Higher Study Abroad (in USA)

Nafis Neehal
Lecturer
Department of CSE,
Daffodil International University.

June 28, 2019

 ● Fully Funded Ph.D. in Computer Science
at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New
York (ranked 20th for A.I. Research in
USA).

● GRE 318 (Q 167, V 151, AWA 4.0)

● TOEFL 106 (R 24, W 26, S 27, L 29)

● CGPA: 3.61 (B.Sc in CSE, IUT)

Short Profile ● Co-Founder and Director, Gradient Lab
for AI Research (GLAIR), Bangladesh.

● Publications:

○ 10 International Conference
Publications

○ 1 Book on Machine Learning

Algorithms
CGPA, GRE, Admission Offer, Ticket, Accomodation,
TOEFL/IELTS, CV, SOP, Funding Offer Vaccination, Shopping,
Site, LOR, Publication Fly

Preparation Application Admission Visa Travel

Select University, Email I-20, SEVIS Fee, Visa

Professors, Application Fee, Interview
Fee, Score and Schedule, Preparation,
Transcript Send, LORs Visa Interview Process
Preparation
Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)

● CGPA minimum requirement is 3.00 out of 4.00 for

most universities (although students with lower CGPA
than this have also got admitted)
● Safe to have 3.50
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

1. GRE Exam Structure and Scoring Scheme

2. GRE Exam Cost and Registration
3. GRE Resource
GRE Exam Structure

1. Quant (Minimum 130 - Maximum 170)

2. Verbal (Minimum 130 - Maximum 170)
3. AWA (Minimum 0.0 - Maximum 6.0)

Total 6 sections - (5 regular sections + 1 experimental)

● 1 AWA, 3 Verbal, 2 Quant / 1 AWA, 2 Verbal, 3 Quant

● Experimental Section has no marks
GRE Exam (Quant Section Structure)

20 Questions in each section / 35 Minutes Per Section

1. Quantitative Comparison (QC) - around 8

2. Numeric Entry - around 4
3. Multiple Choice and Multiple Answers - around 8
GRE Quant Examples (QC)
GRE Quant Examples (Multiple Answer)
GRE Quant Examples (Multiple Choice)
GRE Exam (Quant Section Topics)

1. General Math 8. Geometry

2. Arithmetic and Fractions 9. Coordinate Geometry
3. Percents and Ratios 10. Statistics
4. Integer Properties 11. Counting
5. Algebra, Equations and Inequalities 12. Probability
6. Word Problems 13. Data Interpretation
7. Powers and Roots 14. Advanced QC Strategies

Source: MAGOOSH GRE

GRE Exam (Verbal Section Structure)

20 Questions in Each Section / 30 Minutes Per Section

1. Sentence Equivalence - 4 questions

2. Text Completion (1 Blank, 2 Blank, 3 Blanks) - 6
questions
3. Reading Comprehension - 10 questions
GRE Verbal Examples
(Sentence Equivalence)
GRE Verbal Examples
(Text Completion)
GRE Exam (Costing and Registration)

1. Cost is $205 = 17,425 BDT (1 USD = 85 BDT)

2. Rescheduling = $50
3. Standard Preparation Time = 3 months (daily 3-4 hrs)
4. Venue = Choose AAA (American Alumni Association)
5. Need International Credit Card (Master/VISA) or EBL
Aqua/Lifestyle prepaid card to make USD payment
6. More info = https://www.ets.org/gre
GRE Exam (Resources)

1. Magoosh GRE Account (Discounted price around $100, multiple persons

can share) - All Q/V Practice Questions Solve + Quant and AWA videos
2. Manhattan 5LB (full book solve, for Quant)
3. ETS Official Quant + Verbal Guide
4. Nova GRE Bible (Geometry chapter only)
5. GRE Verbal Grail (RC Techniques)
6. Magoosh 1000 + Barron’s 333 Vocabulary
7. Use Quizlet Android app for vocabulary memorizing + Vocabulary.com for
practicing + Mnemonic Dictionary Online for Memorizing words
GRE Exam (Resources)

8. https://aldaily.com/essays-and-opinions/ - for Reading Practice Daily

9. Manhattan GRE Mock Tests - $39 for 6 tests - BUY THIS -
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gre/store/online-resources/gre-practice-test
s/

10. ETS Powerprep 1, 2 Mock tests (FREE when you buy GRE from ETS) - these
are main mock tests, similar to actual GRE

11. GRE Issue Pool -

https://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/analytical_writing/issue/pool
GRE Exam (Resources)

12. GRE Argument Pool -

https://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/analytical_writing/argument/
pool

13. GRE Issue 100 Examples -

https://www.testpreppractice.net/GRE/awa-samples/gre-issue-essay-100.html

14. GRE Argument 100 Examples -

https://www.testpreppractice.net/GRE/awa-samples/gre-argument-essay-100.
html
TOEFL

1. TOEFL Exam Structure and Scoring Scheme

2. TOEFL Exam Cost and Registration
3. TOEFL Resource
 TOEFL Exam Structure
(Effective From August 1st, 2019)
Order Section Name Number of Questions Time Full Marks

1. Reading 3-4 Passages, 10 Questions each 54-72 minutes (1.8 30

mins / Q)

2. Listening 3-4 Lectures, 6 Questions each 41-57 minutes (1.5 30

2-3 Conversations, 5 Questions mins / Q)
each

3. Speaking 4 Speaking Tasks 17 Minutes 30

4. Writing 2 Writing Tasks (Essay) 50 Minutes 30

Total 3 Hours 120

TOEFL Exam (Costing and Registration)

1. Cost is $190 = 16,150 BDT (1 USD = 85 BDT)

2. Rescheduling = $60
3. Standard Preparation Time = 1 Month (daily 2-3 hrs)
4. Venue = Choose AAA (American Alumni Association)
5. Need International Credit Card (Master/VISA) or EBL
Aqua/Lifestyle prepaid card to make USD payment
6. More info = https://www.ets.org/toefl
TOEFL Exam (Resources)

1. Notefull Videos from Youtube -

https://www.youtube.com/user/NoteFulldotcom/playlists
2. TOEFL Resources - https://www.toeflresources.com/
3. TOEFL TPO Software -
https://mahbubhimu.wordpress.com/2015/10/30/toefl-tpo-download-and-
get-ready-for-toefl-exam/
4. KMF Mock Tests - https://toefl.kmf.com/
CV
1. Max 2 Pages
2. Highlight your Education Achievements,
Work Experiences, Coding Repository
(GITHUB Account), Project Details,
Awards, Technical Skills
3. Always give entries in reverse
chronological order (Latest event first)
4. No heavy/funky design, plain B/W
template preferred
5. Avoid Colors/Photos
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
1. Generally, Max 2 pages, however some universities might have other length
restrictions
2. Major highlights
a. How did you get interested in your research field?
b. Why are you choosing this particular university? What research works does this university do
in your research area? How your research overlaps with your professor/university’s work?
c. What achievements / research / work experience do you have in your intended research
area?
d. How your research would contribute/benefit to the university?
e. Highlight your other relevant achievements, research, experience that would portray your
potential!
3. Separate SOP for each university.
Google Site / Personal Site
1. Presents all your information in one place
2. Has updated news about you
3. Must contain your contact information.

Example: https://sites.google.com/view/nafisneehal
Letter of Recommendation (LOR)
1. Highlights your major achievements in academia
2. Explains your performance on the corresponding course
of the faculty member you are taking LOR from
3. Emphasizes on your research and analytical potential
4. Sometimes a faculty member will write the LOR and
submit by him/herself, and sometimes he/she might ask
you to send him/her a draft.
Research Publications
1. Publication Process (Conferences only, not discussing
journal)
2. Choose Topic
3. Design and Conduct Experiment, Verify Results
4. Write Paper
5. Submit and Get Published
Research Publications (Conferences)
1. Event arranged by university or organizing committee
2. After submitting paper to a conference, if it gets accepted then have to go
and present that paper in the conference
3. Typically conferences have high registration fees
4. Publishing in conferences are faster than journal
5. Now-a-days lead CS researchers are preferring conferences
6. Anyone can ask questions while you present and you have to defend your
work
7. TOUR + FOOD + NETWORKING
Research Publications (Leading Publishers)

● IEEE - Papers in IEEE Explore Digital Library

● ACM - Papers in ACM Digital Library
● Elsevier
● Springer - Papers in Springer Library

List of top conferences in CS - http://www.guide2research.com/topconf/

Call For Paper - http://www.wikicfp.com/cfp/
Publish in Conference

Write paper in Submit Paper

Select
Check CFP Conference’s through Easy Get Result
Conference
Template Chair (mostly)

Add Paper in Submit

Attend Make Travel Do
Google Camera
Conference Plan Registration
Scholar Ready
 ● Search Generic Keyword in
Google Scholar

● Read abstract of papers with

most CITATIONS (Look for
review/survey papers)
Select a ● If the idea is good, then read

Research Topic that paper and a few papers

which cited that paper

● Make a literature review of at

least 10-15 papers, find
weakness in recent works, plan
to work on that
Select a Research Topic (Example)
 ● Request any senior
brother/sister/faculty member
who has access to
IEEE/Elsevier/ACM papers

Paper ● If none found, search with title

and try to find the pdf version

Download of the paper online (most of the

time available)

● Email one of the authors of the

paper to get a soft copy (highly
recommended)
 ● Click on any paper’s link from
google scholar
Paper/Book ● Get redirected to the paper’s
website
Download ● Copy the URL / DOI Number
(Unethical, from the website

follow this only ● Paste here (SciHub) -

https://sci-hub.tw/

if previous ones ● Also, can try this (SciBay) -

https://sci-bay.org/
don’t work) ● For Any Free PDF Books
(Libgen) - https://libgen.is/
Experiment and Verification
1. Design experiment according to your
need
2. Make sure your
experiment/simulations don’t violate
any standard practice
3. Always try to use standard
benchmarking dataset (if available)
4. When using an Algorithm/ Survey/
Statistical process, try to define how
you are choosing its parameters
1. For verifying results, try to compare
your results with existing
methodologies if you are using the
same dataset
2. If dataset is different, try to
implement your algorithm + other
methodologies on your dataset and
then compare
3. NEVER corrupt your results and try to
get PUBLISHED. Eventually it will
adversely affect you.
 ● Title and Author Details

● Abstract

● Introduction

Research Paper ● Literature Review

Structure ● Methodology

● Result and Discussion

● Future Work and Conclusion

● References
 ● Write in Latex (Avoid MS Word) -
https://www.overleaf.com/

● Grammar Check (Free) -

https://www.grammarly.com/

● Plagiarism Check (Contact Faculty

Members) -

Relevant Tips https://www.turnitin.com/

● Reference / Citation Management -

https://www.mendeley.com/

● Learn about related papers before

any paper - check reference
section, and after any paper - check
citation list in Scholar
 ● Try to submit in SCOPUS or
ISI/Web of Science Indexed
Conferences (mentioned in
website)

● Always check for reputed

Paper publishers -
IEEE/ACM/Elsevier/Springer

Submitting Tips ● Check registration

fees/venues/other arrangements
before submitting

● NEVER submit one paper to

MULTIPLE conferences at the same
time
Application
Select University

● QS Ranking(CSE)
● Times Higher Education (CSE)
● US News (CSE, Most Preferred)
● CS Rankings - Shows ranking based on Publications and
Impact, also shows list of professors in every research
areas.
 1. Good Rank in US News

2. Good Research in your research

area

University 3. Requirement matches with your

profile

Selection Tips 4. Renowned professors

5. Suitable Weather and Living Cost

6. Have seniors in that university who

might help
Tips for Emailing Professors
● Email when it is 8:00 am in USA time
(use Boomerang for scheduling)
● Check and re-check professor’s and
university’s name very carefully
● Read a paper of that professor
before emailing
● Talk how his work matches with your
previous research (if any) or future
interest
● Customize every email you write,
don’t send bulk template emails
● Don’t send email to professor’s from
same university/department/lab at
same time (at least 1-2 weeks gap)
● 1st Para - Introduce yourself
2nd Para - Discuss prof’s work
3rd Para - Present Mutual Interest
4th Para - Your short profile
5th Para - Greetings and Bye
● Each para shouldn’t be more than 2-3
lines. Keep it very very short and
precise.
 1. Find out Graduate Application
Link/Portal. Sign up and enter.

2. Fill out the form, upload all necessary

documents

3. Review, check and double-check.

Apply to 4. Pay the application Fee (Typically

60-100 USD per university).

University 5. Send GRE and TOEFL scores

(official/unofficial) electronically via ETS

6. Allow LOR link to your recommenders,

waive rights to see LOR

7. Apply 2 weeks earlier than priority

deadline to be safely considered for
Funding.
 1. GRE - On the test day, after the test, you
have to select 4 universities on the test
venue, to which you can send scores for
FREE. After that, $27 for each university
(you can send multiple GRE scores at

How to send 2.
once if you have, will cost $27 in total).

TOEFL - Till 10 pm before the test day,

GRE/TOEFL to select 4 universities for sending FREE

scores. After that, $20 for each
university. (you can send multiple TOEFL
Scores? scores at once if you have, will cost $20
in total).

3. You can send scores from your GRE and

TOEFL account in ETS’s website/portal.
Letter of Recommendations

● In the application portal, you will have to put 2-3 recommender’s email
address, name and other credentials. Automated email from University will
be sent to them with instructions on how to send the LOR the university.
● You’ll always have to waive the right to see the LOR. Otherwise, it loses
weight.
● If any trouble faced, contact graduate coordinator of the respective
department.
 1. Collect Hard Copy of original
transcripts/certificates/testimonials
from all your past educational
institutions.

2. SCAN it.

3. If university requires soft copy, just

How to send upload the scanned version in the portal

Transcripts? 4. If they want hard copy, issue extra hard

copies from University, seal it in
envelope, get it SIGNed it by
Registrar/Exam Controller/Relevant
Authority. Then Courier it.

5. Reliable Courier - Desh Courier (1300

BDT / university) or DHL (around 2400
BDT / University)
Admission
 Funding Types
Teaching Assistantship (TA)
- Duties are grading, taking labs,
give lectures, manage forums
etc.
- Explore all professors and
choose whom you like.
- Get teaching experience in USA
- Generally comes with Full
Tuition Waiver + Monthly
Stipend + Health Insurance
(sometimes)
* It’s very very hard to manage FUND for MS in CSE in the USA. PhD students get funded mostly.
Research Assistantship (RA)
- Duties are to help professor
with research, write papers,
labwork, etc.
- You will be working with a
professor from the beginning.
- You can start your research
right away.
- Generally comes with Full
Tuition Waiver + Monthly
Stipend + Health Insurance
(sometimes)
Graduate Fellowship
- Generally no duties
- You can get involved in
research right away and start
working with any professors
you like
- Highly Flexible
- Generally comes with Full
Tuition Waiver + Monthly
Stipend + Health Insurance
(sometimes)
Admission Offer / Rejection
● University will let you know their decision via EMAIL + Notice in the Portal + Send hard
copy of the Admission Letter (sometimes)
● If you are rejected, you may email them asking the reason which might be helpful for
your future attempts
● If accepted, email them immediately expressing gratitude and inquire about funding
decisions. Admission and Funding Offer might not come together.
● Better not to accept any offer until the last deadline. First, have all your offers at your
disposal, than choose the best one and accept.
● April 15th Resolution legally restricts any university which are in signed agreement to
this resolution to ask for your final decision regarding their offer before April 15th.
● You can also always request to extend the deadline if needed.
VISA
 Common US
Visa Classes

We are opting for F1 Non Immigrant Student Visa

Visa Process for USA

Send Bank Fill up and Issue EBL

University will Pay SEVIS
Statements to Submit Visa Payment
Issue I-20 Fee
University DS-160 Form Slip

Get Schedule a Pay Visa

Attend Visa Make List of
Approved/ Visa Interview Interview Fee
Interview Documents
Rejected Date at EBL
 1. If you are fully funded, you will not be
required to submit this.

2. If you are partially funded / unfunded,

then you need to submit bank
statements to the University, showing

Bank the amount of money needed for your

study.

Statements 3. If you are partially funded, just show the

deficit amount in the bank. Otherwise,
show full amount.

4. The money needs to be stable. Avoid

making big/recent transactions.
Otherwise it may raise flags and hamper
your VISA eventually.
I-20 Form 1. Most Crucial Document for your US
Journey, besides your Passport

2. I-20 form states the cost and fund and

all other relevant details

3. If you are partially/non funded, then you

need to send Bank Statements to
university for issuing I-20

4. After I-20 is issued, university will courier

it via DHL/FedEX/UPS. They might take
payment for the courier (shipment
charge) from you.
Pay SEVIS / I-901 Fee
● SEVIS = Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)
● Current SEVIS Fee is = $350 (29,750 BDT)
● You will need your SEVIS Id for this payment which will be mentioned in the top-left
corner of your I-20
● Pay your fee here - https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/index.html
● Need International Credit Card (Master/VISA) or EBL Aqua/Lifestyle prepaid card to
make USD payment
● Print the SEVIS Payment Receipt after your payment is confirmed. If you forgot to print,
don’t worry, just go the website again, check your I-901 status and printing option will
be available again.
Fill Up DS-160 Form
● DS-160 form requires all your personal information for scrutiny purpose
● Sign up and fill the form here - https://ceac.state.gov/genniv (use FIREFOX browser for better
performance, or Chrome in INCOGNITO mode)
● You’ll require to submit an official 2x2 recent photo (taken within last six months)
● Photo Requirements -
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html
● Official Studio recommended by US Embassy - VIP Studio in Gulshan (Soft Copy + 4 Hard Copies
2x2 images = 330 BDT per person, within 30 mins delivery)
● Do not hide any information or give wrong information in DS-160
● Once you submit, you cannot edit/change anything. So, check carefully beforehand.
● Save the DS-160 Confirmation once you have submitted the form.
Pay Visa Fee at Eastern Bank Limited (EBL)
● Go to this link - https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/?language=English&country=Bangladesh and sign up as a new
user, use email provided in your DS-160
● Follow the steps. At some point your payment option will show up with a receipt containing a unique CGI reference
number and the exact amount to be paid ($160 =13,600 BDT).
● You will find a receipt number option here. Don’t worry about that now and log out. Print the receipt (you can save it
for print later, you can email your receipt from the options or you will get the same receipt whenever you log in to
your account).
● Completely fill up the receipt and go to the any of the nearby Eastern Bank branch and ask them to give you the
receipt for US visa fee deposition.
● Bank will return a Yellow Slip having seal on it. Don’t forget to take it.
● Things you’ll need to pay visa fee at EBL -
○ Printed Visa Payment Slip, filled up by hand
○ Passport Photocopy
○ Fee Deposit slip (collected at the bank)
○ Money ($160 which is 13,600 BDT)
Visa Interview Date Schedule

● Go to this link again (typically one day) after you have paid visa fee -
https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/?language=English&country=Bangladesh
● Continue the application from the point you left off
● You’ll see that a receipt number has been automatically generated for you. You’ll get notified of this
via email.
● You can now schedule a visa interview date and time.
● After scheduling, print the Visa Appoint Confirmation Page.
● Once you schedule a date, you can change it two more times, after that you’ll need to pay your visa
fee again.
 1. Passport (Old and New ones)
2. I-20
3. SEVIS Confirmation Page
4. DS-160 Confirmation Page
5. Visa Appointment Confirmation Page
6. Admission Letter
7. Offer Letter

Visa Interview 8. Bank Statements, Solvency Certificates

(Optional for Full Fund, Must for Partial
Fund)

Documents 9.
10.
All Transcripts + Certificates (Original)
GRE/TOEFL Score reports (printout from
website)
11. Experience Certificate, NOC (if job
holder)
12. Hard Copy 2x2 Photographs - 2 pieces
13. National ID
14. SOP and CV
15. Nikahnama + Marriage Photos (F2
Spouse Visa Applicants)
 ● Go in formal attire
● No electronic devices / metals.
● Documents inside transparent bag
● Reach Embassy (Baridhara) at least 30
minutes before interview
● Follow the Queue and rest will be
instructed inside by volunteers
Visa Interview ● Be confident, always have a gentle smile
● Blue Leaflet - Visa Approved,
White Leaflet - Visa Rejected,
White Paper - Administrative Processing
● Intent to come back to Bangladesh, Your
Quality, and your Financials - these are
the three things VOs want to ensure
● Read Visa Interview Experiences in HSA
and Nextop-USA Facebook Groups
 After Visa
Approval ● If your visa is approved, VO will keep
your passport and return your I-20 and a
Blue Leaflet
● Collect that passport from VFS Global
office (Gulshan 2 Circle) typically within
7 days
● You’ll be notified via Email and Phone
about the pick up

* Dummy Image collected from Google

TRAVEL
 ● Major Airlines - Qatar, Emirates, Turkish,
Cathay Pacific etc. Students mostly
prefer Qatar / Emirates Economy Class.
● You can buy ticket from Airline’s official
website or go their office in Dhaka.
● Also you can buy from StudentUniverse
website to get tickets at cheaper rate -

Ticket ●
https://www.studentuniverse.com/
Better to choose Aisle seat!
● Buy as early as you can to get a cheaper
rate
● Always have reasonable transit time to
catch connecting flights. (3-4 hours
layover is standard)
● Enjoy your flight!
 ● You need to find a suitable
accommodation before you reach USA.
And you need to search and confirm this
as soon as you get visa

Accomodation ● You can take a single studio/1 bed flat

all by yourself, or can go for shared
accomodation to save money!
● Apartment listings - Craiglist,
Jumpoffcampus, Places4students
 ● Some universities may require of you
several vaccinations
● You can get this done in ICDDR,B or Dr.
Wahab’s Clinic or any other hospital/
clinic you prefer
● Sometimes university’s health insurance
Vaccinations will cover the cost of vaccinations and
because of that you can take vaccines
after you reach USA.
● Some vaccine doses might several need
days to complete, so start as early as
possible
 ● A list of probable shopping items that I

Shopping collected from HSA group in Facebook -

http://bit.ly/2IU2Cx7
FLY towards your DREAM
SUMMARY
Tentative COSTING (For applying to 5
Universities)
GRE $205 17,425 BDT

TOEFL $190 16,150 BDT

Per University Application $80 (average) * 5 = $400 34,000 BDT

GRE Score Send $27 (4 Universities Free) 2,295 BDT

TOEFL Score Send $20 (4 Universities Free) 1,700 BDT

Transcript Send (Hard Copy) via Desh Courier N/A 1,300*5 = 6,500 BDT

SEVIS Fee (Once a year) $350 29,750 BDT

Visa Fee (Per Visa Interview) $160 13,600 BDT

Ticket + Shopping + Vaccine N/A 1.5 Lakh (approx) BDT

Total N/A 2,71,420 (around 3 Lakh) BDT

Tentative Timeline
March-May June-July Aug - Sep
Sit for GRE in Sit for TOEFL
GRE Prep TOEFL Prep Select
June in July
(3 Months) (1 Month) Universities

April-May Nov-Dec
May-June Finalize Offer Sep-Nov
Get Visa Apply (2
Face Visa + University Email
Processing weeks before
Interview by April Professors
steps done deadline)

June-August
Fly in
Prepare for
AUGUST
the Departure
THANK YOU