Exchange Diaries  

Rutav Shah | Computer Science and Engineering

Carnegie Mellon University, USA

Research Area: RISS Program (Robotics and AI)

What was the University and topic of research that was taken up by you during the FT?

The RISS program is targeted at Robotics Institute (RI), Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). My research topic was at the intersection of reinforcement learning and representation learning.

Why is an FT important? How would one compare research in Indian universities and foreign universities?

Good research experience

Helpful for your grad school application

Contacts

FT vs corporate internship, what are all the things we are missing out on and what are we gaining more?

I have not done any corporate internship yet so I don’t think that I am eligible to answer this question.

Should BTech students aspiring for higher studies from abroad opt for an FT?

There are two types of Masters. One is Professional and the other one is Research-based. If you want to go for a Thesis based Master’s then an FT would definitely help. However, if you want to go for a Professional Master’s, then industrial training might be equally helpful.
If you are applying for a Ph.D., then there’s no doubt. Go for it.

What exactly is the application process for the FT? Are there any important documents one must keep?

The three most important documents that play a crucial role in your application process are

CV/Resume

Letter of Recommendation (the stronger the Letter of Recommendation, the better your chances of getting accepted.)

Statement of Purpose (very crucial)

How did the process get affected due to the online nature of the Training?

In-person FT gives you the opportunity to visit other labs in the university as well, talk to PhDs, and get acquainted with the lab culture.

Did you have to mail the professor personally for the project? For how much time did you wait for a reply?

For RISS, you do not have to personally email any professor beforehand. Although you can always approach the professor or the program officer if you have any particular questions.

What is the role of CGPA in the selection process?

CGPA is an important factor for you to get selected for a research internship but definitely not the most important one. I know many students who were able to secure a research internship at renowned universities in spite of having a low CGPA.

How did the pandemic affect your application for the project? Did the pandemic have any positive impact on the project?

I did not face any major problem as the nature of the application for the RISS program has always been online.

Where should a student, who is unaware of the entire application process, look up information about professors and their research work for opportunities?

If you want to know about WHERE TO APPLY then the best way would be to search on the internet for various programs for summer internships. You will easily get a list of summer programs available online. If you want to know about HOW TO APPLY then the best way would be to ask your seniors. That is what I did.

How should a first-year student prepare beforehand for his FT application in their subsequent year?

The best thing in my opinion would be to take up a project of your interest under a professor (and complete it), secure a Letter of Recommendation from the professor and a good publication is always a plus.

Does belonging to IITKGP provide any added benefits for getting your FT?

Help from seniors and experienced professors.