Visa. Can I study MBA in USA on H1 Visa.. please suggest?
Yogish Lavanis answers, Prabhu, it is unlikely that you can do a full-time MBA (which requires an F1 visa) while you are on an H1 visa. However, if your company is willing to support you for a part-time or full-time MBA then you can do it while you are studying. Many universities will accommodate working professionals with a separate study track and lighter course load spread over a longer time. Discuss with your colleagues, your supervisor and your HR Manager regarding company policy for support for ongoing studies

saurav asked, Hello! I am a doctor and I wish to enter into medical/clinical research. Can you tell me how GRE can help me?
Yogish Lavanis answers, Hello Doc! GRE can help you get into the sought after Univ if you want to get into research work. US actually offers excellent opportunities for those who are passionate about research and ultimately hit the goal

Edlyn asked, How much time would it ideally take one to prepare for the GRE?
Yogish Lavanis answers, Read my article at http://www.greedge.com/gre-demystified/ it will help. also refer to the archive for my earlier articles on the same subject. hope they help !!!

ashwin asked, I am doing my BTech in paper technology.can i apply in any field other than my field of study
Yogish Lavanis answers, certainly you can. Check with the univ before you apply. If you are applying for CS or IT, it will help if you take subject GRE

saurav asked, Is scholarship available for MS couses?
Yogish Lavanis answers, Saurav, scholarships for MS is very different from the kinds of scholarships we are used to in India - there is no concept of a "cut off" or percentage scholarship based on any one factor. Try to apply to schools that are well funded in your area of research. A PhD program will usually be fully funded. Most universities will allow you to work as a TA (Teaching Assistant) or RA (Research Assistant) provided your qualify yourself well and there is a need. In that case they will reimburse your tuition and also provide you a monthly stipend, but these assistantships are highly competitive and sought after. Work hard. All the best!

pri16 asked, what is an average money in dollars reqired for spending month in US as a student
Yogish Lavanis answers, hi Pri16 Hi Naseer This will give you an idea of expenses. Tuition fees range from $12000 -15000$ per annum Living costs ranges from 30000-35000.$ per annum [Includes Housing,food,books, transport,fees, health insurance etc..] Other Expenses GRE+TOEFL : $170 + $160 Visa application fee about 100$ College application fee about $50-$100 per univ One way ticket to US : $1000 Trust that helps ....

freak_85 asked, how to preparing an exciting SOP?
Yogish Lavanis answers, refer to my answer to Kapil

kapil asked, what should one consider most while writing the SOP?
Yogish Lavanis answers, Hi Kapil, while writing the SOP understand your aim. Your aim is to convey to the reader of your SOP your ability, interest, commitment and passion for your field of study. therefore first write down a few points which give a true picture of you reflecting these points. Substantiate your SOP with relevant work experience , research , projects or competitions won.

poly asked, i have only two recomondations whereas most of the universities ask for 3 recos. Do u suggest that I shud work for a year or two to earn an extra reco.
Yogish Lavanis answers, can't you think of one more person in your college or company who could speak about your potential .... guess that will help you better.

yt asked, how is the scope in PhD in network security and which are the best univisities and what is the scholarship we get
Yogish Lavanis answers, yt, most universities with strong departments in Computer Science will have good MS/PhD programs in network security. Getting into a PhD program is a well thought our and careful decision, both for the university and you! So ensure you have solid projects, publications and references. Since funding is almost 100% assured in a PhD program, ensure that you work with a good professor to guide your dissertation. Your Quantitative GRE score needs to be exceptionally high, and it would help if you write the subject GRE in Computer Science

pri16 asked, while doing MS in US will i get an IT job as i am a BE in IT
Yogish Lavanis answers, you cannot work while you are on student visa. you could take up an IT related job within the campus (like library, univ website etc) in your vacations, your could do an internship with a IT company.

Devashis asked, Hi , Sorry I am joining late ..Does experience with renowned company helps alot in getting a better college? How much is the importance of patents and papers if a person owns them ?
Yogish Lavanis answers, if the experience is relevant to the field that you are planning to pursue your masters, it can really help. you need to project it correctly in your SOP highlight the skills/insights that your have picked during the experience. patents will indicate your are inventive in nature. best wishes for your pursuit

animesh asked, hey hi How much GRE score required for going to UK or USA University for MBA after graduation pls tell me
Yogish Lavanis answers, Animesh, most universities require a GMAT for MBA admissions, although that is starting to change in some places - there is a trend for some universities such as Stanford to accept GRE scores in lieu of GMAT for MBA.

kuldeep asked, Sir, I am very weak in RC section of GRE bcz of very less time. please suggest some method to improve my RC section. I m taking me GRE exam after 20 days
Yogish Lavanis answers, Hi Kuldeep, In Reading comprehension, there are two types of questions: factual and inferential. Factual questions need an understanding of all the data provided in the passage. for example: a definition, date, number etc. To answer these questions you need to quickly skim through the passage and answer.For inferential questions you need to understand the transitional words used in the passage.Transitional words will indicate the tone and purpose of the author. to understand how to skim and how to find out transitional words.log into greedge.com.

poly asked, i have a backlog but have a good percentage of 87. The backlog was in humanity subjetc. wil it affect my chances for MS
Yogish Lavanis answers, no not really. make sure your project yourself well through the Statement of Purpose and recommendations from your profs. It will be good if one of your profs who knows you well, writes a line about the backlog. Saying that "it is not reflective of his/her potential" ... that it was possibly a freak case hope that helps

mady asked, HI yogish im having 68% in Btech and im having 2 years of experience.My question is which module in GRE will help me to become a Lead or PM?
Yogish Lavanis answers, You need to check with the HR dept of your company if they recognize GRE score for promotions !!! Usually GRE is for admissions to masters/PhD programs in US univs

Nagarathanam asked, I have Gre score as follows: 300 in vebal and 800 in quantitative. writing scores: 3.0 With this score is it possible to get admission in US? If, not what score would be good to get admission in top 70 universities in USA?
Yogish Lavanis answers, Universities which offer quality education would definitely demand a score of 1250-1300. If you are consistent in your Quant scores try working on your verbal and make a score of 500. It will surely help u get the admission in your desired Univ

sasa asked, How to increase the value of my reccomendation letter?
Yogish Lavanis answers, Hi Sasa, the content of the recommendation letter depends on whom you get it from.it could ideally be from your HOD or if you are working, your sectional head. let the recommendation letter reflect traits about you that are relevant to the field you want to pursue. your HOD will highlight your academic potential while your sectional head will refer to your technical expertise and problem solving abilities. the person who gives the recommendation letter need not be famous, but overall the tone of the letter should be genuine.

kapil asked, I am doing M.Tech from IIT Kanpur in Chemical Engineering, till now I've managed to have respectable acads...I want to persue my PhD from top university of US.Can you help me out whether GRE score holds as much importance for PhD as for M.S. in getting into a good university ( and for stipend and scholarship as well )..plus what is the best time to give GRE so that application can be made to the best colleges on time?
Yogish Lavanis answers, Since you have a masters from a good univ, GRE will not matter so much. It is better to have a decent score though. (close to 800 in quant and 550 in verbal) Your thesis, publication, recommendation from your guide and good profs will help you greatly. Your profs might know some of their counterparts in US who are looking for good PhD candidates all the best !!!

Vaibhav asked, Hi I have done BE[IT] in 2006 having 2 yrs IT Dev. Exp.,looking for post graduation so can u give me better option to choose MS or MBA in US
Yogish Lavanis answers, Hi Vaibhav, if you are a person who has a lot of passion for your subject you should go in for MS. Added to which your related work experience will help you. In case you are person who enjoys Managerial work and have a zeal for business, MBA is a better option for you. You need to sit back and introspect where do you see yourself a decade from now.

samsim asked, i want to pursue MS in Animation and Graphics as i doing Computer Science and engineering.So what are the universities offering courses and what should be expected GRE score
Yogish Lavanis answers, Samsim, most universities with strong departments in Computer Science will have options for your to specialize in Computer Graphics. You can even do a minor in Animation if the Art department is willing to accommodate your interdisciplinary aspirations. Make sure you get a good GRE score, especially 750+ in Quantitative. Also pack your application with a portfolio or lot of projects in animation and graphics. A publication or two in leading conferences in your field would help.

garima asked, Does the economic crunch effected the engineering and management job scene in usa
Yogish Lavanis answers, Yes! Even though there are economic difficulties in the economy overall, it will not directly affect you. Moreover, US universities continue to retain their superiority on a global scale.

yt asked, can u give tipe for Ph.D from US what shd be scope for GRE etc.
Yogish Lavanis answers, please refer to my answer to a similar Qn below.

mady asked, Hi yogish im a s/w engineer which GRE prospect will help me?
Yogish Lavanis answers, Hi Mady, we did not understand your question, you can actually get in touch with our Counselors at +919884453276 or email them on info@greedge.com. In order to help you we need to know about your under grad details and work experience.

Aaamesh asked, Is there any online test are available
Yogish Lavanis answers, Hi Aamesh, www.greedge.com provides GRE adaptive tests which simulate real GRE. for free trial sessions log in http://www.greedge.com/members/registration/

Neeta asked, Hi Can you please tell me the web side for GRE
Yogish Lavanis answers, the official site : http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.fab2360b1645a1de9b3a0779f1751509/?vgnextoid=b195e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD if you need easy information, visit www.greedge.com

gill asked, is education same all over US....if it is then does university matters in which you are doing your MS?????IF UNIVERSITY IS NOT THAT MUCH GOOD,THEN WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTIVES OF GETTING A GOOD JOB IN US??????
Yogish Lavanis answers, Gill, tell me - is education same all over India! :) The US is as diverse a country and just like in our country, universities in the US differ in their overall atmosphere, quality of faculty and research, breadth and depth of academic emphasis, and so on. You can check out http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/collegefor the rankings of different universities. Make sure that you pick a place that is right for you and where you have lots of scope to learn, contribute and shine !!!

kirby asked, Is IELTS acceptable instead of TOEFL?
Yogish Lavanis answers, Kirby, I just answered this question ten minutes ago: Most universities in the US look for your TOEFL score. However, you can always email the particular university and department that you're planning to apply to, and ask them beforehand if they would accept at IELTS score in lieu of a TOEFL score. It is unlikely, but you can certainly ask them

pri16 asked, can i give gre in nivember and go for MS in januarys batch
Yogish Lavanis answers, no. i dont think so. the cut off dates for most good colleges would have passed by now. you could apply for the fall 2009 session (aug-sep 2009) all the best !!!

kirby asked, i have done BE(ECE).. my overall aggregrate is 57.3% i want to pursue maesters in my field.... what kind of colleges do i look out for???
Yogish Lavanis answers, Kirby, have you written your GRE yet? You need to have a high GRE score, strong projects and reference letters in order to compensate for your somewhat weaker academic performance.

gaurav_sonar asked, any other sites related to GRE
Yogish Lavanis answers, You can actually refer www.ets.org, www.GREedge.com, www.answers.com,www.visualthesaurus.com

Vish asked, i am VERY good in verbal but not so gud in quant. i seriously believe i can get 800 (or very close to it) in verbal but may be only around 450 in quant. that means a total of abt 1250. but will the skewed mark distribution affect my chances of engineering admit (MS)
Yogish Lavanis answers, Hi Vish, being an engineering student you need to have a strong base in maths. so if you are confident about verbal,practice more for quant and try to get a score of 700+.that will ensure admission in a good university. the purpose of GRE is to evaluate your suitability to your field,therefore you need good quant scores.

jitu asked, what is the good score to get a good university?
Yogish Lavanis answers, Jitu, depends on your the univ, your grades in college, the subject that you are planning to do your MS in. Usually 1200-1300 is considered good, assuming you are have Good academic background. Hope that helps

scandy asked, does GRE help getting admi to MBA colleges?
Yogish Lavanis answers, ETS says that some colleges have started accepting GRE scores for MBA. I am not sure which one. You could check with the univ that you are targeting.

Leena asked, what kinda subject GRE will be applicable if i want to do MS in MIS
Yogish Lavanis answers, subject GRE in CS or Maths will be good

vanit asked, Is it too late for taking GRE dates now for taking admission to 2009-MS??
Yogish Lavanis answers, Late! No... Infact this is the right for you to appear for your GRE; provided you have started your preparations. For 2009 admissions, the application deadlines are Dec 15 2008 for most of the good colleges. So get up and running if you are looking forward for your MS in US by next year

rupresh asked, I have a score of 1510 and I am a graduate from IIT. But my graduate CPI is very low. Can I get some decent universities based on my GRE score?
Yogish Lavanis answers, hi rupresh, one way will be to take subject GRE in your field. other thing that you could do is to project your performance in core subjects where you might have done real well. also, if possible, do a good project. or work as a RA under the best prof in your dept and apply after an year.

SHONA asked, hello lavanis, what r the prospects of MIS course?
Yogish Lavanis answers, MIS is very prospective area. It will be worthwhile pursuing this field. Since it is closely related to business and management, later on, with work experience, you could go for MBA if you are interested.

kirby asked, what is the fees for GRE?
Yogish Lavanis answers, $170

sridhar asked, What is the best way to master the GRE word list??
Yogish Lavanis answers, vocabulary and verbal reasoning are the core areas in GRE verbal.To develop vocabulary try to learn words not in isolation but with reference to words that are close in contexts.in fact you can find various ways of grouping words according to the context, connotation and application. this kind of depth in vocabulary will sharpen your reasoning. continuous practice and review activity will hone your recalling and application ability. Refer the article on vocabulary on GREedge.com by Abhirupa. http://www.greedge.com/gre-demystified/

Abhijit asked, Is the prepratory test are available online
Yogish Lavanis answers, hope that answers

Abhijit asked, Is the prepratory test are available online
Yogish Lavanis answers, Hi Abhijit, YES!! The preparatory tests for GRE are available online. Students who score high in GRE usually practice lot of online tests to understand their weak areas and work on it. This helps to improve scores.www.GREedge.com can actually help you with unlimited practice and test series to get you up for your GRE

idrish asked, Wat is the GRE
Yogish Lavanis answers, read: http://www.greedge.com/gre-demystified/ and the archives. Will answer all your qns

Mak asked, I have a GRE score of 1220(Verbal 420, Quant - 800). I am have a year and half year experience in a research group with some good publications. I am planning to apply to some good universities, not the top ones, line UT-Arlington, Urbana Chaimpene etc for PhD. I do have a good research profile. I wanted to inquire how strict are universities in considering the GRE score as a cutoff or can they become flexible or know to make exceptions when considering good candidate profile.
Yogish Lavanis answers, Hi Mak, your GRE score is not the "be all and end all" of your US admissions. The fact that you have a good research profile and strong publications is a big plus. Your score of 800 in the Quantitative section will also hold you in high stead. Make sure that you have excellent recommendation letters from your professors and supervisor at work. Your Statement of Purpose can also highlight your research interests and tie those to the relevant and key areas of research at that particular university. All the Best.

Navneet asked, what are the subjects of gre
Yogish Lavanis answers, read this: http://www.greedge.com/gre-demystified/

sindhusujatha asked, hello yogesh lavanis..good afternoon... is a GRE score of around 1100 sufficient to get into top 50 univs in US? i have 2 yrs industry exp...and good acads..
Yogish Lavanis answers, Good University will definitely require a Verbal GRE score of 1250-1300. But with 1100 you might get decent admits. You actually need about a 150-200 score improvement that entails the right knowledge of words and strategies. Also make sure that you leverage from your work experience. Project what you learnt from your job (experience and skills gained) in your Statement of Purpose and also in your Resume. Prof who have industry projects or have labs under them, might value your experience.

Divyanshu asked, do US universities also accept IELTS score??
Yogish Lavanis answers, Most universities in the US look for your TOEFL score. However, you can always email the particular univerisyt and department that you're planning to apply to, and ask them beforehand if they would accept at IELTS score in lieu of a TOEFL score. It is unlikely, but you can certainly ask them

VJ asked, Sir, good Afternoon...I dont have PC at home. I usually take paper based exams at home. My GRE date is on Dec 2. I am scared that I am not getting the feel of computer based exam. Please suggest me any tips..Thanks,,
Yogish Lavanis answers, hi VJ you definitely need online practice. paper test is not sufficient. since the test is adaptive. i suggest you take help of a friend/cybercafe to take the online tests. you could take online tests from our site www. greedge.com too. all the best !!!

Abhijit asked, Dear Sir, Which is the core area of GRE need to be focused for better marks. Is english too tough. What is the suggested measure for good score
Yogish Lavanis answers, read: http://www.greedge.com/gre-demystified/

gill asked, my score is 1090,can i get a good university
Yogish Lavanis answers, Good University will definitely require a Verbal GRE score of 1250-1300. But with 1100 you might get decent admits. You actually need about a 150-200 score improvement that entails the right knowledge of words and strategies . you could join a FAST TRACK course with us to refine these elements

rahulkhanna asked, hello sir..i have 2 years experience in a large MNC..gave my gre..got 1100...toefl 100...what r the chances of gettin an admit for MIS course in top 50 colleges? my acads r good
Yogish Lavanis answers, Good University will definitely require a Verbal GRE score of 1250-1300. But with 1100 you might get decent admits. You actually need about a 150-200 score improvement that entails the right knowledge of words and strategies . You could join a FAST TRACK course with us to refine these elements

Yogish Lavanis says, I head the Student Facilitation team here