Should I visit a Consultant?

If you want to get robbed blind ,then yes. Ok that might be an exaggeration but the fact of the matter is that you can most certainly do without one. Well here’s what all consultants do and what they don’t.

Why do you think you need a consultant?

• Is it because you have no clue about universities in the US.i.e you have no clue which you are most likely to get an admit from?
• Do you have trouble with putting your financial documents in order?
• Do you not know how to fill an online application form?
• Do you have to manipulate a few documents (bank statement) to show you have enough resources to fund yourself?
• Or are you just plain lazy to do it yourself?

• Consultancies suggest a few universities which will give you an admit for sure, it is basically to make sure you set foot on America soil no matter how wrong your list is. This can be done without help. Just ask your seniors, they ll know where you can get in with your kind of profile.
• Even consultancies can’t predict surprise admits.
  US universities actually have very simple application forms that can be done from home. Incidentally they are the “apply yourself” forms. So they are that simple. If its not “on-the-face” simple it just means you have to read the instructions properly which any careful four-year old can understand. Doubts, if any can be answered on online forums, or by careful perusal of the university website.People helping you fill your application form at the consultancies don’t know what needs to be done if there is something new.
• For all the Financial documents, you don’t need a consultancy ‘s help. You need a CA (Chartered Accountant rather ! The US Embassy is constantly tracking all such institutions which provides Fake Documents. BEWARE ! Its better to stay in India at Home rather than Sitting in the Jail for a Fraud Case. Even during the Visa Interview, the visa officer can easily differentiate fake documents ( Imagine he looks at the same bank name and details for most guys from your city)
• And for the lazy ones. Consultancies don’t draw up a time-table for you and keep pushing you to finish within the deadlines. It’s pretty much do-it-yourself even here.
• So It ‘s just a waste of time (travel-time) and money(travel-money plus consultation fees).

DO IT YOURSELF! And with the money that you save go out and party or apply to one more ambitious-admit university or donate it to an NGO.