MS Gyan 2016

Fall 16
Chemical
Name
Kevin
Branch
Chemical
CGPA
6.8
GRE (Quant + Verbal, AWA)
331(170 161 4)
TOEFL/IELTS
112
Universities admitted to in order of preference (Specialization) (MS/PhD)
usc ms
Suny buffallo ms
Universities Rejected by (Specialization)(MS/PhD)
long list
ncsu
asu
delaware
penn state
upenn
Any specific reasons for admit/reject
pointer I guess
Internships/Projects
intern at total
summer project at NITK
Funding options/Scholarships
nil
Tips on writing SoP
keep it to the point
list your achievements
list your interests
mention how the uni and the state can help u further ypur achievement
6.8
Fall 16
Chemical
Further tips to juniors and contact details

Do your best for gre
it can make up for the whatever deficit u think you have.
if u focus its pretty easy to do well in quant
6.8
Fall 16
Chemical
7.2
Name
Faraz Amjad
Branch
Chemical
CGPA
7.2
340
TOEFL/IELTS
114
Cornell (M. Eng)
University of Florida (MS)
Rutgers (MS)
University of Southern California (MS)
Northeastern University (MS)
UC Irvine (MS)
TAMU (M. Eng)
Ohio State University (MS)
Arizona State University (MS)
Reject - No prior research experience except for the final year major project, GPA on the lower side
Admits - Constantly improving grades (8.5 avg in 3rd year), GRE score
Only industrial internships, No projects except final year major project
Little funding (4k per annum). But usually very difficult to get funding options before joining the college.
Tips on writing SoP
Make your own SOP before reading others. For this, just have an idea of the general format
Don't list off your achievements (that's for CVs) Just talk about your interests and the work and effort you
Fall 16
Chemical
7.2
have been putting in for the past 4 years and why you are choosing that particular college. Keep it short
and simple
Don't start with the generic "I was a child prodigy at math so I chose engineering". Come up with a very
brief reason for choosing engineering even if it's not true.
farazamjad1994@gmail.com
Fall 16
Chemical
9.67
Name
Shreya Shetty
Branch
Chemical
CGPA
9.67
325 ( 165+ 160, 4)
TOEFL/IELTS
114
Pennsylvania State University (PhD)
Rice university, Ohio State university, university of Notre Dame (All PhD)
Research topics and professors available
Two internships in Chemical Engineering Department of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Fully funded PhD
Tips on writing SoP
Keep it simple but proof read it properly and convey your ideas clearly but concisely. Spend quite
sometime with it and keep revising it.
shreya290494@gmail.com
Fall 16
Chemical
9.79
Name
Aprameya G
Branch
Chemical
CGPA
9.79
170+162,4.5
TOEFL/IELTS
111
Rutgers University (PhD in chemical engineering-pharmaceutical engg. track)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (PhD in chemical engineering)
TAMU, College Station (MS in chemical engineering)
OSU (PhD in chemical engineering)
GaTech (PhD in chemical engineering)
Reasons for admit: Good GPA, GRE; strong recommendation letters, foreign research internship.
Reasons for reject: OSU- Just one matching faculty, GaTech- Very ambitious
SN Bose fellowship- Interned at Purdue University
IAS fellowship- Interned at NCBS, Bangalore
PhD program is fully funded
Tips on writing SoP
It's the hardest part of the application. Start preparing the draft in the summer and jot down points you
would like to include every time something occurs to your mind. The final SOP should be around 1000
words long. Check the specific limit of each school. If the initial draft is around 2000 words long, you can
cut it short by removing less important stuff.
The SOP should be coherent and should read like a terse story. Do not fake anything in the SOP/CV. Be
crisp. Restrict yourself to the word limit. Proofread it as many times as possible and take suggestions
Fall 16
Chemical
9.79
from seniors and make the necessary corrections. For a PhD SOP, be as technical as possible.
GRE:
Quant: It is high school math. Target 170 and take the mock tests seriously. Don't neglect this section as
Indian students are expected to do well in this.
Verbal: Magoosh vocab app is pretty good. Be sure to do all the tests/drills in ETS/Kaplan/Barron's GRE
books. Better way of improving the vocabulary is by reading novels. If you don't like that, read short
articles on New York Times/ The Atlantic journal/ Guardian app. The latter two are excellent sources of
quality English and are free!
AWA: It is important to score 4 or more in this section. Do not skip this part in your mock tests as it will
set the tone for the rest of the exam.
Finish the GRE by August. If you are not really confident, take it in the sixth sem itself or in the summer.
You can retake it in August/September if necessary.
Recommendation letters:
Most of the schools require three letters. If you have done two research internships, take two from those
guides and one from the major project guide at NIT-K. If you have done a single internship outside, you
will have to take two from NIT-K. Letters from professors are generally valued higher than assistant
professors. Request the prof to write a customised letter. If needed, give them your CV and a list of
important things you would like to be highlighted in the letter.
Other notes:
Shortlist the colleges you would like to apply to latest by June. Following the GRE in August, you will
have sufficient time to finish the applications by November end/ mid December depending on the
deadline.
Apply to colleges earlier as some may have rolling admissions.
GRE and GPA are the two major criteria. If one of these is not very impressive, you will have to
compensate with excellent projects/internships (which translates to good recommendation letters and/or
publications)
Contact details:
e-mail: aprameya_94@yahoo.co.in
Mobile: 9535215017
Facebook profile: Aprameya Prasad
Fall 16
chemical
Name
Srikar
Branch
chemical
CGPA
6.01
323(167+156,3.5)
TOEFL/IELTS
Toefl 113
New jersey institute of technology
University of Pittsburgh
University Illinois Chicago
University of South Florida
Ms-chemical engineering
Georgia tech
UCLA
Strong LOR and good reco
2 internships at dr.reddys laboratories ltd.
Self funded
Tips on writing SoP
Be clear about everything u write
srikar.medisetti@gmail.com
8500851783
6.01
Fall 16
Chemical Engineering
7.7
Name
Pushkar Kulkarni
Branch
CGPA
7.7
(163+159), 4.0
TOEFL/IELTS
110
MS in economics: UWisc Madison, UT Austin
MS/MA in economics: Columbia U, Boston U, Utoronto, UCambridge
Reason for admit: Relevant math and eco courses, a summer school course at LSE, relevant internships.
Recos,SOP were nothing extraordinary, pretty simple. Also in the two admits I got, only four year
undergraduate students can apply so I faced less competition as BSc economics students in India
couldn't apply
Reason for rejects: Columbia and Cambridge are extremely reputed difficult for econ. Toronto had a
pointer cutoff yet I applied. Boston U I'm not sure why. Also some of these unis(Columbia, Toronto)
allowed three year bsc students to apply, hence competition would have been higher.
IISc, Selco foundation, LSE summer school, Janaagraha.
None
Tips on writing SoP
Keep it simple. Write only about your background and what you aim to do during grad school.Don't start
off your SOP with a clichd opening of how you were inspired to be a mechanical engineering after
watching an aircraft take off or playing with cars. Admission committee members will roll their eyes and
form a negative impression. Write only relevant details and try and maintain a flow.
Fall 16
E-mail: kulpushu@gmail.com
7.7
Fall 16
Civil Engineering
8.87
Name
Anupama Mohanlal
Branch
Civil Engineering
CGPA
8.87
160+154, 3.5
TOEFL/IELTS
110
MS in environmental engineering- UIUC, UC BOULDER, IOWA STATE, ASU, RUTGERS (NCSU AND U
WISC MADISON are still pending)
GATECH- MS in environmental engineering
They did not mention any
1 Research internship in Spain, 3 projects in the department of civil
no funding as of now
Tips on writing SoP
Do not try copy pasting anything from the web or from any senior's SOP. The college authorities have
various software to figure that out. Get your SOP reviewed by at least 5-6 people (seniors preferably).
Make your SOP short and precise as possible- a max of 700-800 words will be more than sufficient. Do
not brag a lot in your SOP. Be honest and simple. Start writing your SOP at least 2 months before your
date of applying so as to give enough time to edit and modify your draft.
Select your university based on the courses available and excellency in your area of interest. Do not just
go by ranking. Make sure that you get recommendation letters from the professors who knows you. All
the best!!!
Contact - anupamamohanlal@gmail.com
Fall 16
Civil Engineering
8.2
Name
Samar D. Kenkre
Branch
Civil Engineering
CGPA
8.2
(164 + 152 , 4)
TOEFL/IELTS
109
All MS in Strcutural Engineering
University of Washington, Seattle
UCLA
UC Davis
SUNY Buffalo
All MS in Structural Engineering
UIUC
Virginia Tech
TAMU
Admit - Strong SoP centred around a specific field of interest. Relevant projects, internships. Took
M.Tech course in structural engineering, structural subjects GPA 9+
Rejects - Low CGPA compared to the other applicants. Low math grades in particular, low GPA score.
3rd year - IIT Guwahati
2nd year - IIIT Hyderabad (Earthquake Engineering Research Centre)
Mini/Major Project in relevant field.
No Papers
Fall 16
Civil Engineering
8.2
None. UWash has in-state tuition for all non-thesis graduate students. UCx mostly opens funding from
the second quarter on wards.
Tips on writing SoP
Be honest. Don't open with quotes. Start preparing a draft as soon as your GRE/Internship is done. Don't
throw in fancy GRE words, write a story and relate your work to your ambitions. Get your draft reviewed
by people (professors, friends proficient in english, seniors) who will be extremely critical. And don't take
everything everyone says into consideration. Make changes which you feel are important. Don't push
your SoP past 2 pages at any cost, and stick to any mentioned word limits.
Look up universities and professors thoroughly. Apply to a good mix of universities. Don't just apply to
the best, or the extremely safe ones. Civil doesn't have as much competition as the circuit branches, so
throw in a few ambitious universities. That being said, don't apply to more than 10 schools, because the
application process itself costs ~10k per university! Always make sure you have back up schools or a job
in case something (even Visa process can get messed up) goes wrong. Apply wisely, speak to seniors
and don't solely rely on online rankings. All the best!
Contact - sdkenkre@gmail.com / Samar Kenkre on FB
Fall 16
Civil Engineering
Name
Murthy G K
Branch
Civil Engineering
CGPA
8.96 (While applying)
167 + 153, 4.0
TOEFL/IELTS
115 (TOEFL)
UT Austin (MS + choice of PhD)
Georgia Tech (PhD)
UIUC (MS - Non Thesis)
Texas A&M; (MS)
Penn State (PhD)
University of California - Berkeley (MS)
Purdue University (MS)
International Paper in well-known conference
Recommendation from popular professor in the field known worldwide
Summer Internship - IITB (3rd Year Summer)
Fully funded MS
Tips on writing SoP
Keep it original
Don't use extremely flowery language just because you can.
Mention your future goals precisely without ambiguity.
Fall 16
Civil Engineering
gkmurthy10@gmail.com
Email me and I will be more than happy to help!
Fall 16
Civil Engineering
8.6
Name
Jade Pereira
Branch
Civil Engineering
CGPA
8.6
325(160,165,4)
TOEFL/IELTS
115
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (Water Resources Engg) (MS)
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
University of Southern California
Arizona State University (still under review)
Columbia University
I have no idea why I got the admits I did. If anything, it might be a decent SOP, good references and a
few relevant projects.
The rejects are probably because I didn't fit with the department well.
Interned at a construction company - Summer 2014
Interned at an environmental consultancy - Summer 2015
Mini project - Water audit
Major Project - Wastewater analysis and Treatment
Funding options are limited. There are opportunities for RA/TA once you get there.
Tips on writing SoP
Think really long and hard about what you want to do and why you want to do it.
Don't wait for inspiration to hit you, you may never be satisfied. Start writing a draft SOP early. It need
Fall 16
Civil Engineering
8.6
not be coherent. Even scattered points you may want to include are a good start. Once you begin the
process, you will find yourself thinking about ways to improve it from time to time. Revise it regularly.
Aside from writing about your past projects and ability to excel in the program, allot as many or even
more words for your interest in the subject and your goals. It is a statement of 'Purpose' after all.
Do not be disheartened by the fancy internships and projects your peers may have completed. Sincerity
and interest can go a long way. Make sure that shows in your application.
Also, applying to niche areas will give you a better chance at admission as there's less competition. At
the same time, there may also be fewer seats.
Feel free to send me an email if you have any questions.
jade6j94@gmail.com
Fall 16
Civil engineering
Name
Neha Madhulika
Branch
Civil engineering
CGPA
9.14/10
162,150,4
TOEFL/IELTS
102
MS in Civil Enginnering.
UCSD, UBC (Canada), TAMU, uwash, Virginia Tech, SUNY Buffalo
MS in civil engineering.
UCB, UIUC
reject: gre, TOEFL
Admit: probably a good gpa and interns
Internship: IISc, MITACS
Papers: presented at a conference in Japan
Projects : Major project and mini project in the same field.
Mitacs grad scholarship for ubc, Canada
Tips on writing SoP
Start early. Write edit rewrite.
madhulikaneha@gmail.com
9.14/10
Fall 16
Computer Engineering
9.55
Name
Pranav T Bhat
Branch
CGPA
9.55
164 + 163, 4.5
TOEFL/IELTS
118
UCLA, UCSD, UPenn, USC, NCSU (all MS CS)
CMU , UMich, UWisc, GaTech
Low GRE score, no research and poor recos probably
3rd year internship at Amazon
RAships open up in the second quarter
Tips on writing SoP
In my experience, SOPs aren't very important for MS admissions. Don't spend too much time on this. An
excellent SOP won't do you much good, but a bad one (if you're rude or cocky) can really hurt you. Avoid
cliches and keep it short (1-1.5 pages)
Most of my advice will be restricted to non-thesis M.S in CS. The M.S admissions process is best
described as a stochastic process. You can only guess at what the admissions committee wants:
1. GPA - Definitely the most important component. The NIT brand value is almost non-existent abroad,
so you'll have to produce grades to match Bangalore and Pune college applicants (Applicants from
colleges like PESIT for example have GPAs well over 9.5).
2. GRE - A lot of colleges (including CMU) use this to rank applicants. Make sure your Quant score is
over 168 and your verbal is over 155. AWA should be 4+ as well. An overall score of 330+ will provide a
Fall 16
9.55
substantial advantage.
3. Research - Make sure that any research you do is in the area of your interest. Publications in low tier
conferences/journals won't help your cause at all. A good research internship would be one that gives
you a reco from a professor well known in his/her field.
4. Work Experience - Seriously underrated. Two years of work-ex in a well known MNC can really help,
especially if the work is in your area of interest.
5. Recommendation Letters: A reco letter is most useful when its written by someone the admissions
committee actually knows. A foreign research internship will really help you get good recos. I don't think
letters from the industry have much impact. Make sure your profs write positive things about you. It also
helps to approach them early.
Applying to the right colleges is probably more important than working on your profile. Here are some
basics:
1. Apply to ~10 colleges. M.S admissions are really random (especially in Computer Science) so apply to
3 Ambitious, 4 Moderate and 3 Safe colleges (or something like that).
2. Some colleges won't even look at your application unless you have solid research experience and
excellent recommendations from well known professors. Don't apply to these universities unless you
really know what you're doing: MIT, UCB, UIUC, CalTech, Princeton, UWisc, UMD, UWash, UMich,
UCSB etc. These universities generally have low intakes and offer fully funded degrees. Naturally they
are very hard to get.
3. Make sure you do your research on intake before applying. For example, Cornell's M.S program has
an intake of 5. Applying there would be foolish. Also, an intake of 250+ is usually too much, and can
affect your funding and placement opportunities.
The application process can be very tiring, and can take several months. But if you do everything right
and your luck holds, you can expect to get multiple offers. I can be reached at pranavtbhat@gmail.com.
Good luck!
Fall 16
8.76
Name
Doshi Chintan Ketankumar
Branch
CGPA
8.76
168 + 155, 4
TOEFL/IELTS
111
No admits.
UCSD, CMU, UIUC, UMCP, GaTech(All MS in Computer Science) UMich Ann Arbor(Phd in Artificial
Intelligence)
-> Low CGPA.
What_I_think(){
-> Applied to only competitive/funded programs.
-> Number of admits decreased this year.
-> No open-source work
-> No certifications for on-line coursework
}
Summer and Winter Internship at IISc, Summer at D E Shaw and Co, One month Internship at
BHEL-EDN, 4 publications(All in normal IEEE, Springer, Elsevier Conferences) Decent projects
NA
Tips on writing SoP
-> Make it university specific. Generic won't work.
-> If short, best. If one page and covers everything, godly.
-> If you have collaborated, then talk about exactly what you did in your SoP.
Fall 16
8.76
-> If applying for PhD, describe all the novel things you have done in the projects/papers.
-> Mention names of few professor with whom your research interests clearly align.
-> If you have an idea/dream about your masters thesis, mention that.
-> If you are writing your recommendations, validate the facts of your SoP in the letters.
-> Get it reviewed by technical and non-technical people/ seniors/ profs in our college.
-> For each university, in the application portal it will be mentioned what are they looking for in the SoP.
Some are looking for what inspired you and some are only interested in your journey during B.Tech.
Some ask for a separate personal statement which should have all the "Since childhood...." things. It
clearly implies they want a pure technical SoP.
-> If you're looking to settle down in US and you just want a job
Apply to any college. Don't be very selective. Everyone gets a job. Try TAMU, U Waterloo, UCx
(x=Irvine, Riverside, SD, SB). They are cheap and have great on-campus employment opportunities. For
computer science UMCP is too tough for MS. It is easier to get a PhD there.
-> If you just want to do crazy things/PhD, don't settle down for normal colleges. But always have a
backup.
-> Don't submit industry recommendations, they are pointless.(Try not to)
-> Order the transcripts and finalize the recommendations provider in September. Because if you don't,
others will and you will end up with a recommendation from someone mediocre.
And if you end up with all reject and pissed about the admission process
mailto:chintandoshi94@gmail.com
All the best.
Fall 16
Computer Science
8.5
Name
Kiran Yalasangi
Branch
Computer Science
CGPA
8.5
319
TOEFL/IELTS
109
Texas A&M; University (MS), North Carolina State University (MS),New York University GSAS(MS),
Carnegie Mellon University (MSIT SE), University of Southern California (MS)
UCSD(MS), Georgia Tech (MS), CMU(CDS MS), UCI(MS)
Nothing in particular.
Internship and work experience at Oracle. Internship at IIIT Hyderabad.
None
Tips on writing SoP
1. Keep it short and simple (Under 2 pages). Any person from that field should understand your SOP.
2. For every project/research write: What you did and what you learnt from it.
3. Get it reviews by a LOT of people. I mean like 10+ people at least.
Recommendations play an important role. Try to get recommendations from people who know you
personally and can write something personal and not generic. More than the position of the
recommender the content matter is what I feel.
Fall 16
Computer Science and Engineering
Name
Akshay Atul Deshmukh
Branch
CGPA
9.06
166 + 153, 4.5
TOEFL/IELTS
112
University of Southern California (MS in CS)
Arizona State University (MCS - Non Thesis)
Stanford
UIUC
GaTech
UCLA
UC Berkeley
UT Austin
CMU
UCSD
Reasons for admits:
1. Good CGPA
2. 2 conference presentations
Reasons for rejections:
1. Average GRE. Could have done better.
2. No research internship
3. A very straightforward SOP which might have been uninteresting.
4. LORs (I wouldn't know about it)
5. Lack of substantial projects.
6. Erratic CGPA in UG. No consistency in performance.
7. No work experience.
8. Poor research profile.
9. Lack of projects in areas of interest (Systems)
9.06
Fall 16
9.06
1. Internship at Myntra
2. Major Project (Cannot give details...professor's orders)
3. Developed a C Compiler.
4. Co-developed an asset management system.
None
Tips on writing SoP
1. Write crisp and clear statements.
2. DON'T LIE!
3. Don't overestimate or underestimate your abilities.
4. Don't write about your life's struggles.
5. Don't brag about your achievements.
6. Always write a paragraph dedicated to a faculty member and the university.
7. Be clear in your purpose (areas of interests).
8. Generate interest but don't turn the SOP into a story.
9. State your objectives clearly. Give proofs of your abilities.
1. Try hard for GRE. A score of 325+ should be your target.
2. Although TOEFL is much easier than GRE, do not prepare insufficiently for the exam.
3. Start searching for universities in your 1st or 2nd years. Read the requirements and work towards
improving your profile. Concentrate on maintaining your CGPA and ensure consistent performance.
4. Build a rapport with your professors before you ask a question. Perform well in their subjects.
5. Aggressively pursue projects in your areas of interest. Always opt for a research internship. Try for
IISc, MITACS and DAAD (international internships from renowned universities are more preferable).
6. Don't waste your summers in enjoyment. Pursue internships which offer substantial projects.
7. Don't procrastinate. It will ruin you completely.
Finally, keep working continuously. Remember that there is no gain with no pain. Invest your energies in
developing your profile and improve constantly. Do not be averse to self-improvement as the only person
who stands to gain is you alone.
Fall 16
CSE
8.33
Name
Rohit Varkey Thankachan
Branch
CSE
CGPA
8.33
168 + 165, 5.0
TOEFL/IELTS
TOEFL - 114
Georgia Tech(CS)(MS), Virginia Tech(CS)(MS), USC(CS)(MS)
MIT(CS)(PhD), CMU(CS)(MS), UCLA(CS)(MS), UPenn(CS)(MS), UWisc(CS)(MS)
Not that I know of.
Julia Summer of Code, Lots of open source contributions, projects via Technites in college,
http://healthizen.org/
Virginia Tech offered me a TA with a full tuition waiver and $1856 as stipend.
Tips on writing SoP
Get a first draft done by November. Show it to people, get feedback and rewrite. Keep only relevant
projects. Do your research on the profs research interests and tailor it depending on each University.
Do apply to safe universities which have decent intakes rather than just ambi/mod ones. You can mail
me at rohitvarkey@gmail.com if you need any help!
Fall 16
CSE
7.57
Name
Shramona Dey
Branch
CSE
CGPA
7.57
GMAT690(Q49, V35, AWA5, IR5)
TOEFL/IELTS
TOEFL:118
London Business School (Masters in Management)
ICT Health- Bangalore
Tips on writing SoP
Make sure to include all your strengths- languages you speak, how you overcame problems, global
exposure, personal experiences. Don't assume that things are understood or obvious.
MiM is a really good course for fresh graduates as compared to an MBA which is for people who are at a
more mature level in their professional careers. Don't get pushed into choosing an MBA just because it
seems cool or looks good on your resume.
Contact: shramona.d@gmail.com
Fall 16
CSE
Name
Mintu Jothish
Branch
CSE
CGPA
8.96
(168+159,3.5)
TOEFL/IELTS
116
(ECE)CMU(networks is in ECE dept :P)
(CSE networks)USC
UCB
GaTech
UCSD
Lack of projects,pointer
2nd year: VisualIQ at Kochi
3rd year: Amazon Hyd
Projects: nothing great
Papers:4
Tips on writing SoP
-
8.96
Fall 16
CSE
9.39 (as of 6th sem)
Name
Sunil S Nayak
Branch
CSE
CGPA
327 (Q 168 ; V 159), 4.0
TOEFL/IELTS
112 / Didn't take IELTS
CMU (MET (Master of Entertainment Technology)),
SFU Surrey (Canada) (MSc - Interactive Arts and Technology),
USC (MS - CS Game Development),
GeorgiaTech (MS - CS Graphics)
MIT Media Lab (Master of Science) (had to request for IELTS Waiver)
UWM (MS in CS Graphics)
MIT Media Lab (MAS) - Too many amazing profiles and portfolios among which mine was probably
outmatched in every possible way (It's the best place for research in the world). Also, I didn't know about
this while applying, but it turns out that some teams in MAS weren't admitting Masters students for the
upcoming year.
UWM - No idea. Maybe because my focus seemed a little farther from Graphics and closer to VR and
Interactive Arts.
Admits:
CMU - Most probably because of my rich portfolio (Music Production + Music Club + Programming +
Summer internship which gave me experience with the Oculus Rift AND Unity3D) - I thought I messed up
the interview. (Tips - DON'T DEPEND ON COLLEGE INTERNET FOR SKYPE INTERVIEWS).
GaTech - No clue.
SFU - I'd interned there under a Prof the previous summer and the Prof knew me well and he was also
on the selection committee. All set.
USC - Maybe because of that ^ internship.
Fall 16
CSE
Take a look at my online portfolio (and probably also make one for yourself)
http://sunilnayak133.portfoliobox.io
Mitacs funding could've been possible for SFU (because it's in Canada), but didn't apply for it because
CMU took priority. Also was offered TA/RAship at SFU separate from Mitacs funding.
No other funding.
Tips on writing SoP
Be concise, get to the point, they don't have enough time to read through 3 pages about your glory days.
You need to stand out and you need to do it fast. I wrote a 1.5 page SOP, with bold parts for emphasis
and linked them to some of my work. Apparently it worked.
Try to avoid being too sappy (but a pinch of Bollywood never hurt anyone).
Find a unique selling point to focus on and milk it. Mine was my Mitacs program. It took up about 35% of
my SOP. I did write about extra curriculars, but idk if it's useful for Masters. Write it anyway, but be
mindful about the amount of text you put in there.
Contact me on Facebook if you need anything else.
Fall 16
ECE
Name
Naveen John
Branch
ECE
CGPA
9
168 + 157, 4.5
TOEFL/IELTS
109
TAMU (MSCE), UWash (MSEE), NCSU (MSCE), ASU (MSCE)
GaTech, UCSD, Purdue
The rejected Universities were ambitious for a reason :P.
5-6 projects (2 in the relevant field), 1 research internship (Uni Paderborn, Germany)
Zilch
Tips on writing SoP
Start writing the SOP real early. Maybe during the summer itself. Keep it as simple as possible and get it
reviewed from as many people as possible and incorporate changes only if you think it is actually going
to make a difference.
Recommendation letters are more important that what most people assume it is. Further, get recos from
people who know you really well and can write a personalised one, rather than a generic reco. I'd
recommend taking 1 from the Dept. and 2 from your internship (assuming 2 internships). For any queries
email me - naveenjohn94@gmail.com
P.S My specialisation is VLSI and Comp Architecture
Fall 16
ECE
Name
Pradyumna B S
Branch
ECE
CGPA
9.72
168+154, 4.5
TOEFL/IELTS
107
Georgia Tech (Signal processing and machine learning) (PhD)
Purdue University (SPML) (PhD)
University of southern California (ECE) (MS)
UC Berkeley (EECS) (PhD)
UIUC (ECE) (MS)
UCSD (Signal and Image processing) (MS)
Admit - 1 Journal publication, CGPA
Reject - Lower Verbal in GRE
IAS summer research intern at IISc
Qualcomm India
No Funding yet.
Tips on writing SoP
Always write the truth. Proof read it multiple times
Start preparations in early summer to apply to next fall.
Contact : pradyumna.suresha@gmail.com
9.72
Fall 16
ECE
6.8
Name
Krishna Harshith Dhulipati
Branch
ECE
CGPA
6.8
167+168, 5.0
TOEFL/IELTS
119
Duke University, Northeastern University, Dartmouth (waitlist) (Master's in Engineering Management)
USC, UC Irvine, Cornell, Columbia
Low CGPA if anything
One internship, several projects in the delartment
$20000/yr scholarship at Northeastern University
Tips on writing SoP
Do not commit any errors of grammar, or spelling whatsoever.
Be precise and concise in your language.
Your SoP is supposed to explain the journey that led you to your program and college choice. It's not the
document where you restate your CV. They already have that document. It's called your CV.
Peace out. Something will come through. Just don't mess up.
Your recos are very important and most profs at NITK will allow you to write them yourself. Capitalize on
that.
Phone: +9172595353
Fall 16
ECE
9.21
Name
Abhinav Roy Burman
Branch
ECE
CGPA
9.21
168+165, 4
TOEFL/IELTS
116
Georgia Tech (ECE)(MS), CMU (ECE)(MS)
Stanford, Berkeley, UIUC, UCLA (MS), Cornell (PHD)
Decent Gre score, Cgpa, good projects, strong recommendations, extra curriculars
TI, Sclumberger
None
Tips on writing SoP
Take your time, keep at least 3 weeks between first draft and last. Be genuine. Use impeccable
grammar. Non flowery, straightforward sentences. Sound friendly and humble.
aroyburman94@gmail.com
Fall 16
ECE
9.38
Name
Varun Reddy
Branch
ECE
CGPA
9.38
170+154, 5.0
TOEFL/IELTS
115
Georgia Tech (MS), ETH Zurich (MS), USC (MS)
Stanford (MS), UCB (MS/PhD), UT Austin (MS), UIUC (MS)
Admits - Good GPA, 2 research projects (1 abroad), good letters of recommendation.
Rejects - No relevant research publications, probably this is something required to obtain admission into
tier-1 institutes. Additionally, securing admission into colleges such as Stanford and UCB generally
requires an LOR from a Professor who is well known to the admission committees over there. This is
something I didn't have.
After 2nd year - IAS scholarship at Chennai Mathematical Institute (2.5 months)
After 3rd year - Charpak Scholarship at Eurecom, Sophia Antipolis (2.5 months)
Secured none.
Tips on writing SoP
Be crisp and to the point. Remember that the main focus of the SoP must be why you would like to take
up an MS/PhD, and not simply a detailed Resume. There's not much use in elaborating irrelevant
achievements.
Fall 16
ECE
9.38
Make sure to work with a Professor in your area of interest, and to obtain a great LOR from him/her. This
will greatly boost your chances.
I can be reached at varun.amar.reddy@gmail.com
Fall 16
ECE
9.55
Name
Pranav Channakeshava
Branch
ECE
CGPA
9.55
331 (170,161,5)
TOEFL/IELTS
115
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
UT Austin (Comp arch and Embedded processors)
Pudue University
University of Southern California
ETH Zurich
(All MS applications for Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Stanford
UC Berkeley
Gatech
Strong profile overall with good scores along with relevant projects and internships. Having a couple of
research publications including an IEEE one also helped
Internships1. Indian Academy of Sciences -Summer Research Fellowship - Bangalore (2nd year)
2. University of Tuebingen, Germany - End-to-Display Encryption(E2DE) Research Project (3rd year)
I had several relevant projects from courses and otherwise. I also continued to work with my German
professor for my major project
I didn't apply for funding in any of my applications
Fall 16
ECE
9.55
Tips on writing SoP

It's important to keep the SOP concise and not add content for the sake of it. You would want to string
together all the projects, internships and research experience which are relevant to the field that you're
applying for. A brief discussion of what research work you want to do and how your experience can help
you pursue it, is also a crucial aspect in order to build a convincing case as a potential MS student. Do
mention how the program and university will specifically help you realise your aspirations and research
interests so tailoring the SOP for each application is vital.
Apart from looking at rankings, it is very essential that you evaluate how the program that you're applying
to, suits your interests. There is little point in applying for an university that does not have much research
work in your area. Also, get recommendations from professors who know you well. It's good to get 1 from
a prof who has taught you several courses, 1 whom you've worked under in college and 1 from your
internship guide.
Email Id: pranavc234@gmail.com
You can also ping me on Fb.
Fall 16
ECE
7.9
Name
Aparna Velampudi
Branch
ECE
CGPA
7.9
320
TOEFL/IELTS
118
MS Computer Engineering - NCSU, CU Boulder
UT Austin, University of Michigan, TAMU, USC, UMass
The colleges I chose were very research oriented colleges (UT Austin, UMich, TAMU) and I didn't have
any of it. Plus my grades are slightly lower on the acads scale.
Make sure all the work you do/have done can be put under the same umbrella or adds to the area you're
applying to. It's vital to have a single focus, because as an MS applicant, they're looking for your potential
as a research student as well as the degree of your interest.
All of my work fit pretty comfortably under the Computer Engineering area.
Internship Third year summer, with the innovation team at Visteon (a company that works with electronics in cars)
worked in the internet of things area and dabbled in some other slightly relevant stuff.
Projects 1. Microprocessors & Embedded systems - a mini project with the LPC1768 where we created a basic
home air monitoring system.
2. VLSI Design - a mini project where we created static and quasi-adiabatic logic based 3 bit carry look
Fall 16
ECE
7.9
ahead adder on NGSPICE

3. Internet of Things and Embedded Systems - My major project was essentially building a full fledged
prototype of a remote air quality monitoring system connected through the internet so data could be
made available publicly.
I didn't get any funding but I really recommend you get in touch with professors as soon as you get
admits to explore options. Also, apply to any and all scholarships you can. Easy advice to give, hard to
follow through on.
Tips on writing SoP
Be sure of what you want to do and make sure that comes across in your SOP.
Don't try to be pretentious and say crap, keep it to the point. Your SOP is NOT the place for creative
writing, it's the only 1000 (or less) words you get to talk about why you want to spend the next 2-5 years
of your life, and your career in this area. Make use of it. (Don't have a long SOP, I'd say the ideal length
is about 1- 1.5 pages. If you can, write it on Latex. Looks so much more professional, and I've read
enough to know that profs read more into it when it's done like that.)
At the same time, make sure it flows. Even if all of your projects and internships don't fall under the same
umbrella, there's always a way to show that it has constructively helped you get to where you are. Don't
dump your resume on your SOP either, talk about why you want to do what you want to do. What
specific area do you wish to work in during/after your MS, that kind of stuff. How you got interested in
your area. How each of your experiences shaped what you want to do.
Also, please research your colleges well in advance. That's a process that should take AT LEAST one
month, if you want to do it properly. Read papers of the professors you mention in your SOP and why
you like their work/why you think you'd like to try a different approach to their work. Be analytical in the
way you write, but let your SOP flow. If you want to talk about your extra currics, please make sure they
are relevant. Nobody reading your SOP cares if you've played a sport for 4 years unless you are talking
about your dedication to the things you enjoy. Everything you have done can be a reason as to why you
want to pursue a postgrad degree, it's up to you to choose to show what you want.
Get people to proofread your work. But make the changes you want only. Don't have long, runny
sentences. Make sure your grammar is on point. The little things go a long way.
Writing an SOP is difficult. It's a craft that I don't think most people get right. IF you are the slightest bit
normal, you will never be happy with yours. But you should be satisfied. The most generic piece of
advice, but the truest, is to start early. If not, you're going to end up feeling less than satisfied. Have a
good hook cause your SOP probably gets a skim of about 2 mins, so make sure the grad committee isn't
wasting their time. Get their attention.
Please email only : avelampudi@gmail.com
Fall 16
ECE
9.4
Name
Sagnik Dam
Branch
ECE
CGPA
9.4
167 + 165
TOEFL/IELTS
TOEFL - 119
MS with specialization in Computer Architecture(fr everything)
Purdue
UMich Ann Arbor
TAMU
Betkeley
Stanford
UIUC
UCLA
GaTech
I dont think my SOP was upto scratch. Also, I dont think I did enough research work in this field to justify
my interests
Plus, there's the lack of an internship in second year
One foreign intern at Hepia, Switzerland on a relevant topic related to Comp Arch
None. Its really hard to get funding for an MS
Tips on writing SoP
Always be honest about your work and keep it simple. It should not be a replica of your CV.
It should have content about your motivation to pursue the program that you're applying for(something I
Fall 16
ECE
neglected I think)
sagnikdam@gmail.com
9.4
Fall 16
EEE
Name
Shankar Suresh Kartha
Branch
EEE
CGPA
6.91
167 + 156, 4
TOEFL/IELTS
106
Cornell University (Systems Engg) (MEng), NYU (Electrical Engg) (MS)
U Mich (Electrical Engg.) ( MS), ASU (EECE) (MEng), UCSD (ECE) (MS)
Reject: No research paper, average GRE score and low pointer.
RBEI Bangalore, Philips development center Noida, Schlumberger Doha
Received scholarship for NYU.
Tips on writing SoP
Keep it real.
Shankar Suresh (fb profile name)
6.91
Fall 16
EEE
7.89
Name
Aditi Chalisgaonkar
Branch
EEE
CGPA
7.89
336 (170 + 166, 5)
TOEFL/IELTS
TOEFL - 117
CMU (Product and Service Design) (MII-PS = Master of Integrated Innovation - Products and Services),
Georgia Tech (Industrial Design) (MID = Master of Industrial Design)
Delft (Integrated Product Design) (MS), Art Center College of Design (Product Design) (MS), Royal
College of Art + Imperial College London (Global Innovation Design) (MSc + MA), Pratt (Industrial
Design) (MID), Rochester (Industrial Design) (MFA), RISD (Industrial Design) (MID)
Delft - not from a Mech background and portfolio was not good enough. Others were generic reasons.
Summer after 2nd year - 4 weeks at Cadence. I learned to use their software.
Summer after 3rd year - 4 weeks at Fractal Analytics where I worked in natural language processing.
No funding for the CMU program. Very little and competitive funding for Georgia Tech.
Tips on writing SoP
Really get down to why you want to do it. Have an understanding of how it is the perfect next step in your
life (should understand what the program will offer you for that). Have many people read it over. Expect
to go through many drafts.
Spend enough time and effort. Plan ahead. Try to apply as early as possible, preferably much before the
deadline.
To contact, email me at Aditi@chalisgaonkar.com
Fall 16
EEE
8.52
Name
Abhilash V R
Branch
EEE
CGPA
8.52
170 + 155, 4.0
TOEFL/IELTS
114
TAMU (MS)
NCSU (MS)
University of Colorado (MS)
GaTech (MS)
UCIrvine (MS) - Still waiting
I guess having my SOP reviewed by Masters students helped, the LORs (which I wrote) clearly
showcased my talents. No idea what my Profs wrote though ...
Rejects were likely due to not having any publications and research experience . Also my GPA was not
high enough when you consider that ~40% students have 9 pointers in some colleges.
Robert Bosch - Worked on Wireless Power Transfer after my 2nd year
2 years work exp - Worked on Lambda Sensors at Bosch
TA/RA and Scholarship are available but I haven't gotten anything though.
Tips on writing SoP
Start as early as possible, write an initial version completely by yourself, read other SOPs to get some
ideas, get it reviewed by as many people as possible.
Make sure that you write an SOP based on the college rather than a general one for all (having a general
template is alright though). Your SOP should talk about what you will do if you get an admit (keep it
technical) and also the reasons why you are pursuing a MS/PhD degree.
Fall 16
EEE
8.52

Some words regarding my job experience,
I got placed in Robert Bosch and was under the impression that the work will be satisfying. However, this
was not the case at all since the team I was assigned to mainly provided a software service to the
German counterparts.
It is very likely that this is not true for the placement offers you have received. But my advice would be
that you don't stop trying just because you got placed. Try to research your options as thoroughly as
possible.
Think about your career goals and decide if a MS degree will help you get there. Having a clear idea
about why you want to do your MS will help you write a better SOP and also remain focused through the
long procedure.
email : vrabhilash92@gmail.com
Fall 16
EEE
9.1
Name
Supriya N
Branch
EEE
CGPA
9.1
315,4
TOEFL/IELTS
106
Georgia Tech (PhD)
UIUC, RICE, USC
A strong statement of purpose
Recommendation letters
2nd year - IISc, department of mathematics
3rd year - IISc, department of electrical engineering
Teaching assistantship
Tips on writing SoP
Do not have a clich beginning. SoP should have a good flow. Build a story, it should not be a verbose
resume.
Emailing professors while applying helps in the case of PhD.
For further details, send me a mail at supriyanagesh94@gmail.com
Fall 16
Electrical and Electronics
9.13
Name
Akanksha Periwal
Branch
CGPA
9.13
334 (170 + 164, 4.5)
TOEFL/IELTS
117
CMU (MS in ECE)
USC (MS)
GaTech
UT Austin
UCSD
Didn't have a stellar CGPA. And my projects were a little spread out.
2nd year internship at IISc (on an unrelated topic)
Mini projects in college and outside that were more related to the field I applied for (Embedded systems
and Comp Architecture)
None as of now
Tips on writing SoP
Some say your SoP is the most essential part of your application. They already have your resume, so
make your SoP convey what your resume couldn't. Keep it simple and maintain a flow of thought. Start
writing early, I started mine in July. And finalized one only in October. Ask a lot of seniors to review it,
they will suggest a lot of changes from their experience which will make it a lot better.
Fall 16
9.13
Plan out the application process so that you aren't rushing through it at the end. All the best.
Mail me if you need any help :) periwal.akanksha@gmail.com
Fall 16
Electronics and Communication
8.44
Name
Sharang Kulkarni
Branch
Electronics and Communication
CGPA
8.44
325 (170+155, 4)
TOEFL/IELTS
109
George Washington University
NYU, Columbia, Northwestern, CMU
Most likely reasons for rejects: Not much relevant coursework (E&C;), no research papers and no work
experience
2 internships in data analytics, multiple projects in machine learning and data analytics, multiple online
courses completed
None
Tips on writing SoP
Keep it crisp. Don't bullshit too much. Try and remove redundancies as much as possible.
Try to write research papers if you intend to enter data science.
+91 9742688939
sharang94@gmail.com
Fall 16
Information Technology
9.62
Name
Karthik S
Branch
CGPA
9.62
317 (Q: 167, V: 150, AWA: 4)
TOEFL/IELTS
116
1. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign - MS in Computer Science
2. University of Texas, Austin - MS in Computer Science
3. University of California, San Diego - MS in Computer Science and Engineering
4. University of Wisconsin, Madison - MS in Computer Science
5. University of Southern California - MS in Computer Science
University of California, Berkeley - MS/PhD in Computer Science
Carnegie Mellon University - MS and PhD in Computer Science
Georgia Institute of Technology - MS in Computer Science
University of Maryland, College Park - MS in Computer Science
Reasons for admits :
1. Relevant projects and internships in area of interest.
2. Student paper in top conference in field of interest.
3. Strong and positive LoRs from professors.
Reason for rejects:
1. PhD is completely different ball-game from MS. Research interests should match very accurately.
2. Maybe low GRE score too.
1. Summer Internship 2015 at University of Geneva, Switzerland
Area of work : high performance computing, scientific computing
2. Google Summer of Code 2015
Area of work : functional logic programming languages, compilers
Fall 16
9.62
3. Google Summer of Code 2014

Area of work : finite state machines, web application development
Have applied for T.A. and R.A.
Tips on writing SoP
Keep it original and technical. Always write the first draft without looking at some other SoP. Revisions
can be made based on reading other SoPs.
Get it reveiewed from seniors pursuing PhD(atleast for MS by research) or MS in the same university
you're applying to.
Good luck and start early. Keeping to timeline in final year is hard :P
Email : karthik.senthil94@gmail.com
Fall 16
IT
Name
S Ashish Bharadwaj
Branch
IT
CGPA
8.81
325(167 + 158, 5.0)
TOEFL/IELTS
116
University of Southern California MS in CS Data Science
SUNY Stony Brook MS in CS
CMU LTI MIIS
Georgia Tech MS in CS
UCSD MS in CS
UCLA MS in CS
UMass Amherst MS in CS Data Science
Reason for rejects:
Low GPA.
No research internship.
Recommendations.
Reason for admits:
Not that low a GPA. :P
One publication.
Lots of relevant projects.
I believe my SoP was decent too.
As a wise man once said - "GPA is God."
Fidelity Investments.
Lots of projects in the field of ML, NLP and IR.
8.81
Fall 16
IT
8.81
None.
Tips on writing SoP
I typed with the flow and edited it multiple times while applying to different colleges. Worked for me.
Points to remember :
1. There is no perfect opening line. No point wasting a lot of time finding one.
2. Make a list of all the projects you want to include. Your SoP should sell yourself as best as possible to
the admissions committee.
3. Club similar projects together. Your paragraphs should have a smooth flow. So avoid any abrupt
changes in style or content.
4. Write one paragraph about why you want to pursue master's.
5. Write one paragraph about why you have picked that specific school. You can include research work
and names of Professors at that school to strengthen your argument.
Hit me up on Facebook or drop an email at ashishbs7@gmail.com.
Fall 16
Mechanical
8.59
Name
Akshay Ramani
Branch
Mechanical
CGPA
8.59
328 (159+169, 4.5)
TOEFL/IELTS
113
Specialisation :Heat Transfer Fluid Mechanics and Energy
Program: MS in Mechanical Engineering
University of Pennsylvania (Destination )
Carnegie Mellon University
University of Washington Seattle
Texas A&M; University
University of Southern California (pending)
University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign
North Carolina State University
Admits I guess I could credit to my decent GRE score, GPA and SOP. Rejects dont really come with a
reason and are often erratic (depending on the number of seats they have for international students, your
research interests, etc) but if I had to point out a weakness in my profile it would be the lack of papers,
publications and research internships. You dont really need them but can give you an edge over other
people applying.
Three Internships. First one was quite pointless and can be at best called an "Industrial Training". All of
them were in Dubai :P . Quite a few projects in my field of Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Energy
which boosted my profile.
Almost all my colleges give RA/TA options except Carnegie Mellon. Upenn offers them depending on
your performance in the first semester.
Fall 16
Mechanical
8.59
Tips on writing SoP

You will hear this from almost everyone because this cannot be stressed on enough. Spend almost 3-4
months on this. Do NOT copy this. Focus on your academic interests and profile rather than your
personal life. Your SOP is a techno personal essay when you apply for Masters. avoid talking about
family experiences outside academia. This is one of the more crucial aspects of your profile and you
should get it checked, double checked, triple checked and so on by as many seniors as you can till you
think its the best you can give.
Apply to as many Stellar colleges as you can, (but do keep atleast 1 each of safe and reach colleges)
you are applying once make it count. Apply to 7-8 colleges.
Inform your recommendors early, choose proffs based on how well they know you and not on how senior
they are. Dont forget, you are applying for the college not your proffs :P Choose proffs who have taught
you atleast 2 courses or been your Major Project guide. Recommendors need to be able to judge how
well you are doing at their courses or how well you work in a team.
I didn't expect to get into any of the colleges I got into. Dont get bogged down by a less than average
GRE score or GPA. Do keep a few sure shot safe colleges if you are sure of pursuing MS.
Contact me anytime on Facebook, or by email at apr_523@live.com, Ill be happy to help. Good luck!
Fall 16
Mechanical
8.4
Name
Rohan Prabhu
Branch
Mechanical
CGPA
8.4
165+155, 4.5
TOEFL/IELTS
115
Penn State (Engineering Design), TU Denmark(Engineering design and Applied Mechanics), KTH-Royal
Institute of Technology, Sweden(Engineering Design), Politecnico di Milano(Design and Engineering).
UW Madison, UT Austin, Purdue, ETH, CMU, Maryland College Park. (All MS in Mechanical)
Admits: Decent profile, relevant courses and internships, decent design portfolio. Rejects: Got rejects to
Mechanical Engineering programs and accepted to design programs. Should've applied to design only.
(Speculation)
Interns:
1. FIAT Pune - Industrial
2. Stanley Black and Decker - Technical Product Marketing
3. Incredible Technologies (credr.com) - Mechanical Product Design and Research
Projects:
1. Baja (3 years + Team captain)
2. Mini projects in different courses
3. Elective in consumer marketing by HSM department (Yes, choose your electives wisely)
Nothing yet. Still awaiting
Tips on writing SoP
PUT RELEVANT STUFF ONLY. Stick to things that are required for your course. Do not try to include
everything you've done in college.
Fall 16
Mechanical

Preferred communication medium: Facebook
8.4
Fall 16
Mechanical
9.73/10
Name
Robin Singh
Branch
Mechanical
CGPA
9.73/10
168+152, 4.0
TOEFL/IELTS
115
MIT (MS+PhD), Stanford University (MS), Cornell University (PhD), University of Michigan (PhD), CMU
(MS)
Purdue University (PhD), UC Berkeley (PhD)
Coherent research work for 2 years, good recommendations from my internships and NITK, Good
CGPA, good publications
Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE), IISc Bangalore- Summer 2014
Department of EE, Stanford University ( SN Bose Scholars Program)- Summer 2015
Yes, ( except CMU and Stanford)
Tips on writing SoP
Be specific, technical, no bragging on your achievements, chronological way of presentation in SOP.
Repetitive proof reading to check grammar and flow. A good SOP needs a lot of time.
Pls contact me on robinsinghme@gmail or robinme@mit.edu for any kind of help. I will try to help in the
best possible way in my potential. Good luck!
Fall 16
Mechanical
8.06
Name
Savio Norbert D Souza
Branch
Mechanical
CGPA
8.06
168+170, 6
TOEFL/IELTS
120
TU Delft, Columbia, University of Washington
None
My third year internship was very relevant to the field I intend to pursue, under a guide who is quite
reputed. Also, the Professor was kind of enough to give me sufficient LOR's for my applications.
Two: Industrial Training at Larsen and Toubro Heavy Engineering, Powai. Research Internship at
ICAMS, RUB.
U Wash offered me a partial waiver on my tuition.
Tips on writing SoP
It would be a good idea to write about what you intend to do after a graduate program and what your
degree will help you achieve; in detail. This would be more effective than a SoP which is just a detailed
bio-data.
I'd suggest you to spend plenty of time researching universities, professors, labs and the opportunities
that you would have on graduation and give these areas more thought than pure rankings.
Feel free to contact me at : thesaviodsouza@gmail.com
Fall 16
Mechanical
7.7
Name
Karan Suresh Narayan
Branch
Mechanical
CGPA
7.7
333 (168 + 165, 4.5)
TOEFL/IELTS
114
TU Delft (MSc, Sustainable Energy Technologies)
Georgia Tech (MSME)
Gatech does NOT admit students for the terminal MS program in the Mech dept. This has been
confirmed in an email with them. I do not know why they still choose to keep the portal open. If you apply,
it must be for a PhD. Note - this is only for Mech.
GE Oil & Gas - Coimbatore (7 weeks). Summer after 2nd year. Worked in lean manufacturing. Got so
bored I was nearly brain dead. That's just me - fellow interns loved it, and those who made it to the
prestigious OMLP (I was a year younger and so not eligible, but not deserving either) are having a ball.
GE Power & Water, JFWTC, Bangalore (5 weeks). Summer after 3rd year. Worked on gas turbine fuel
delivery systems, specifically the filtration module. Beautiful work environment, and got extremely lucky
with a terrific mentor. The work I did here and the reco it led to probably clinched my admit. Highly
recommend it to anyone keen on tech. Work to get the EEDP - the engineering equivalent of OMLP.
Major project is in renewable energy - my description of the project was much more impressive than the
work we actually did.
Did not qualify for the TUD Excellence Scholarship (8+ GPA reqd). May still get a dept (Applied
Sciences) scholarship. Highly unlikely with my grades.
Fall 16
Mechanical
7.7
Tips on writing SoP

The generic advice holds - flowery language without substance is about as appealing as mess food.
Make multiple drafts - leave spontaneity to dates. And most usefully, grab hold of a senior who is in that
field/college, or is just somehow willing to tolerate your requests. The help I got after nagging one of
them is about 90% of the reason why I got a better college than I should have hoped for.
Email: karangoa@gmail.com
Phone: +918123451205/ +971555518364
Any further tips I may have will depend on what you're looking for. In general, don't apply to more than 10
- if you do, you're not applying for the right reasons. Do your research - courses, projects, professors,
jobs, social scene, weather, food. Everything counts, but establish priorities. Don't follow the herd, but
don't be unique if the only benefit is that you're unique.
Fall 16
Mechanical
Name
Daniel Isaac
Branch
Mechanical
CGPA
8.61
325 (165+160, 4,5)
TOEFL/IELTS
114
University of Michigan Ann Arbor (MS Mechanical specializing in Manufacturing)
Penn State University
Berkley
Georgia Tech
For admits:
Above average pointer
Decent GRE score
Internships were in the same field
Strong letters of recommendation
Interest in MP topic
For rejects:
Not in top 3 of class
No publications or papers
Madina Gulf WLL Qatar (2014)
Festo GPC Bangalore (2015)
8.61
Fall 16
Mechanical
8.61
Applied for RA/TA but at UMICH the chances of getting one are less likely as compared to other
universities.
Tips on writing SoP
When it comes to your Sop just be as straight forward as you can. There's no need for long emotional
stories as long as you have content to back you up in your statement.
Main criteria I was told they look into are :
Areas of research interested in.
Academics in college(especially if you have a strong GPA/papers to back it up).
Major project if it's sort of relevant.
Professors with which you wish to work under and why.
Why choose this college over others.
You can add in more if needed but these are most of the major areas which they look at in your SOP
If you really want to get into a great University I'd suggest the following :
At least a 320+ in GRE(For ivy leagues like Stanford Berkley you can assume 330+)
At least 105+ in Toefl for mostly all Universities
Start preparing and getting familiar with the GRE exam as soon as possible(preferably do the exam
during your 3rd year summer)
Also get your recommendation letters from the professors/mentors you have in mind, by about
November, as that's when the first few deadlines begin.
Most profs usually will let you write your own LOR so use the opportunity wisely.
PS I really hope I'm not making someone wary about pursuing an MS, but the truth is you'll need to slog
it off for a short while and keep concentrated on your applications and SoPs and LORs if you want to
better your chances of beating the competition.
Fall 16
Mechanical Engineering
7.83
Name
Shreyas Suresh Shenoy
Branch
CGPA
7.83
320 (164 + 156, 4.5)
TOEFL/IELTS
110
1)Carnegie Mellon University - Destination (M.S in Mechanical Engineering (MEMS), Research option)
2)TU Delft (M.S in Mechanical Engineering. Track: Precision and Micro-systems Engineering)
3)Arizona State University (M.S in Mechanical Engineering)
University of Southern California, University of Florida (Probably. Application is still under review)
1) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
2) University of Pennsylvania.
3) University of California, Davis.
All of them being M.S in Mechanical.
Reason for admits:
Combination of a pretty decent SOP, LORs and projects in the area of MEMS. My undergraduate thesis
was also in the same field. So I'm guessing that helped a lot. Also, good extra-curricular activities were
certainly plus points.
Reason for rejects:
The programs at UIUC and UPenn were extremely competitive this year I suppose. A higher GPA would
have definitely helped. Also, no papers published yet - one under review now.
UC Davis - It was a safe school. I don't know why I didn't make the cut.
1)Industrial training at Virgo Valves and Controls, Pune in the summer after my second year.
2)Summer Internship at Indian Institute of Science after my third year. I worked at the computational
intelligence laboratory in the Aerospace Department.
Fall 16
7.83
CMU doesn't offer RA/TA positions to it's M.S students.
Tips on writing SoP
I'd suggest you start making a bullet point list of all the things that you want to include in your SOP by at
least July-August. Once you're done with that, you can start making a rough draft around September.
Writing a statement of purpose is a very tedious process. First, try structuring your SOP by filling in the
details without caring for the word limit. After you're satisfied with the content, try trimming your word
count. Emphasize more on how the projects/internships helped you gain skills etc rather than describing
the project in detail (you would anyway include that in your resume). Also, be sure to stress more on your
future goals and how that particular program would be the best for you.
Most importantly, don't bullshit. Be direct and keep it simple. Get your SOP reviewed by as many people
as you can.
Feel free to contact me on Facebook if you have any queries. Good Luck!
Fall 16
8.81
Name
Anurag Singh
Branch
CGPA
8.81
165+152, 5.0
TOEFL/IELTS
104
TAMU, NUS, USC, UFL, NEU, ASU, SUNY BUFFALO, RIT, USF, MS&T;,UTA (All MS Industrial
Engineering)
Got calls from IIMs and admitted to Symbiosis in India in MBA(not relevant :P)
Gatech (MS Industrial Engineering)
Admits- profile was matching related program- I had multiple internships and coursework related to the
field
Reject- was initially waitlisted- so I was considered for the program- was rejected only in the end due to
lack of seats- was encouraged to apply later
3- industrial internships
1- international research internship (though in field of aerospace)
Multiple projects during coursework in college (including major project)
Didn't specifically apply for funding
But still ended up getting scholarships based on my profile
Tips on writing SoP
Understand what you want to do in the program and be honest and be clear in the SOP. It should clearly
reflect your goals and aspirations
Evaluators really take it seriously and you must work hard on it
Fall 16

Choose a program which really interests you
The admission process would be a breeze if you know what you want to do
Contact: +971-50-8594461/ +91-9740251169
8.81
Fall 16
Metallurgical and Materials
9.68
Name
Ajay Krishnan
Branch
CGPA
9.68
166/162/4.0
TOEFL/IELTS
119
Cornell, UIUC, CMU
UC Berkeley, Stanford
My admits were all for Masters degrees. Branch topper, GRE, research experience via projects and
internships/recommendations and a pretty solid SoP got me my admits.
I reckon my rejects are because I don't have any publications/papers(you need those to crack Stanford
and Berkeley). I'm pretty sure that all the other boxes were ticked though.
Second year Internship in IISc.
Active member of NITKRacing
Third year in the University of Toronto via Mitacs Globalink.
Also got DAAD-Wise and could have interned in Germany at Hochschule Karlsruhe
$14,000 scholarship, going towards a tuition fee reduction.
Tips on writing SoP
It's supposed to talk about your journey. What your interests are, how you developed them and how
they've changed. Talk about your projects and internships and how they've helped you come to a
decision about what you want to do. Tell them why you feel you'll be a good fit for their program and how
their program will benefit you, which prof you'd like to work with etc.
Write, re-write, re-write till you pull your hair out. Don't forget to ask your family members/seniors/friends
for an opinion! :D
Fall 16

Ping me anytime!
+91-9449681719(whatsapp)
You can contact me via Facebook or email too.
ajay.v.krishnan@gmail.com
Enjoy your time in NITK and all the very best for your applications! :)
9.68
Fall 16
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
8.86
Name
Eureka Pai K
Branch
CGPA
8.86
319(164+155)
TOEFL/IELTS
110
Michigan State University, Materials Science, PhD
Northwestern University, MSE, PhD
Georgia Institute of Technology, MSE, PhD
Pennsylvania State University, MSE, PhD
University of Michigan, MSE, PhD
Admits: Summer internship in the same university
Rejects: They did not mention any specific reason, but my CGPA and GRE weren't good enough for the
universities I applied.
Summer research internship in IISc (May-July 2014)
Internship in Global Engineering and Advanced Research-Department of Chemical Engineering and
Materials Science- Michigan State University (May-July 2015)
Engineering Distinguished Fellowship (Fully funded with RA)
Tips on writing SoP
Start early and make a good number of revisions
All the best. Feel free to send me an email with any questions.
eurekapai@gmail.com
Fall 16
9.36
Name
Nathan Harold Pereira
Branch
CGPA
9.36
320 (165,155,4)
TOEFL/IELTS
115
ASU, Materials Science and Engineering (MS)
Many:
UIUC, UMN, UT-Austin, CMU, Penn State, NCSU [All Materials Science and Engineering (MS)]
For Admit: A good CGPA, recommendations and a decent GRE score definitely helped. Couple of
seniors from NITK are presently studying at ASU so that may have helped.
For rejects: It's harder to say about the rejects. I may have lost out mostly because of my GRE Score.
Some of the colleges I applied to may not be knowing of NITK. My profile was quite decent though.
One thing to keep in mind is that your profile will be evaluated in a holistic manner. They look at
everything and then make a decision. The more strengths, the better. However, if you stand out among
other applicants in some way (for example, a good publication despite your not so good GPA), you still
have a good chance.
1. IIT Bombay
2. NML Jamshedpur
My program itself doesn't have but there are a lot of scholarships that are given out like:
1. Narotham Sekhsaria Foundation's Scholarship
2. J.N. Tata Endowment
3. Aga Khan Foundation's Scholarship
Fall 16
9.36
Tips on writing SoP

Be very specific and write to the point. Read through the requirements of the program carefully and write
accordingly. If you have contacts of family/friends already studying abroad, take their help as they can
provide a good insight.
It is useful to look up about the ongoing research done by some of the professors and mention how your
interests and work align with theirs. This was they know that you have done your research and are not
simply applying for the sake of it.
An SOP is like a virtual interview. You have to convince the department to accept you and give proper
reasons as in an interview. This is done through your essay. Make sure you stick to their word/page limit.
Start applying as soon as possible. Shortlist a set of 8-10 colleges by looking carefully at their programs
which you want to do. Make sure that you have understood all the requirements and procedures carefully
and that you actually like the program. Inform your profs about the recommendations well in advance. It
always works to your advantage if you apply well within the deadlines. Do have a look at the fees as well
before applying to see if it is feasible. I don't mean to discourage you but no point in applying to a college
which will simply cause extra tension with regards to funding. However, if you really like an expensive
program go ahead and apply and plan for how you will pay. You could apply for RA/TA or the
scholarships I mentioned. But make sure all programs are not like that.
Try to apply to a mix of colleges and not just only top tier. You would not like it if you don't get a single
admit. Plus, it would be a waste of money.
Be ready to shell out a lot of money, as the process till getting the visa is itself expensive. ($200 for GRE,
$175 for TOEFL, About $70 dollars on an average per college you apply to) So keep that in mind.
Contact:
+919663305118 [going to change :)]
nathan94.pereira@gmail.com
Fall 16
Metallurgical and Materials Enineering
Name
Murari Ramkumar
Branch
Metallurgical and Materials Enineering
CGPA
8.9
324,4
TOEFL/IELTS
115
MS - UPenn , CMU
MEng - Cornell
MS - UMichigan-AnnArbour
Purdue
GeorgiaTech
MEng - UCBerkley
SOP - reason for admit and strong Reco
3M -R&D; Labs
Thermax -R&D; labs
Nome
Tips on writing SoP
Be original
murari93@gmail.com
8.9

MS Gyan 2016

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Fall 16

Further tips to juniors and contact details

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