Direct PhD - GRE 1350; Electronic and Instrumentation

Readers Question from Orkut:

I’ve done B.Tech in Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering…I’ve got 1350/1600 in GRE i.e.V610; Q740….I got 104/120 in TOFL iBt….I’d like to pursue a PhD in US university. I don’t bother ranking., all I care about is full funding. My undergrad is 7.89%. I’ve wasted almost 2 yrs since I ‘ve passed, which was in 2005. I’ve applied to the following Universities…

• Wayne State University
• University of Colorado at Boulder
• University of California at Berkeley
• University of Connecticut
• University of Kentucky
• Michigan Technological University
• Oklahoma State University

I’ve got responses as given below,

• University of Connecticut - Rejected
• Univ of Colorado at Boulder - Rejected.
• University of Kentucky - Admission with in-state-tuition fee.
• Oklahoma State University - Admission in MS program - No Aid.

Please help me in anyway you can. I was throughly misinformed previously

Image Credit : No worries

This is what I would suggest. 1350 is wonderful score. And thats more than enough to get admission with Scholarship. Usually, students applying for PhD will get funding. Though majority of the students gets funding with admission, if not eventually they end up getting funded in 1 semester. So, you not need to worry about funding.

Applying for PhD is not same as applying for Master’s. Professors look for your research experience while considering you for admission. But majority of students from India applying for direct PhD don’t have research experience, but there is certainly a way to show your research interest and skills. I strongly recommend you to read Right way to contact professors to get admission.

Having said that, in your case, since you have admission from University of Kentucky with In-state fees, I would consider start preparing your Visa process for University of Kentucky and in mean time wait for other Universities to get back to you. Don’t forget to email professors expressing your research interest to the schools you are waiting to hear back.

Applying to Visa for University of Kentucky has few advantages. Since you have funding, you need to show less bank balance for student visa and since you have been already recognized by the university by as one of most valuable student ( by granting admission with funding) chances for getting visa increases considerably.

After you come to U.S. in the first semester, start looking at other universities where they have funding. Universities get funding based on the Professors and their reputation. Certainly with your GRE score, you can get admit. Apply and get transfer after 1st semester. Read here if you to know more information about University Transfer.

But, as of now, you don’t need to worry, relax and enjoy your stay in India for last few months, learn to cook, and start looking at other universities.

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