Masters in US after 3 year Indian Degree! Ft. Columbia Student! - YouTube

I was in a tier 2 college in Delhi University.

So I never thought I would get admission into an IV league college.

But I actually applied

and I made sure that I do get admitted!

Uh... I reached out to their academic director as soon as I applied,

I read his books,

So hey guys, today we have Nupur here who would be sharing her background

as a commerce student in Indian High School

then to pursue masters in risk management in Columbia University.

So, Hi Nupur! Can you please introduce yourself and your background?

Like, how was your journey in 12th?

You took commerce in 12th and then pursued a three year degree

and how was the journey from there?

Hi Harnoor! Um, thanks for having me here.

So, I did my 11th and 12th in commerce in India

and then did my undergrad from Delhi University-

uh, completed my B.Com Honors.

After that, I was pretty clear that I have to come to America

But I had a bit of confusion because

in many places, it's said that

a three year degree is not accepted

so you will have to do a Master program.

So, I couldn't navigate with that confusion

of whether I could come directly or not.

Which is why I did a job on CNBC for 1 and a half year

and then, applied to Columbia University.

I applied to the Enterprise Risk Management Program

and I got in. So I joined in fall 2019.

Oh! That's amazing! So why didn't you apply directly from college?

A lot of students apply directly after 3rd year.

Why did you plan to gain some experience?

So I think, for a lot of engineering or tech background students,

have their role models in terms of seniors

who has been here directly after undergrad to pursue masters.

But, in my case, I didn't know anyone who did my degree and then did masters in USA

because commerce students mostly come here through MBA

but I had to do Masters.

So I couldn't understand whether I should do MBA from India or from US

or I should I do my Masters.

I think, I was in a analysis paralysis for a year

I weighed various factors and then thought

that the best thing for me to do would be a masters instead of an MBA

which is why I gained work experience of 1.5 years and then applied.

Yeah, also when I was applying, like you said that you had a 3 year degree,

in lot of places in US, it is pretty much understood that if you are writing bachelors degree

it is a 4 year degree like they always write-

any four year or equivalent degree.

How did you find that your 3 year degree in India is equal to a 4 year degree in the US

and you are even eligible to apply to Columbia university.

I had this doubt since long as well

Every time when I used to tell someone about my plan

of doing Masters, people used to tell me, "You

mus have a four year undergrad degree for that."

"Maybe you have to do a Masters course from India."

But when I talked to people about this,

who came to US after doing a 3 year degree,

then I came to know that in today's date, there are a lot of colleges

that accepts a 3 year undergrad degree.

Um... Like, there's Brandeis University

in which a lot of my friends whom I talked to are studying.

They came after a 3 year degree from India

And I think, there's University of Rochester as well.

So I think, that requirement no longer exists in most Universities

In Columbia as well, that requirement wasn't there.

So I reached out to people on LinkedIn

And I figured out that- I think over a period of time, colleges had become flexible.

Um, so that's how I figured it out.

And on the top of that, there's also a fear in mind

since you are from a commerce background,

if you choose a Non STEM Major,

for example, MBA is a Non STEM Major. You only get OPT for a year.

But a lot of schools are converting it to a STEM Major

for example, in schools like Stanford, options are been given like

you take some STEM courses.

E.g. My roommate is taking MS in Quants along with an MBA so that it's a STEM degree.

And other students are also taking courses in STEM here and there,

so that their degree becomes STEM and they can get 3 years of work permit.

So, how about, for MS in Risk Management.

How did you come to know?

Like is it also STEM? Or non-STEM?

Yeah, my degree is a STEM degree.

Um, and my first priority was to do a STEM degree

because you get 3 attempts at your H1B lottery.

Um so, like this time, my H1B wasn't picked up

still I have two more attempts.

So this is another thing people don't know that

in many places, the masters in finance or MBA-

The colleges have started making it STEM

so that it becomes convenient for international students

and they have more attempts at the H1B lottery.

So if a student

is researching about universities and courses,

I would definitely suggest to

reach out to the admissions officer.

And reach out to the given contact and definitely confirm

whether this degree is a STEM degree

or, can the degree be made STEM by taking some courses.

Speak to alumni and current students and figure out

because the advantage of doing a STEM degree are much more.

Today, a lot of colleges have also made their MBA STEM.

The reason why people before didn't go for an MBA and took masters

was because MBA wasn't usually STEM.

But today, there's that roadblock as well.

So, I think the key is to do your research properly and figure out!

So, I agree, that's a very good point and moving on with your academic background,

Many students don't even know whether they are a valid or even an eligible candidate

to get admitted in IV league. So at what point of time you found out

that you should definitely apply to Columbia and other competitive schools in the US.

So, I feel like, unless you apply, you don't know!

And admissions in US are totally different from those in India.

They check your wholistic profile.

Um, your statement of purpose, your marks, your GRE score

and everything should add up to your one story!

So for me, like in my case,

I knew, my undergrad performance

wasn't very high,

but my GRE score was pretty good.

And I explained my story on my statement of purpose.

Like why, I wanted to do this degree.

And even if your undergrad GPA isn't high enough,

I don't think that should de-tour you from applying to the Uni that you want to get into

You should definitely focus on your story.

Even if your GPA was low,

and if you can explain that on your statement of purpose,

then you should explain that and definitely apply.

Because I personally know

so many people in Columbia who didn't have a great undergrad GPA.

or who did not have a great GRE score but still got in.

So, I definitely did not think that was a deteriorant for me

even though my undergrad GPA or percentage wasn't super high.

Also talking about GRE, did you attempt the GRE or GMAT exam?

Like, if you want to share your score...

Sure! So I actually gave GMAT first and then I also gave GRE

because a couple of colleges were not accepting GMAT at that point.

So, I can share my score. So in GMAT, I got a 730,

and in GRE, I got a 329 I think.

With a 167 in Quant...

If I am not wrong..yeah!

So, if in the future, a student wants to decide between GRE and GMAT,

he should mainly choose GRE right?

Since it's accepted for almost every program, right?

I feel, yeah, if you are doing a masters, then GRE is definitely accepted.

So GRE is more widely accepted

but again, it depends on which test you can perform better.

Like, I new it was easier for me to perform in GRE rather than GMAT.

But I understood this thing later when I gave mock tests.

So I would suggest to take the mocks for both because they are very different.

So it's not necessary that if you perform good in one, you will do the same in the other

And definitely look at the websites of the Universities you are planning to apply to.

And then figure out what you exactly wanna take.

So since you had a background in accounting and finance in your undergrad,

and later on, you did your masters in Risk Management.

So how difficult do you think was for you to find a job after your masters?

Is this background favorable to find a job in Wall Street and New York?

Or, like more difficult?

So, Harnoor, I feel like

the job hunting situation in the US is very different

from the job hunting situation in India.

But, one advantage here, is that, here, your skills and networking matters a lot

Along with your technical skills, communication skills and networking skills.

So, in terms of difficulty, it was difficult because it's difficult for everybody

But when I was interviewing the company,

I was very clear that I had to go to a consulting company.

Right now, I am working as a management consultant with EY.

So when I was interviewing, I made sure

to explain in the interview, why I was the best person for the job

because I had the right technical and communication skills.

So, it's difficult, but it's for everybody!

And the second thing a lot of people underestimate is networking.

So I reached out to as many people as I could

as soon as I started my Masters at Columbia

and I made sure that I got referred

by the right person in the company that I wanted to go to.

And I got an internship from their company and I converted the offer.

So, the first step is getting a foot in the door and that's what you do through networking.

So, I don't think your background really matters a lot

Like, the job that I do could also be done by a tech person.

Or it could also be done by a person with Humanities background.

So your background does help, but only to a certain extent.

But more than that, it's your skills

and if you can crack the interviews with the skills that you have,

then I don't think anything is overall block including your background!

Yeah! I have seen couple of times as well.

Computer science students going to Product Management

So, background is not a restriction,

as long as you prove you skills and communication, you are good to go, right?

So - Yes!

So if you want to share an example like, the team you work in,

what different backgrounds they are from?

If you feel comfortable to give an example.

Sure! My senior is from computer science and Information Systems background

I think, my manager did her undergrad in economics.

Many people who are with me have done their undergrad in Math .

So, eventually, we all are doing the same work

but our backgrounds are quite different.

So, in your interview process, they just assess

whether you can do that work

and your background helps you in terms of the basics!

But you can figure out those basics while doing the job also.

That makes sense.

Because students who have just passed out from 10th or 12th,

and are still thinking which stream they should choose,

it doesn't matter.

At the end of the day, you gain the right skills.

Yes, definitely!

And specially in consulting, there are so many people

in my company whose undergrad was in psychology

or even in music studies!

But I will definitely want to say that-

Like I am a management consultant,

so for me, being from a commerce/accountant /finance background,

it was easier to get my foot in the door.

But then ultimately, I don't think it matters.

Eventually like, once you are 5-6 years into the firm.

Then what people look at is your work. And not what your undergrad background was.

Awesome! And finally if you want to share any job hunting tips for students..

specially in Covid, Lockdown, I mean networking is a bit difficult for them now.

So I feel like, look at everything as an opportunity.

If you feel like, because of Lockdown you are not able to network,

in person, look it as a good thing. Because now you can network

virtually, with more people you could have in person, right?

Like if you are networking in person, you could probably only with a person in your city.

I made good connections with people I never actually met in person.

But I build a relationship with them over a period of time by reaching out

initially to get career advice and then made them my mentors!

So I would say, the first day you come to the US,

you should start networking and building a network of people

who will sponsor you, mentor you

who will vouch for you in a company and who are willing to refer you!

And that process should start as early as possible.

The second advice that I would give is to network with people across different levels.

So, if you are starting networking, don't think that,

"I have to network only with the managing director or partner

and I want referrals from them only."

You network with everyone.

Starting with the person who is in the lowest position in the country.

Because, even though you don't get a referral or a sponsorship or a mentor,

you will get some good tips from their side.

Like, I was interviewing for a consultant

so if I talk to a junior conultant

then I will get tips like, "My interview went like this, so you can do these.."

If I talk to a managing director, I will get tips like,

"You can do these things to advance in your career."

So, you should definitely network.

And start as soon as possible.

And I think, one more thing that I would like to say is that

I feel like, as Indians we kind of tend to second guess and doubt ourselves

So don't do that!

So apply to as many places as possible.

Apply to your dream colleges and companies and make that happen!

I was in a tier 2 college in DU.

So I never thought that I would get admission in an IV league college.

But I actually applied and made sure that I do get admitted.

I reached out to their academic director as soon as I applied and read his books,

I reached out to him with a couple of questions in a couple of days

and ultimately, I did get a recommendation from him.

So, take on big challenges in life

and just give your everything to make sure it happens!

That's a wonderful point. I completely agree that

whenever you reach out to a junior consultant or software developer,

the probability of him replying back to you on LinkedIn or wherever

is much higher!

Also, you mentioned that you reached out to the academic director of Columbia University

or your department in Columbia University, right?

Yeah, so how you got a reply from him or her?

So, I would say that, um...

I had made my message very specific.

If you are sending a generic message seeking for advice,

I don't think you will get replies

but, I made my message very tailor made and specific.

I read his book and I had questions on that.

And I researched about him, I read about his journey

and I made my email very specific.

So, make sure that

when you are sending out emails to your professors

or people in high positions in companies,

don't send out a very generic message like, "Hey please help me out" or "Please refer me"

Make sure the person knows specifically that the message is towards him or her

and you are very interested in their journey.

And that's how I made sure that I get a reply from my academic director

or the seniors that I reached out to in the firms that I ultimately interviewed for.

So I would say, that is definitely a thing that you should do.

Oh! That's so amazing! My roommate did the same!

He actually studied accounting from a book

that was written by GaTech professor!

And what was the book you read?

It's called "The Corporate Value of Enterprise Risk management."

So, that book is on

value based enterprise risk management and my academic director wrote that.

So before even I joined Columbia, I read that book.

I think I read that book before even I applied to Columbia!

And I also referenced that book on my statement of purpose.

- Oh! Wonderful! - So I think, that really helped me!

So thank you so much Nupur, for your incredible incredible knowledge

and I am sure this will help a lot of prospective students who want to be at Columbia

and also want to be at Wall Street!

Sure, and if anything, anyone can reach out to me on LinkedIn.

I am very responsive and can help with any queries that anybody might have.

Yep, I will surely leave it in the description below!

So, thank you so much!