Discussion Thread

Hello everyone,

I am Aniket Yadav from India and I completed my B.Tech in Civil Engineering from MM University, Sadopur-Ambala, India with the CGPA of 8.54/10. From last year, I am looking for a research supervisor for my MS in Civil Engineering. For fall 2019, I got admission letters from the following universities but my financial condition is not able to pay the full tuition fee.
1. University of Michigan, Ann-Arbor
2. Eindhoven University of Technology
3. Arizona State University
4. Michigan Technological University

I had applied in some Canadian universities also because of their low tuition fee. However, I got some unexpected rejections. A professor from a top Canadian university responded to my email and accepted me as his graduate student in Jan 2019 (Don't want to disclose his identity). However, in the month of May, I got the rejection email stating that none of the faculty members were able to accept me. The University of Calgary rejected my application stating that I don't meet their eligibility criteria of having Bachelor's GPA of 8.0/10 or 80% over last years from Indian Institutions. However, my GPA is 8.48 and I am still discussing this issue with them. 

I am seriously worried that I won't be able to get admission this year also but I don't know what I should do differently for winter 2020 term? I am seriously depressed that even after working hard on my profile during my bachelor's, I won't be able to do my MS. I have always been fascinated by research work but I didn't know that my financial condition would stop me do master's studies.

Suggestions regarding how to progress with my winter application would be highly welcomed. I am also looking for a research supervisor, who could support my studies by providing TA/RA/Scholarships. Therefore, if any professor is interested in my profile then I would love to have a further conversation with him/her regarding my research proposal. I am looking forward to work on self-healing or air-purifying concrete during my masters. However, I am also open to doing other multidisciplinary studies related to resilient infrastructure or sustainable concrete.

Below is a quick highlight of my profile:
1. Three research papers.
2. Two patents (in review).
3. Among the ASCE top 10 New Faces of Civil Engineering- College Edition for 2017.
4. Two times TEDx licensee/organizer.
5. Delegate at some international summits and conferences.
6. One year voluntary and one year of experience in valuation after the completion of B.Tech.

------------------------------
Aniket Yadav Aff.M.ASCE
Email: aniketyadav550@...
Ph: +919729755921
------------------------------

Hi Aniket,
Don't get too discouraged!

What is your ultimate objective for a career? Are you looking to be a Professional engineer in the US? A researcher? A construction manager? A materials Scientist? etc. Your answer to that question might change my advice and university/program suggestions.

There are many alternatives and timing is always a flexible variable, even if sometimes out of our own control. I'm certain you will overcome these minor setbacks.

I taught in the MS industrial and engineering management programs at the University of Central Missouri and we had many international students from Hyderabad region.  Many had engineering degrees from both domestic and international programs and found it affordable to meet their final objectives, usually as an engineer in transition to be an engineering manager. The same can be said about many programs within the US.  You probably already know this but US universities can be classified by the schools research output - the ones you mentioned fall in the upper classifications, but that doesn't mean other, perhaps more affordable or convenient, graduate programs can't achieve your objectives or aren't producing valuable research. It just depends on your personal situation and goals.

------------------------------
Jesse Kamm PhD, PMP, A.M.ASCE
Senior Vice President of Construction Management
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2019 03:49
From: Aniket Yadav
Subject: Seeking advice regarding master's application

Hello everyone,

I am Aniket Yadav from India and I completed my B.Tech in Civil Engineering from MM University, Sadopur-Ambala, India with the CGPA of 8.54/10. From last year, I am looking for a research supervisor for my MS in Civil Engineering. For fall 2019, I got admission letters from the following universities but my financial condition is not able to pay the full tuition fee.
1. University of Michigan, Ann-Arbor
2. Eindhoven University of Technology
3. Arizona State University
4. Michigan Technological University

I had applied in some Canadian universities also because of their low tuition fee. However, I got some unexpected rejections. A professor from a top Canadian university responded to my email and accepted me as his graduate student in Jan 2019 (Don't want to disclose his identity). However, in the month of May, I got the rejection email stating that none of the faculty members were able to accept me. The University of Calgary rejected my application stating that I don't meet their eligibility criteria of having Bachelor's GPA of 8.0/10 or 80% over last years from Indian Institutions. However, my GPA is 8.48 and I am still discussing this issue with them.

I am seriously worried that I won't be able to get admission this year also but I don't know what I should do differently for winter 2020 term? I am seriously depressed that even after working hard on my profile during my bachelor's, I won't be able to do my MS. I have always been fascinated by research work but I didn't know that my financial condition would stop me do master's studies.

Suggestions regarding how to progress with my winter application would be highly welcomed. I am also looking for a research supervisor, who could support my studies by providing TA/RA/Scholarships. Therefore, if any professor is interested in my profile then I would love to have a further conversation with him/her regarding my research proposal. I am looking forward to work on self-healing or air-purifying concrete during my masters. However, I am also open to doing other multidisciplinary studies related to resilient infrastructure or sustainable concrete.

Below is a quick highlight of my profile:
1. Three research papers.
2. Two patents (in review).
3. Among the ASCE top 10 New Faces of Civil Engineering- College Edition for 2017.
4. Two times TEDx licensee/organizer.
5. Delegate at some international summits and conferences.
6. One year voluntary and one year of experience in valuation after the completion of B.Tech.

------------------------------
Aniket Yadav Aff.M.ASCE
Email: <maskemail>aniketyadav550@...</maskemail>
Ph: +919729755921
------------------------------

Dear Prof. Jesse Kamm,

Thank you for your response.

I have always been involved in research work and I am looking forward to be a researcher in the future. Moreover,  my bachelor degree is not from a top university and I am already facing the drawbacks of it. I am not saying that these universities don't provide quality education but certainly we get more opportunities in terms of employment, research environment etc in a top tier university. At least that's what I have seen here in India. Therefore,  I was trying to get admission into a top tier university. 

Moreover,  I would like to know what should be my approach in contacting a professor?

------------------------------
Aniket Yadav Aff.M.ASCE
Email: aniketyadav550@...
Ph: +919729755921
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2019 16:22
From: Jesse Kamm
Subject: Seeking advice regarding master's application

Hi Aniket,
Don't get too discouraged!

What is your ultimate objective for a career? Are you looking to be a Professional engineer in the US? A researcher? A construction manager? A materials Scientist? etc. Your answer to that question might change my advice and university/program suggestions.

There are many alternatives and timing is always a flexible variable, even if sometimes out of our own control. I'm certain you will overcome these minor setbacks.

I taught in the MS industrial and engineering management programs at the University of Central Missouri and we had many international students from Hyderabad region.  Many had engineering degrees from both domestic and international programs and found it affordable to meet their final objectives, usually as an engineer in transition to be an engineering manager. The same can be said about many programs within the US.  You probably already know this but US universities can be classified by the schools research output - the ones you mentioned fall in the upper classifications, but that doesn't mean other, perhaps more affordable or convenient, graduate programs can't achieve your objectives or aren't producing valuable research. It just depends on your personal situation and goals.

------------------------------
Jesse Kamm PhD, PMP, A.M.ASCE
Senior Vice President of Construction Management

Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2019 03:49
From: Aniket Yadav
Subject: Seeking advice regarding master's application

Hello everyone,

I am Aniket Yadav from India and I completed my B.Tech in Civil Engineering from MM University, Sadopur-Ambala, India with the CGPA of 8.54/10. From last year, I am looking for a research supervisor for my MS in Civil Engineering. For fall 2019, I got admission letters from the following universities but my financial condition is not able to pay the full tuition fee.
1. University of Michigan, Ann-Arbor
2. Eindhoven University of Technology
3. Arizona State University
4. Michigan Technological University

I had applied in some Canadian universities also because of their low tuition fee. However, I got some unexpected rejections. A professor from a top Canadian university responded to my email and accepted me as his graduate student in Jan 2019 (Don't want to disclose his identity). However, in the month of May, I got the rejection email stating that none of the faculty members were able to accept me. The University of Calgary rejected my application stating that I don't meet their eligibility criteria of having Bachelor's GPA of 8.0/10 or 80% over last years from Indian Institutions. However, my GPA is 8.48 and I am still discussing this issue with them.

I am seriously worried that I won't be able to get admission this year also but I don't know what I should do differently for winter 2020 term? I am seriously depressed that even after working hard on my profile during my bachelor's, I won't be able to do my MS. I have always been fascinated by research work but I didn't know that my financial condition would stop me do master's studies.

Suggestions regarding how to progress with my winter application would be highly welcomed. I am also looking for a research supervisor, who could support my studies by providing TA/RA/Scholarships. Therefore, if any professor is interested in my profile then I would love to have a further conversation with him/her regarding my research proposal. I am looking forward to work on self-healing or air-purifying concrete during my masters. However, I am also open to doing other multidisciplinary studies related to resilient infrastructure or sustainable concrete.

Below is a quick highlight of my profile:
1. Three research papers.
2. Two patents (in review).
3. Among the ASCE top 10 New Faces of Civil Engineering- College Edition for 2017.
4. Two times TEDx licensee/organizer.
5. Delegate at some international summits and conferences.
6. One year voluntary and one year of experience in valuation after the completion of B.Tech.

------------------------------
Aniket Yadav Aff.M.ASCE
Email: <maskemail>aniketyadav550@...</maskemail>
Ph: +919729755921
------------------------------