The ‘How’ Behind a Good Letter of Recommendation

Letters of Recommendation (LORs) are a powerful tool to bolster your chances of securing admit into the university of your choice. People tend to take them lightly, but most often these carry more weightage than your essays. They are extremely resourceful to the college admissions committee as they are instrumental in providing valuable insights into your attitude towards studies, work habits, learning behaviour and your ability to perform to pressures and challenges. They are also a potential...

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Choosing the Right University for graduate studies

Taking the GRE/GMAT is only the first step towards your journey of studying in a reputed foreign university. The real and the more taxing task starts after your GRE/GMAT, when you finally decide to apply to universities. Often students get bogged down in deciding what specific course and which universities they should be targeting. Most of them are often wary about not taking wrong decisions, given the cost, time and effort for applying to foreign grad schools. We list some tips that may come...

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How to compensate for a low GPA in your application?

 Many a time a lot of our students ask this question. I have a low CGPA.. How do I improve my chances for an admit to a good graduate program? You fervently want to get into a good graduate school, but feel uncertain and hazy over your prospects of getting selected due to your low college/school GPA? If this is the story of your life, read on. This post is dedicated to expound on how to counter low GPAs during application process. While college GPA is an important parameter for application...

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Should you join a coaching for GRE preparation?

Whether to join a coaching for GRE preparation remains a dilemma for many. The answer to this question is actually not in black and white. It depends on a lot of factors, which people usually are unaware of. Skill Maestro is committed to genuinely assist GRE aspirants – whether they take the coaching for GRE or not. This post is dedicated to you for an objective evaluation of whether to join a coaching for GRE or not. We list a number of factors that will shape your decision to join coaching...

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TOEFL vs. IELTS

Are you confused which exam to take –the TOEFL or the IELTS? Are you wondering what are the essential differences or similarities between the two tests? If yes, then this post is for you! Speaking very fundamentally, both the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) are tests to measure English proficiency of those who come from countries where English is not the first language. Most universities worldwide while accepting...

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Some Handy Hacks for the AWA section on the GRE

Analytical Writing Section is an integral part on the GRE, and as ETS cautions, ‘Everyone- even the most practiced and confident of writers- should spend some time preparing for the Analytical Writing Measure before arriving at the test center’. You might be wondering why this caution. The fact is that the AWA section on the GRE does not measure only your writing skills, but moreover, measures your ability to think imaginatively and critically on an issue or argument.  Here are some...

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GRE Anxiety Mantra - How to cope up with GRE Anxiety

GRE is an examination critical to shaping your future life and hence anxiety for this exam is a common phenomenon. However, letting this anxiety overtaking you completely can have a negative impact on your performance. Therefore, it is essential that you understand the causes of this anxiety and find ways to overcome it. Remember, taking an exam is not a matter of life and death; it is just about the feeling that you’ve proved your abilities! Instead of thinking that ‘you HAVE to take your GRE’,...

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10 Tips to Face the GRE that the Test-Prep Text Books Probably won’t Teach you

You might have prepared hard for your GRE, but that’s not enough. You also need to be familiar with some useful tips and strategies that test prep textbooks might not teach you. While the test-prep textbooks will help you to prepare for the exam, it is also important to take note of certain facts that you must be careful about while you take the actual test to not commit a stupid blunder. We list some strategies and tips that you may find extremely helpful while you face your GRE. Never...

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7 ‘Must- Remember’ Things While Drafting your Resume for MS in USA

A resume, though not a mandatory document for many universities, gives you an opportunity to showcase your courses, abilities, work experience, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, enabling you to highlight your accomplishments effectively in a chronological order. Skill Maestro lists some ‘Must-Remember’ things while you draft your resume. Of course, you don’t want to be doing clumsy errors! 1.    Coherent Structure The structure of your resume must be coherent...

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The Perks of Pursuing an MBA Abroad

There are several myths about pursuing an MBA abroad. Most people think it’s a hefty expense, and several others think it’s a cumbersome process to push through your application. Most people who opt out of the option of applying abroad fall in either of the above two categories. What these people fail to understand is an appropriate assessment of taking an MBA back home Vs. an MBA Abroad. In this blog, Skill Maestro presents some reasons why considering an MBA abroad might prove to be a better...

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Fall Semester VS. Spring Semester

Which semester to prefer, Fall or Spring? Often students find themselves in an impasse while making their semester choice for their schools and things get only worse when you don’t find a correct guidance. Skill Maestro comes to your rescue and provides you with basic insights on the Fall semester VS. Spring semester confusion. Here’s what you need to know: Lesser Choices of Programs in Spring Most students prefer a Fall Semester primarily because not all universities have a Spring batch....

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Are you committing these Common Mistakes during the University Application Process?

So, you’ve registered for your standardized entrance tests. You’ve finished off with your test preparations. You’ve taken the test and aced it. Awesome! But, the real test begins once your university application process begins. It is often a cumbersome and daunting task to fill countless forms, prepare impressive yet relevant SOP and Resume, and answering the asked questions in the application form skilfully. You require to be meticulous at each step and you cannot afford to be doing clumsy...

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Charmed by the Allure of a Foreign Degree? Here’s a Reality Check!

So, you have always been charmed by the prospect of a fancy foreign degree and studying in that particular country that you have always dreamt of. Haven’t you? More often than not, students get so fascinated and obsessed by the thought of a foreign degree and a particular country that they tend to ignore some vital considerations. Here’s a checklist for you to run a reality check on your decision.  University Ranking Don’t just go for a university simply because you have been selected...

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How to apply for US F1 Visa

All accepted undergraduate and graduate program students from India require an F1 visa stamping to get into the U.S.A and stay there for the entire duration of the program. In this blog we will try to address the most frequently asked questions on how to apply for a student visa, the basic documentation needed, and issues to tackle before you can confidently answer the F1 visa interview questions at the American consulate. Visa Descriptions and Qualifications If you are applying...

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