In the recent past, studying abroad has earned enormous miles. Last year, approximately 3,00,000 Indian students flew overseas for higher studies showing a 10 percent increase in the trend. The better prospects and world-class exposure offered by foreign universities encourage bright and talented Indian students for clearing the competitive examinations that help them to get admitted to the leading universities abroad. Usually, students start thinking about studying abroad after graduation.
This is the time when they have to face the question that is the right medium to gain admission to a good college abroad that can help them build their promising career. GATE and GRE are the two frequent examinations that are considered the gateways to foreign universities. Still, students are often confused as to which of these two examinations they should choose. While the GATE scores also refer to admission to India’s top engineering colleges, GRE is limited to access to engineering colleges abroad. Let us now see GRE v/s GATE.
GRE v/s GATE
GATE is a Master’s Admission Exam for Indian Universities. GRE is an admission test for foreign university master’s programs. Both examinations have their significance. Identifying the objective of each examination is essential.
Both the courses are structured for providing opportunities for any further education, and the difference is whether you want to pursue education from India or abroad. Several factors can decide this decision, whether it is the job opportunities that you want to pursue after that or your eligibility in the examinations.
Why is the GATE examination important?
GATE (Degree Aptitude Test in Engineering) is focused on degree (B.E or B.Tech) subjects. It is an opportunity for students to get themselves admitted in Master’s programs to top Universities India. Participants must have the ability, after passing the GATE, to obtain M.E, M.S, and Ph.D. depending on their GATE scores.
It is an online examination that includes MCQ questions about field theoretical knowledge as well as your verbal and quantitative knowledge. GATE is a nationwide test carried out throughout India. This is the most important point when it comes to GRE v/s GATE.
Why is the GRE examination essential?
GRE is an international competitive test. With your GRE scores, you can apply for several business and management courses. GRE will help you get to the world’s prestigious graduate and business schools. You will explore international and high-profile career options if you have an outstanding GRE ranking. GRE will help you in your dream country to follow your desired path. The GRE is an online MCQ test consisting of sections of verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing. By clearing the GRE examination, you are open to top Universities abroad.
Advantages of answering GATE examination
1) You are open to ample opportunities
GATE exam opens your doors to pursue M.Tech from prestigious colleges in India, namely IISc, NIT, and IIT.
2) PSU via GATE
It also provides opportunities for public sector undertakings. They are Hindustan Petroleum Limited, Bharat Petroleum, GAIL Limited, NTPC, NHPC, etc.
3) Scholarship examinations via GATE
Candidates who qualify after clearing GATE are eligible for specific scholarships by the Ministry of Human Resources and Development to pursue postgraduate programs in India for providing financial support during their studies.
4) Various Research Institutes hire candidates via GATE
The recruitment scope in different companies ‘ Research and Development departments has increased exponentially. GATE qualified candidates are eligible for Junior and Senior Research Fellowship positions in various laboratories such as Scientific and Industrial Research Council.
Advantages of answering GRE examination
1) GRE has less competition
The students’ answers and doing GRE preparation belong to different fields, and multiple students concentrate on specific grades, so an average overall score is almost meaningless. Nonetheless, a math score above 160 is sufficient for most engineering students. Overall, in 2012, 655,000 people took the test, compared to 804,463 people taking a GATE in 2015. Many more applicants appear for the GATE test and than for GRE, but in 2015 the qualifying rate was just 15.05 percent, which is why it is easy to see how much less competitive is GRE.
2) GRE examination is accepted globally
GATE results are only approved in India, in institutions such as IIT or IIS (although two universities in Singapore and a few technical colleges in Germany also accept these scores). GRE, meanwhile, is recognized throughout the world by major institutions. Yes, in India, there are more than ten institutions that support it as well.
3) Better pay in abroad
GATE is preparing you for admission to India and with a local degree, you will be able to apply for jobs in Indian firms, most likely public sector firms like Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum and Oil and Natural Gas Corp.
While these are all some of the country’s largest businesses, engineers at these firms are employed at market rates that are some of the world’s lowest. A mechanical engineer in India has a median income of over Rs.3.6 lakes. A software engineer’s median income is about the same, whereas a developed country’s median income is likely to be 12x Indian wages and 4-5x adjusted for living costs. The massive wage rise ensures that you can pay more for your education and significantly raise your investment returns. Moreover, living abroad is impressive, and hardly anyone regrets traveling to a better part of the world.
Important things to remember
GRE v/s GATE takes you to the nearly identical destination, the masters. Now, while deciding this, there are three main points that you should consider:
- Do you or your family have ample financial stability to sustain your studies abroad? If so, you’re good enough to go to GRE. If not, don’t worry about it. First, you will also have to take the TOEFL test with GRE, the shapes of which will cost you about 20,000 bucks. Next comes the implementation stage, where it is undoubtedly going to take another substantial amount. After all, this is done, the time you spend studying abroad comes with your university fees and living expenses. It takes quite a lot of money to continue with the M.S process, even for students who receive scholarships to study abroad. GATE, on the other hand, costs very little compared to GRE, particularly as you get through an institution of government.
- Hard work comes next. GRE is an easy way out to be very honest. GATE needs to be cracked much harder than GRE. Besides, the GATE entrance test is highly specific to the subject. It would help if you learned your domain in depth. Whereas, it only checks aptitude and English for the entrance exam in the case of GRE. The rest is based on your past academic record. Therefore, considering GATE, you should be prepared to work much harder than GRE requires.
- Last but not the least; determine if you’re willing to live for years away from your family. If so, GRE is undoubtedly a great option as it is likely to get you even higher paid jobs. If no, then GATE is a safe option to try to stay close to your loved ones. So, now what would you choose between GRE v/s GATE.
Summing Up
To sum up on the topic GRE v/s GATE, the decision is based onto an individual. Close your GRE books and get started with GATE if you want to study and work in India. But if you want to crack the traditional chain, attach the foreign flair to your profession, work and learn in new cultures, and yes, earn heavy packages (if you think IITs are the only ones that give heavy packages, then please look at the placement statistics for top MS, MBA / MIM programs and then you’ll come to know. Hence, don’t worry about it and start your GRE preparation as soon as possible.
Hope by now you must have understood everything about GRE v/s GATE.
