The first questions you need to focus on are - which country, degree and major interests you.  Next review the available choices and begin a comparative study and analysis, eliminating Universities and programs that do not fall within your broad interests.  

If you plan to compare 50 to 100 programs independently, you need plenty of time to be able to complete a thorough and in-depth review.  The trick is to explore early.  We recommend that you begin exploring colleges 18 months ahead i.e. – if you are looking at being on campus by August 2008, start the process by Jan 2007 itself, factoring in time for college assignments and examinations.

Beware, No matter how popular a portal/website is and no matter the level of sophistication of their search engine, it cannot finalize your universities for you.  Do a small test and you will find after hours and hours of surfing you still are unsure of the choice that the search engine spits out at you.  If you are ill, would you go to a medical search engine and take the medicine prescribed to you?  IF your answer is no because it is your life at stake….then do not rely on some search engine for your college - after all your career is at stake and your career is your life!! If you get you Master’s degree from the wrong university you are unlikely to go back and get another Master’s are you?  Then get it right in the first attempt!

The portals have not personally guided students and do not have the experience that Madhavi Desai Consulting Pvt. Ltd. has, our search engines are real and experienced advisors.  Madhavi Desai Consulting is a real guidance service and there is nothing virtual about it, there are real people with tried and tested answers for your queries. 

Almost 60 percent of the students that register for our help have come to us after spending over 60-100 hours surfing the net and then with arms thrown up in sheer frustration.

And just like websites, the experience of your senior’s or cousins successful admissions is no guarantee that yours will be too.  Their advice is based on their own personal situation and background and needs. 

• Suitability of the program
1. Major:
   Which Universities offer the major or program that you are looking at?
2. Accreditation:
   Which of these Universities are accredited?
3. Term:
   Which of these Universities offer the program in the term you wish to apply for?
4. Application Deadline: Will you be able to complete and dispatch your application package by the stipulated deadline.

• Scale of competition
  1. Academic grades: Do you rank amongst the top 5%, top 10% or top 25% of your class? 
  2. Extracurricular activities: Were you awarded academic scholarships or competed at the national level?
  3. Test scores:  Do your GRE / TOEFL test scores reflect your academic potential? If you have not yet taken the test, estimate the possible range of your test results based on your current academic grades.

• Selection based on personal choices
  1. Budget:  What is the financial capability of your family?  Arrive at the maximum figure that your family can afford to spend for your education per annum for the entire period of your education.
  2. Financial Aid: What are the possibilities of financial assistance?  
  3. Location: Do you have any preferences in terms of location?
     

Our university selection service is targeted at recommending graduate Universities that suit YOU.  We strive to save your application costs by guiding you expertly through the application process.  When we select your free score recipients, our experience comes into play so that you can save money in applying to Universities and programs that are suitable to your profile.  Academic grades, professional experience, worthy projects, test scores and financial constraints are all take into account while our team of specialist’s researches your Universities.

Our advice is genuine. We do not represent any university.  If we think applying to a university / program does not make ‘good sense’ either because of your academic weakness or lack of financial resources or possible visa problems, we will caution you.  If you would still like to try, we will support you. The difference – you will know the pitfalls and make an informed decision when you put down your money on that application!