PlanetGPA

Ganesh S Gharmalkar

administratorGPA — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 05:33:59 +0000

I am really happy to have joined UsAsiaEdu consultancy and am glad that Kristen Murphy has been assigned to work on my case. She was very helpful right from the start and in a day we managed to streamline a lot of work that i had in mind. She knows her stuff and is very patient and understanding towards any small queries that i had.
My biggest apprehension was understanding the US Education system and Kristen made sure that information about the universities were well supplied, and any extra information was quickly provided. She made sure that all big hurdles were crossed with ease and made sure no discomfort was provided.
Apart from being an absolute pleasure to talk to , she managed issues very efficiently.
I am sure she will provide me with the same support that she has done so for, which will just seal my approval for all future referrals that i will provide.
When interacting with a consultancy, there is always a doubt of, will the work be done, but after getting support from Kristen, i am relaxed and i know i can count on her for all support.
Kudos to UsAsiaEdu for having her.

Ganesh S Gharmalkar

USAsiaEdu is a parent company of PlanetGPA. The company has now been renamed PlanetGPA Institute Inc.

Pixy Ghosh, PhD student

administratorGPA — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 03:44:00 +0000

When I registered for Planet GPA, I honestly did not expect much. It was like any other registration online and I had nothing to loose, thus, you can imagine my surprise when I did get a call back and was offered a free counselling session. Ever since then, my perspective towards US University applications changed, and I started to understand that, which until then was incomprehensible to me. I was assigned a Counselor named Ashok. I had no idea who he was or what he looked like. All I knew was a voice via skype, and that voice was the most reassuring sound to me during my application times, and above all, he was always there when I needed him, whether it be to answer some complicated query, or just a inspiring word to console me when I was apprehensive, and it is all thanks to him that today I have the admission that I dreamed of. This personal attention to the student’s needs is something that I cannot expect from anywhere else, and that I believe is the most unique feature of Planet GPA. I have already recommended it to some of my friends, and intend to do more. When it comes to knowledge and expertise, I believe my view would be a bit biased, as I rely too much on Ashok’s guidance. Throughout the past few months, his expertise has been invaluable to my applications, and I could not do it without him. I would give the overall service an 8.5 out of 10, because there is still a long way to go, but I have complete faith in Ashok and Planet GPA.

Pixy Ghosh, PhD student

USAsiaEdu is a parent company of PlanetGPA. The company has now been renamed PlanetGPA Institute Inc.

MS Computer Science

administratorGPA — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:04:00 +0000

Featured University

administratorGPA — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 07:05:54 +0000

Smart Ways to Save Money on a U.S. Bachelors Degree

guptaguma — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:20:39 +0000

The cost of a U.S. Bachelors ranges from $10k a year at community colleges to $55k a year at expensive institutions. As the cost of college sky rockets, students and parents are looking more closely at value versus investment. Here are three ideas that both domestic and international students can do to reduce the cost of earning a U.S Bachelor’s degree:

1. Many U.S. colleges and universities offer online courses that you can take from home in your first or second semester. If you can take a few courses without being on campus in your first year, go for it. For international students, this means staying at home with your parents while taking U.S classes. It is a great idea and can save you significant dollars. You save on boarding and lodging while earning a U.S degree. Can’t beat that!

2. Many international students don’t know about community colleges or they have a bad impression about community colleges. Even after you enroll in a 4-year university, you can still take some courses at a community college and have them transferred. This will also save you some money.

3. Some universities have campuses around the world that offer the same degree as they do in the U.S. See if a campus is less expensive and take a few courses at that campus. This has multiple benefits. In your resume you can say that you have lived and experienced different cultures and countries. This is invaluable. Also, you earn the same degree for a lower cost. And you may be able to select a country that is closer to your home country, making travel back and forth less expensive.

Is a PhD worth it?

guptaguma — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 23:56:33 +0000

Is a PhD worth it? Well, simple answers are no longer popular and therefore a more detailed response is due. The detailed answer is: It depends! It depends on your attitude and aptitude to long hours of hard work, curiosity, frustration, and love for one’s discipline. A PhD in the US is definitely worth it is what most people who have earned a PhD in the US will tell you. Faculty (most) are passionate about their discipline and are great mentors. Lab facilities in the U.S. are usually top notch and research is often cutting-edge. US faculty are active in their disciplines and their reputation depends on the careers their PhD students pursue. So, all in all it is a great investment. But if you want to earn a PhD just to earn “more money” it may not be a good idea. The number one question to ask is: Do I love my major or discipline enough to dedicate my lifetime to it? If your answer is yes, you have crossed the first barrier. Here is a great website from Purdue (www.purdue.edu) that answers most questions students considering a PhD have: http://www.cs.purdue.edu/homes/dec/essay.phd.html

Study in the US! Tell us what help you need!

guptaguma — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:38:09 +0000

[polldaddy poll=5462741]

Spring Admission to US Colleges and Universities

guptaguma — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:30:43 +0000

Want to study in the US? Want to gain admission to a top university in the USA? Best advice: Start early! Unlike other countries, admission to US universities takes a long time. Not only that, applying to US colleges and universities is complex. They need a number of documents, like visa, transcripts, letters of references, essays, test scores, and financial documents. Many international students think they will wait till they get their test scores. This is not recommended. Top universities in the US have deadlines as early as December for admission for next August! So if you want to study in the US and if you want to get admission to a top university in the US, start the process at least 10 months in advance! Have questions? Visit our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/PlanetGPA) and post your question. You will get a prompt answer!

Dr. Gupta is CEO of PlanetGPA.com, a company that helps international students who wish to study in the US.

Cheat on college essays and get caught!

guptaguma — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 09:09:36 +0000

Writing a college essay is hard (Writing, for that matter, is hard work!0. It is difficult, time-consuming, and challenging. Who wants to stare at a blank sheet of paper? Who wants to toil for hours to write the perfect essay, only to find that an Admissions Officer is not impressed. Why not have someone else write the perfect college essay? Thinking about hiring someone to write for you? Think again!

Pennsylvania State University’s M.B.A. program was among the first to sign up for Turnitin for Admissions. More than two dozen institutions worldwide have used the service, and some colleges (as yet unnamed) have incorporated it into their review of undergraduate applicants, according to Jeff Lorton, product- and business-development manager at Turnitin for Admissions.

“A lot of jaws are dropping,” Mr. Lorton said of admissions officials surprised by the levels of matching they’ve seen. “There are people seeking an advanced degree at the most selective institutions who can’t even write their own personal statements.”

http://chronicle.com/blogs/headcount/new-partners-in-the-plagiarism-detection-business/27804?sid=pm&utm_source=pm&utm_medium=en

Dr. Uma G. Gupta is the founder and CEO of PlanetGPA.com

Online learning worth it?

guptaguma — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 09:44:25 +0000

Here is a question we received from a student:

Hello,

I found your article through some source hunting and found it very very helpful. Actually, am planning to purse Masters in Transportation and Logistics Management from American Public University, distance learning. Since, I live and work in Dubai, UAE and am Indian national, could you please advise, if Masters program from this university are accredited all over the globe? Thanks so much in advance. Rgds

You are asking two different questions: 1) accreditation, 2)online learning.

Accreditation: U.S. university programs are accredited by different agencies/organizations in the U.S. These agencies ensure the quality of the programs. They review faculty credentials, courses offered, and how these programs prepare students for jobs. Accreditation is a good thing! You want to look for programs that are accredited.

Second, distance learning or on-line learning. There are a number of good on-line programs. The on-line program has the same credit and value as a classroom program. You don't even need to tell your future employer that it is an on-line degree unless asked.

Hope this helps!

Dr. Gupta is the founder and CEO of PlanetGPA.com, an on-line company that helps international students find the right university and program.