It is analogous to watching a movie. If it’s a great movie, the length will never come up. You won’t even notice the length; you’ll just know that you enjoyed the story. The movie was right-sized for the story it told. Similarly, the quality of your essay is more important than the actual length. If it does its job well then the admissions officers won’t think about the word limit nearly as much as the content. Questions such as “Is 525 words more okay than 535 words?” suddenly seem trivial compared to “Is an admissions officer going to feel like I wasted her time when she’s done with my essays?”

We often encourage applicants to stop focusing on the number, and rather concentrate on the content first. If the word limit is 500, and you arrive at 530, its better to stick with it rather than cut out words eventually resulting in breaking the flow.

Having said that, we rarely encounter an essay that we don’t think can get down to the word limit. This is where an extra pair of eyes can be extremely helpful; someone else can look at your essay and give you an objective point of view about which details are truly necessary and which ones can be left on the cutting room floor. A rule of thumb as per many people is “if you can stay within 10% of the word limit for an essay, you probably are okay.” Though no one will vouch for it or whether admission committees look into it, but it is safe to assume so. Ad-Com wants you to be precise and to the point in your essays since they don’t want to read thousands of essays that ramble on. They really do want to get to know you well, but they only have so much capacity, so they need their applicants to communicate their stories as efficiently as possible.

The new section will be for 30 minutes and consist of 12 questions. However, the time for the exam will remain the same (3 hours, 30 minutes) and so will the total scores. The new section will be incorporated by dropping an essay from the analytical writing assessment. So far, students had to write an essay and analyse an argument. The latter has been retained. The length of the two other sections - verbal and quantitative sections - stays as it is.

GMAC is changing the test format after 17 years. It was done after a survey of B-schools in which they asked new skills be measured. "GMAC always believed in evolving the exam according to needs. Many schools felt that a higher order of integrated reasoning should be included. Data analysis is a key point in business now. Most B-schools have case studies in their syllabi. The new section will test the candidate's ability to interpret visual images, convert data from verbal and graphical representations to understand relationships from graphs, and integrate data from various sources," Ashok Sarathy, vice-president, GMAT operations, told TOI.

Sample questions are available on the GMAC website. The test prep materials will be available from April. GMAT is becoming popular among Indian students. There has been a 10% increase in the students appearing for the test in the past year. The number of schools accepting the score in India has increased by 200% over the past four years.

"USCIS has received approximately 5,900 H-1B petitions counting toward the 65,000 cap, and approximately 4,500 petitions toward the 20,000 cap exemption for individuals with advanced degrees," the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said in a statement, a week after it started receiving applications for the visas for the fiscal year 2012 beginning October 1, 2011.

The H-1B cap for the fiscal 2011 was reached in January this year and on December 22 for the fiscal 2010.  In 2007 and 2008, the cap was reached within the first few days of USCIS starting to accept H-1B petitions. As a result, USCIS had to resort to computerized draw of lots to determine successful applicants.  Because of stringent monitoring provisions and general economic recession, there has been a sharp drop in the number of Indian receiving H-1B visas in the last few years, official figures reveal.

The US Congress mandates the USCIS to accept petitions for 65,000 H-1B visas, With an additional 20,000 H-1B petitions filed on behalf of individuals who have earned a US master''s degree or higher(on a first-cum-first serve basis and are exempt from the 65K limit)  The USCIS usually continues to receive application from April 1 onwards till the caps are reached in both the categories. If more people apply than the cap, as in the years 2008 and 2009, USCIS randomly selects the number of petitions required toreach the numerical limit from the petitions received on the final receipt date by as lottery system. Petitions for new H-1B employment are exempt from the annual cap if the beneficiaries will work at institutions of higher education or related or affiliated nonprofit entities, nonprofit research organizations or governmental research organisations.

In 2008 four out of the top five companies bagging the maximum number of H-1B visas were grabbed by Indian companies.  These were Infosys (4,559), Wipro (2678), Satyam (1917) and Tata Consultancy Services (1539). Microsoft with 1037 H1-1B visas was the only US company to figure in top five.

Mesh networks enable the transfer of data and voice over nodes. The nodes are connected to each other forming an integrated grid. These networks are considered self-healing as they continue to operate even when a node breaks down. The application of this technology enables the creation of wireless networks over a large area.

The radio transmitters and receivers that constitute a mesh are constructed over a large area. The network is then configured to communicate intelligently between them. The network figures out the best way to transfer data depending upon the traffic, data rates or even the weather.

There are several factors outlined in favor of mesh networks. First is the pricing of the radios. The 802.11 radios used in deployment are reasonably priced. The mesh networks also offer ease of use and simplicity. As routes are configured dynamically, all one needs is setting up the radios and installing the communication antennas.

The mesh networks can also work in a decentralized system, where each community can be made responsible for the upkeep of hardware. The ad-hoc routing can also deal well with adverse weather condition or a breakdown between nodes. The mesh hardware is also small and can be contained in weatherproof boxes. The network nodes can also run on very low power input.

The mesh networks can be deployed with solar or power projects to reach all parts of a country. This can also facilitate better management as well. {O'Reilly Net}.

As this technology is constantly under development by professionals around the world, a wide array of protocols and implementations have been improvised. One can learn more on these developments from Wireless Denmark.

References:

Wireless In Bombay

O'Reilly Net

Wifi Net News

Mesh Dynamics

Fellowships --> Fellowships generally provide payment of tuition and a stipend for living expenses. Institutional fellowships are awarded either by departments or by a central fellowship office in an institution. Most are based solely on academic merit, although there may be some institutional awards that are intended for certain people, like children of veterans or people in a certain field of study. Even restricted fellowships generally involve some academic merit. Institutions that are actively recruiting students from populations underrepresented in their student body may have special fellowship programs to attract them.

Some institutions guarantee a certain number of years of financial support for the most promising graduate students. Others will not guarantee support but may give reasonable assurance that teaching or research appointments will be available throughout the student's time in graduate school.

Some of the major portable fellowship programs are listed elsewhere on this web page. Since these awards attract applicants across the country, they are highly competitive.

Teaching Assistantships --> Teaching assistantships usually involve leading a discussion section, supervising a laboratory, grading papers, and meeting with students. The typical appointment involves working approximately 20 hours a week. A teaching assistant helps an institution teach its undergraduate students in return for a salary (and sometimes fee or tuition remission) that helps support his/her own graduate studies.

Research Assistantships --> Research assistantships are found especially in science and engineering fields. They are engaged in laboratories to assist faculty in research projects. Advanced students working on their theses or dissertations are often being supported by stipends to do their own individual projects. Many institutions also waive or reduce tuition for teaching and research assistants.

Loans --> Loans are the easiest to obtain and are generally provided to need-based students. The interest rate varies with each institution and depends on the creditworthiness of the student, co-borrowers and or guarantors. Some institutions offer a moratorium on interest till the student completes his or her education.

Most countries provide tax exemptions to foreign students and scholars but this is not the case with the US. In the US, foreign students have to pay taxes and the procedures might appear quite complex. There are essentially two federal income tax systems in the United States, one for tax residents of the U.S. including citizens, permanent residents, and certain non-immigrants, and the other for tax non-residents. The definition of “residence” for tax purposes and for immigration purposes are not the same and must not be confused.

The first step for foreign students and scholars in the tax process is to determine their tax residence.
Special rules apply to persons in “F,” “J,” “M,” and “Q” immigration status in determining tax residence. The second step is to determine whether the source of any income is a “U. S. source” or a “foreign source.” Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Publication 519, “U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens,” provides definitions and explanations of these issues. 
Individual tax reports are generally due on April 15 of the following calendar year. If no U.S. wages are received, the due date is June 15. Tax returns for a particular year cannot be filed before December 31 of that year. All non-resident alien tax returns and statements are mailed to: Internal Revenue Service Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19255, U.S.A.

The US also has a facility with other countries known as a Tax Treaty. Individuals hailing from countries with which the US has the treaty, under arrangement from the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development {OECD} are provided with some special exemptions.  The universities will provide support of availing of treaty benefits.

 There are many banks in India and in the US who provide education loans, but students must carefully weigh their options before making a decision. Most of the times, opting for a loan in the US can be a beneficial option if a student has a willing co-signor living and working in the US. A co-signor is a person who assumes financial responsibility for the repayment of the loan. He or she is equally held responsible for the repayment. A co-signor should be a resident of the US and working there, along with having a good credit rating. 

If the student does not have any person living in the US and willing to be a co-signor, then he has no option but to opt for a loan in India. 

A loan in the US can be a better option for an Indian student because it has far more offerings attached to it. First of all, the borrowing requirements are far more flexible than what is offered by Indian banks.
The loans offered have a returnable period of up to ten to twenty years.
There is an additional moratorium on interest and principal in US banks once the student loan is granted. So it does not create a financial burden on students while pursuing their undergraduate or graduate education. 
Apart from flexible offerings, there is also the factor of low interest rates. In India, the interest rates are 11% while in the US, students can borrow at an interest rate of about 6.75 to 8.0%.
There are many lending institutions available in the US and the best place to find information and assistance is the University’s financial aid office.

In summary, it can be safely stated that going for a student loan in the US can be a better option if the student has a willing co-signor than opting for the same in India.

 The First Step

 Prospective candidates have to first make a decision about the specialization they want to pursue in their graduate program. There are so many courses on offer in the US system. Students might get lost when confronted with such a plethora of courses on offer. The selection of a particular academic track therefore becomes essential for a student as it helps in making sound decisions on the courses that one should study.    

Step II

After the student has a made a decision on the specialization, the next step is to find out the schools that provides the best education in the field. Suppose if you have chosen to specialize in a particular discipline under technology, than MIT or Stanford can be your choice of school. But choice of school is also determined by other considerations such as the school tuition fees and the GRE scores required to make the cut.

The school selection procedure is something that should be done very judiciously. Every single admission procedure costs money in terms of application fee and if the student makes random choices, it might result in heavy financial losses. For e.g., there is very little sense in applying to a school with a very high benchmark of entry when the student has a poor GRE score.  

Step III

After school selection is over, the procedure of sending application packets to the respective schools begin. Students should be aware of the semester systems followed at US universities while sending their application materials. Graduate schools in the US usually follow two different semester systems. In the semester system, the academic year is divided into fall {July – August} and spring {January – March} semesters. In the trimester system, the academic year is divided into fall, winter and spring semesters of equal lengths. The complete note on application materials are provided on the Collegepond forum.

Step IV

After all the application packets are sent before the deadline dates, the student has to wait for a decision from the schools he has applied to. The decision is sent out via e-mail or snail mail anywhere between January and May (assuming the Fall term) and/or September to November (assuming the Spring term).  

 Step V

If the decision from the school is negative, then there is very little a student can do. He can, however, ask for a reconsideration provided he feels that the decision is incorrect. If the decision is positive, than the student has to make the necessary preparations. Normally, it is advisable for a student to apply to at least five schools to be on the safer side. This can make up for any rejects that a student suffers.

Once the student confirms his attendance, an I – 20 form is sent by the school. Alternatively, the I – 20 might be sent with the decision by the school. The student now has to take the form and apply for his visa. Acquiring a visa is another big story altogether and students have to be prepared for this procedure as well. One can learn more on this from the Collegepond forums.

Step VI

After the student acquires the visa, the next step is to book a flight and depart. The best time to depart is at least 15 days before the commencement date of the academic program. In these 15 days, the student has to make housing arrangements {assistance is provided by the school} and get acclimatized to the weather, the campus and the culture. This period can also be utilized by enterprising students to look for Teaching or Research assistantships, as it helps in cutting down on tuition fees.    

Step VII

You may think now that all the steps are over. But wait. You have not as yet paid your college tuition fees. Before the semester commences, the student must attend all the orientation programs conducted for foreign students on campus and choose their courses. There is assistance provided to students in making their course selections. 

The student has to pay the school tuition fees only after all the course selections are made. The fee can be paid in installments. In a semester system {July-August and January} the student has to pay in two separate installments. In a trimester system {July-August – January – March}, the student has to pay the tuition in three separate installments. This payment mechanism enables the school to plan there financial year in a better manner. After all the payments are made, the student takes the classes.

Good Luck.

It was fundamentally the progress made in VLSI that contributed to paradigm innovations in the field of Electronics. VLSI enabled the integration of technologies and the application of integrated circuits in high performance computing, telecommunications and consumer electronics. The intelligence of most applications was derived from the computational power of VLSI. One of the most powerful creations of VLSI has been undoubtedly, the  Microprocessor.

The Microprocessor, also known as the computer chip, manufactured by companies like Intel, is increasingly attaining new heights of sophistication. The Intel Core 2 Duo processor, launched recently, is one of the high-end chips that make our computing experience faster than ever. The Core 2 Duo promises to substantially boost performance while reducing power consumption. It contains two processing cores on a single chip and is the successor to the Intel Core Duo that was launched in early 2006.

The Core 2 Duo also manages to attain new heights in VLSI design. In its almost minute frame, it contains 291 million transistors packed into an area smaller than a fingernail. The processor was built with Intel's 65-nanometer manufacturing technology. Similarly, Texas Instruments, has conducted pioneering work in the field of semiconductors and computing. The sophistication of its chips for cellular handsets has set new benchmarks in cellular technology.

Careers

A career in VLSI can be very exciting because this is probably where all the action is. The pioneers of next generation technology, acronymed as 3G, {third generation} acquire their foundation in VLSI. Engineers trained in VLSI are making technology more dynamic and ubiquitous. Training in VLSI enables an Engineer to specialize in consumer electronics, microelectronics, electronic components, computer hardware, radar, medical equipment, telecommunications, automation and control systems. 

One can find employment opportunities in companies like Intel, IBM Microelectronics, Philips VLSI, Texas Instruments, Motorola and Tata Elxsi.

Salaries

A recent survey conducted by IEEE yielded the following median salaries as a function of degree for engineers working in their primary area of technical competence. For a young Engineer starting out, a career in VLSI can be very productive in terms of emoluments. A PhD in Electronics with VLSI as the core can fetch a salary of about $85,000 - $115,000 per year. Similarly, an Engineer with a Masters are paid approx. $65,000 - $95,000 per year. An Engineer who completes a BS degree in the US, are paid approx. $45,000 - $65,000 per year.

 One of the key factors in technology innovation has been the process of miniaturization. The invention of complex circuitry in a small capsule sized framework that controls the larger organism of the device has led to massive strides in Research and Development. Embedded Systems is one of the prime technological disciplines in the US. It is one of the streams in Engineering that is always in great demand and competition is usually quite tough to get into the best schools.

Embedded Systems is principally a discipline which concentrates on developing microcircuit devices that are fundamentally information processing systems. These are then embedded into myriads of devices, ranging from telecommunication equipment, fabrication units to computers. Cars built with high technology equipment also carry embedded devices in their architecture. It is however in the Information Technology segment that Embedded Systems have their most powerful application.      

Before the advent of Embedded Systems, technologies were mostly dull and were not particularly user friendly. Consider the almost box sized computer first developed by IBM. Engineer, in their search for developing user-friendly devices, gradually came up with developing a small sized miniature circuit that would be embedded in any system. This device in turn would respond to user inputs and perform tasks when prompted. Technology now had become intelligent and dynamic. 

An Embedded Microprocessor makes the product smart and fast. It also makes it responsive to the users, which is what most people want. The value of Embedded Systems and its applications in a range of devices makes it an industry of fundamental importance. It is also a discipline where cutting edge research and development work is always underway to make the next breakthrough.

Some of the Embedded Systems applications include consumer electronic products like CD players and microwave ovens, telecommunication like mobile phones, medical systems like pacemakers, traffic control systems like intelligent traffic lights, driving and car control and airborne equipments like fly-by-wire. {Source: http://www.cs.ru.nl/~fvaan/embedded_systems_theme.html }

To learn more about the exciting field of Embedded Systems, here are some useful links.

http://ls12-www.cs.uni-dortmund.de/~marwedel/kluwer-es-book/

http://www.cheshirehenbury.com/embedded/strategic.html

http://www.cs.ru.nl/~fvaan/embedded_systems_theme.html