In August 2015, when I finished my GRE, the decision to choose the right college and programme took three long months of intensive research on the Internet and in-depth analysis of courses along with preparations for TOEFL.
Then came the most difficult part of the application process — writing the Statement of Purpose (SOP). My advisor at the EducationUSA Center at the U.S. Consulate, Chennai, was my sounding board in the whole process and their guidance on drafting an effective SOP.
Finally, I chose to pursue my master’s in artificial intelligence at the University of Georgia (UGA) in the Classic City — Athens.
When I reached Athens, the Indian Students Association (ISA) at UGA did everything they could to make the huge transition as smooth as possible. The next few weeks of the orientation allowed me to get into the groove of the new system. Meanwhile, I also learnt to cook so that I could enjoy idly-sambar even in the USA.
Practical learning
Being in a dedicated course for artificial intelligence, I could skip the basic computer science courses and directly take the ones that introduced me to different areas within this stream.
The best part is that I got to customise the whole course according to my interests, each semester. Also, the structure of every class and the method of teaching varied from professor to professor.
Some subjects had a final exam while others required us to apply what we studied in the class and submit a project.
I enjoyed this kind of practical learning which made my life exciting because I have never been a fan of exams to evaluate my knowledge. I also juggled my schedule to find time for sports and Tamil movies!
The Indian Students Association at UGA celebrates major festivals such as Diwali, Holi and also hoist the Indian flag on Indian National Days.
It has been interesting to talk about India, our festivals and culture with my American friends and, in turn, learn about American traditions such as Halloween and Thanksgiving festivals here. Initially, I missed Chennai as there were no bikes to roam around the city, no vehicular noise during weekends, nor any milk packets or newspapers every morning.
After almost a year, I have adapted well to this environment that it feels like home.
Adithya Raam Sankar is pursuing his master’s in artificial intelligence at the University of Georgia (UGA) in the Classic City — Athens, U.S.A
