Primer

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Dear Students, Many of you will be opting for higher studies once you graduate from LUMS. As you begin to select universities, programmes and courses, advice from others who have already been down this road, should definitely help. Several of our alumni are at renowned universities abroad completing graduate programmes in various disciplines. This Primer on Graduate Studies documents the experiences of these alumni and some other individuals regarding the application process. Through this publication, we hope to facilitate and expedite your efforts to secure admission and funding in the University of your Choice. The Primer covers important information on the application process for universities in UK, USA, Australia and Canada. The topics range from university programs to culture and lifestyle of the place and from scholarships information to admission and visa process. You should not, however, rely solely on this information and must conduct your own search via Internet, British Council, American Center etc. You can also contact these alumni if desired and get first hand access to all that you need to know or wish to know about your choice institutions(s). The contact information is mentioned towards the end of this publication Happy reading and good luck in all your future endeavors! Nasim Asghar Manager Career Development Office [email protected]

Transcript of Primer

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Dear Students,

Many of you will be opting for higher studies once you graduate from LUMS. As you begin to select universities, programmes and courses, advice from others who have already been down this road, should definitely help.

Several of our alumni are at renowned universities abroad completing graduate programmes in various disciplines. This Primer on Graduate Studies documents the experiences of these alumni and some other individuals regarding the application process. Through this publication, we hope to facilitate and expedite your efforts to secure admission and funding in the University of your Choice.

The Primer covers important information on the application process for universities in UK, USA, Australia and Canada. The topics range from university programs to culture and lifestyle of the place and from scholarships information to admission and visa process. You should not, however, rely solely on this information and must conduct your own search via Internet, British Council, American Center etc.

You can also contact these alumni if desired and get first hand access to all that you need to know or wish to know about your choice institutions(s). The contact information is mentioned towards the end of this publication

Happy reading and good luck in all your future endeavors!

Nasim AsgharManagerCareer Development [email protected]

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SCHOOLS/UNIVERSITIES WHERE LUMS GRADUATES HAVE GAINED ADMISSION

United States of America:

Bentley College

Boston University

Brown University

Carnegie Mellon

Claremont Graduate School

Columbia University

Cornell University

Dartmouth College

Duke University

Fordham University

Georgia Southern University

Harvard University

Illinois Institute of Technology

Johns Hopkins University

Northwestern University

Rice University

San Jose State University

Santa Clara University

Southern Methodist University

Stanford University

Syracuse University

Texas A&M

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University of California, Irvine

University of California, Riverside

University of California, San Deigo

University of California, Santa Barbara

University of Chicago

University of Delaware

University of Houston, Clear Lake

University of Illinois, Chicago

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

University of Memphis

University of New Orleans

University of Nugannun

University of Pennsylvania

University of Southern California

University of Texas

University of Texas, Austin

University of Texas, San Antonio

University of Toronto

University of Wisconsin Madison

Washington University, St.Louis

Yale University

United Kingdom

Birkbeck College, University of London

Bristol University

Brunel University

Cardiff University

Imperial College

King’s College of London

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Kingston University

Lancaster University

Law School, London

London School of Economics

Middlesex University

Oxford University

University College London

University of Bath

University of Birmingham

University of Cambridge

University of Edinburgh

University of Essex

University of Leicester

University of Manchester

University of Newcastle

University of Oxford

University of Sheffield

University of St. Andrews

University of Sussex

University of Warwick

University of York

Canada

McGill University

Queen’s University, Kingston Ontario

University of British Columbia

University of Toronto

University of Western Ontario

University of Waterloo

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Others

ENI Corporate University, Italy

Glasgow University, Scotland

University of Canberra, Australia

University of Wollongong, Australia

University of Tu Delft, Netherlands

SOME USEFUL SUGGESTIONS FROM LUMS ALUMNI

There are a number of BSc (Honours) students who have opted for higher studies abroad. Some of them have provided the Career Development Office the following suggestions for the benefit of those who want to pursue higher education abroad:

Ali SufiyanBSc Economics 2004There are a few things that need to be taken care of ASAP while planning to apply to Graduate school, the foremost one among them being GRE/ GMAT etc. Allow yourself at least a month to prepare for either. Also, since it gets really difficult to prepare during the quarter, the best time to prep for and take the test(s) is over the summer break. In any case, do realize that the peak application season in the U.S. runs from mid-October to early January so plan accordingly.

In applying to universities, do ensure a geographic mix, i.e. try applying outside the U.S. as well. For those interested in applying locally, the MBA at LUMS is probably the best option. It is a thoroughly grueling experience and 2 years long at that, but the payoffs are enormous. The admission process mainly hinges on a good GMAT score along with good extra-curricular. A good interview is a key to getting in. One must come across as a confident (not brash) person who can contribute effectively to class discussions later on. For this, do try interning during each of the first three years during undergraduate studies.

Be prepared to spend a lot of money usually above Rs.20-30k on the entire admission deal abroad since in order to have a reasonable response rate from the universities, one must apply to at least 5 to 7 schools with a few ambitious as well as safe bets. The applications are quite costly to send via courier so allow sufficient time for them to reach the admission office well in time, the earlier on the better. The tests, especially the GMAT is around $250 so once again have enough money saved up. The recommendations as well as the SOP also count a lot though one probably has to work extra hard at truly polishing an SOP if applying for a different discipline at graduate school from the one at undergraduate schools. Allow plenty of time for the recommendations as well and ask the instructors for all the letters you need in one go since they can be quite edgy and

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can procrastinate later on as well. Do check out DAWN periodically since it quite often has some very good funding opportunities. Also, use this primer wisely by asking the LUMS alumni already at your university of choice for advice. They probably would be glad to help if you don’t swamp them with a lot of emails.

This time around, funding was a big issue but a way to go around it is to apply for the visa beforehand and be in the U.S. a couple of weeks before the start of the semester. This would allow you to aggressively pursue any assistantships opportunities that there may be. For this you need to be able to afford going there on your own. Yet, I do know of a person this year who did just that and is now on an RA-ship that pretty much covers all the expenses while studying.

Here’s wishing you the best of luck in your future pursuits!

A. Ali PashaBSc Computer Science 2001Graduate school is a good opportunity to change your area of concentration. Just because you did a certain major in your undergrad doesn't mean that you have to continue it in Graduate School. Therefore before applying to grad school, sit down, and think about what you really want to learn and your career objectives. Most universities appreciate that you have thought about these issues and it does help in securing admission.

Abdul Mannan AbassiBSc Economics 1999If you want to pursue financial engineering, you should really concentrate on taking a number of math courses especially Calculus, Probability, Statistics, Operations Research/Optimization and Linear Algebra. If possible take a course in Stochastic Processes. Also if you can learn one programming language - either C++ or VB, that is a big plus in getting jobs later on in this field.

Abid MohsinBSc Economics 2000Start with contacting people you know, who are affiliated with the university. Also try and get in touch with people in the particular department for advice. Be short and polite in your e-mails, and PLEASE use correct grammar and spelling. Most people would be too busy to reply, so understand that and tell them that you know they might be busy, but you would really appreciate their advice. I was able to eliminate a few universities by the responses I got from the professors and the students in those programme (obviously, I did not know them), and someone in Stanford gave me advice on the Statement of Purpose.

Adeel SiddiquiBSc Computer Science 1999It is critical to spend as much time as possible on improving your application. You need to customize the application for each school you apply to. Go out and find universities with professors doing research in the area of your interest. The senior project would be a great help here. Get in touch with the professors if possible and tell them about your project. Be sure to include details of your project and other research interests in the application. For graduate schools, it is the professors themselves who go through the applications for potential candidates with like research interests. They are very interested in finding themselves a work force and you need to present yourself as the most compatible candidate. This also makes applying as soon as possible, very critical. The professors go through the application looking for potential Research Assistants and when they are done finding them, they look no more. Your application being the first one improves the odds tremendously.

Ambreen Iqbal Malik

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BSc Economics 1999You should get some work experience in a relevant field before applying for a Masters programme. That will help you get admitted to reputable universities and will also make the masters experience more worthwhile.Students should really think about what exactly they want in their masters. The idea is not just getting a degree but getting something that will fit in their career plans.

Amir Ali JafriBSc Computer Science 1999Contact the graduate faculty directly, and show your interest in the programme. Also ask them for recommendations, etc. Read up on the faculty’s research or at least be aware of their focus before you contact them.

Amna LatifBSc Computer Science 2001 Go to schools, which are near a place where there is a lot of demand for e.g. California, Dallas, Washington D.C or Boston. Do not go for MIS degrees because they are pretty worthless, as it is not easy to get sponsorship afterwards. Contrary to Pakistan the school you go to does not determine the job you will get and how much money you will end up making eventually.

Arfat QayyumBSc Economics 1997I would seriously recommend a cost benefit analysis of the degree you intend to pursue and the institution offering it.

Armughan JavaidBSc Computer Science 1998Write a good admission essay / statement. Work experience is good for professional degrees like MSE but not PhD.

Asad FaruquiBSc Computer Science 1997Get a good GRE score, once you get admission, contact some faculty to seeif they have RA or TA openings but don't pester them, only talk with a professor whose research you find interesting. If you have a couple of friends going with you to the same university that will be the best, it helped me a lot. Also I hear the visa takes a long time, so apply well in advance otherwise you'll have undue issues and worries.

Fahd OsmanBSc Computer Science 1997There is another very important issue that LUMS (with Pakistani nationality) students planning on studying in the US should be aware of. The US student visa process could take more than 2 months. They are running security checks on male visa applicants from certain countries (Pakistan is on the lucky list!). I had to experience similar problems when I got my H-1b (work) visa from Canada. They should apply well in advance and hope to get an acceptance letter a couple of months before their semester starts. For a Masters degree in the US, it is extremely difficult to get financial aid. Work experience in a related field will always make your application stronger.

Faisal NasirBSc Computer Science 2001It is tough to get admitted into the top ranked universities and to get enough aid. Nowadays more people are opting for higher-studies and the level of competition has gone up. Always look for a

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university that is in the first 25 or second 25-50 tier and has a good amount of departmental funds and faculty along with other details.

Haroon Akbar SheikhBSc Economics 1998Work for a few years first and research the degree before you plunge in to it. Try to avoid being misled by fancy names or trendy options e.g. find out what MSc in Finance is all about.

Hasan AmjadBSc Computer Science 1997For PhD: apply to several places; find out what research they do and tailor your research proposal. For funding (UK): lots of third party organizations give funding; the university prospectus will have details on all of them.

Imran A. KhanBSc Economics 1997If you want to go for an MBA, get at least 2 years of work experience... Entrance tests count. Get on with the GMAT and GRE.

Jahanzeb SherwaniBSc Computer Science 2002Once you've gotten admission, make sure you request your I-20 ASAP, and apply for the visa ASAP. 10 LUMS students couldn't enroll this year because of extended visa delays.

Kamran AhsanBSc Computer Science 2000Don’t be afraid to apply ambitiously. Choose an overall balanced mix but do apply to top universities as well.

Khawaja ObaidullahBSc Computer Science 2001Due to the current security situation, spread your programme of choice over a wide geographical region, so that you are not dependent on one particular country issuing a visa.

Laila Bushra BSc Computer Science 1999Explore all the universities for your particular programme carefully, try and correspond with the faculty members beforehand, and choose your departments carefully.

Mansoor MirzaBSc Computer Science 2001For CS students,-Get good GRE analytical and quantitative scores. Shoot for 750 in each and anything above 500 in verbal. Don’t waste time on taking the verbal over 600, as that time should better be spent taking the analytical from 700-750.-Start in advance and shortlist universities early on in the academic process. It is okay to feel a little lost in choosing universities. Research on your own and ask around as well.

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Mehreen TanvirBSc Economics 1999It is crucial to find the right programme for yourself. There are many specializations and degree programmes and there is one out there that is right for you. FIND IT. If you find the right programme you can convince the admission committee that this is what you sincerely want to be doing. GRE and all are important but I think the suitability of the programme is essential.

Muhammad Abbas RazaBSc Economics 1997

1. Apply in advance- usually 3-4 months before published deadlines to qualify for aid2. Have some work experience in the area of study3. Try to make direct contact with the Department Head/ Faculty via e-mail or telephone4. Sell your strong points5. Quantitative abilities are a must

Muhammad Omer SulemanBSc Computer Science 2000Your undergraduate major does not have to restrict you in terms of the fields that you want to pursue at graduate level. If you want to go for a mainly academic degree, apply in your fourth year, unless you have no idea what you want to study. And keeping in mind the current visa situation, do apply to universities in UK and Canada in addition to applying to the US.

Nabil. H. MustafaBSc Computer Science 1998A published paper in a good conference tremendously helps. So if possible, make your final project a research oriented one, rather than a programming one, with the final object a publishable paper.

Nadia HussainBSc Economics 1999With a LUMS degree it is a good idea to send in course catalogues and all documentation that will establish the equivalence of our BSc (Honours) with a four-year college degree in the US.

Nauman AzharBSc Computer Science 2000Spend time on your application, paying particular attention to your statement of purpose. Have a good all-round life at LUMS!

Noman Noor MohammadBSc Computer Science 1997Couple of pointers:- We had taken GRE lightly during our days. Treat it as the single most important factor in getting into universities abroad.

- Keep in touch from the professors, via email, where you are about to apply, especially if u are interested in their field of research and let them know that. Helps when the committee sits and decides between final applicants....you will be someone they already know in a way!

- Contact any LUMS alumni who are studying or have already studied in the university. They might be able to send some recommendation emails to the faculty.

- Very important to have the four-year degree thing clear from the start. A lot of graduate admission offices simply reject applications based on that and it never even reaches the intended graduate programme.

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Naveed AhmadBSc Computer Science 1998Study for GRE/TOEFL as soon as possible, starting from first year of bachelors! Apply for a PhD if you need financial aid.

Rida ZaidiBSc Economics 1999 Research the programmes thoroughly to be certain that they fit your interests and would help your career advancement. As far as admissions are concerned, a good GRE score is important. However, it is not critical. Admission essays / statement of purpose and recommendations are also important and should not be neglected.

Rishad Yaseen PatelBSc Economics 1997Build up examples that demonstrate leadership, motivation and interpersonal skills. If you can, then make an appointment and visit in person and meet with Admissions Director.

Saad AnsariBSc Computer Science 2001For CS students,Go for higher studies. It is probably the best possible option available with the world job market in slump, particularly IT. Regardless of that, an MS goes a long way and stays with you for life. It builds your personal network and expands your outlook in your field. It offers you a very decent entry into the market if you are a fresh graduate and do not have a whole lot of experience. Obviously if you have some work experience, it will help you get enrolled in a good programme. Unless you have complete confidence in your ability to switch context between a professional lifestyle and an academic frame, and you land a very good job, with considerable long/short run potential and growth, I would strongly recommend going for higher studies.

Salahuddin KhawajaBSc Computer Science 1997Start preparing for the GRE/GMAT before hand; maybe the LUMS management should be involved in offering courses.

Salman AhmedBSc Economics 1999Research the programme well (i.e. course content etc) and it might be a good idea not to apply for a PhD if you are doing that to secure funding only.

Salman QureshiBSc Computer Science 1997For Computer Science students it is always better to apply to a Masters Programme if one can afford it. It is easier to get admission and one can decide whether to continue for a PhD or join the industry. If financial assistance is required, it is better to apply for a PhD. Try to apply to an urban or suburban campus and not an isolated college town. There will be more opportunities, and you’ll be more in touch with other people than in a rural college town.

Sara TahirBSc Computer Science 2000Apply early. Try to get excellent GMAT/GRE scores. Write a killer Statement of Purpose. Collect some good references from professors and/or employers. Make sure you have a good selection of universities on your list: there should be some backups along with the institutions of your choice.

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Sara Zaka BSc Economics 1999A good GRE score is very helpful so work for that.

Sultan AkifBSc Computer Science 2001Don’t just apply to UK or US. Think of other options like Germany or somewhere in Asia. Most of the education in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway is free of charge.

Tayyab Rafiq BalagamwalaBSc Economics 1999I think I would say go for something that you want to do....for example I love accounts so I went for this degree.....and don’t expect the world if you graduate from a foreign university........you will not necessarily get a job even if you graduate from a top-ranked school....it all depends upon the economy....however, bear in mind that graduating from abroad will give you more chances of a good career as compared to graduating from Pakistan and doing a job over here. The only exception is if you start your own successful business in Pakistan.

Umar SaifBSc Computer Science 1998There are long term advantages, both financial and prestige-wise, for doing a PhD. A degree from the top 10 schools is exponentially better than a degree from a lower-tier school, especially a PhD. Though a PhD in the US takes longer, it is worth it if you want to pursue a faculty position in the US (which is much better than working in industry). Only go to the UK if you can get in a very good school (Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial, UCL, LSE), and as UK does not have a taught component in PhD, one needs to work quite hard to compete with the best students in the US.

Usman WaheedBSc Economics 1999MBA 2002Please apply well in advance because visa screening takes a lot of time after 9/11.

Abish ToseefBSc Economics 2003Apart from your GPA, your GRE and GMAT scores remain extremely important. Do not just apply to Ivy Leagues because they get a lot of applications every year and a lot of screening takes place. Volunteer work during a student’s life really helps a lot in securing admission abroad.

Cyril AlmeidaBSc Economics 2003Ivy leagues are looking for smart people with an edge. They want articulate people who are visionaries. Make sure that you have quality stuff on your resume. Also, keep your term papers and writing samples with you once you graduate because most good universities ask for them during the application process.

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Universities/Programmes – Alumni Perspective

To help students gain admission in a foreign university or to decide about a programme suitable for them, the BSc alumni have discussed and described their universities and the programme i.e. their field of study. Their experiences are described in detail as under.

COMPUTER SCIENCE

Adeel SiddiquiBSc Computer Science 1999University of California, Santa BarbaraMS Computer ScienceThe school has a very good networking and distributed systems programme. TA ship was never a problem to find while I was there. Even RA ship was easy to get. All things considered, UCSB is a pretty good choice.

Amna LatifBSc Computer Science 2001University of Texas at DallasPhD Computer ScienceUniversity of Texas at Dallas has a very good reputation among most companies in Dallas. Not many people outside US know about it. However, with a master in CS from here getting a job in the industry is straightforward.

Asad FaruquiBSc Computer Science 1997University of California, Santa BarbaraMS Computer ScienceUCSB has a great MS in CS programme, with emphasis on programming and the rating of the university has gone up in the last few years also. I tend to think they prefer some sort of experience also, so 1-2 years experience might be worthwhile. The bad thing is that the CS department is not that rich and only if you are an RA, will they pay your full tuition. When I was there, they just used to pay my in-state tuition leaving the out of state tuition still to be paid, but the monthly stipend can make up for that. You have an option of doing a masters thesis or take an exam (which I thought was quite convenient for people wanting to graduate early).

Faisal NasirBSc Computer Science 2001University of Southern CaliforniaMasters in Computer ScienceUniversity of Southern California is ranked 8th in CS overall and attracts a large international student body in its undergraduate programmes. It is one of the national leaders in research in the areas of Software and Databases.

Hasan AmjadBSc Computer Science 1997Oxford UniversityMSc in Mathematics and Foundations of Computer ScienceCambridge UniversityPhD in Computer ScienceBoth Oxford and Cambridge have world class Math and CS Programmes. For admission, good grades and good references are essential. A targeted application has a better chance of success (at PhD level).

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Jahanzeb SherwaniBSc Computer Science 2002Carnegie Mellon UniversityMasters in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)HCI is a CS degree but has a heavy design-focus. It is probably the best for people who have a leaning towards design and art, and who would like to make hardware/software that's as easy to use by other people (usability) and also looks good. HCI is a new and upcoming field, and more and more places are realizing that it is something you can't do without.

Samir Masood SheikhPhd in Applied MathematicsUniversity of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The experience has been very good until now. The faculty is very good and focused; their research is primarily focused towards power aware systems which includes sensor and ad hoc networks. Furthermore, there is good research going on in the area of Artificial Intelligence.  Suggestions: Try to take as many Math courses as you can especially in the area of Probability and Analysis [like Real Analysis, Complex Analysis and Numerical Analysis]. Statement of Purpose is a very important document, make sure you  My Programme of pursuit: PhD in Applied MathematicsUniversity: University of Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaScholarship/financial aid: I am a Teaching Assistant (TA) here in the Math department and thereby on full scholarship with a handsome amount of monthly stipend.Overall experience: It has been a roller coaster ride really. So far so good not to forget that life is always tough wherever you go abroad but it all depends on your attitude towards it. You struggle, you endeavor and by the end of everything, you are more learned, confident and mature. So, one has to be determined and focused to really enjoy this struggle. My suggestion to all the new applicants would be 1) Think well before deciding that you really are mentally and physically prepared for a PhD because self-motivation, here abroad, is really important 2) If you guys decide to come for graduate studies, apply to at least 7-8 universities. 3) make sure you do NOT apply to the top notch universities ONLY. It is always a sensible thing to apply to different universities with different rankings. Let's say apply to 2 in the top 15, and then choose 3-4 in the 15-30 range and so on.

Mansoor Saleh MirzaBSc Computer Science 2001University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)Masters in Computer Science leading to DoctorateLooking at the experiences of my fellow BSc 2001 students who applied to UCLA, it seems that they are tough on admissions for foreign graduates. Their rejection might have something to do with a 40-50% increase in applications to the university for MS in CS, due to the poor situation in the job markets in the US, and some reservations on getting foreign students after 9/11 but I cannot really say the latter for sure.PhD is similar to the Masters’ programmes but the person sets the rigor himself with advice from the advisor. I was able to finish my masters in 3 quarters by taking extra courses. The university has a very strong Networks Department (with lots of research grants available) and is unofficially claimed to be the best in the US owing to the distinguished faculty there. The database department is weak and software engineering courses at the masters’ level are non-existent.Masters’ students are usually busy with their studies so there is not much of social life, although there is a lot of opportunity to get involved with these things. The CS department has a majority of people from China and East Asia, followed by people from India, Europe and then the US. The

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people are very friendly and the ease with which we speak English is a big plus for lucky people like us. So we do not have many problems in making friends or settling in.

Muhammad Hamid Mukhtar (Late)BSc Computer Science 1997University of California, Santa BarbaraMS Computer ScienceFor students applying for graduate studies it is not necessary to get financial assistance from the outset specially if going for an MS instead of a PHD. I would recommend just getting admitted to a good school and then asking for TA or RA ship as soon as you land in the school premises. Give yourself around 3 weeks before the classes start so that you can enjoy the cake - there are plenty of Indians and Chinese to snatch that away from you. Asking for assistantships at the time of applying reduces chances of admissions drastically; on the other hand getting a TA or RA ship is not that hard once you get into the school.

Muhammad Osman SaeedBSc Computer Science 1999University of Houston, Clear LakeMS Computer ScienceUniversity of Houston is a state university. It is a nice place. It is not as tough as LUMS. People with full time jobs come here for Masters because:1- It is not very expensive2- Tests and grading are easy (no relative grading)3- Masters classes are in the evening so you can work in the dayIf you want to go to a place with lots of Urdu/Hindi speaking people, then about 50% people here in the CS department are from India/Pakistan. Rest of them are East Asians. There are few Americans. You will find people talking in Urdu/Hindi here a lot.

Naveed AhmadBSc Computer Science 1998University of Illinois Urbana ChampaignMS Computer ScienceI think UIUC is a great school. Since I also work I am taking my courses part time. You need good GPA, GRE and letters of recommendation to get in. So be good in everything. Start working well in time to meet the deadlines.

Noman Noor MohammadBSc Computer Science 1997University of California, San Diego MS Computer ScienceUCSD is mainly composed of research-oriented courses. Requires good theoretical background.Has two options for Masters Students:(a) Qualifier Exam + Master Project(b) ThesisWhen going with thesis option, make sure the professor has a good history of signing off on the masters’ thesis quickly and does not lock the students. If you are not going into academia then option (a) is better.... it’s tougher but more definitive.TAships are generally available. This cuts down the fees portion in 'Tuition and Fees'. The TA salary covers the tuition. One just needs to make sure they have money for living expenses.RAships are hard to come by, but are the way to go if you can get one. The San Diego Super Computer Centre is sometimes on the lookouts for RAs. Make sure to check with them. In RAship, the entire 'Tuition and Fees' for UCSD is waived and in turn you still get the RA salary, which very easily covers the living costs.

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Omer Mehmood AsadBSc Computer Science 1999Duke UniversityMS Computer Science with Specialization in Distributed SystemsThe first and foremost thing to decide is that whether you want to do a PhD or a Masters in Computer Science. Given the current market situation I would advise for a PhD, so that you spend time securely in college (and not worry about finances, since you are fully funded in a PhD Programme) and let the market cool off and settle down. Plus after a PhD you are much moremarketable and mature in terms of decision making in the areas of computer science.Some bit of research in the area of computer science goes a long way in helping your application in a graduate school. Recommendations count a lot, but the professor who is writing them has to personalize them to an extent so that admissions committee feels comfortable about the authenticity of it. GRE analytical and math scores are much more vital and a TOEFL score of 630 is safe to cover the deficiency in GRE verbal section. Again it always helps to email professors at your target graduate school and introduce your self and interests so that they are aware when your application reaches their department. This helps a lot in improving chances of admission.

Saad AnsariBSc Computer Science 2001Stanford UniversityMasters in Computer ScienceStanford is a highly competitive place and selects the cream of the computer science graduates in the world. Stanford has pioneered some of the basic and advanced technological devices of the digital age, and is truly the cradle of computer science.

Umar SaifBSc Computer Science 1998Cambridge UniversityPhD Computer ScienceI have had the good fortune to be associated with two top universities in the world, Cambridge (UK) and MIT (US). Cambridge is a good choice if you think you already have a good background and can work hard to finish your PhD in around 4 years (finishing in 3 years is possible -- I did mine in slightly less than 3), however PhD is not something to just get over with, take your time and graduate only when you are recognized as one of the top students in your area. From a place like Cambridge or MIT, it’s not as difficult as it might sound. If you are applying to the US, and do not have the best grades possible, do not apply for financial aid. It most certainly will increase your chances of getting in. One can almost always get a TA or an RA position to cover all expenses after the first term. Applying for a PhD position automatically puts you in a very competitive pool, and counts as an implicit application for scholarship as well -- so do that only when you are very confident about your grades. GRE matters, though the verbal section is not terribly important in CS, and recommendations count a lot. The ideal thing to do is to get in touch with a professor at a university before you apply. PhD students are usually taken only when a faculty member is willing to take the student in his/her research group (and foot the student's bill and expenses) – though changing your research group and advisor later on is always possible.In UK, funding doesn't come out of a professor’s research grant, and there are several avenues for getting a scholarship. CCT and gates for Cambridge, Rhodes for Oxford, and a range of university specific (and college specific in Oxbridge) scholarships.For Cambridge, if you get into a good college like Trinity or St Johns, then the college can provide some financial assistance as well. I, for instance, did not apply for a CCT scholarship, but was given a scholarship by Trinity. However, college scholarships are very competitive and quite prestigious. Do apply for those if you miss the CCT deadline, but don't count on them.

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MANAGEMENT & INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Mehwish Zaman BSc Computer Science 1999Syracuse UniversityMS Information ManagementThe Information Management Programme is a good mix of technical and management oriented programmes. It is recommended for those who wish to be into management. Like most masters programmes it is recommended that the applicant has some work experience.

Usman WaheedBSc Economics 1999University of ManchesterMSc Management & Information Systems This programme is a one-year Masters suitable for people with a background in management and/or economics. It is primarily an E-commerce degree but no background in Computer Science is required.

MANAGEMENT & ENGINEERING

Abid MohsinBSc Economics 2000Stanford UniversityMS in Management, Science and EngineeringMy programme is meant as a management introduction to engineers. But it is so diverse that you can enter almost any field after graduation. It is the second biggest department in the university, which means it is popular and that they admit a lot of people. The foremost concern in the ultimate decision is mostly funding, which is understandable. Thankfully, in Stanford, there are assistantship opportunities for those who work hard. So this is a combination that's hard to beat, top-notch university plus opportunities for funding. Also, Stanford is very liberal in giving admissions to foreign nationals, so I would really encourage you to apply there. It is in the heart of Silicon Valley, has awesome ties with entrepreneurs and techies, and it is in California: sun, beach and beautiful weather. Regarding the Statement of Purpose, you need to have a genuine interest and motive in going to study for that particular programme (and it can't be making money). You will probably not get in, and even if you do, chances are you won't enjoy the experience. So my ultimate advice would be to select a university, which you really like. Be proactive and creative, and you might be able to line up funding for it also.Priority No. 1: Be proactive.Also, don't be shy. Most alumni would be very glad to offer any help they can. Obviously, don't impose and don't assume. But I think everyone likes giving advice regarding his area of expertise.

Kamran AhsanBSc Computer Science 2000Stanford UniversityMasters in Management and Engineering-MS&E (MS)The Stanford MS&E department is a really good choice if you want to go for a mixed degree in Management and Engineering. Interestingly they do not require an engineering background for admission. However, the requirement is to take some basic engineering courses, which you will have to take if you haven’t studied before.

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Abdul Mannan AbassiBSc Economics 1999Columbia UniversityMS Financial EngineeringColumbia is a very competitive and challenging place and I think these factors are truer for MSFE. You really need to be sure that you want to do such a programme before you apply. Mostly the professors are very accomplished but you will certainly get your share of some poor ones as well. Two advantages of pursuing FE at Columbia area) It is Columbia and it is in NY so access to jobs is much better than to other FE programmes

and b) You can take courses with the Columbia Business School, which is very highly rated, and it

is the best in finance.In the application process GRE counts a lot (for FE) and also a solid background in Math. And again, a programming language is a plus. Work experience is really not required for this degree but it is a plus.

Ali PashaBSc Computer Science 2001Dartmouth College (Thayer School of Engineering)Masters in Engineering ManagementDartmouth College is supposed to be one of the oldest institutions in the United States. The Thayer School specifically is the first school of engineering and the Tuck School is the first school of business in the US. The college is renowned for its cooperative environment and great polishing skills; it also thrives on mutual cooperation between students and alumni. Just recently the Tuck School of Business was ranked no. 1, by the Wall Street Journal for the second consecutive year. The idea at Dartmouth College is that quality is more important than quantity, unlike most universities; therefore student to faculty ratio here is 1:6. However due to its small size, it isn't one of the "Great" research centers in America, although it is renowned for great teaching ability and very innovative research. The programme, which I am enrolled in, is the MEM programme. The first aspect of this programme that attracted me is that it allows me to learn the appropriate management techniques I need to advance my career yet at the same time I can keep in touch with my Engineering capabilities. It consists of core MBA courses and Engineering electives. The best part of this degree is that they don't require experience, although it does help in securing admission. My advice is that to many, Stanford and Harvard may seem like great choices, but in Dartmouth you'll have a lot more fun and will, in my view, get hired a lot easier due to Dartmouth's strong linkages with its Alumni. The particular programme I am in has 100% placement rate.

Armughan JavaidBSc Computer Science 1998Carnegie Mellon UniversityMasters in Software EngineeringThis programme has allowed me to take courses on-line at a distance at Carnegie Mellon University. Other universities in the US also offer similar degrees. The advantage of such a programme is that you are working full time at a company and can apply what you are learning in the class right away in your job and vice versa. Also, most companies have tuition re-imbursement plans, which are of course helpful financially.

Nauman AzharBSc Computer Science 2000Santa Clara UniversityMSc Computer Engineering with Specialization in MISSanta Clara is an excellent university to go to if you are planning on working while completing your masters. They have classes early in the morning or in the evening, in addition to some classes on weekends. The programme is excellent - the only drawback being that there are very few TA and RA positions and they give no aid!

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Qudsiah KhanGraduate Student, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Teaching Assistant, Department of MathematicsPurdue University, West Lafayette IN 47906

The jump from an undergraduate system to a graduate school was certainly a mighty one. However the learning experience that came with it is extremely rewarding. I joined the ECE department at Purdue University in fall 2005. The background I had acquired at LUMS was sufficient to give me a head start however it was a lot more than I had expected. Being graduate students means that a lot of effort is expected on part of the students.

After coming to Purdue, I realized the competition I had to face. Best students from all over the world, particularly China and India joined me in my classes and projects. It took me some time to realize this fact and when I did, I started enjoying the pace and workload. The environment in classrooms is generally very conducive to learning and most of the professors are keen to answer any questions that the students might have. Some of the classrooms are more of discussion rooms and these are the places where one can enjoy the most. I was selected as a Teaching Assistant in the Math department and this experience is one of its kinds. I am responsible for teaching 2 sections of Calculus -I. On one hand it requires more effort in terms of workload compared to the TA job I had at LUMS and on the other hand it promises more grooming and learning as far as the teaching goes. Perhaps I would really want to become a teacher a few years from now :)  As far as suggestions for the prospective students go, my first suggestion would be to start the process as early as possible. Generally universities do not wait for all the applications to pile up before they can start processing those applications. So as time goes by, the competition for the few available seats grow exponentially. Funding is also more readily available if applied reasonably early.  However in order to do that a few things that play key role are GRE scores, Statement of Purpose, Letters of recommendation. Although good scores are essential but good timing is also important. So you should be get done with these things by October at the most and then work on the applications. Salman QureshiBSc Computer Science 1997Cornell UniversityM Eng. Computer ScienceThe Masters of Engineering Programme at Cornell is primarily designed fro students who want to enter the Industry with a masters degree. The thesis requirement is replaced by a large project. Some students do go on for a PhD but they are relatively few. Cornell has an excellent reputation, especially in theoretical Computer Science. The campus is very isolated though, and I wouldn’t recommend staying there for the full term of a PhD (7 years or so)

MASTERS IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Arfat QayyumBSc Economics 1997Richard Ivey Business School (University of Western Ontario)MBAThe MBA programme at Ivey Business School is ranked #18 in the world by Financial Times. It is a highly competitive and arduous programme spread over 20 months. The international diversity and competence of students is excellent, which is essential for a case based business school.

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Haroon Akbar SheikhBSc Economics 1998INSEAD, FranceMBAFor an international MBA, work experience is compulsory. Try to maximize your exposure and learning and think about returning to Pakistan as an option…Find out about the international job market and nature of jobs before you decide to apply.

Imran A. KhanBSc Economics 1997McGill UniversityMBAIf you are interested in an MBA make sure you go to a programme, which is international, and make sure the university is situated in a big city, helps in getting a job!

Naira Latif ChaudhryBSc Economics 1999 San Jose State UniversityMBA-OneSJSU's MBA-One is designed for non-working individuals. It is a condensed programme so you complete 2 years of coursework in one year. The programme is very intense and rigorous.

SOCIOLOGY

Laila BushraBSc Computer Science 1999Johns Hopkins UniversityPhD in SociologyThe Sociology department at Hopkins is not everybody's cup of tea. But the cognitive science, computer science, and math departments are really good, and the medical school is also very good.

FINANCE & ECONOMICS

Ayesha SultanMSc in Financial EconomicsUniversity of Oxford

Tips: Given the massive workload of the faculty at LUMS get you recommendations sorted at the earliest. Ask the authority in your field to overview your statement of purpose. And (this goes without saying, but still) put all your time and effort in preparing for your GRE/GMAT.

Fatima Farooq

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BSc Class of 2002MSc Economics (with reference to South Asia)School of Oriental and African StudiesLondon, UK The program course contents are flexible, allowing students to pursue an MSc Economics degree or one with a regional specialization. In addition to theoretical quantitative methods, the course focused on economic development issues, specifically dealing with them in a broader political economy context.  It is essential to thoroughly look over the degree program, course contents and structure when deciding where to apply. However, even if you don't have a clear idea about what you want to pursue at the graduate level during your initial undergraduate years, it is important that you still try to participate in as many extracurricular activities as possible. The idea is to be able to present yourself as an individual who is able to manage a range of interests while maintaining a certain academic standard. It doesn't matter whether these activities aren't directly linked to whatever future course of study you wish to pursue, as long as you are able to demonstrate that they have helped you acquire certain skills along the way (leadership, teamwork, voluntary experience, etc) that make you better suited for your graduate program of choice and the subsequent career path you wish to follow.

Maleeha AliBSc (Economics) 2001Bristol UniversityMSc Economics, Finance, Econometrics Bristol ranks 4th amongst UK universities and its Economics Research Department is excellent. Hence for those who want to carry on with a PhD, Bristol is definitely good option. The Economics & Finance is a one-year programme and it has a very rigorous teaching staff. Its faculty maintains a one-to-one relationship with students and handles any problems students may be facing.Bristol is a small but very lively city. The university departments are spread all over the city and hence there is no, one big campus.

Muhammad Jawaad ChawlaBSc Economics 1998Carnegie Mellon UniversityMPM, Financial Resource ManagementCarnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, which is a city very conducive to studies. It has many Universities. Students looking to apply to Carnegie Mellon should look at the MPM, MSIM, and MSPPM degrees offered at the Heinz School there. Also, down the road from CMU is the University of Pittsburgh, which has a one year MBA Programme that is good and is not that tough to get into.

Rida ZaidiBSc Economics 1999University of CambridgeMPhil EconomicsThe MPhil Economics Programme at Cambridge is one of the hardest you'll come across as two years of course work is done in a year. However, it is immensely intellectually challenging and is excellent preparation for a PhD. If you don't want to pursue a PhD, this course is not suitable and you may want to look at alternative programmes at Cambridge such as MPhil Finance. Unlike other universities, Cambridge does not require admission essays or writing samples. Hence, the admission criterion is predominantly number oriented with emphasis given to GRE scores and GPA but the importance of recommendations should not be discounted. Cambridge has a large amount of funding available. The majority of applicants who gain admission do receive some form of funding. On the whole studying at Cambridge is an amazing experience (at an academic and personal level), which can open up many opportunities.

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Salman AhmedBSc Economics 1999University of CambridgeMPhil Economics with FinanceDeciding on possible career path at this stage is important. Even if you do not have a concrete picture, you must try to form vague categories of likes and dislike i.e. in the field of finance there are many tracks one can take. Researching the different tracks, perhaps with the help of practitioners (both commercial and academic) at this stage is important.

Sarah ZakaBSc Economics 1999University of OxfordMSc EconomicsIt is a very well rounded course, which gives sound knowledge of Economics Theory, Econometrics and Issues in the Developing world. While the experience at Oxford, the life and the traditions are also an interesting experience. The system at Oxford is such that you have to write a lot of papers; therefore those skills are considerably improved during the course. You have to submit written samples for admission so try and send well-written technical pieces dealing with current issues in the Development Literature.

PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTING

Tayyab Rafiq BalagamwalaBSc Economics 1999University of Texas at AustinMasters in Professional AccountingMy degree was in Professional Accounting. The University of Texas at Austin has the number one accounting programme in the USA. In addition, no work experience is required if you get a good GMAT and have decent internships. The advantage of this programme is that the probability of you getting a good job is higher as compared to degrees in other areas of specialization. This is because auditing is something that will always exist, regardless of whether the economic situation is good or bad. In addition, the degree is not only confined to auditing, one can specialize in other areas such as consulting etc. As far as the university goes, there are 50,000 plus students and thus it is a fun environment. Pakistani students are large in number and there are numerous desi hangouts. One gets to play cricket, attend Junoon concerts occasionally and indulge in other similar activities. At the same time, the unique blend of different cultures of students from across the world helps in understanding the diverse way in which the world functions.The close proximity to Houston and Dallas is an added advantage. And last but not the least, the UT football team The Longhorns is worthy enough to be cheered throughout the semester.

MATHEMATICS

Mohammad Abbas RazaBSc Economics 1997George Washington University

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MS in FinanceGeorgia State UniversityMS in Mathematical Risk ManagementGeorge Washington’s Finance Programme is for applicants who have at least 3-4 years experience and want to further their career in the industry. Tuition is high and because it is a private school, aid is limited. However they enjoy a good reputation in the Northeast and most of the major financial institutions recruit here. GSU has a niche programme in Risk Management and Insurance (ranked # 2 in the US). There is a high chance to obtain funding at the graduate level, but you have to apply by late November (with GMAT/ GRE scores). Try to contact faculty directly and inquire about “Graduate Research Assistant” positions. Sell your programming skills.

Muhammad Omer SulemanBSc Computer Science 2000University of OxfordMSc in Mathematical Modeling and Scientific ComputingI will be joining Oxford at the end of this month. The programme is jointly run by the Oxford Centre for Industrial and Applied Mathematics and the Computing Laboratory. It is primarily an Applied Math programme with applications ranging from Financial Modeling to Fluid Dynamics and Environment. It is good both as a terminal degree for careers, particularly in Investment Banking, and as a first step towards a PhD in Applied Math or Financial Engineering. Oxford is a very good place to study pure sciences like Mathematics and Physics (it is one of the 5 leading centers of Quantum Computing) as well as social sciences like Economics in addition to its traditional strong areas in arts. And on top of everything it is very well reputed all over the world including North America. Though for pure Computer Science or Computer Engineering, Cambridge or Imperial College would be a better choice in UK and there are many US universities to go to.

MASTERS IN PUBLIC ADMINSTRATION

Abish ToseefBSc Economics 2003Harvard UniversityI am currently perusing the MPA in International Development at Harvard University. The professors are just amazing and it’s a great learning experience for me. There is however, a lot of Math involved in the programme, so I would recommend that people with an undergraduate degree in Economics should opt for advanced level Mathematics courses too.

Muhammad YounasBSc 2005University of Texas, AustinI am currently pursuing my Masters in Computer Engineering from University of Texas at Austin. I am under Fulbright Scholarship which covers almost everything like tuition fees, monthly stipend, health insurance etc. I am having the best time of my life over here and would like to advise all the junior luminities to try their best to study abroad.

One suggestion that I would like to give at this time is that everyone should apply to maximum number of universities to maximize their chance of getting funded. Its relatively easy to get the funding in the second semester than the first one.

Salman KhalidBSc 2005Georgetown UniversityGeorgetown is one of the most prestigious liberal arts University in the U.S. President Clinton is a graduate of Georgetown along with dozens of sitting American senators and congressmen.  

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The strong programs in Georgetown are, a] School of Foreign Service (among the top 5 in the U.S.)b] School of Medicine (among the top 10 in the U.S.)c] School of Law (Ranked 2nd after Harvard Law school)d] School of Public Policy (Ranked among the top 10 in the U.S.)e] School of Business (Among top 20 in the U.S.)f] School of Arab and Islamic Studies (Considered the best in the U.S. by many) Faculty: The Public Policy faculty is among the best and most experienced in its area because GU is in Washington D.C. Prominent U.S. senators and Madeline Albright herself is among the faculty in the school of policy and foreign studies. The environment of the school is friendly and safe. There are around 3 dozen Pakistanis (mostly undergrad) and around 200 muslims on campus. Regarding Admissions: The school of policy admissions is quite competitive. However, 1-2 Pakistanis have been getting admission here for the last many years in each batch. I think a reasonably strong applicant has a good chance of getting admission as compared to lets say the Kennedy school at Harvard.   Nazia ZamanMasters in Computer ScienceStanford UniversityI'm doing my Masters in CS at Stanford, on a PTCL scholarship. It is an amazing experience. I think the only tip would be to work hard, and get a good GPA and a GRE score I guess.

UsmanMasters in Modern EpidemiologyImperial College LondonI am doing Masters in Modern Epidemiology from Imperial College London. It’s a one year course. (Advantage of UK Masters is it’s always a year long). Epidemiology basically deals with how diseases spread in a population. It looks at preventable causes of disease. Epidemiology is basically a part of Statistics (Mathematics) and is meant for all those who would like to apply Statistics in Medicine and technology

The job prospects are good as there are very few Epidemiologists. Epidemiologists can work in pharmaceutical companies, NGOs and in public health sector. Its a relatively new discipline so it has not yet emerged in Pakistan although some organizations in Pakistan like WHO and UNAIDS do research work in this area

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CONTACT INFORMATION

The contact details of those alumni whose suggestions have been included in this brochure are as below:

COMPUTER SCIENCE

Asad Faruqui BSc (Computer Science) 1997Masters in Computer ScienceUniversity of California, Santa BarbaraAddress: 3700 Lillick Dr, # 215, Santa Clara, CA 95051Tel: 408-984-4703E-mail: [email protected]

Hasan Amjad BSc (Computer Science) 1997PhD in Computer ScienceUniversity of CambridgeAddress: Trinity College, Cambridge CB2 ITQ, UKTel: 01223-763602E-mail: [email protected]

Noman Noor Mohammad BSc (Computer Science) 1997MS Computer ScienceUniversity of California, San Diego Address: 200 Dardanelle Ave Pacifica, CA 94044Tel: 650-906-4930E-mail: [email protected]

Nabil. H. Mustafa BSc (Computer Science) 1998PhD in Computer ScienceDuke UniversityAddress: 610 Douglas Street, Apt. D230, Durham, NC 27705Tel: 1-919-660-4008E-mail: [email protected]

Naveed Ahmad BSc (Computer Science) 1998MS Computer ScienceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana ChampaignAddress: 12 Winding Wood Dr Apt 3B, Sayreville, NJ 08872Tel: 732-4704304E-mail: [email protected]

Umar Saif BSc (Computer Science) 1998PhD Computer ScienceCambridge UniversityAddress: MIT Laboratory for Computer Science, 200 Technology SquareOffice: NE43-619A Cambridge, MA 02139, USATel: +1-617-253-8473E-mail: [email protected]

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Adeel Siddiqui BSc (Computer Science) 1999MS Computer ScienceUniversity of California, Santa BarbaraE-mail: [email protected]

Amir Ali Jafri BSc (Computer Science) 1999MS in Computer ScienceUniversity of California, IrvineAddress: 2400 W. El Camino Real, Apt 508, Mountain View, CA 94040, USATel: 650-390-9953E-mail: [email protected]

Asim Memon BSc (Computer Science) 1999MS Computer ScienceUniversity of California-IrvineAddress: Software Design Engineer/ Test, Microsoft Corp. Redmond, WAE-mail: [email protected]

Muhammad Osman SaeedBSc (Computer Science 1999)MS in Computer ScienceUniversity of Houston, clear LakeAddress: 10925 Briar Forest Dr # 2060, Houston TX 77042, USATel: 1-832-236-6321E-mail: [email protected]

Omer Mehmood Asad BSc (Computer Science) 1999MS in Computer Science with Specialization in Distributed SystemsDuke UniversityAddress: 2000 Walnut Avenue, Apt-1-208, Fremont, CA, 94538Tel: 1-510-505-0817E-mail: [email protected]

Amna LatifBSc (Computer Science) 2001PhD Computer ScienceUniversity of Texas at DallasE-mail: [email protected]

Faisal NasirBSc (Computer Science) 2001Masters in Computer ScienceUniversity of Southern CaliforniaE-mail: [email protected]

Mansoor Saleh MirzaBSc (Computer Science) 2001Masters in Computer Science leading to DoctorateUniversity of California, Los AngelesE-mail: [email protected]

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Saad AnsariBSc (Computer Science) 2001Masters in Computer ScienceStanford UniversityE-mail: [email protected]

Jahanzeb Sherwani BSc (Computer Science) 2002Masters in Human Computer InteractionCarnegie Mellon UniversityE-mail: [email protected]

MANAGEMENT & INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Fahd Osman BSc (Economics) 1997Information Systems & ManagementCarnegie Mellon UniversityAddress: 50 West 34th Street, Apt 11C4, New York, NY 10001Tel: 212-760-2819E-mail: [email protected]

Mehwish Zaman BSc (Computer Science) 1999MS Information ManagementSyracuse UniversityAddress: 8 Brent Field Gardens London NW2 1JP.UKTel: +44-208-201-8557E-mail: [email protected]

Usman Waheed BSc (Economics) 1999, MBA 2002MS in Management & Information SystemsUniversity of ManchesterAddress: 447-X-DHA, Lahore 54792Tel: 042-5896219E-mail: [email protected]

Khawaja Obaidullah BSc (Computer Science) 2001MS Information NetworkingCarnegie Mellon UniversityAddress: A-41, P&V Scheme # 2, Park Road, Chak Shehzad, IslamabadTel: 0303-7755948E-mail: [email protected]

TELECOMMUNICATIONS & NETWORK MANAGEMENT

Salahuddin Khawaja BSc (Computer Science) 1997Masters in Telecommunication & Network ManagementSyracuse UniversityAddress: Deloitte & Touché LLP, Information Security Services, 2 World Financial Center, New York NY 10281

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Tel: 212-436-5850, 917-523-6904Fax: 212-653-5684E-mail: [email protected]

ENGINEERING

A. Ali Pasha BSc (Computer Science) 2001Masters in Engineering ManagementDartmouth College (Thayer School of Engineering)Address: 5724 Gorham Glen Lane Austin, TX 78739Tel: 512-301-5948E-mail: [email protected]

Sultan AkifBSc (Computer Science) 2001MSc in ManagementTampere University of TechnologyE-mail: [email protected]

Salman Qureshi BSc (Computer Science) 1997MEng. Computer ScienceCornell UniversityAddress: 9156 Barrick Street Apt # 103, Fairfax VA 22031Tel: 571-213-4758E-mail: [email protected]

Armughan Javaid BSc (Computer Science) 1998Masters in Software EngineeringCarnegie Mellon UniversityAddress: 4703 Harvest Woods Ct, Apt B, Fairfax, VA 22033Tel: +1-202-468-1701E-mail: [email protected] , [email protected]

Abdul Mannan Abassi BSc (Economics) 1999MS in Financial EngineeringColumbia UniversityAddress: 500 Riverside Drive, Apt 6G3, New York, NY 10027, USATel: 917-287-0755E-mail: [email protected]

Abid Mohsin BSc (Economics) 2000MS in Management, Science and EngineeringStanford University621 Escondido Road, Apt # 535, Stanford, CA, 94301Tel: +1 (650) 793-2933E-mail: [email protected]

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Kamran Ahsan BSc (Computer Science) 2000MS in Management & EngineeringStanford UniversityAddress: 83-A DHA, LahoreTel: 042-5728021E-mail: [email protected]

Nauman Azhar BSc (Computer Science) 2000MSc Computer Engineering with Specialization in MISSanta Clara UniversityAddress: 2624 Glen Ferguson Circle San Jose, CA 95148Tel: 408-274-1682E-mail: [email protected] , [email protected]

Sara Tahir BSc (Computer Science) 2000MS in Management, Science & EngineeringStanford University126 Black Welder Ct. Apt. 4B, Escondido Village, Stanford, CA 94305, USATel: 1-650-497-9311E-mail: [email protected] , [email protected]

MASTERS IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Arfat Qayyum BSc (Economics) 1997MBAUniversity of Western Ontario (Richard Ivey Business School)Address: Accelerated Leadership Program, Canada Life AssuranceTel: 1-416-597-1440 (x 8316), 1-416-598-2595E-mail: [email protected]

Imran A KhanBSc (Economics) 1997MBAMcGill UniversityTel: 416-8267511E-mail: [email protected]

Rishad Yaseen Patel BSc (Economics) 1997MBARice UniversityAddress: 832 Potomac Road, Atlanta, G A 30338Tel: 770-394-5895E-mail: [email protected]

Haroon Akbar Sheikh BSc (Economics) 1998MBA

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INSEAD, FranceAddress: Boulevard de Constance, 77305 Fontainebleau Cedex, FrancePermanent Address: 139- Tufail Road, Lahore Cantt 54810Tel: +33-0-6-78-50-46-69Fax: +33-0-1-60-74-55-00Tel: 6667016, 6681718E-mail: [email protected]

Nadia Hussain BSc (Economics) 1999MBA (Concentration in Healthcare Management)University of Texas, San AntonioE-mail: [email protected]

Naira Latif Chaudhry BSc (Economics) 1999MBA-OneSan Jose State UniversityAddress: 65 Rio Robles East # 3205, San Jose. A 95134Tel: 408-955-0157E-mail: [email protected]

Ali SufiyanBSc (Economics) 2004MBA LUMS, PakistanEmail: [email protected]

SOCIOLOGY

Laila Bushra BSc (Computer Science) 1999PhD in SociologyJohns HopkinsAddress: Department of Sociology, Johns Hopkins University, 3215 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21218Tel: 1-410-516-7640E-mail: [email protected]

Subul Ali BSc (Economics) 2000Masters in SociologyUniversity of Illinois, Chicago2140 Lincoln Park West Apt # 510, Chicago, IL-60614, USATel: 001-773-348-1253E-mail: [email protected]

ECONOMICS & FINANCE

Maheen Rahman BSc (Economics) 1997MSc Economics and FinanceUniversity of Warwick, UKAddress: 370 H Alexandra Road, # 02-05, The Anchorage, Singapore 159961Tel: 65-98156331E-mail: [email protected]

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Muhammad Jawaad Chawla BSc (Economics) 1998MPM in Financial Resource ManagementCarnegie Mellon UniversityAddress: Islamic Development Bank, Treasury Department P.O.Box 5925 Jeddah 21432 Saudi ArabiaTel: 9662-6467447E-mail: [email protected]

Nazish Afraz BSc (Economics) 1998MSc EconomicsPhD in EconomicsUniversity of BristolLondon School of EconomicsTel: 0044-7919282984E-mail: [email protected]

Ambreen Iqbal Malik BSc (Economics) 1999MSc in Faculty of Economics, Development ManagementLondon School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)Address: House 206, Street 2, F-10/3, IslamabadTel: 0300-8561177E-mail: [email protected]

Rida Zaidi BSc (Economics) 1999MPhil EconomicsUniversity of CambridgeAddress: T-7, DHA, Lahore 54792Tel: 9242-5726854, 9242-5895372E-mail: [email protected]

Salman Ahmed BSc (Economics) 1999MPhil Economics with FinanceUniversity of CambridgeAddress: 3 Constable Avenue, London, E16 ITZ UKTel: 02074762043E-mail: [email protected]

Salman Zaidi BSc (Economics) 1999MS Financial AnalysisBentley CollegeE-mail: [email protected]

Sarah Zaka BSc (Economics) 1999MSc in Economics for DevelopmentUniversity of OxfordAddress: 24251 Buchanan Court, Apt 2000, Farmington Hills, MI 48335Tel: 1-248-615-9169E-mail: [email protected]

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Maleeha AliBSc (Economics) 2001MSc Econometrics, Finance, EconomicsBristol UniversityE-mail: [email protected]

PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTING

Tayyab Rafiq Balagamwala BSc (Economics) 1999Masters in Professional AccountingUniversity of Texas at AustinAddress: D 49 Site KarachiTel: 0300- 8266848E-mail: [email protected]

MATHEMATICS

Mohammad Abbas Raza BSc (Economics) 1997MS in FinanceMS in Mathematical Risk ManagementGeorge Washington UniversityGeorgia State UniversityAddress: 329 Hillcrest Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030Tel: 404-433-5951E-mail: [email protected]

Muhammad Omer Suleman BSc (Computer Science) 2000MSc in Mathematical Modeling and Scientific ComputingOxford UniversityAddress: Exeter House, 239 Iffley Road, Oxford UKE-mail: [email protected]

MASTERS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Mehreen Tanvir BSc (Economics) 1999Masters in Public AdministrationHarvard University Address: 6 ASH Street, 206 B, Cambridge MA 02138Tel: 617-417-3139E-mail: [email protected]

Abish Toseef BSc (Economics) 2003Masters in Public AdministrationHarvard University 6 ASH Street, Cambridge, MA 02138Cell: 1-617-372-0260E-mail: [email protected]

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Contact Information

For any concerns /queries please contact us:

Nasim AsgharManagerCareer Development OfficeExt: 4230E-mail: [email protected]

Sarah KarimSenior OfficerCareer Development OfficeExt: 4233E-mail: [email protected]

Sana SalmanOfficerCareer Development OfficeExt: 4232Email: [email protected] Zurriah Masood ButtOfficerCareer Development OfficeExt: 4204Email: [email protected]

Nida PuriOfficerCareer Development OfficeExt: 4205Email: [email protected]

Suhail RiazSenior SecretaryCareer Development OfficeExt: 4231E-mail: [email protected]

LUMS Career Development OfficeTelephone: 92-42-5722670-79Fax: 92-42-5725048

Mailing Address:

Career Development OfficeLahore University of Management Sciences,Opposite Sector ‘U’DHA, Lahore Cantt 54792

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://cdo.lums.edu.pk