Snapshots
Name : Hardik Shah
Graduation College : DJ Sanghvi College of Engineering (Mumbai University)
Graduation Stream : B.E. in Electronics & Telecommunication
Graduation Aggregate : 71%
GRE Score : 1580
TOEFL Score: 116
University for Masters: Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)
Course Details : Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
Applications & Admits
Universities & Courses applied to :
- Georgia Institute of Technology – Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
- University of Southern California - Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
- University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) – Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
- Purdue University – Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC) – Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
- North Eastern University (NEU) – Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
- University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) – Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
- North Carolina State University (NCSU) – Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
- University of California (UCLA) – Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
- University of Texas, Austin - Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
Admits from (Universities & Courses) :
- Georgia Institute of Technology – Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
- University of Southern California - Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
- University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) – Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
- North Carolina State University (NCSU) – Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
Minutia
Final Year Project : Students' Database and Events Tracker
Basically an IVR system that would read college students' database that had their attendance and marks as the database entries. This data would then be converted to audio and then be played over the telephone line. We also designed a front end program for the teachers to enter the marks and attendance of the students using Visual Basic.
Technical Papers : None
Letter of Recommendations : Three LORs, 2 from professors, 1 from a senior lecturer. One of them was my project guide.
Extracurriculars: Nothing out of the ordinary.
Work Experience/Internship: None
Financial Aid : None
Preparation
I had joined coaching for GRE in July 2009 but I started studying seriously only towards October once I took my exam date, i.e., 30th March 2010. I did only the stuff that my professor had told us to do in class. That includes the vocabulary boxes (not necessary for people giving the GRE in the new format, I believe) and various tests like Kaplan, Princeton, PowerPrep, Cambridge etc. I started giving the tests around a month and a half before my GRE. Before that, I had completed all of the notes for Verbal and around half those for Quant (it was too much material).
I guess March is better as you get a second chance in August if you screw up, though August ain't a bad time either. Try taking the date towards the end of the month so that you get to know questions (they tend to be repeated in one calender month). I am not sure if this information is relevant for the new pattern GRE though.
I had joined the services of a counsellor but did not find it very useful. Listen to what the counsellor says, but do not rely blindly on him. Do your own research, and if you feel a college is worth applying to, apply even if your counsellor thinks otherwise.
Advice to Juniors
Apply to whichever universities you dream of. Selection process is very random and depends a lot on your luck. While writing your SOP, focus mainly on your area of interest, projects and internships (if any)