milli

Hi All; I have got an admission offer from Northeastern University and University of North Texas but without any scholorship. Program is M.S. in computer science.I have a three years of work experience in software industry . My bachelors degree was in Mechanical. I am not from a rich family so I cant get finacial support from my family .All I can do is get loan from bank. Can any one please suggest me whether to go for MS without a scholorship or not. I am very much confused. Please help

Hi All, Just need some clarification. For any square root value do we need to consider both the +ve & -Ve value or only yhe positive value is taken. In some of the problems in the Baron's Book & PP, only +ve value is considered. For example Sqrt(25) = 5 only (-5 is not true)..!!!! Can any one suggest if we need to consider both positive and -ve value or only +ve value need to consider. Thanks in advance, --Milli

Hi Nsoon, Although, there are arguments procecuting what you have said but I should admit that you have defecnded your stand very well. I think your essay can score 6.0 if you add these points in your essay. Saying: " Critics of the idea might argue that what the British did with the Chinese was not worth any respect and any action to counter such barbaric acts ............. I ergue that ......First, I never called imperialists' act "honorable" and I don't deny the fact that imperialists were mistreating indegenous in the past. Nevertheless murdered an innocent is, and was consider as sin. If the opressed has the right to kill anyone without being incarcerated by law, our world would be in a state of great chaos. There are other legitimate ways to solve conflict, and murdering a governor isn't one of them." BTW, what do you mean by this statement ? I realised that I hone my essays skills without other's comments..

I believe the only solution is "practice" . Practice makes a man perfect , I will also write GRE in October. I don't have much idea of how does it matter which country you belong to except the number of Visas that are issued for your country ( This also I heard from some of my friends, I am not sure about this.) . Erin please let us know whether or not "Which country you belong to?" is a factor effecting selection. Thanks and Regards, Milli.

I agree with one part of the issue that spending money for immediate existing social problems is important but at the same time as per my opinion I think (what you think is your opinion …. either you say: in my opinion (“as per my opinion” is not correct usage…correct me if I am wrong) or I think (I believe / argue /maintain/ claim will be better words to be used instead of think) that supporting to the ( to is not required here ….also “the” , the definitive article, is used if you are talking about some definite thing) long-term researches is also equally important. Finding solutions on the unexpectedly occurring problems is the job (obligation/ accountability/ responsibility or words similar in meaning will be more suitable) of every country’s government. At the same time supplying funds for the long-term researches is helpful in the (the not required) further development of the country. Poverty, Education, Health care etc. are some of the social problems that need to be improved. First attention should be given to these things (Here you are saying that immediate problem should be given first preference while your stand in the first paragraph was that both should be given equal preference). Every citizen of the country should be well educated so that he will be capable of solving his own problems. Because of education he can contribute some help to the nation and that will be beneficiary for the progress of the country. Poverty is also the main social problem arising in today’s generations (Poverty is also …..means there are some other problems……so you should say Poverty is also one of the main social problem arising( prevailing/widespread/ protuberating or similar word in meaning will be more fitting) in today’s generations ( world/society/ is more apt) . The above sentence can paraphrase as: “Poverty is one of the crucial problems prevailing in contemporary world)) Increasing population is backbone (backbone = moral fiber! is used with something positive. Instead of backbone you should use word with meaning “most critical point which need to be solved” as: crux / nub/ root) for (of) the poverty. Proper steps should be taken for creating the awareness for population control among the people. Hundreds of people are dying because of not getting proper medical care on time. Hospital facilities should be improved and made easily accessible to everyone. So the proper measurements (measurements = dimensions of any thing….I think you mean measures= actions to be taken to solve a problem) will take place for the cure of any kind of illness or injury . Whatever we discussed above are all the existing social problems that must be taken care of. For the case of long-term researches, I would like to thank our ancestors. Whatever lifestyle we are living today is because of them. The standard of living of early mankind and (and is a conjunction used to join sentences or clauses similar in meaning. Here you are comparing two different things. So saying X versus Y better conveys the meaning. e.g. The standard of living of early mankind compared to today’s lifestyle, what a difference in that!) today’s lifestyle, what a difference in that! If at that time our progenitors have (tense mistake: you are talking about past: would have thought) thought of their social problems only then we will at the same place as they were (Please don’t mind but very bad sentence….. by using “only then” you are saying just the opposite what I suppose you want to say”). Long-term researches have led us towards prosperity of the country. It is the result of researches only (again only??? are you in love with only) that we are able to cure diseases like malaria, TB and so on. Now we have reached to the stage that cures a deadly disease, cancer .So it is not the case that spending on long-term researches is futile. The fruit that our future generation will get will surely be sweet. At that time they will give us their heartfelt thanks. We must not forget that besides a present generation we have a promise to future generation also. In the end, I would like to reiterate my points. We have to maintain equality between our present day problems and long-term researches for future generations. We have to keep moving towards the future and if we anticipate any problems we should find solution for it. Only then we will be able to create a world of (which) our future generation revels in. Hi Sonali, Please please please work on your grammar and usage of words. They come in between the meanings of your sentences. I think word usage is a common problem which is found in writings of non native speaker of English. We need to work on this. Your response displays competence but is flawed by imprecise use of language. Frequent minor errors in usage of words, pronoun, and verb tense, as well as imprecise syntax and phrasing aggravate to the overall inadequacy. (2.5-3.0 /6.0) I hope you don’t mind the way I have criticized your essay. If you are able to improve on grammar and word usage….you can surely get 4.5 to 5. Where are you from in India? I am from Bangalore? When is your exam? Best of Luck. Milli. Hi Sonali, this time you have done it. This essay of urs starts with a clear stand that both immediate problems and reasearch works need attention and further you have supported your stand well. Although, the language can be improved further however it is far far better than what ur previoous posting. Kudos to you. 5-5.5/6.0 Milli.

Hi Venk, Although, the essay is well written but I think some where it is missing the punch. Specially, I am neither able to understand nor convinced, how appreciating individual differences will affect the individual freedom of other individuals. Don’t get offended……….. may be that I am not able to get what you want to say. Also your conclusion seems to be repetition of the first paragraph. It would be better if you can bring some variation in the sentence but without changing the meaning and stand that you take earlier. Where r u from in India? I am from Bangalore? When is your exam?

Contemporary society presents a sorry picture. (Starting with such sentence leaves the impression that you are a pessimist) It is a society fraught with social problems and evils many of which have existed for several centuries. It is my contention that it is more important to allocate money for immediate, existing social evils than to spend it on long term research that might help future generations. It is essential to root out social evils such as poverty, terrorism, drug abuse and communalism before society deteriorates beyond a point of no return. First consider indigence, the root cause of most other social evils. What do people who cannot afford to buy a PC care about the development of super computers that can perform a trillion operations per second (that can perform a trillion operations per second ………unnecessary information)? What do the poor who cannot manage to pay for visits to nearby cities care about space travel and expeditions to the moon? All they want is some food to eat, some clothes to wear and a roof over their heads. Is this too much to expect? It is vital that appropriate measures be taken to put an end to or at least reduce economic disparity. Long term research that might help future generations has no place in this society of ours where people cannot even afford to make use of existing technologies and innovations. A second evil that has assumed enormous proportions is drug abuse. Large numbers of people through out the world are being initiated to drugs at a very early age. It is certainly more important to provide for rehabilitation for victims of drug use and to increase awareness among people all over the world about the dangers involved in drug use, than to use valuable resources to perform long term research that may or may not yield results. A third evil to be reflected over is terrorism. This is one evil that must (be) curbed before it gets out of hand. The very idea of using genocide to achieve one’s objectives is repugnant and must be repelled from the minds of humans the world over. No amount of money is too much to spend on curbing this evil even if this money has to be taken from that allotted to research. It may be conceded that research has (had) heralded (=anounnced?) copious (copious is often used with uncountable nouns) inventions and discoveries that have made life easier for us and is necessary to make steady progress. Unfortunately the effects of most (of the) innovations are felt (utilized/consumed/exploited or similar world will be more suitable) by only a limited population. Spending money on research is acceptable only if it generates benefits for all individuals. Certain forms of research such as nuclear and biological warfare are certainly uncalled for in a world already marred by violence. So is research in controversial fields such as cloning. Sating one’s curiosity is not enough reason for spending millions of dollars that could be used more fruitfully for the betterment of society. Of course any research towards discovering alternate sources of energy would be justified. Society is imbalanced enough as it is. It is high time we diverted (is. present tense…diverted …past tense) the resources gobbled up by research endeavors to eliminate the numerous social evils that are prevalent in contemporary society. We have neglected them for long enough. If these evils are not nipped in the bud they could multiply rapidly and yield catastrophic results. The rooting out of immediate, existing social problems should take precedence over long term research. Hi Nirmal, Your essay is convincing and easy to comprehend. You have taken a clear stand and then you have given good reasons to support your stand. Grammar is OK (except you have used both past tense and present tense in the same sentence). Overall flow of the essay is good. But, you have not used the words appropriately. Also your sentence structure is not that good. Somewhere they are confusing. 5.0/6.0 Where are from in India? When is your exam? Keep trying…….. Milli

I agree with one part of the issue that spending money for immediate existing social problems is important but at the same time as per my opinion I think (what you think is your opinion …. either you say: in my opinion (“as per my opinion” is not correct usage…correct me if I am wrong) or I think (I believe / argue /maintain/ claim will be better words to be used instead of think) that supporting to the ( to is not required here ….also “the” , the definitive article, is used if you are talking about some definite thing) long-term researches is also equally important. Finding solutions on the unexpectedly occurring problems is the job (obligation/ accountability/ responsibility or words similar in meaning will be more suitable) of every country’s government. At the same time supplying funds for the long-term researches is helpful in the (the not required) further development of the country. Poverty, Education, Health care etc. are some of the social problems that need to be improved. First attention should be given to these things (Here you are saying that immediate problem should be given first preference while your stand in the first paragraph was that both should be given equal preference). Every citizen of the country should be well educated so that he will be capable of solving his own problems. Because of education he can contribute some help to the nation and that will be beneficiary for the progress of the country. Poverty is also the main social problem arising in today’s generations (Poverty is also …..means there are some other problems……so you should say Poverty is also one of the main social problem arising( prevailing/widespread/ protuberating or similar word in meaning will be more fitting) in today’s generations ( world/society/ is more apt) . The above sentence can paraphrase as: “Poverty is one of the crucial problems prevailing in contemporary world)) Increasing population is backbone (backbone = moral fiber! is used with something positive. Instead of backbone you should use word with meaning “most critical point which need to be solved” as: crux / nub/ root) for (of) the poverty. Proper steps should be taken for creating the awareness for population control among the people. Hundreds of people are dying because of not getting proper medical care on time. Hospital facilities should be improved and made easily accessible to everyone. So the proper measurements (measurements = dimensions of any thing….I think you mean measures= actions to be taken to solve a problem) will take place for the cure of any kind of illness or injury . Whatever we discussed above are all the existing social problems that must be taken care of. For the case of long-term researches, I would like to thank our ancestors. Whatever lifestyle we are living today is because of them. The standard of living of early mankind and (and is a conjunction used to join sentences or clauses similar in meaning. Here you are comparing two different things. So saying X versus Y better conveys the meaning. e.g. The standard of living of early mankind compared to today’s lifestyle, what a difference in that!) today’s lifestyle, what a difference in that! If at that time our progenitors have (tense mistake: you are talking about past: would have thought) thought of their social problems only then we will at the same place as they were (Please don’t mind but very bad sentence….. by using “only then” you are saying just the opposite what I suppose you want to say”). Long-term researches have led us towards prosperity of the country. It is the result of researches only (again only??? are you in love with only) that we are able to cure diseases like malaria, TB and so on. Now we have reached to the stage that cures a deadly disease, cancer .So it is not the case that spending on long-term researches is futile. The fruit that our future generation will get will surely be sweet. At that time they will give us their heartfelt thanks. We must not forget that besides a present generation we have a promise to future generation also. In the end, I would like to reiterate my points. We have to maintain equality between our present day problems and long-term researches for future generations. We have to keep moving towards the future and if we anticipate any problems we should find solution for it. Only then we will be able to create a world of (which) our future generation revels in. Hi Sonali, Please please please work on your grammar and usage of words. They come in between the meanings of your sentences. I think word usage is a common problem which is found in writings of non native speaker of English. We need to work on this. Your response displays competence but is flawed by imprecise use of language. Frequent minor errors in usage of words, pronoun, and verb tense, as well as imprecise syntax and phrasing aggravate to the overall inadequacy. (2.5-3.0 /6.0) I hope you don’t mind the way I have criticized your essay. If you are able to improve on grammar and word usage….you can surely get 4.5 to 5. Where are you from in India? I am from Bangalore? When is your exam? Best of Luck. Milli.

Hi Nsoon, Here I go……… 175 It is always an individual who is the impetus for innovation; a team may work out the details. But true innovation results from the enterprise and unique perception of an individual Some believe that it is unfair to credit an individual for a breakthrough. They believe that a person alone cannot make an innovation. To make an innovative idea successful, we need teamwork. I agree with the above statement. However I believe that it is the unique perception of an individual that results in true innovation. The team merely playing (plays) a role of fine tuning minor details and working out the grand plan envisioned by the innovator. Although, I am able to make out your stand from the above paragraph but the way you have written is ambiguous. First you say that: “………… They believe that a person alone cannot make an innovation………….. I agree with the above statement “ After that you contradict this sentence by saying “However I believe that it is the unique perception of an individual that results in true innovation” I think if you will add partly to the sentence “I agree with the above statement. “Then your stand will be clearer. (They believe that a person alone cannot make an innovation… ……….. I agree partly with the above statement) In business world, a leader's insight is very important. The company's CEO has to be vigil enough to sense the trends of the world. They (number mistake .In previous sentence you have written: company’s CEO which is a singular noun) need to be able to predict the future vogue so that their (number mistake: his) company can adjust themselves (number mistake: itself) to suit the demand. Without CEO's vision, a company cannot achieve innovative product that will satisfy mass demand. Take Microsoft for example, the founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates is a man of great vision. His dream is to see Personal Computer become an integral part of human life. He conceived the idea of "Windows" operating system. Thanks to Gates' unique perception, today most PC uses windows, and Microsoft change (tense mistake: changed) the computing world forever. What is the role of Gates' coworkers? They are not as visionary as Bill Gates; what they do is to implement Gates' idea. Programmers write out source codes and sales managers promotes Windows. To recapitulates the point, Microsoft will not success if there is no teamwork, but the Bill Gates is the impetus for the innovation. (Here you have expressed your idea clearly but as AmigoRo has pointed out the same think in the essay written by ketanjain: Microsoft was co-founded by Gates and another guy called Paul Allen.) Similar things happened in politics. Malaysia was relatively unknown to the world prior (I think here preposition “to” is missing. Not sure) 1981. In 1981, Mahathir became the Prime Minister for (preposition mistake: of) the country. As the country’s chief engineer, he envisioned "Vision 2020" plan to elevated Malaysia to a developed country in 40 years time. At that time most Malaysians didn't understand it. Opposition and NGO put vehement resistance to Mahathir's plan, called it "fantasy". Even some of the ruling party's member objected the Prime Minister's plan as well. With an iron will, Mahathir fought the opposing opinions single-handedly and he won the battle. As a result of Mahathir's insightful perception, today Malaysia achieve (tense mistake: had been achieving. Also today can not not be used if you are saying for the past few years) high economic growth for past few years. With the emergence of Putrajaya and Cyberjaya, Malaysia is evolving towards an ( as an and not towards an) IT based society. Mahathir has a highly qualified team of cabinet, and Malaysia is blessed with smart engineers and IT workers, but the country still needs a 78-years old Prime Minister for his sage. (Good example) Henry Ford was another example. Ford founded the "Ford" car company. It is no exaggerated to say that Ford changed the car industry singe-handedly (I think it will be an overstatement to say that Ford changed the car industry single-handedly…..anyways it is just my thought. You can always write what you think provided you prove it). At 1920's cars were expensive and as a result, most people couldn't afford to buy car. Seeing this, Ford produced car at low price. This is ( tense mistake : was) something revolutionary at that time because most people believe (tense mistake : believed) that car had to be expensive. As a result of his innovative measure, car was popularized and the FORD became major car producing company in the market. Some may believe that Ford must share credits with his team, but this is not true. Ford's inspiration had to be singled out for praise. The team did not conceive the innovative idea, what they did is merely carrying out instructions by implementing feasible techniques to reduce car's price. To sum up, the role of individual's insight for innovation is irreplaceable. We might have a highly competing team, but we still need a genius to guide the way. Without unique perception of an individual, there will be no innovation. Overall, I will say that apart from the ambiguity in your first paragraph your essay is convincing and easy to comprehend. But you need to work on your grammar. (4.5 -5) /6.0. Hope this help…. BTW are you from Malaysia? I have heard that Malaysia is a very beautiful country and is worth visiting at least once. My uncle is in Malaysia. When is your exam?

Hi David, Here I go: Some people say that high-profile awards are damaging to our society. They even say that we should eliminate Nobel Prize, because it suggest (suggests, I think a typo, that missing ) only very few (you can say: only few people, only a few people but only very few people is not a correct usage) people deserve such recognition. Yet, perhaps if people took (take: tense mistake) a close (closer) look at the purpose of high-profile awards, they would (will: present perfect tense) not have such a negative attitude towards it. After reading this essay, you will understand the reasons of why the high-profile awards should exist. Admittedly, any discoveries or progress in technology were not fullfilled (fulfilled also you can replace this word with something meaning eg achieved/ accomplished/ attained) by only one or two people, while the high-profile awards such as Nobel Prize can not go to all of them. (Wrong sentence structure: Xs were not achieved by one or two while Ys are not given to all. Correct: Xs were not achieved by one or two while Ys were given to one or two. ). It is really damaging to those people's enthusiasm who (reference error: here ‘who’ refers to enthusiasm and not people. Although, here one can make out that you want to refer people and not people’s enthusiasm but this structure of sentence sometimes creates confusion e.g. Indian girls who are very talented ,…..: Here I am referring to Indian girls and not the Indians as a whole ) have contributed a lot but gained little. Yet (Yet, not required) it is true. I still think (believe/ maintain/ argue ….. will be better than think) high-profile awards are promotions to the society instead of damages. How can two contrasting thing be true simultaneously .Either both can be true partially (depending on situation) or one can be true and other false. So the stands you can take are: 1. I agree with the claim because of X, Y, Z reasons. 2. I disagree with the claim because of X, Y, Z reasons. 3. I partially agree with the claim because of X, Y, Z reasons. You can’t say: what others say is also true and what I say is also true, on all the occasions. This means “I both agree and disagree with the claim…….” Yes, of course you can say: I agree with the claim in following situation and disagree in other situation. Moral of the story: Don’t say “Yet, it is true. I still…..” Write it as “Though, their (critic’s) claim is true in some situation but overall I believe that high-profile awards are beneficial to the society. The first reason is very easy to understand (Oh! really? Just kidding. Don’t get offended). High-profile awards activate the competition between different research groups or different people in a group. As we all know, competition is the power of society's progress. Also free competition is the core of market economics that is why we have got a motivated and prosperous society. For example, In (in) 60s or 70s, China was governed by Plan Economics and there is (was: past perfect tense) absolutely no competition on (in not on) the market. The progress is (was: past perfect tense) slow, which make(made: past perfect tense) China lag behind other countries. More and more,( More and more what is this for) however, people in China begin to know that the great effect the competition have(has : competition is singular) on the market and begin to build up and secure it. Consequencely, from 90's to now, China have (has: there is only one China, also you are talking about an event which is past perfect continuous: Started in past but is still continuing so: had been changing or you can say from 90’s to now it had already been done and will not continue further: simple past tense : , from 90's to now, China had changed to a new …… ) changed to a new phase of rapid progress. That is how competition affect our society and why we must take effort to secure and promote competition. And the high-profile awards is (are) a kind of good means to do it. However, if everyone got a pack from the high-profile awards which are already not so high, the awards will lose their attraction and lose their function. Conclusively, the competitive atmosphere needs the high-profile awards. I am stopping here………. You need to concentrate on your grammar and sentence structure. They come in between the meaning of your sentences. Overall: 2.5 - 3.0 /6.0

Hi Subtlety, You have given good reasons for : Why culture’s notions if perpetuate through formal education are most effective. How I interpret the topic is that ,you need to analyze whether or not it is formal education which perpetuate culture’s notion. (This is my perception .May be I am wrong.) A good topic for your essay would be : It is primarily through formal education that a culture can perpetuate the ideas it favors and discredits the ideas it fears. Considering that above is the topic for your essay ,following are my comments: Positive points: 1. Good analysis. 2. Good reasoning. 3. Good sentence structure. 4. Good flow. Negative points: 1. Introduction and conclusion are not that effective. I was not able to understand the first sentence at one go (Human being’s fundamental desire, together with their pursuit of personal satisfactions, has resulted in each culture’s exertion to maximize believes profitable to its members). What I think is that introduction should be easy to comprehend and entice the reader’s curiosity. 2. I guess you have used Microsoft word for editing your essay. Why I say so is because there is not a single spelling mistake in your essay. If you are doing that please avoid using word at first go. Of course you can later paste that essay in word to check how many mistakes you have done. Milli.

Dear Sow, Thanks a ton for ur comments and commends. I am not that good at English that I can review ur work otherwise I would have certainly done that. I tried to find some mistakes in ur essay but in vain. Anyway ,one thing I would like to say is ur composition is easy to comprehend and has a nice flow of Ideas. What you can add here is : give one or two more supportive reasons to get in between 5 to 6 level. Thanks once again, Milli.

Hello TestMagic Friend, This is my view on the same topic. This is my second posting .My first posting was with hold for some reason. Please let me know my weak points. Thanks In advance, Milli. Let me begin with the ending words of the above issue which say ‘……………… …necessary in today's increasingly work-oriented society." These words tell us why should universities allow students to enroll only for chosen field. The primary reason is that this would make them more efficient employee or rather I can say robots. Yah, I agree that today society has become work oriented but let us take a closer look at the kind of job that are prevailing in contemporary world. Most of the jobs in today market are becoming more and more customers oriented, the quality of after service and customer satisfaction are becoming more important. Advertising has become one of the most critical factors in determining the success of a product along with the quality of product. So the kind of people required for better performance of a company would not be an expert in the technology but must have good communication, general knowledge, convincing power as well. A common change that has been observed in test pattern of most of the companies recruiting employees is that they all have included test of subject such as general knowledge, general awareness, general aptitude, group discussion, personal interviews and so on. What does this indicates? Does this mean that they are looking for people expert in their discipline? Obviously no. This changing trend indicates that the people having knowledge in only one subject are preferred less to the people having general perspective of many subjects and apt knowledge of his discipline. Now let me take the middle portion of the sentence “……….allow students to enroll only in those courses that…..” From this we can say that most effected section of the society due to such restriction will be the students. Many of us would argue that teaching of only one or two subject would give a student more time to study the subjects and hence it would give a better understanding of the subject. I would like to disagree this point on two facts. First is it necessary that if a person is given less work he do it more efficiently and devotes more time to the work? I don’t think this is true in most of the cases. Consider a case of engineering or medical students. When do they study? The time when the examination timetable is declared, they start preparing for the examination. Second fact what I would like to put is that science has proved that human mind is developed more if it is exposed to different kind of problems than the repetitive ones. Due to monotony true development of our mind get hinders. I would appeal you not to weaken my point, by saying that this means that the scientist we had in past have less developed mind. If you know most of the scientist from past e.g. Einstein, Newton, Leonardo De Wince were aficionado of art and literature. The other disadvantage a student will have due to this is that he will not be able to shift his area of work if sometime latter in life he is interested in other fields. The only option he will have is start from scratch and normal people would not dare to do this. Let us approach the issue from society point of view. Would giving knowledge to a student only in one subject help the society? What kind of people a good society requires? In general I can say a person having good societal qualities. And teaching of only one subject would not give an individual the knowledge about the society. He needs to be acquaintance of his surrounding and civilization. He must be educated to become a good human being instead of working robots. The knowledge of general subjects makes a person more amicable and sociable. There is more to say but the time is running out so finally, I would like to conclude by recapitulating that, for the better performance of the people, the industries and the society a student must have apposite knowledge of the field he has chosen but at the same time he must be aware of other areas too. This would make him more apt in today’s work oriented but incessantly changing world. Changing world means one must be more apt in receiving the new technology then only he will be able to endure effectively. Hence restricting students to take course only in the fields he will work will not be a judicious judgment.