The Hindu Business Line : US consultancy firm offers coaching for Indian students

INDIAN students in their freshman year in US universities can face multitude of problems ranging from food, climate, co-ed dorms or the total lack of social life.

Mr Rick Singer, CEO and Master Coach of Collegesource, an educational consultancy firm, which has recently set up shop in India, said that there are 35,000 schools (colleges) in the US and most Indian students don't know which one to choose.

In many cases, the students after getting admission find that they do not like the place, or that it is too cold or they do not get the desired majors. Hence, they transfer to another college and in the process lose time and money.

Doing research on the Web is also not the answer. Though one could get a lot of information from the Internet, it would not be complete , Mr Singer said.

The process of identifying the right college or university begins by providing extensive standardised tests such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) and SAT 11 writing. After this, the student's transcript and their financial viability to attend school in the US are assessed. One-to-one evaluation meetings with the student and parents are provided to devise a strategy to complete the student's dream of attending school in the US.

Mr Singer told Business Line that during the coaching period, special talents, learning assets, disabilities and social activities are taken into consideration besides just the students' academic performance and financial circumstances. The counselling sessions are conducted in privacy either at student's home or at a mutually convenient location. The staff comprises high school and college counsellors, teachers and administrators.

Collegesource will make a comprehensive evaluation of the student's objective, evaluate transcripts and review the student's course work. The consultants will discuss the students' strengths and weakness in their academic and extracurricular activities. Mr Singer said that Collegesource would assist the student in writing his resume and creating a personal brand, which would project his passion and creativity.

Some of the well-known universities in the US such as Stanford, Harvard, California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, John Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, to mention a few, are participating in Collegesource's international programme.

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