Oxford University alumnus Sarthak Agrawal shares the know-how of applying to a foreign university

 

Many people ask me about the importance of internships and work experience while applying to places like Oxford. They definitely convey a sense of purpose, especially if your internship is in a similar sector as your course, he says.

After graduating from Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce, the question of “what next” never bothered me, thanks to my professors at SRCC. Given my interests and abilities, they suggested that I would gain more from courses offered outside India. Moreover, I was keen to pursue a research-based master’s and most domestic programs lack that component.

Once I finalised the decision to study abroad, the next big questions were which university and course to pursue. I did plenty of online research before applying to four universities – Oxford, Cambridge University, University College London (UCL), and the London School of Economics (LSE).

However, Oxford University was my first choice as during the research I found that the MPhil programme in Economics offered by the university is considered one of the best in the world. I also interacted with the Oxford alumni to know about the university. It is easiest to get in touch with alumni by contacting them over LinkedIn – most people I corresponded with were very helpful and I have been trying to return the favor since.

To study at a foreign university, one has to qualify the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) which is a standardized test. I secured 337/340 – 170/170 in quantitative, 167/170 in verbal, and 6.0/6.0 in analytical writing in the GRE. 

With these scores, my admission application was accepted at all the universities I applied to. But the most important criterion for me was funding. I was fortunate to receive a 100 per cent scholarship from Oxford University that covered my tuition and provided a generous stipend of almost £15,000 per year.

Spending three carefree years at SRCC was a very different experience to spending a couple of academically intensive years at Oxford. I had a more friendly and collegial relationship with my professors at Shri Ram College of Commerce while Oxford teachers spent more time focusing on their own research. However, I appreciated the focus on research and innovation abroad and the complete absence of any spoon-feeding. 

Applying to Oxford University

Usually, the application requirements consist of the following: transcripts, CV, letters of recommendations, statement of purpose, GRE (optional), and writing sample. There may be further demands for scholarship applications. Out of these, the most important is your grades, which are often sealed while you’re in college. Please don’t neglect your studies if you’re keen to pursue higher studies abroad.

Customize your statement of purpose (SOP) for every university you apply to by including a paragraph on what attracts you to that very course. Moreover, resist the urge to look at others’ statements before preparing your first draft.

On letters of recommendation – try to develop a relationship with your professors early in the course. It’s best to alert your teachers well in advance that you are interested in applying abroad – and make sure you take their candid feedback on which universities you should target. If your recommenders can give your relative ranking in their letter (“this candidate is among the top 3 in the present cohort”), that’s often very useful for admission committees.

On GRE – take it well in advance lest you don’t score well in your first attempt and need to retake it later. In most courses, a high GRE score will not guarantee you an admission, but a low score may damage your chances of getting selected. For most social science courses at Oxford, the writing sample will merely test your skills in constructing and defending an argument. This is a skill worth imbibing by consulting easily available online resources.

Applying to scholarships is another crucial aspect of graduate applications if you can’t self-fund your studies. There are several scholarships available for Indian nationals at places like Oxford, so make sure to check all of them out (e.g., Rhodes, Weidenfeld-Hoffman, Commonwealth, Chevening, Felix, and Clarendon). Indian scholarships are of three kinds – those that give grants (Inlaks), interest-free loans (Narotam Sekhsaria, KC Mahindra), and a hybrid of the two (JN Tata Endowment). Each has its own requirements and deadlines so start exploring early.

Relevance of internships while applying to foreign universities

Many people ask me about the importance of internships and work experience while applying to places like Oxford. They definitely convey a sense of purpose, especially if your internship is in a similar sector as your course, but not having one doesn’t necessarily nullify your chances. Still, I would suggest pursuing at least a couple of summer internships to explore your interests and abilities in different fields.

In my experience, besides applying to formal internship programmes, the best way to get an internship is by writing emails to the kind of people you look up to and want to work with. This is how I got opportunities to work at ICRIER, NITI Aayog, and the Ministry of Finance while I was a student at SRCC. Introduce yourself well and concisely state what you hope to gain from the experience and what you can offer in terms of skills. 

Make sure the email is very well written, with no typos or grammatical errors. And be prepared for rejections – for every 100 emails you send, 95 may go unanswered. But hey, you only need one person to back you.

Choosing the right college and course 

The choice between course and college can sometimes get tricky. It is often the case that one gets selected into a more preferred course at a lower-ranked institution, which generates a conundrum. At that juncture, it is important to be self-aware and ask yourself what your near-term goals look like. If it is just exposure, then go for a better university. However, if you want to pursue a job or another course related to your subject of study, it is better to prioritise a programme you will enjoy studying, and do well in.

Sarthak Agrawal

(The author is an MPhil in Economics from Oxford University and a trainee IAS officer)

Source: Indian Express, 14/12/21

Quote of the Day December 13, 2021

 

“If you reveal your secrets to the wind, you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees.”
Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931), Poet

“आप अपने रहस्य यदि पवन पर खोल देते हैं तो वृक्षों में बात फैल जाने का दोष पवन पर मत मढ़ें।”
ख़लील जिब्रान (१८८३-१९३१), सीरियाई कवि एवं चित्रकार

Human Rights Day 2021

 The United Nations General Assembly observes Human Rights Day on December 10, every year.

Key Points

• The day is observed to raise awareness regarding people’s social, cultural and physical rights as well as to ensure the welfare people across the world.
• The day encourages nations to create equal opportunities for everyone.
• It also addresses the issues of exclusion, inequality, and discrimination.

Background

United Nations General Assembly had adopted the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights in 1948. The Allies of World War II, also known as the United Nations, adopted four freedoms viz., freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom from fear and freedom from want. They created the Charter of United Nations on the basis of faith in fundamental human rights. Thus, Universal Declaration of Human Rights is significant and forms one of the bases of the United Nations.

Significance of the day

The Human Rights Day signifies the absolute rights to which all humans are entitled, irrespective of their race, religion, colour, language, sex, political or other opinions, poverty, national or social origin, birth or another status. Equality and non-discrimination are at the heart of human rights. Human Rights Day has become more significant in the aftermath of covid-19, as it has deepened poverty and raised inequality, discrimination & other gaps in human rights protection.

Theme of the day

The Human Rights Day in year 2021 was observed under the theme- “Equality, reducing inequalities, advancing human rights.”

UN Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council consists of 47 elected United Nations Member States. These states are empowered to prevent inequality, protect the most vulnerable, abuses & discrimination, and punish the perpetrators of human rights violations. Council was established by the United Nations General Assembly on March 15, 2006 for replacing the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. It has been strongly criticized for including member countries which engage in human rights abuses.

Current Affairs- December 13, 2021

 

INDIA

– Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates Swarnim Vijay Parv in New Delhi celebrating the liberation of Bangladesh in the Indo-Pak 1971 war

– Himachal Pradesh govt. sets up General Category Commission (Samanya Varg Aayog)

ECONOMY & CORPORATE

– ‘Depositors First: Guaranteed Time-bound Deposit Insurance Payment up to Rs 5 lakh’ programme held in New Delhi

WORLD

– International Day of Neutrality observed by UN on Dec 12

– International Universal Health Coverage Day celebrated on Dec 12, theme: ‘Leave No One’s Health Behind: Invest in Health Systems for All’

– Tornadoes hit six US states of Kentucky, Illinois, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri and Mississippi; 80 dead

– South Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia chooses to stay with France; separatists boycott referendum

– Naftali Bennett in UAE on historic first visit by an Israeli PM

– G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Liverpool (UK) calls on Russia to de-escalate, warns against Ukraine incursion

– US author Anne Rice, known for the novel ‘Interview with the Vampire’ (1976), dies at 80

SPORTS

– Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and 2021 Formula One Drivers’ championship; Mercedes win Constructors’ championship

– India returns from Asian Rowing Championship in Thailand with 6 medals (2 gold, 4 silver)

Current Affairs-December 12, 2021

 

INDIA

– UP: PM inaugurates Saryu Canal National Project at Balrampur district; provide irrigation to over 14 lakh hectares of land in 9 districts of eastern UP

– Pinaka Extended Range (Pinaka-ER) Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) test-fired

– DRDO, IAF test Helicopter launched Stand-off Anti-tank (SANT) Missile from Pokhran ranges

– Seventh edition of India International Science festival being held in Panaji, Goa from Dec 11 to 14

– ‘Swarnim Vijay Parv’ to be celebrated at India Gate, New Delhi on December 12-13 to commemorate 50 years of India’s victory in 1971 war

– Union Minister for Ports Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates River Cruise Service at Mormugao Port Trust Goa

– India sends humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan consisting of medical supplies

ECONOMY & CORPORATE

– Bhupender Yadav chairs 50th Meeting of General Council of VV Giri National Labour Institute

WORLD

– US govt. official Catherine Russell appointed new Executive Director of UNICEF

– International Mountain Day celebrated on Dec 11, theme: ‘Sustainable mountain tourism’

– India re-elected to International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council

– G7 Foreign Ministers present united front against Russia over Ukraine crisis

– US, Canada and UK impose sanctions on people and entities tied to China, Myanmar and North Korea for human rights violations

– Saudi Arabia govt bans Tablighi Jamaat, calls it ‘one of the gates of terrorism’

SPORTS

– Norway’s Magnus Carlsen defeats Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi to win 2021 World Chess Championship

Differences between Webb and Hubble telescopes

 The James Webb Space Telescope, NASA’s most powerful telescope, is scheduled to be rocketed into orbit no earlier than December 22. Though Webb is often called the replacement for the Hubble Space Telescope, NASA said it prefers to call it a successor.

Launched into low Earth orbit in 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope has made more than 1.4 million observations, including tracking interstellar objects, capturing a comet colliding with Jupiter, and discovering moons around Pluto. Hubble has captured galaxies merging, probed supermassive black holes and has helped us understand the history of our universe.

Here we explore some of the major differences between Webb and the Hubble Telescope.

Wavelength

The James Webb Space Telescope, carrying four scientific instruments, will observe primarily in the infrared range and provide coverage from 0.6 to 28 microns. The instruments on Hubble see mainly in the ultraviolet and visible part of the spectrum. It could observe only a small range in the infrared from 0.8 to 2.5 microns.

The infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum covers the wavelength range from approximately 0.7 to a few 100 microns.

Size comparisons

Webb’s primary mirror has a diameter of 6.5 metres. Hubble’s mirror was much smaller – 2.4 metres in diameter. So, Webb will have a larger field of view compared to the camera on Hubble.

Webb also carries a large sun shield measuring about 22 metres by 12 metres – about the size of a tennis court.

Orbit

Hubble orbits around the Earth at an altitude of ~570 km. Webb will not orbit the Earth. It will orbit the sun at about 1.5 million kilometres away from Earth. As the Earth orbits the Sun, Webb will orbit with it – but it will stay fixed in the same spot with relation to the Earth and the Sun.

How far will Webb see?

NASA says, “Hubble can see the equivalent of “toddler galaxies” and Webb Telescope will be able to see “baby galaxies”.” Webb’s near- and mid-infrared instruments will help study the first formed galaxies, exoplanets and birth of stars.

Webb vs Herschel Space Observatory

In 2009, the European Space Agency launched an infrared telescope named the Herschel Space Observatory.

It also orbits the Sun similar to how Webb would. The primary difference between Webb and Herschel is the wavelength range: Webb goes from 0.6 to 28 microns, while Herschel covers 60 to 500 microns.

Also, Herschel’s mirror is smaller than Webb’s. It is 3.5 metres in diameter, while Webb’s primary mirror has a diameter of 6.5 metres.

Written by Aswathi Pacha

Source: Indian Express, 12/12/21

How the pandemic has worsened inequality in India

 

Ishan Bakshi writes: It has adversely affected chances of social mobility. This could combine with already high levels of inequality of opportunities and precipitate greater demands for income redistribution.

That India is a highly unequal economy is beyond contestation. And that was so before the pandemic struck. While precise estimates of the level of inequality in India are hard to come by — household surveys tend to massively underreport consumption, income and wealth — it’s hard to dispute the notion that Covid has deepened existing faultlines, exacerbating entrenched inequalities. The rise in the fortunes of the very rich during this period, when juxtaposed against the misery of the millions of migrant workers who had to walk back to their villages, is a stark reminder of the extent of economic disparities. To that extent, the latest edition of the World Inequality Report serves as a useful reminder of the concentration of income at the very top of the pyramid. The top 10 per cent earns 57 per cent of the national income. Within the top 10 per cent, the very elite top 1 per cent earns 22 per cent. In comparison, the share of the bottom 50 per cent in national income has declined to 13 per cent. And this is only one estimate of inequality. In the case of inequalities based on wealth, the numbers are even more skewed.

By and large, the discourse on inequality in India tends to centre around disparities in consumption, income, and wealth. But countries like India are also marked by high levels of inequalities in “opportunities”. In such societies, an individual’s class of origin, his household of birth, who his parents are, tend to have a significant bearing on his educational attainment, his employment and income prospects, and as a consequence, his class of destination. In such countries, characterised by low levels of social mobility across generations, children born in disadvantaged households have a lower chance of moving up the income ladder. While these bonds may well have weakened over time in India, the question is to what degree has the pandemic, which has widened economic disparities, also impacted social mobility?

To the extent that Covid has led to a worsening of education inequalities, induced labour market scarring, and exacerbated income inequality, it is likely to depress social mobility. While some effects will be evident in the immediate, others will take shape over time. Take education. The extended closure of schools and the shift to online modes of education has widened the learning gaps between children from poor and affluent households. With early education being critical to creating a semblance of a level-playing field, that younger children from low-income households were more deprived of mediums of learning, smartphones, will reflect in lower learning outcomes. The ASER 2021 report attests to this.

Children born to parents with lower levels of education were less likely to have access to a smartphone, although even the availability of a smartphone in the household may not have necessarily led to greater access for children. Over a fourth of children in households with a smartphone could not access it (for those in the lower grades the numbers are significantly higher). This has already begun to impact learning outcomes — children are unable to catch up with their curriculum.

To what extent these learning gaps will rise or fall over time is difficult to estimate. Needless to say, the larger the gap, the greater will be the effort required to bridge it. But, a drop in foundational skills, an inability to catch up, “educational scarring” as some have called it, is bound to impact their life chances. Education, after all, provides pathways to upward mobility.

Then there is the issue of jobs. From the labour market data during this period, three broad trends emerge, all of which have worrying implications for social mobility.

First, since the onset of the pandemic, there has been a decline in labour force participation. According to CMIE data, the labour force participation rate has fallen from 42.7 per cent during September-December 2019 to 40.2 per cent during May-August 2021. This means that despite a “young” population, the number of individuals looking for jobs has actually fallen, perhaps dismayed by the lack of employment opportunities.

Second, over the same period, the unemployment rate has risen from 7.5 per cent to 8.6 per cent. This implies that among those looking for jobs, those unable to find jobs, perhaps even at lower wages, have risen. Third, among those with jobs, more are increasingly being employed as casual wage labour. This growing “casualisation” or “contractualisation” of the workforce implies an absence of well-paying, productive jobs. This labour market scarring has implications for social mobility. Being unemployed for a long period or shifting to less paying, less productive jobs will have a bearing on an individual’s lifetime earnings. This will weaken avenues for upward mobility for entire households.

A swift return to a higher growth trajectory will heal some of the scars. Periods of rapid growth lower obstacles to mobility, create opportunities to move up the income ladder. But if growth is subdued and uneven, if the benefits flow disproportionately to those at the top end of the income distribution, to the owners of capital, and among those employed, to the more educated, skilled sections, as seems to be the case now, then this will only hinder social mobility. Paradoxically though, as high mobility perhaps blunts concerns over high inequality, it is of greater consequence in highly unequal economies.

Left unaddressed, this toxic combination of high inequality and low social mobility will lead to greater demands for redistribution. The clamour for levying a wealth/inheritance tax will only get louder, as will demands for equal taxation of income from labour and capital considering that those at the very top of the income pyramid get a larger share of their income from capital. Political expediency will demand bowing to such demands, more so when every action is viewed through the prism of politics. Arresting this slide is not going to be easy. The world of Horatio Alger seems distant.

Written by Ishan Bakshi

Source: Indian Express, 13/12/21