Exchange Diaries
Jitendra Bhandari | Electrical Engineering
New York University, USA
What part does an MS/PhD degree from a prestigious university play in a student’s life?
Opting for a PhD Degree is one’s choice. For me, I was really interested in pursuing research of my own, so I felt I should give this field a try.
From where did you get the motivation? How did it all start? How did you handle your preparation with your academics?
At the end of my third semester, I did a project which required a lot of time and effort and it continued till my fourth year. The concept of working on a project where you are the one to research and bring the output out of your work and interest fascinated me and that’s how I thought I should give it a try.
Yes truly, academics and my preparation are very different. I had to give the GRE and TOEFL tests, and to appear for them definitely demanded at least 2 months of preparation to get a decent score.
How did you apply for the MS/PhD?
Firstly, you look for professors in your field of interest. Later, you mail them to find out if there is any vacancy available. Then, either, you have to go for an interview or fill the application available on the portals of the universities, depending on the professor’s response.
How are you planning to manage your finances?
My degree was completely funded. However, For MS, the student has to bear the tuition fee. Unlike MS, the PhD Degree is completely funded and a handsome stipend is provided, although you’ll have to put in a lot of effort. Well, that's a different story!
What is the role of CG?
Well sometimes CG might turn out to be the criteria to select us from all the applicants. It so happens because we have a bachelor degree, and might find it difficult to have research papers of our previous projects. So the only criteria left to recruit us will be our academic performance. But in some cases, despite maintaining a good CG if we fail to prove our capability in the interview, then I’m afraid we might lose the opportunity. Ultimately, it is always recommended to maintain a decent CG (8.5 above).
How is your university going to manage everything in this confusion of Covid-19?
We are currently waiting to receive any notification from the university. I think we’ll have to wait for a while until they resolve upon something.
How did IIT Kgp benefit you in your journey?
I’m sure, it gives everyone a sense of pride when we are appreciated and looked up to for graduating from such a renowned university. Well having a degree from an IIT definitely has a positive impact on our conduct.
What difficulties do you think the pandemic will bring (or has brought already) in the process?
It has definitely put us in a dilemma about the commencement of the curriculum. But, I guess the university will not alter much in its working as it ultimately requires student force and funding.