Thursday, 6 July 2017

15. Git Commands

My friend wants to learn python, so I had suggested to go through online learning than going through books or videos. Initially I had solved plenty of questions from Hackerrank but later had stopped when I had plenty much on my plate. So in my notice period thought to again cultivate the habit of going through the online learning  to increase my knowledge.

1. Learn GitHub (2 hours coursework):




    Managing Git Hub Basic Commands:

    git commit -m "Complete the message in present tense"


    git show HEAD : more recently made commit

    git add file1 file2: add files to staging

    git checkout HEAD filename: to download original files before the changes

    git reset filename: to unstage that file from the commit


    git reset SHA:  Git enables you to rewind to the part before you made the wrong turn and create a new destiny for the project. This command works by using the first 7 characters of the SHA of a previous commit.

    git branch: to check the current branch 

    git branch <newbranch>: To create the new branch 

    git checkout <newbranch>: Switch to new branch.All the changes made in the master would be copied to the new branch. Use "git logs" to view the changes of the master in "new branch".

    git merge branch_name: Include all the changes made to the new_branch on the master branch. We can accomplish this by merging the branch into the master

             i)  git checkout master: To switch to the master branch
             ii) git merger <newbrch>: All the files from new_branch would be merged on master branch

 git branch -d <new_branch>: delete the branch




Imagine that you're a science teacher, developing some quizzes with Sally, another teacher in the school. You are using Git to manage the project.
In order to collaborate, you and Sally need:
  • A complete replica of the project on your own computers
  • A way to keep track of and review each other's work
  • Access to a definitive project version
You can accomplish all of this by using remotes. A remote is a shared Git repository that allows multiple collaborators to work on the same Git project from different locations. Collaborators work on the project independently, and merge changes together when they are ready to do so.
Sally has created the remote repository, science-quizzes in the directory curriculum, which teachers on the school's shared network have access to. In order to get your own replica of science-quizzes, you'll need to clone it with:
 git clone remote_location clone_name

You can see a list of a Git project's remotes with the command: git remote -v

After you cloned science-quizzes, you had to run off to teach a class. Now that you're back at your computer, there's a problem: what if, while you were teaching, Sally changed the science-quizzes Git project in some way. If so, your clone will no longer be up-to-date.
An easy way to see if changes have been made to the remote and bring the changes down to your local copy is with:

 git fetch


Even though Sally's new commits have been fetched to your local copy of the Git project, those commits are on the origin/masterbranch. Your local master branch has not been updated yet, so you can't view or make changes to any of the work she has added.
In Lesson III, Git Branching we learned how to merge braches. Now we'll use the git merge command to integrate origin/master into your local masterbranch. The command:

git merge origin master 

git pull :  does a git fetch followed by a git merge.

git push origin <branch_name>: To push the work to the remote server





   
  

  



   
   

Tuesday, 6 June 2017

XIII) Cash and Forex Cards

After Visa approval and booking flight ticket now one need to look for US currency. One need to convert rupees to dollars before going to the US. Though there is the facility at the airport to convert rupees but its costly. So its better that if we convert the rupees beforehand.

Multiple ways are there to convert rupees to dollars. There are several banks and third party agents which convert the rupees to the dollars. And also there are multiple ways in which one can convert currencies - Notes, Traveller's cheque , Card (Preloaded Card)

Things to Note:
1. When to apply: Max 60 days before the date of travel
2. Max Documents Needed: Passport (1st & last page), VISA, Pan Card, i20/admission letter, Travel ticket
3. Min Documents Needed: Passport (1st & last page), VISA, travel ticket

How to select the best among all the forex:

1. Currency and traveller's cheque: Go for off course the cheapest one. Found that third party offers much cheaper rates than the bank due to the bidding.

2. Forex prepaid card: There are multiple factors to consider here. Arranged important ones in descending order.
  • Online reload
  • Free ATM withdraw/ ATM withdraw cost
  • Forex rate
  • Reload cost
  • Initial deposit
  • Customer Service
  • Validity

Banks preferred:

1. HDFC Forex:
Pros: For the folks who took loan from credilla, good customer service
Cons:



2. ICICI Forex:
Pros:
Cons:


3. SBI Forex:
Pros: For the folks who took loan from SBI, cheaper than other banks but not from third party.
Cons:


4. Axis bank: Have heard less but positive reviews, but not sure about authenticity of reviews.

Third Party:


1. Thomas Cook:
Pros: Online reload
Cons:

2. bookmyforex:
Pros: Online reload, has tie ups with axis bank
Cons:

3. doorstep forex:
Pros: Online reload, Free ATM withdraw (3 times)
Cons:

4. centrumforex
Pros: Online reload, Free ATM unlimited
Cons:

I did opt for centrumforex and SBI. But SBI was faster to reload.

Tuesday, 4 April 2017

V) UB Health Form

To register for the classes one needs to fill and submit the UB health form along with proofs.


  • Health form can be downloaded from the website or u will get the copy along with the i20. In health form, one needs to fill details about the vaccine. Along with details, one also needs the sign and stamp from the health officer (can be a family doctor) with proofs of the vaccines
  • Proof of vaccines: Can get is written by the family doctor that you have taken that particular vaccine on so and so date
  • Mandatory vaccines for UB: 2 MMR vaccines
  • For Indian folks tuberculosis test is mandatory. Basically under tuberculosis: blood test, x-ray, saliva and ppt test are carried out. But the important one is ppt or tuberculosis skin test.
  • MMR vaccine: If you are not sure or don't have records, it is good to have one dose before traveling. It hardly cost around Rs.120-140.
  • PPT/Skin Test: In this test, some liquid is injected on the hand whose results are verified after 24hrs 
                                                                       
                    











Monday, 27 March 2017

IV) Try Out Scholarships!

Hi,

Hope my earlier posts have been useful to at least few of you guys. So here after writing posts on financial documents, loans, and F1 visa, I am planning to write the post on scholarships which could definitely help few of aspiring students. Actually, UB as such doesn't provide scholarships to the international students for Master's program. But there are multiple sources from you could get the scholarship.

One such scholarship was "Sakal scholarship" which I thought I missed though, but through which I started searching for other external scholarships. Also, I couldn't forget to add my mother's name due to which I actually started looking and applying for scholarships. You guys might be wondering that when UB provides low tuition fees, then why should we actually search for the scholarship?
Yeah! that's what I had exactly asked my mother.
Her reply was "There is the different pride while studying with scholarship!"

And then with her one reply, I was damn satisfied, because gaining scholarship was a challenge to me. Let's see if I would get the scholarship or not.

1. Sakal scholarship:

  • Forms: In Sakal newspaper, it is published about the forms in the first week of April. One needs to write the application letter and send along with the copy of i20 or/both admit letter with 10Rs stamp paper to its office. Then they would send you the application form by post or you may collect it from there office. The last date to send the application letter is 31st May and fully filled scholarship form is 15th June.
  • Results: Will be declared after 15 of June
  • Loan amount of sixty thousand would be received as the scholarship, which can be paid within the two years time frame.
  • One of the UB aspirants did receive the scholarship this year! Read in the newspaper.
Attachment: Application for scholarship



2. Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship:

  • I had emailed akf-isp@akesi.org regarding the scholarship forms. They, in turn, redirected me to mail akfispindia.2017@gmail.com The response to the mail was fast, they indeed emailed me the forms along with the dos and don'ts well addressed. Unfortunately, I didn't apply to this scholarship purely because the deadline was very close & getting hard copies of three recommendations and then sending the copies to the Delhi office was the problem due to the time constraint
  • The scholarship provided by Aga Khan foundation is of type - interest-free loan amount.

3. J N TATA Endowment: 

  • Those who secure admission in Cornell University, a scholarship given to them are in good numbers.
  • For others, they provide the loan scholarship. i.e they provide the loan without interest. For few, they even give provide scholarship amount without repayment.
  • Complete process to apply for the scholarship is online. All the proof documents along with the recommendation letters need to be uploaded.
  • The last date to apply for the TATA scholarship is 31st March
  • My bad luck, scholarship application got rejected on 11th April


4.  K.C Mahindra Scholarship:

  • We need to download the Mahindra Scholarship forms from their website. Then after completing the application form, along with the proofs and recommendation letters we need to post them to the address mentioned somewhere in Mumbai.
  • The last date to apply for the K.C Mahindra Scholarship was in the mid-20s of march'.


5. Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation:

  • The scholarship is in form of zero interest loan. 
  • This is the only scholarship where we need to pay 500 rupees before starting the scholarship application process.
  •  The application form is completely online. 
  • On the website, it was also mentioned about the mentors to be assigned to the scholarship holders. 
  • The last date to apply for the Narotam Sekhsaria foundation scholarship is 31st March.

Thanks,
NK 

Monday, 6 March 2017

III) US VISA - Preparation and Interview


Now with SBI loan underprocess, next thing is to prepare the financial documents required for the VISA (F1) interview. Now we just can't randomly prepare the financial documents right? We need to prepare the documents as per the questions asked.

So the common questions asked in the interview are:

1. "Who would sponsor you?"

2. If you told about parents being your sponsor, they will ask, "What they do?"

A) For business, 
-"What business?".
If the business is cool, they wouldn't even look at your financial documents.
And the chances of visa getting approved would be high. 
Because they would not grill for questions related to returning back to India, which is the difficult part to convince them :(

B) For job,
-  Again if the sponsor works in state or central government at a good position, the chances of visa getting approved would be high. Because they would not much grill for questions related to returning back to India, which is the difficult part to convince them :(

It definitely doesn't mean that other students don't go for Masters to the US. The i20 is always higher than the actual amount and in reality, no one will have so many liquid funds. Mostly the people would invest in the property and the shares rather than FDs or in the savings account.

Now, let's prepare the financial documents for answering the questions asked in the VISA interview.

Who would sponsor you?

If they are parents.. would ask "What they do?" "What's their annual income?" Also, will be asked to show the passbook.
If their annual income is less than 10 lakh would grill again that it wouldn't be enough..how would u repay the loan .. future plans..if in India..? salary you would get in India ..after the degree?
If ur parents are retired then would ask "What they did before?" Sometimes they need the designation, sometimes job roles, etc

But the interview is of 3-5 min right? And you can't even explain in detail. So one must prepare the financial summary document.

So final conclusion is to prepare your financial documents depending upon the answer you would give to VI officer.


my US VISA approved @Mumbai on 18th may'2017

US VISA is divided into two procedures:

1. OFC Centre:

You need to appear at least a day before VI. Need to carry just the passport, DS 160 and appointment confirmation page. Can go before the appointment time. I had the appointment at 3. But they allowed me inside the office at 2,15 itself and to my surprise, I was out before 3.
At the OFC office, just photo and fingerprinting are carried out. Girls need to tie their hairs for the photo.

2. VISA Interview (VI):

Need to reach before an hour they allow early to enter the office. The Huge line is there near the consulate building.

Again, fingerprinting is carried out before the VI

VI (Counter no 29)
Forwarded just the passport, i20 and sevis receipt.

Questions asked to me...

1. Why UB?

(Ans) Explained the latest research going in Rosewell Park Cancer Centre in Buffalo and how it's aligning with my research in PPS..and how my course is going to help

2. Who is going to sponsor u?

(Ans) major funds from loan - SBI, personal savings
          minor: parents

3. What ur parents do?

(Ans) My mom is a teacher. My father is retired.

4. What he did before?

(Ans) Was analyst

VI replied: Congrats ur VISA is approved!
Gave a broad smile!
Replied, "Thank you ma'am! have a nice day..."