Well i think i have earned my place as a Senior here, so i think i should write my story too
I had my share of Ups and downs in this journey . I wont be able to give details, but it still might stir up the jar for some people, who are on the edge of lack of motivation !
My goal of giving Nbde and settling in Usa was kind of pre-decided by me . So i opened my books for part 1 in internship only. But as expected , those days weren't productive enough. So you can say i started my real preparation after graduation. Anyways, i graduated in June, 2010 and took my exam date for November. I worked real hard for 2 months. Full input, with full dedication. But then the whole load of problems came in from all sides.. Family problems, Big Big Big Personal problems .... All that !! and alongside breakup, and all other looser problems like that... Peace of mind was to be found no where.. Anyways , jist is that everything got jumbled up...So the end result, i couldnt study at all !!
So after like 2 months, i got my **** together, picked up the books again.. Started studying again .. I took the date in January. But the problems started aggravating again, even more severe! I wish i could tell. So i decided to just shut down myself from whole social life.
Phones, facebook , and friends , all OFF! I decided i gotta utilise this negative motivation and use it productively.. So finally i took my exam in February !!
I got 87.. I know its not such a good score. And i could have done better. But i was ok with what i got !! Not everyone can get 90 above. So from that very day, i knew that my score isnt that much , and i need to
pull up my socks and work hard on my resume .. I gave my toefl and got my gpa. Final Stats
87 / 113 / 3.63 ( not so bad eh? )
So i went back home .. Problems were awaiting for me at my home co
llege.. I wanted to apply to cali univs.. But my principal had some grudge against me .. I was nearing my deadlines for cali , and i need LOR's . But that guy took 48 precious days to give me Lors.. So i was kinda screwed for Cali and few other univs too .. But i still completed my application process ..
Then the long and torturous journey of
" Application complete email --> You have been REJECTED " started.. As i was late in applying ,
they dont consider the borderline applicants much Keep this in mind.
I waited for 4-5 months.. HORRIBLE WAIT !! I even went off from SDN , coz i thought ,
i dont deserve to guide people , coz i have myself acheived nothing.. I used to get private messages, asking me where i was, and all other "need help" kind of msgs.. even the gem of a person above " Impacted mind" asked about my whereabouts
Btw Thanks mate !!
So during the wait, i knew what i had to do ...
IMPROVE RESUME
So i used all my resources to score a job as a lecturer in a college. ( low side to this job - No pay, 4 hours from my home , college located in a backward area with no social fun, had to stay in boys hostel
) .. But in any case, this needed to be done to gain TEACHING EXPERIENCE !! .. then i gave presentation in state conference... And then i started working on a paper !! .. But anyways ..I did what i could !! I kept sending my updated resume to universities.. Then my prayers, and my hard work was reciprocated.. I got an interview call from NYU !! First and the Only call !!
Stakes were high !!
But i dont know what got into me.. I was never nervous.. I just went to US .. I dont know whether i was positive or negative, i just know that i had a clear mind.. I was living in the present.. I was smiling all the way , till the day of interview...And i was smiling even more during the interview... And in the end Smile turned into Laughter ,
I got accepted !!!! 100 % score in interviews.. lol... 1 out of 1 clear !!
So i dont know know whether anyone would read this or not, coz its quite long and a bit boring
but still i needed to vent this out !!!
So my two cents on
Preparation - Work hard.. Everyone has problems .. Set a goal , run towards it with all your will , and crush anything and everything on your way !!!
Applications - As everyone says patience is the key .. But dont just sit back and wait. Do something . keep in mind the
caapid application, the column where they want you to write your
WORK EXPERIENCE .. See all the
categories , then you ll know what they require, and then start working according to it...
Everyone has clinical experience these days, and observerships too ...so you need to know where you can get the cutting edge.. Like "
Teaching experience, Presentations, Publications, and Research" ..also the voluntary and community work .. Analyse and decide what among these you can add to your profile..
Interviews - After you got the call , then its all about your
communication skills in east coast, and your hand skills in west ..Work on them , if you feel that you are lagging in some areas.. Last piece of advice to everyone .. Just my opinion .. When going for an interview, dont show them that you are already perfect in everything, and you are better than the things being taught there .. Show them that you are here to learn, and you have the capability of accepting authority and learn from everyone...
Show the LEARNER ATTITUDE rather than BOAST about the things you can do .. But on the other hand, dont undersell yourself..Tell em what you have done, and what you can do, in a polite way.. Be confident.
In the end ... Leave everything to God !!
If you ever need help, i ll always be here somewhere
If this is what you want to achieve, give it everything you've got !!!