Atul shares his experience of studying at a top university of Chicago:Shiksha Success Stories

Studyabroad.shiksha.com got in touch with one of the students – Atul Viswanath, who got admission to Illinois institute of technology’s course MS in Electrical Engineering.

Q: Was US your only choice as study destination or did you consider other countries as well?

Atul Viswanath: I chose US because the way they teach in US is very different than what we are used to in India. Now that I’m here, I can already tell that the course is very research-oriented. The thought process of teachers is also very student-centric, they instill in you the fact that diligence, discipline and ability to think out of the box is what is required. There is a lot of emphasis on experimentation and discovery, and the course is not driven by theory alone. You can call the experience an upgrade in the thought process, which is unlike anything I had in India.

Q: Which universities did you apply to?

AV: I applied to seven universities - Purdue University, Michigan State University, North Caroline State University, University of Dayton, University of Texas at Arlington, SUNY Buffalo and Illinois Institute of Technology.

Q: Did you have any apprehensions when you signed up for Shiksha study abroad counselling service?

AV: Not really, with time I got sure of the calibre of Shiksha counsellors. I have witnessed dedication and sincerity shown by the counsellor during the complete application process. She was very honest and straightforward when I was feeling unsure of getting admission or about the visa interview. She would tell me that it is possible as long as I’m willing to put in the efforts. She assured me that half of this was Shiksha’s responsibility and the other half was mine. So with such a comforting experience, I never doubted Shiksha one bit.

Q: How did you approach your Statement of Purpose and Letters of Recommendation?

AV: I started by first looking at templates of statement of purpose and letters of recommendation online, then I wrote my own draft version. Then my Shiksha counsellor put me in touch with the editor, who helped me streamline the drafts and fine-tune the content. I received valuable feedback from the editor on how I can make my drafts better.

Q: According to you, which was the best thing about the Shiksha counselling services?

AV: The fact that the Shiksha counsellors are so approachable is the best part. Whenever I had a doubt I would WhatsApp the counsellor and she would reply back promptly. Also, my counsellor stood by me during the difficult parts of the application process. When I would receive a rejection letter she would remind me that I’m one of the luckier ones as I had already received acceptance letter for Illinois Institute of Technology.

The department of electrical engineering of my college is considered the best in Chicago and she was right when she told me that if I study here a lot of job opportunities will open for me. I really appreciate her honesty and help.

Q: What, did you think, was the most challenging part about applying to universities abroad?

AV: It has to be the selection of colleges. Before choosing and shortlisting a college you need to know whether you are college fit or not. I think a lot of students don’t realize it and they choose colleges without considering what type of profile the colleges accept or reject. Location of the campus also matters a lot, universities in US could be located in either a city or country setting. If you are from a metropolitan Indian city then it might be difficult for you to adjust to a campus which is at some countryside.

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Q: How is your experience of living in the US so far?

AV: I had a 26 hours long flight so when I landed I was still in a dream-like state. The few of the weirdest things I’m still getting used are driving on the other side of the road and light switches which need to be flicked upwards to turn the lights on. It was so bizarre initially but now I’m getting used to it. My neighbourhood is really clean and well maintained.

You don’t buy tickets on the public buses, you swipe your travel card. It took a couple of days to settle in and now I’m really liking it here.

Q: Do you have any advice for prospective international students?

AV: No matter what, don’t give up. If you fail at any stage, even if it is the final one which is the visa interview, don’t give up the hope. You can always try for a second time. Don’t be scared of taking risks and keeping options open. You need to remember why you started in the first place, if you feel you are ready to study abroad it means you can preserve through those couple of years.

Another advice I would like to give to future study abroad applicants is to be ready to accept the culture of the new country. The way society thinks and functions in the US is really different than what we are used to in India, so be open. This is the steepest learning curve for any Indian student studying or living in the US.

Also, don’t shy away from extracurricular activities. They are important as they help you develop a more polished personality, and there is never a lack of societies and clubs at any college. Whether it is a sorority, fraternity, cultural society or sports clubs, be sure to join at least a couple. Get to know the professors, interact with them so they also remember you. If possible help out the professors during holidays, you will learn a lot from working with them.

Read more Shiksha Success Stories:

• How Priyanka scored a scholarship to study in US
• P. Gopinath's journey to making to the course of his choice at Sweden
• Sourabh shares his experience of successfully applying to universities at US and Canada
• Shubhansh's journey from quitting his job to getting into NJIT
• Vaibhav on why European universities were his exclusive choice
• Why Aishvarya chose a Canadian university over American colleges
• How Ankit made it to Lakehead University's most popular course
• How Medha made the decision between pursuing MBA and MS