Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular

The best Independence Day (July 4th) celebration in the USA happens in BOSTON! The celebration has taken place for 40 years and evolved from a simple idea to an event that 500,000 people come to Boston to watch from around the country. If you are in the Boston area for the 4th of July you should consider attending this year’s celebration that includes a concert and firework show. This year Susan Tedeschi, Howie Day, Ayla Brown, Ellis Hall, Keith Lockhart, and Tanglewood Festival Chorus will all be performing. There is also a concert July 3rd from 7:30PM-9:00PM and on July 4th the concert and firework display starts at 7:30PM. To learn more about the event click here.

“Festival City”

The City of Lowell’s unique history as the birthplace of the industrial revolution in the United States has lead various immigrant populations throughout the years to settle in the city. Formally recognized as the melting pot of the Unite States, Lowell thrives on its cultural diversity. To bring the community together and create awareness multiple cultural festivals occur throughout the year:

• June 14 Greek Festival
• June 15 African Festival
• August 4 Lowell Puerto Rican Festival
• August 17 Southeast Asian Water Festival

Not all of Lowell’s festivals are cultural. There are a variety of other kinds of festivals happening year round:

• Lowell Folk Festival
• Lowell Quilt Festival
• Lowell Riverfest
• Lowell Open Studios
• Jack Kerouac Literary Festival
• City of Lights
• Winterfest
• Lowell Film Festival

If you are in Lowell make sure you experience at least one or two festivals to gain a better understanding of the city’s heritage!

 

PMP student gets PUBLISHED!

Navitas at UMass Lowell would like to congratulate PMP Computer Science student Prakhar Kapoor for his article, “Market-less Detection of Virtual Objects Using Augmented Reality” being published in Springer. Prakhar chose to study at UMass Lowell because the technology Android was discovered in the labs on-campus. He was also attracted to UMass Lowell for its reputation of providing a top level education to students by offering an extremely challenging course curriculum, which prepares students to succeed in their chosen industry. Prakhar states, “Navitas gave me a chance to interact with various students from different cultures and the program helped me acclimate to my new study environment. I have improved my interaction skills with individuals and feel more comfortable communicating in English now.”

 In addition to being published, Prakhar was selected to attend the Microsoft NERD conference and to showcase his project at the UMass Lowell Student Research Symposium. The symposium is a prestigious platform for talented students from various fields to showcase their work under the supervision of a professor. The symposium offers a platform that nurtures the students’ creative skills and facilitates innovation. Navitas wishes Prakhar the best of luck in his upcoming presentation!

Spring Break 2013

Spring break in the USA can be legendary. It is a one week break in the middle of the semester where college students flee to the coastline of Florida, Texas and cross the board to Mexico to leave behind the midterms they just endured.  College students will go to great lengths to make the trip possible whether it means a 24 hour road trip south with seven people stuffed into a minivan or working three jobs through the semester to save the money for the all-inclusive resort in Cancun. The struggles and sacrifices are worth the effort to any college student when they finally reach their spring break destination. The sun, the beach and friends for an entire week create memories to be recalled upon for decades! Are you finally looking forward to your spring break in the USA? 

This past spring break Navitas students went to Miami, Las Vegas, LA and splurged on cruises in the Caribbean Sea.  Spring break provided a much needed time of fun and relaxation in the middle of the semester. Not all students left campus and that is okay too because Navitas organizes special events for all students that prefer to remain on-campus.  This spring break students were able to take a trip to the Premium outlets to splurge on a new spring wardrobe, hit the slopes and learn how to ski and snowboard, go behind the scenes and tour the Massachusetts State House in Boston and participate in the infamous Navitas Got Talent Show where students showcase their talents to fellow friends for prizes! I’m sure for some of you spring break 2013 will live on for years to come!

Now for the planning of spring break 2014….where will you be?

Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society

Navitas at UMass Lowell would like to congratulate four Pre-Master’s Program MBA students: Irina Kovaleva, Siddharth Sharma, Darius Patel and VuTien Thanh on their invitation to join the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. The honor society represents the top 20% of MBA students internationally and is only for AACSB-accredited business programs. Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest recognition a business student can receive at a school accredited by AACSB-The International Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The membership conveys academic excellence and a commitment to high principles and superior achievement throughout one’s lifetime. Congratulations and keep up the hard work!

New Year’s 2013

Are you wondering what the locals do to celebrate the new year?  Well some stay home and relax to unwind from the busy holiday season while others plan for the biggest night of the year!  If you are looking to celebrate you are in the right location: BOSTON!  Boston was the first city in America to hold First Night.  What is First Night?

“Boston’s First Night Festival of the Arts, annually showcases the work of 1,000 artists in 200 performances and exhibits at 35 indoor and outdoor venues located throughout the downtown area on New Year’s Eve. This signature Boston event is the oldest and largest of its kind in North America, typically attracting about one million people from throughout the region. The day-long celebration runs from 1 pm to midnight each year on December 31. In addition to the broad range of lively music, dance, theater, visual art, and film programs offered, First Night’s traditional activities include a Family Festival at the Hynes Convention Center, a Grand Procession down Boylston Street, colossal ice sculptures that dot the city’s landscape, and a spectacular fireworks display at midnight” (http://www.firstnight.org/).

So take the train into Boston and celebrate!  Happy New Year!

10 Steps To Your International Student Visa

The visa process can feel daunting at times, but it doesn’t have to be if you take early action and prepare yourself by following the guidelines of the consulate.  Here are 10 tips for successfully securing your visa:

1. Apply for a passport several months prior to submitting your visa application
2. Figure out the  earliest and latest dates you can apply for a visa and do so within the given time frame
3. Follow all visa requirements given by the consulate in your country
4. Compile your supporting paperwork in the exact order given by the consulate
5. Photocopy all documents being submitted to the consulate and provide extra copies if required by the consulate
6. Make an appointment with the consulate as early as allowed
7. Be mindful of your tone and use eye contact with speaking with the consular officer
8. Inform Navitas at UMass Lowell if you are having a difficult time securing an appointment
9. Check the holiday schedule of your consulate for any closures
10. Keep record of all the people you communicate with at the consulate

See you in the USA!