Visa interview Flashcards
Why USA?
Because, officer, United States is regarded as the best country in terms of bioinformatics research and studies and US degree is highly valued worldwide.
What kind of jobs roles do you get after completing this master’s?
Officer, we can get the jobs roles such as clinical informatician, health care data analyst, public heath data analyst and bioinformatician.
How will this course help in career and future?
Officer, bioinformatics is a growing field in India and I also have interest in it so I think getting a higher degree in this field from a reputed research university will open a lot of opportunities for me in Indian job market.
Why this university?
Officer, it’s a top-tier R1 research university and the course-curriculum offered by the university has courses in both computational and experimental subjects. Also, officer, they have Border Biomedical Research Centre (BBRC) which is well known for its cancer research and development and since I have done my dissertation in cancer bioinformatics, I think I can get to learn a lot at this university.
Tell me about the course / program?
Officer, it’s a 41 credit hours program and they have a 3 credit hours of compulsory internship and 9 credit hours of electives.
Why masters in bioinformatics ?
Officer, I have done my bachelor’s in biotechnology and we used to have computational subjects such as bioinformatics, systems biology, and object-oriented programming and that’s when I developed my interest in this field and I want to pursue my higher studies in this field. Also, i have done my dissertation in this field.
Why masters now?
Officer, I have done my bachelor’s in biotechnology and I would like to upgrade in skillset in bioinformatics.
How is this course related to your bachelor’s?
Officer, I have done my bachelor’s in biotechnology and we used to have computational subjects such as bioinformatics, systems biology, and object-oriented programming, so, officer, bioinformatics is like a sub-branch of biotechnology just that it is more computation oriented.
What is bioinformatics?
Officer, bioinformatics is a study of biological data using data science and computational softwares and tools.
Tell me about your dissertation/final project.
Officer, I have done my dissertation on mutant p53 cancer gene. So, p53 gene is responsible for supressing cancer from happening but when there is a mutation in this gene, it causes cancer itself. So, that’s what my dissertation was about and what all drugs which are in experimental and investigational stages can be used to stop this type of cancer.
Funding and Sponsor
Officer, my mother will be sponsoring with her saving of 8.5 lakhs or about $11,000 and I have secured an education loan from the bank which is worth 35 lakh rupees or about $45,000 where my father is my co-signer. Also, officer, I have gotten a graduate teaching assistantship at the university where I will be getting $12,150 for the first year of my masters along with an out-of-state tuition fee waiver.
What will you do after completing you masters?
Officer, after completing my master’s, I would like to come back to India and get a good job as companies offer very high packages to skilled bioinformaticians.
Have you given GRE?
No officer, it was waived for Fall 2022. Although, it was required by the university that I’m going to, but the dean of graduate studies waived it for me upon my request after considering my credenials.
Why El Paso?
Because, officer it has a sunny climate all year around like my home city.
What all courses will you be taking in your 1st semester?
Officer, for my first semester I will be taking, Introduction to Bioinformatics-I, statistical programming and database management system.
