Exchange Diaries
Swapnil Majumdar | Aerospace Engineering
Ph.D. in Turbulent Flows, Texas A&M University, USA
How did you apply for the Ph.D. program? Did you get any recommendations from IIT Kharagpur or was it totally on your own?
My peers and batch mates were also applying for such programs so I knew the process. There are certain examinations like GRE and TOEFL which you need to qualify before you start applying for the various programs. You also need to write an SOP, quite an elaborate one.
What is a good time to appear for GRE and TOEFL?
I appeared in my ninth semester but that was too late. I think the fourth year would be a good time to clear out these examinations because those scores also have validity. The GRE score is valid for around 5 years and the TOEFL score for around 2 years.
From where did you get the motivation? How did it all start?
My primary motivation was my coursework and also my professors. Even my project advisor motivated me to pursue further studies.
How important do you think is the role of CG?
Many factors play a crucial role in your application, one of them is CG. If it is too low then it is a problem. However, I would call a CG above 9 to be a decent one. What is more important is that you should have research exposure beforehand. Research internships, B.Tech. and M.Tech. projects play a much more important role because universities look for people who can do research. You will also need good LORs, they are perhaps the most important, more important than your SOP. They are genuine evaluations of your research and interests.
Prior to your BTP and MTP did you go for any internships on your own?
I didn’t go for an FT, however, I did go for two internships at the end of my third year and fourth year.
If a student doesn’t have any prior research experience but is interested in pursuing it, then how should he start?
After the second year, I think it would be best to mail some professors in India itself who can accommodate you. If you are lucky and have a very good CG you may get an FT after the second year itself. In fact, you can approach professors in your own department, that would be the best option in the beginning. Go through their research areas, get to know what they are doing and what interests you the most. Then after gaining some initial experience one can go for FTs and research internships outside India as well.
Also when you are looking for a project under a professor in your own department, they know that in your second year you don’t know much about your field, they will give you some books and papers to read and get an idea regarding the research area, that is the learning phase, and if you are capable enough you may end up working on a project in your second year which students normally do in their fourth year.
How has the COVID-19 situation affected the process? How are you dealing with it?
Maybe this year I won’t be able to go seeing the current situation, I will most probably be doing online classes from India itself.