In recent years, the number of Indian students enrolling in colleges abroad has increased. The competition to secure a seat in a world-class university also increases with the number of students aspiring for higher education. The office of International Relations and Higher Studies at SRM University-AP ensures that our students are admitted to QS ranked universities, not just one but many. Satya Narayana Reddy Kovvuri, final year student from the Department of Civil Engineering has received admission offers from New York University, Stevens Institute of Technology, University of North Carolina Charlotte, University of Houston, Arizona State University, and the University of Texas Arlington.
Read this exclusive interview with Satya Narayana and get inspired!
How do you feel about the admission offers and the scholarship?
I applied to 9 universities, and I was not confident about the admissions because of the high intake. The first university I got the offer from was Stevens institute of technology. Then I gained confidence that I could make it into my desired university. Later I was overwhelmed by the admits that I secured and even a scholarship to NYU. Among the 9 Universities I applied to, I received admission offers from Stevens Institute of Technology, University of North Carolina Charlotte, New York University, University of Houston, Arizona State University and the University of Texas Arlington. I’m also eagerly waiting to hear from Kent State University, Clemson University and the University of Washington.
Selection process of universities you are admitted to
The Selection process is almost the same for all the universities I applied to. After submitting the application, the documents go for the department (of the selected course) review, and the selection criteria will be based on:
- Good GRE and English Proficiency test score(IELTS/TOEFL/DUOLINGO)
- A good CGPA with no backlogs.
- An efficient SOP that describes your qualities, achievements and skills.
- Strong LORs from professors.
- Research Papers / Publications(if any)
Within two months, the universities will inform us of the decision and the details of the scholarship if we are qualified. I have received a scholarship of $9000 per year from New York University, which is ranked 42 in the QS global ranking.
About the course that you have decided to enrol in
The course that I have decided to pursue is an MS in Construction Management. As I am keenly interested in the construction sector and my bachelor’s degree is in Civil Engineering, I decided to gain more knowledge and experience in the same field. The opportunity to study Construction Management course is my dream come true.
Support from SRM AP (Faculty, mentors etc.)
Dr Uma Maheshwar Arepalli, Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering is specialised in Transportation Engineering. He provided me with a few insights about courses and the colleges which are suitable for my specialisation. It helped me clear my confusion while I was applying for universities. Dr Bhagath Singh, Head of the Civil Engineering department, also guided me in this process. I followed his instructions on how to apply to universities abroad. The Academic affairs department also helped me by providing transcripts and certificates as soon as I approached them so that there is no delay in my application process.
Your message to junior batches
I advise my juniors to start the process as early as possible. Score high in the GRE (310 -325) and IELTS (6.5 – 8)tests. Search for the universities that provide the best coursework for your desired branch. Also, keep in mind the states you choose in the US provide job opportunities after you complete graduation. Lastly, choose the better states by thinking about living expenses and weather conditions. Check for the requirements of your targetted universities beforehand and draft an excellent personal statement. Submit the applications before priority deadlines as it is crucial to secure scholarships. Check for regular updates in the mail and also in the university application portal.